The Brand Herald

Todd Krise with MercenaryMarketing.ai

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Todd Krise, founder of MercenaryMarketing.ai, a Louisville-based AI consulting firm helping businesses and solopreneurs harness artificial intelligence without the hype, the headaches, or the fear. What starts as a conversation about a Louisville Business First article quickly becomes one of the most grounded, practical discussions about AI and brand that The Brand Herald has hosted yet. Todd's path to founding Mercenary wasn't linear. Sports journalism, publishing, agency life, and a front-row seat to social media's rise all built the foundation. But it was watching AI emerge on the horizon that made him go out on his own. The core idea behind Mercenary is deceptively simple: most businesses already have the tools, the data, and the people, they just need someone to connect the dots. Todd's platform serves as an aggregator, pulling together a client's existing CRM, email marketing, content tools, and social channels into a centralized system powered by AI. The result is a smarter version of you, working while you're in the field. The conversation turns toward the harder, more human questions: What does brand even mean in an AI-saturated world? Brand, in Todd's view, is the knowledge base, it's everything your AI agents know about how you speak, what you stand for, and how you serve customers. It's not a logo or a color palette. It's the totality of how people experience you, whether they're talking to you in person or to your AI persona at 11:30 at night.  What makes this episode stick is Todd's conviction that as technology gets more powerful, authenticity gets more valuable. Humans can smell fake and the businesses that will win in an AI-first world are the ones that use AI to amplify what's real about them, not to manufacture something that isn't. For anyone wondering where to start, Todd's parting advice is to go to mercenarymarketing.ai/resources, pick a low-risk tool, and dip your toe in. The mercenary isn't here to replace you. He's here to make you unstoppable. Chapters: 00:02: Landon opens with a Louisville Business First article covering Todd's AI consulting startup.  00:36: Todd introduces himself, journalist, MBA, and self-described PhD in "butt kissing."  01:51: Todd's career path from sports journalism to agency work to spotting the AI wave early. 04:49: The origin of the Mercenary name  05:54: How the business evolved from C-suite content creation to a full AI platform 09:32: Real client use case, how a three-business solopreneur uses AI to prospect, communicate, and monitor leads while he's in the field.  12:46: The knowledge base explained why cloning a client's voice and expertise is the key to AI content that actually sounds like them. 19:41: How Todd defines a brand in an AI world. It's not your logo, it's your knowledge base. 25:03: Why hyper-local, in-person relationships are becoming more valuable as AI scales. 31:15: Practical advice for every AI readiness level and where to find low-risk starting points at mercenarymarketing.ai/resources. Resources: Todd Krise LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddkrise/]    MercenaryMarketing.ai LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mercenarymarketingai/]    MercenaryMarketing.ai [https://mercenarymarketing.ai] MercenaryMarketing.ai/resources [https://www.mercenarymarketing.ai/resources]

Bronson Cordle with Vsimple

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Bronson Cordle, Vice President of Marketing at Vsimple, to explore the real mechanics of marketing software platform in a B2B world. Bronson brings a rich agency background. He trades the agency grind for the chance to build something from the ground up. Landon and Bronson talk about Vsimple's defining challenge, when your platform can automate nearly any business process for nearly any industry, how do you go to market without saying nothing to everyone?  Bronson walks us through the company's decision to lean into AI-powered features and a modular, verticalized approach, targeting commercial interiors, material handling, heavy equipment, and manufacturing niches where Vsimple already has proof, relationships, and traction. From there, Landon and Bronson get into the nuance of brand-building versus performance marketing and why it's common to confuse the two. Bronson explains how keeping branded activities separate from customer targeted campaigns is how your marketing earns revenue and becomes the CFO's best friend. Trade shows, relational selling, and the hand-in-glove reality of marketing and sales alignment round out the tactical picture for a company whose complex sale demands a human touch that no digital ad can replicate. The episode closes on a story that will stick with anyone who's ever bought 500 cheap notebooks thinking they saved the company money. Buddy, Vsimple's CEO, says if the logo goes on it, it has to be something people are proud to carry. It's a reminder that brand isn't just what you say, it's what you hand someone across a table. Bronson's parting advice is to try more things, measure what matters, and never put all your bets on one line item. Chapters: 01:10: Bronson's background and what Christian education has to do with marketing 02:25: What pushed Bronson toward Vsimple 04:51: What you actually lose when you leave agency life 06:34: Vsimple overview and services 10:00: The horizontal platform problem  10:58: An AI features suite and the industries Vsimple targets 15:49: Brand vs. performance marketing 24:16: Trade shows, B2B relationships, and keeping a human touch 27:33: Why generating leads isn't enough if marketing isn't supporting every stage of the sales cycle 33:49: Bronson's one marketing tip Resources: Bronson Cordle LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronson-cordle/]   Vsimple LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vsimple/] Vsimple [https://vsimple.com]

Chad Churchman with Hyland Insurance

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Chad Churchman of Hyland Insurance to discuss the intersection of professional branding and community. Transitioning from a decade in digital marketing at Journeys to the insurance world, Chad shares how he helped shape Hyland’s internal culture.  We explore the "Hyland way"—a philosophy built on educating rather than selling, and the simple act of answering the phone. It’s a grounded look at how a 40-year-old family business maintains its relevance by staying human in a digital age. The conversation shifts to the practical mechanics of brand building, from managing email signatures for 40+ employees to the value of quality promotional items. Chad emphasizes that whether it’s a sideline presence at a Louisville City FC match or internal team apparel, the goal is always utility and longevity.  We’ve found that Hyland’s commitment to "putting their money where their mouth is"—by purchasing quality gear for their team—creates an organic brand advocacy. It’s a reminder that in a crowded market, consistency and character are the only real differentiators. Chapters: 01:00: Chad’s ranking as a semi-pro pinball player and his first-place finishes. 02:05: A brief history of Hyland Insurance, the 40-year-old, family-owned Louisville company. 04:04: Chad’s transition from digital marketing at Journeys to finding a home at Hyland. 08:25: The first 90 days of consolidating internal marketing and creating visual consistency. 12:20: Why "Educate, Don't Sell" and answering the phone are Hyland’s secret weapons. 18:22: A candid look at the complexities of managing email signatures across departments. 21:54: Strategic partnerships with Bellarmine University and Louisville City FC. 26:48: Why Hyland invests in their team’s clothing to build internal pride. 36:19: Tips for owners hiring their first marketing leader and the importance of being realistic with expectations. Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-churchman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-churchman/]  https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyland-insurance-services/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyland-insurance-services/]  https://hylandins.net/ [https://hylandins.net/]

Klaus Schlimm with Countryman Coatings

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon welcomes back his first-ever repeat guest, Klaus Schlimm. Klaus, formerly the VP of Marketing at Progressive Materials, has stepped into a new role as the President of Countryman Coatings. The conversation explores Klaus's transition from the commercial roofing world to the DIY and residential market, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of building a brand from the ground up. The discussion focuses heavily on the importance of authentic brand building and customer education. Klaus shares his vision for Countryman Coatings not just as a product manufacturer, but as a "roof coating encyclopedia" that provides DIYers with the resources and customer service they need to succeed. From the role of high-quality merch in building reputation to the strategy of "bending the brand" to stand out at trade shows, this episode offers practical insights for any entrepreneur looking to cultivate a loyal community and an enduring brand. Chapters 00:02 Landon introduces Klaus Schlimm, the first repeat guest. 02:28 Klaus discusses his background in sales and marketing. 04:10 Transitioning to the role of President at Countryman Coatings. 05:40 Understanding the niche market of residential roof coatings. 09:53 Building an "encyclopedia" of resources for DIY customers. 11:44 The story and values behind the Countryman brand. 12:39 Why high-quality merch is vital for brand reputation. 17:32 Standing out at trade shows by "bending the brand". 24:47 Shifting from commercial to consumer-focused digital marketing strategies. 27:19 Klaus’s advice for entrepreneurs starting a new venture. Resources: Klaus Schlimm LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/klaus-schlimm-29421345/]Countryman Coatings LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/countryman-coatings/posts/?feedView=all]

Chris Nation with Mirazon

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon talks with Chris Nation from Mirazon, a local managed IT services company that’s been helping businesses for 25 years. If you missed the episode with Leah Weisman a few years ago on the sales side, this one is a bit different. Chris is the Marketing Manager at Mirazon who focuses on brand awareness and PR, which he breaks down into two very simple "Rs": Relationships and Reputation. Drawing on his background as an English major and his deep involvement in the Louisville community, Chris shares why the way you talk about your business matters just as much as the work you do. Chris takes the mystery out of PR, explaining that it isn't just about writing press releases. It’s actually about building trust so that when the media or your customers talk about you, they have something good to say. He gives some great, down-to-earth advice for smaller brands: focus on doing excellent work first so you have a great story to tell, then take the time to go meet people to get to know them and build a network. Landon and Chris also talk about why looking professional isn't about being stuffy, but about being consistent. At Mirazon, they use high-quality branded clothing to make sure their engineers feel like a team when they walk into a client's office. Chris sums up their approach with a value we really love at Goodson: "expertise without arrogance". It’s all about making the complex easy to understand and treating people like partners instead of another ticket. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to PR and Reputation Management 04:47 Chris Nation's Background and Journey into PR 09:21 Defining Public Relations: Misconceptions and Realities 14:07 The Role of Relationships in PR 18:59 Understanding Mirazon: Services and Client Relationships 23:33 The Intersection of PR and Marketing at Mirazon 28:22 Advice for Building PR Networks and Reputation 33:05 The Importance of Quality in Branding and Promotional Items Resources: https://www.mirazon.com/ [https://www.mirazon.com/]  Mirazon LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mirazon-group/] Chris Nation LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cnation/]