LuAnne Speeter is a senior marketing and communications professional in the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area. With more than 25 years’ experience in the field, LuAnne has earned praise as an insightful strategist and accomplished writer. She merges these disciplines in providing world-class marketing solutions that generate the results her clients seek while having a positive impact on corporations, their clients and the community.
BIG-PICTURE PERSPECTIVE
With a B.A. degree in Studio Arts from the University of Minnesota and graduate studies at the University of St. Thomas School of Business, LuAnne began her career as a commercial artist who soon discovered the joy of developing a client’s total marketing strategy, from concept to completion. Hired as an art director for a small photo lab, she transitioned into planning and scripting corporate presentations, working one-on-one with the C-suite and board members of Fortune 500 companies. LuAnne soon formed her own multimedia presentation company, Keynote Communications, and eventually brought her successful corporate communications strategies to Artform Communications, a presentation graphics firm.
COMMITTED TO CUSTOM CONTENT EXCELLENCE
In 1991, LuAnne joined Priority Publications, now located in Edina, Minn. As Executive Editor, and by now a versatile, creative writer, she managed major custom publishing accounts for such clients as Wachovia, Prudential, BancWest Financial Services, Mellon Bank, the John Roberts Company, SouthStar Energy and OhioHealth. Her client base represented the financial services, healthcare, energy, credit card and printing industries. LuAnne also oversaw a team of four editors and account managers. She was subsequently tapped to apply her multiple talents toward developing Priority’s in-house marketing department, becoming Marketing Manager and, later, Marketing Director. In this capacity, LuAnne spearheaded the company’s rebranding as Priority Integrated Marketing, managed the marketing and public relations surrounding a corporate acquisition, and developed and implemented detailed strategic annual marketing plans that in 2008 resulted in a cost savings of 14% while increasing sales by 12%.
Throughout her 18 years at Priority, LuAnne was a key force in helping the company transition its capabilities as a strictly print-based custom publisher into a full-service publishing, marketing and interactive firm. Managing the company’s first e-mail newsletter accounts, LuAnne learned and taught the principal aspects of successful online publishing and cross-channel integration. She architected, wrote and directed production of several corporate Web sites, which helped define the expanding company’s operational efficiencies and creative scope. Through her big-picture marketing perspective, LuAnne continues to excel at maximizing a message’s impact by understanding the critical interplay of content and graphics, as well as traditional media, the Web and social media.
MARKETING WITH A CONSCIENCE
LuAnne struck out on her own in 2009 to form a marketing consultancy, Minnesota Cause Connection. As principal and marketing strategist, LuAnne helped small companies define and implement their corporate social responsibility missions in order to make a difference in the community while enhancing their own brand reputations.
In 2010, LuAnne took on a part-time position as Manager of Marketing and Communications with the Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter of Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly. LuAnne also hosts her popular blog, The Altruistic Marketer, acclaimed for its thought-provoking and well-researched articles exploring the premise that companies can be both profitable and purposeful.
With this rich history and perspective, LuAnne Speeter is uniquely qualified to develop freelance custom content that addresses the common ground between the corporate and nonprofit sectors. Her compelling content strategies bring out the heart of a business's brand, and define a cause's message in a way that resonates with business and individual donors.
LuAnne is a member of the American Marketing Association/Minnesota Chapter, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association, and is an associate member of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. She also serves on the board of directors for the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Foundation and volunteers for several area nonprofits.
In addition to her B.A. degree at the U. of M., LuAnne received a Mini M.B.A. in Marketing Management at the University of St. Thomas, with additional graduate studies in Pastoral Ministry/Adult Ed focus at U.S.T. She is Series 6-trained.
On the personal side, LuAnne enjoys family time above all else, but occasionally tears herself away to partake in her other joys: landscaping, home improvement, running/walking, lifting weights and the New York Times crossword puzzle.