Mason, Inc. enhances its digital and interactive capabilities with the hiring of seasoned professionals Mark Scheets, John Boison and Cliff Huzienga. This trio of specialists will capitalize on a combined nearly two decades of search analytics and web development experience to expand campaign strategy and increase business growth for both the agency and its clients.
“Digital marketing is at the heart of what drives stakeholder engagement today,” says Mason President Fran Onofrio, APR, Fellow PRSA. “Our team has the know-how to assist organizations of all sizes, map their KPIs, execute campaigns, and measure and optimize tactics to generate meaningful conversions.”
Mark Scheets, Digital Strategy and Analytics Manager, Mason, Inc.
Digital Strategy and Analytics Manager – Mark Scheets
Scheets brings extensive SEO, content and analytics experience to Mason’s digital team. He believes that effective SEO and search marketing strategies are built from the ground up and much of his success can be attributed to his commitment to understanding client goals and exploring every possible avenue for improving their campaigns. As SEO and search marketing are continually evolving, Sheets is perpetually improving his capabilities by studying the latest search trends and best practices including earning certifications in both Google Analytics and Google AdWords.
John Boison, Search Marketing Analyst, Mason, Inc.
Search Marketing Analyst – John Boison
A recent graduate of the University of Hartford, Boison possesses a blend of analytic experience and entrepreneurial spirit well beyond his years. He refined his skills in search, email and social media marketing through his role in the American Marketing Association and an internship with the Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. Boison is certified in Google Analytics, Google AdWords and Marketing Research using SPSS.
Cliff Huizenga, Web Developer, Mason, Inc.
Web Developer – Cliff Huizenga
With more than 10 years of professional experience developing websites, online applications and interactive displays, and a master’s degree in interactive communications, Huizenga has an extensive background in front-end development, UI/UX, e-commerce and mobile accessibility. He is well-versed in a variety of industry-standard codes such as HTML, CSS, JavaSCript/jQuery, PHP, MySQL, and content management systems including WordPress, Drupal, MODx and more. Huizenga complements his coding knowledge with expertise in web design and inbound marketing allowing him to effectively bring the visions of the Mason creative and marketing teams to life.
For more information about Mason, Inc., please visit mason23.com.
Christian Renstrom, Director of Business Development, Mason, Inc.
Christian “Chris” Renstrom has joined the integrated marketing communications firm as vice president of business development. Renstrom, a respected advertising professional with more than two decades of marketing management experience, will leverage the agency’s unique 360° marketing platform and comprehensive service capabilities to further establish the firm as an industry leader.
Prior to joining Mason, Renstrom served as advertising director for the Hartford Business Journal and founded Hartford Magazine, for which he was also vice president and general manager. Furthermore, he excelled in a similar agency environment as vice president of business development at Worx Group (now Worx Branding & Advertising) in Prospect, Connecticut. In these positions, Renstrom fostered deep-rooted connections across the state, particularly the greater-Hartford region which is a major geographic focus for Mason’s new business development.
After sitting on its board for seven years, Renstrom completed a decade long involvement with Special Olympics Connecticut by furthering the organization’s progression as vice president of corporate relations and special events. Through this experience, as well as management roles at major telecommunications corporations Verizon Wireless and Cingular Wireless (now AT&T mobile), Renstrom established a distinguished network of corporate contacts.
As Mason’s Vice President of Business Development, Renstrom will capitalize on notable connections to procure prominent business and corporate clients, and facilitate steady revenue growth.
“Chris represents an important part of our strategy moving forward as we are poised to place more emphasis in Hartford and Fairfield County areas,” said Charlie Mason, chief executive officer, Mason, Inc. “We are very excited to have someone of Chris’s caliber join us and take our message more aggressively into these markets.”
Renstrom is a lifelong resident of the Greater Hartford community, and currently resides in West Hartford with his two daughters. He graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University where he later served as a foundation board member for nine years. Additionally, he has been a member of the board for the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame since 2009.
For more information about Mason, Inc. please visit mason23.com.
In the tug of war between technologies, merchants, and consumers, who will decide the future of payment methods?
Consumers have been warming up in recent years to the possibilities of conducting more of their financial transactions from their smartphones or tablets, including banking, peer to peer transactions, online shopping, and so-called digital wallets.
branding,digital,news,public relations
Apple launch events are much-hyped and have an air of grandiosity to them – so who better to help the company announce the iPhone 6 in September than equally grandiose rockers U2?
But the big news that came next was met less than enthusiastically by fans: U2’s latest album, Songs of Innocence, automatically downloaded itself to millions of iTunes users’ libraries, at no charge.
Apple, crisis management, digital, issue management, iTunes, news, social media
Kamryn is the 9 year old girl who shaved her head for her friend who is being treated for cancer and has lost her hair. Kamryn was suspended from school for a dress code violation (because she shaved her head) and not reinstated until the situation blew up in social media.
So what’s the lesson for organization heads around the country? Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, “Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of simple minds.” If something feels wrong, looks wrong, sounds wrong, maybe it is wrong. And maybe you need to consider how the world will see your enforcement of a “rule” just because it is a rule. More…
There are several videos and articles on people’s reactions to Russian Lawmakers passing an Anti-Gay Bill denouncing the Russian gay community and banning any distribution of information about homosexuality to children. Most of the gay community and many who support gay rights oppose this attack on homosexuals. In response they have been showing negative attention towards Russia and exercising their freedom as citizens. The protests and speak outs continue to go on and cause more chaos as Russian religious activists and officials assault and detain those who oppose this bill.
I never knew Mr. Jobs… never spoke with him… never even read a lot about him. But I still know he was a great leader because of the influence he had on Apple — and on each of us. How could one man do that much? What was his magic? What can each of us learn from him about leadership?
Mason, Inc. would like to wish you and yours happy holidays and best wishes for the New Year. We hope that you take this opportunity to spend time with your loved ones and reflect on this and next year!
Ask your friends, “Quick, what is the difference between the national debt and the deficit?” For the most part you will get blank stares. Most people are unclear as to the distinction between the two and generally use them interchangeably. (By way of clarification, the debt is the total accumulated amount of money we owe. The deficit is the amount that we are adding to that total each year.) 
