PPB December 2017

Mad i son Conr ad i s W hen talking to Madison Conradis, you can’t help but wonder if she ever sleeps. She is a top executive at distributor Your Logo by Geiger, holds key leadership roles in several community organizations and writes articles for publications and blogs on topics ranging from Millennials to women to college sports. Oh, and she acts and models in her free time. Growing up in Melbourne, Florida, Conradis watched her mother, Cathy Bell, start a business from scratch out of their two-bedroom apartment. In 1991, Bell founded Your Logo and started selling promotional products. She soon grew the company into a full-service distributorship and embroidery facility. In 2009, Bell partnered with Geiger to better position herself in the marketplace. “As a child, I’mnot sure I entirely grasped the concept of our industry,” says Conradis. “I did, however, seemymother support our family in a job that she loved. I really couldn’t seemyself being a part of any other industry.” Conradis earned a bachelor’s degree inmarketing from the Florida Institute of Technology, and she went on to complete her master’s in finance. Her diverse educational background has given her expertise across the business spectrum, and it has helped her to pinpoint where to best direct her ambition. “After specializing myMBA in finance, I knew that was one industry that I would not pursue,” she laughs. “I think it’s safe to say that most people would agree I belong somewhere in the marketing/advertising realm.” To balance the grind of pursuing her master’s degree, she felt the need for a creative outlet. So she trained at Truthful Acting, a Meisner Studio, and took on roles in several films including Discovery Channel’s Dead of the Night , In-Between Days and Bullet of Madness . She’s also appeared in various TV commercials and print ads touting brands such as Disney and Ron Jon’s. While in school, Conradis got her first taste of real-world marketing by working as a brand ambassador for a wide range of companies, including Mazda and Microsoft. In those roles, she gained sales experience and exposure to customer service and event management. She also witnessed firsthand how organizations utilize promotional products, helping her to phase into selling marketing materials and apparel. Nowworking with Bell at Your Logo, Conradis oversees the embroidery operation, works as an Prodigy And Powerhouse Madison Conradis is young and full of fresh ideas, but she grew up in the industry and knows her stuff. by Terry Ramsay 66 | DECEMBER 2017 | THINK