Small Business Week Spotlight: Christy Vogel
In honor of National Small Business Week, we are celebrating Vistage members who started small, dreamed big, and got results. Throughout the week, they will be sharing their stories on how they drive growth for their business, how they take risks, and what their visions are for the future.
In 2009, Christy Vogel founded Marketing Direction to provide part-time marketing executives for companies that 
do not have the constant need of a full-time marketing executive. Marketing Direction is unique in that it offers clients a dedicated marketing executive two days a week, which benefits clients by giving them the experience of an industry veteran at the cost of a lower-level marketing manager. With Christy’s innovative approach and vision, Marketing Direction has been able to help business owners focus on growing their firms.
My 3 to drive my business forward
- Added a director level to my organizational chart that allowed me to focus on recruiting and business development.
- I “fired” three clients who were making my consultants feel less than valued.
- Added a maintenance program at a lower number of hours after the first six months.
My leap of faith
Focused solely on providing part-time marketing executives in the strategic capacity working on a six-month agreement (minimum). In the beginning I’d take any short-term project I could get.
My vision for the future
Double revenue from 2014 to 2016.
Member Spotlight
Christy Vogel
Founder/President/CEO, Marketing Direction
www.marketingdirection.com
Tampa, FL
Vistage member since 2014
CE 2031
Category: Leadership
About the Author: Vistage Staff
Vistage facilitates confidential peer advisory groups for CEOs and other senior leaders, focusing on solving challenges, accelerating growth and improving business performance. Over 45,000 high-caliber execu
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I commend you for “firing” three clients and having the wisdom to do so. I’ve watched a company flounder and fail when they allowed one customer to rule their world, run off their talent, and eat away at their profit margins and all because they were too worried about what would happen if they didn’t have their business. I imagine you’re in a much better place today Christy, cheers to a great year!