Strategists, artists, technologists, writers, researchers – we are business people first. Finch Brands is a close-knit group whose strengths and experiences fit neatly together on a perch far away from agency mediocracy.
From the beginning, we have built Finch Brands around people with a tenacious professional personality and low tolerance for drama.
With the profile and stakes that come with focusing at the brand level, we bring it every single day. That's how we live up to our aspiration to be the most consequential partner our clients will ever engage.
CEO
Daniel works to ensure we deliver on his founding vision for Finch Brands, while supporting our clients as an adviser and connector. A retailer, business builder, investor, and philanthropist, Daniel Erlbaum co-founded Finch Brands® after serving as an original investor and Vice President at David’s Bridal. Daniel touched every functional area of the company, and his contributions were pivotal to the company’s IPO and ultimate acquisition; much of the vision for Finch Brands’ holistic approach was borne through this success story. Throughout his career, he has invested in and advised operating companies at varying stages of the growth cycle and is a limited partner in numerous private equity groups. Active in the community, Daniel chairs the board of the Jewish Relief Agency and is deeply involved in other philanthropic organizations.
I am often found alone in my office playing with dolls.
President
Bill manages day-to-day operations at Finch Brands, charts the company’s growth path, and is deeply involved in client work across our disciplines. Bill is Finch Brands’ lead strategist and one of the premier brand developers in the marketplace. He has been the prime mover in the development of breakthrough strategies for our clients since he joined the company in 2001. A world-class speaker, writer, and facilitator, Bill’s point of view is highly sought after in the media and academic realms. Across his career, Bill’s work has influenced the business and brand direction of hundreds of organizations including American Express, AT&T, Burlington Coat Factory, Everlast, Fathead, General Mills, Herman Miller, IBM, Joseph Abboud, Kraft, Microsoft, Nutrisystem, the Philadelphia 76ers, Volkswagen, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Bill is the second most famous product of Davidson College, just barely behind Steph Curry.
SVP, Brand & Marketing Strategy
Lauren manages our overall work stream — from insights to strategy to activation, helping clients connect with their audiences and break through the clutter. A brand developer with particular experience leading entrepreneurial projects within larger companies, Lauren goes all the way from idea to shelf and back again. After earning her MBA from Drexel University, Lauren spent 10 years at Kimberly-Clark working on innovation for iconic brands like KLEENEX® and SCOTT®. Notably, she leveraged customer and consumer insights to develop a robust global innovation pipeline for KLEENEX. Most recently, Lauren led North American marketing for the drinks division of MARS Inc. where she worked to make brands matter in the B2B space. Lauren’s CPG experience, passion for brand innovation, and ability to connect dots in how consumers shop across categories provides a unique perspective to help our clients activate their full potential.
I once spent the weekend as a Judge for a Kansas City Barbecue Society competition eating barbecue for 48 hours.
SVP, Insights & Innovation
John leads our insights practice, with a focus on creating new and innovative strategic frameworks and services that drive value for clients. Recent innovations include launching FinchSightTM Next Generation Insights Communities and Finch’s new Voice of the Company® process for customer experience excellence. John also oversees Finch Brands' brand and marketing activities. Before joining Finch Brands in 2013, John, spent 11 years at Campbell Soup Company in roles spanning Brand Management, Consumer & Customer Insights, and New Product Commercialization. While there, John led brands such as Campbell’s Chunky Soup, Prego Italian Sauce, and Swanson Broth to new heights of consumer engagement and financial performance. He is a graduate of the Wharton Executive MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his Bachelors of Science degree at the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University.
I owned more than 50 NY Mets shirts as a kid and named my dog Shea
AVP, Insights Communities
Tim leads the FinchSightTM Research Communities offering and helps drive excellence across our qualitative and quantitative insights capabilities. He is an intrepid research who delights in pioneering methodologies to get at the heart of decision-making. Prior to joining Finch Brands, Tim spent five years leading insights communities at C-Space for prominent brands including Twitter, Sanofi Aventis, U.S. Bank, Hasbro, Heineken, and Dos Equis. Tim started his career at Forrester Research, where he managed custom and syndicated research programs aimed at helping executives make better decisions.
I am a novice drone racer.
Creative Director
Jessica is a driving force behind Finch Brands’ brand design work – as a leader, hands-on designer, writer, concept developer, and client advisor. Jessica is the quintessential Finch — with both formative real-world experience along with the curiosity and energy of the best agency creative leaders. She has spent time on the brand team at Target in Minneapolis and, in her agency life, has driven creative brand development and management for brands such as FiveBelow, Build-A-Bear, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and well beyond. Her extensive experience spans consumer products, retail, technology, B2B, and non-profit worlds. With a passion for providing multi-dimensional brand perspective, Jess is constantly searching for effective yet unexpected ways for a brand to find its voice and express it compellingly to the right audience. Her creative charge leads to solutions that consistently communicate, deliver, and inspire.
I attract celebrities to weddings.
Art Director
As an influential member of the Finch Brands creative team, Devon finds the right balance between creative inspiration and practical brand communication. While always focused on her passion for brand design, Devon’s career is proof that broad-based marketing experience makes a designer more instinctive and effective. She chose the Advertising major at Temple University, which provided learning beyond the design realm. As a result, Devon is an incredibly strong designer – across conceptual assignments as well as more functional business communications. This is why she delights in bridging strategy and design across traditional and digital realms. Temple-made as an undergrad, Devon enjoys teaching at her alma mater and nurturing young designers.
I traveled by bus to seven European countries in three weeks.
Associate Director, Brand Strategy
Annette is the quintessential brand strategist, connecting dots through research and cultural literacy to enable client brands to build strong connections with consumers. Like the most effective strategists, Annette’s experience is diverse yet relevant and includes ‘client side’ exposure, passion projects, and a zest for learning. In the real world, Annette served in marketing roles with Urban Outfitters and The Khaya Cookie Company. She has also taken on pro bono assignments with The Pennsylvania Innocence Project and the Penn Treaty Museum. In the agency realm, she has a distinguished track record in brand planning and strategy for high profile clients including Coca-Cola, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Saladworks. Along the way, Annette earned her MBA in Marketing & Entrepreneurship from Drexel University and an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.
I’m related to the inventor of the cheesesteak.
Designer
As an integral, versatile member of our design team, Anthony blends irrepressible creativity with the practical know-how to develop creative that works. Anthony is well-versed in print and digital formats with deep experience in brand identity. His career has included a diverse roster of agencies and projects. A musician, he has taken an active role in an ongoing musical project, Hedera, for which he serves as a primary songwriter and art director. A New Jersey native, Anthony received a B.A. in graphic and interactive design and music at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA.
I once took a road trip to Nashville to cut a record.
Brand Strategist
Accounting Manager
An esteemed finance professional and certified public accountant, Brian has over 15 years of combined industry experience in financial services, telecommunications, and manufacturing. He has also demonstrated value-added financial leadership through his background in management accounting, planning & analysis and strategic forecasting. His diverse skill-set includes a working knowledge of major accounting systems as well as monthly reporting procedures and key performance indicators. Brian is especially proficient at helping individuals without a finance or accounting background to better understand the financials. He is a graduate of Temple University’s Fox School of Business, with a BBA in Finance.
I named my dog “Penny” after my favorite childhood athlete (NBA basketball player – Penny Hardaway)
Graphic Designer
Known for her overall versatility and strength in typographic layouts, Brindy is adept at both high concept and more functional brand design. A winner of multiple design awards as an undergrad, Brindy earned her B.F.A in Graphic and Interactive Design from West Chester University in 2017 and joined Finch Brands® shortly thereafter. While deployed across our design practice, Brindy particularly enjoys the before/after impact of rebranding processes. Away from the office, Brindy is active in community service as both a pro bono designer and overall volunteer.
I've been to Africa twice.
Associate Marketing Manager
Catherine is our in house marketing manager - evolving the Finch Brands marketing program and helping us widen our acquaintance. Growing up as a navy brat, Catherine learned early on how to adapt, improvise, and overcome any obstacle. She got her BS in Business Administration from Marquette University where she double majored in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. She gained some real world branding experience with one of the best Collegiate Ambassador Programs, as a Victoria’s Secret PINK Campus Rep. After graduating, Catherine managed marketing efforts for League Collegiate Outfitters by overhauling the entire campus ambassador program and doubled the nationwide team of 50 students. At Finch Brands, she manages our very own brand through the website, office design, podcast, social media, online and event marketing, and so much more.
I got lost biking to Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France.
Senior Designer
George is a versatile designer and leader who effortlessly balances the practical with the inspired — he is a central driver of our creative output in both digital and traditional formats. George brings to Finch Brands® 10+ years of broad-based design experience, a professional and personal journey that has included home bases in Brooklyn, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. His brand development and creative skills have been applied in the service of artists, non-profits, and companies across categories and sizes — such as EP Henry, DrayNow, WIT, PetCoach, International Data Group, Sigma Co, and singer/songwriter Devendra Banhart. George holds degrees from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, and an MFA from CUNY Hunter College in New York.
I once drove straight from Philadelphia to Southern Georgia in one shot. I only stopped to fuel up. I made it in 13.5 hours.
Operations and Account Coordinator
Kayla holds Finch Brands together, managing the office and other key operational work processes.
Director, Brand Strategy
Marisa helps our clients develop and nurture strong brands through research-driven brand strategy, messaging, and go-to-market planning. Marisa possesses a strong background in brand management, insights, and innovation from past roles at Unilever, working across the brand portfolio on Simple Skin Care, Klondike, and Pond’s. She earned her undergraduate degree from Hamilton College and her MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Marisa has a broad business literacy and first-hand experience with what works, making her an important asset to our team and our clients as well.
I have gone skydiving and bungee jumping.
Brand Strategist
Marisa loves rolling around in data to identify the insights that progress brands and businesses. With a Master’s Degree in Consumer Insights from Pitt, Marisa makes sure we derive every bit of learning from the data we collect. A quant specialist (who can do so much more), ‘Spags’ delights in finding those hidden nuggets that make all the difference. After graduating from Hamilton College, she spent 3 years in media planning in NYC while cultivating a love of data and the stories it tells. This passion led her to grad school and then back to her hometown for this role at Finch Brands®.
I ran both the New York City half and full marathon.
Senior Brand Strategist
Steve is a brand strategist through and through - identifying what makes our clients unique and communicating it to those who matter most. Steve spent his early career in the trenches of brand development and management for B2B service companies in the sustainability space, helping businesses improve their environmental footprints. In addition to building brand strategies that push our clients’ businesses forward, Steve lends his expertise in web/digital and marketing automation to craft the tactical elements that help clients capture and nurture prospects.
I once slept in a French phone booth to escape frigid temperatures.
