Russ Williams, Principal

The man was a chemical engineer.

Russ Williams believes this business is a lot like chemical engineering. Sometimes it's experimentation followed by flawless execution. Other times it's a long series of explosions. The important thing is that you learn from both.

Now if you think about it (and we hope you do), no one has a better background for advertising than Russ. Along with a chemical engineering degree, he also spent 15 years at a Fortune 500 company and earned an MBA from the University of Virginia. So he's like, smart.

His client-side experience enables us to see business opportunities from all perspectives. But it's Russ's drive and ability to be forward thinking that brings the most out of his unconventional background and keeps archer>malmo running its best. Since he showed up, archer>malmo has grown almost 80% and become one of the largest, most-respected agencies in the Southeast.

Outside of archer>malmo Russ spends time with family and friends, playing golf and researching the history of his home. His family also has three pets. Two cats and a hamster. "They don't like me and I don't like them."

If you want to talk about new business opportunities, golf or your hatred of hamsters and cats, email Russ here.

Gary Backaus, Principal

Artist. Musician. Vegetarian. And left-brained?

Let's just get this out of the way first. Gary Backaus grew up a musician, designer and an art director. He believes that powerful ideas are bigger than any one person. He loves great design and feels that it's the foundation of almost everything. But here's where our bio takes a strange turn. Gary shows all the signs of being left brained. He actually takes all that creative energy and funnels into strategy. Scarier still, he uses PowerPoint.

But this unlikely behavior has been paying big dividends for his clients. And it's also paid off for the creatives under his leadership. During Gary's watch archer>malmo has won numerous local and national Addys. As well as been in the One Show, CA, Archive, Print, D&AD and host of other award shows.

When he's not in the office, Gary enjoys music, cooking, and enjoying food and wine with family and friends. If you'd like to talk building brands, music, design or just want to share a good recipe, email Gary here.

Jay Cooper, Principal

He can fix just about anything

Jay started his careed on the creative side almost 30 years ago; he is one of those rare birds who crossed from artist to strategist and understands both the creative and the business processes.

From a start in the grungy streets of the East Village as a starving art student, he made his way through graphic design, art director then creative director in the early years of archer>malmo. Jay made the jump to executive account management when clients started calling him directly and he could not get them to stop (account people tend to dislike that). Along the road Jay leanred it is about creative mixed with solid strategy, results-oriented work and, oh yeah, making sure it fits the client's plan and ultimate goals.

He has a mountain of experience in package goods, commercial real-estate, gaming, agriculture, health care, tourism, food service and banking.

When he's not working for clients, Jay is on his mower trying to keep up the family farm with two horses, dogs (2 black labs, though he wants more), cats, wife and daughter. He is also an occasional fisheman, golfer, and aspiring race-car driver. If you'd like to talk more about your brand, fixing fences, mowing grass or black dogs, email Jay here.

Tom Barzizza, Principal

Tom is our resident retail authority. Or as he would put it: multi-unit, multi-market retail marketing, advertising and merchandising. (If that doesn't make sense, you're obviously not a retailer.)

He likes to say, "think like a marketing department, execute like an ad agency." And he really can, because he has done both. Before founding TMB Marketing, he was VP of Marketing for Southern Stores, which was the largest BLOCKBUSTER franchisee supporting hundreds of locations across the country. So he's an experienced marketer.

But he's also been on the agency side, handling accounts like a 75-location McDonald's co-op and the 435-store chain Nationwise Autoparts, and the largest tanning salon chain in the nation operating in over 40 markets. So he's also a seasoned agency guy.

And get this: Tom was also part owner and Operating Partner for six Palm Beach Tan salons in the Memphis area. So he was also a client! Let's see - marketing director, agency account supervisor, agency founder, client and business owner. No chance Tom hasn't been in your shoes before.

To discuss anything retail, especially if it starts with "multi," or to schedule a 15-minute bronzing tune-up, email Tom here.