Brad Kaeser, 32 Business Development Kaeser & Blair Newport, Kentucky Getting Started “Kaeser & Blair was a family-owned and operated business since 1894. So, it’s always been a part of part of my life. I explored a couple different things, and then eventually settled on getting a degree in marketing and really fell in love with the marketing aspect of it, which I thought would be the most beneficial in promotional products industry.” Earning The Honor Nominator Liza Sachs says Brad Kaeser was “born into a wonderful legacy and made the decision to work from the ground up to learn all aspects of the business to ensure future growth,” and calls him mature beyond measure. Proudest Moment? “Getting this Rising Star award. I think it’s not only not something that I’m just proud of, but I also know Kaeser & Blair, as a whole, is proud of it. And I think it’s going to really help Kaeser & Blair moving forward.” Your Most Difficult Challenge? “Right now, I think the biggest challenge is how to how to work with internet and the internet sales. You know, we live in a world where it’s the Amazon effect—everybody wants things right now. They want to be able to go online and do their shopping. So, I think trying to combat that is probably one of the biggest hurdles, and then also trying to get the Millennial generation kind of interested in doing commission-based sales.” Prefer Working From Home Or In-Office? “I’d say 90% of the time I prefer to work remote. I feel more comfortable, and we’ve got a nice little home office setup. As weird as it sounds, since it’s a separate space in our home, there are less distractions there. It just works out well that I can be less distracted at home and really dial into the focus.” How Do You Define Corporate Social Responsibility In The Industry? “Showcase how you’re trying to focus on hiring more diverse employees and when it comes to things like sustainability, again, be transparent. I think as more and more people and companies share what they’re doing that, especially using social media, it’ll inspire others. They can take those ideas and in turn use them for themselves.” Rising Stars | FEATURE | SEPTEMBER 2022 | 27
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