Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Kaley.
Hi Mark, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I could probably talk for hours about my backstory, so I will just share the highlights. Having grown up on Long Island, New York, I can come across to some as a little too straight forward, but being a straight shooter and calling it as I see it is one of my strongest qualities. Hopefully, that comes through in this interview.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from St. John’s University, a Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University, and an MBA from Strayer University. I have amassed more than 20 years of experience consulting with large and small businesses, providing them with management, marketing, and business consulting services and advice. I like to think of myself as an entrepreneur at heart, an advocate for small businesses, and a passionate storyteller. I even used the 2020 pandemic to author and publish a memoir of experience entitled, “From Pennies to Millions.” It is a cautionary tale about greed and how the desire for money shapes the decisions that people make. By the way, I am still waiting for the millions that I talk about in the book. I am also a lover of music (yes, I’m an 80’s kid) and recently scripted and wrote an as of yet unproduced rock musical called “Those Days,” a labor of love rooted in 2000s nostalgia, broken dreams, and the healing power of music. If you have ever looked at a picture and whispered ‘I miss those days’ then this new rock musical is for you.
My repertoire of experience is quite diverse. I have worked on a national presidential campaign, with well-known companies such as Amazon and The Walt Disney Company, and small businesses such as 3D Eye Solutions, Inc. and The ExtraHelp Channel.
I like to think of myself as a creative, driven, analytical, and business-savvy marketing professional. I am also self aware enough to know that some would probably disagree with that assessment. To those I say, “Look harder at yourself.”
Throughout my career, I have consulted with over 100 clients and over 500 small businesses through the public relations process. I have focused my efforts on getting their products and services to market, securing financing, and working with management to improve efficiency and profitability. Many clients, either through my direct efforts or indirect efforts, were introduced to Fortune 500 companies for joint ventures along with other joint marketing and business efforts. Currently, I find a lot of enjoyment in working with clients in the blockchain, tech, medical, and financial industries. One of my biggest strengths is taking complex material and making it easily digestible and accessible for larger audiences.
Joining Otter Public Relations was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I enjoy the camaraderie with the other employees and management. While it may sound a bit cliche, the founders place a strong emphasis on not only work life balance, but also creating a family-like atmosphere. I have worked in the past for companies that tried to develop this, but failed because loyalty and respect was always missing. At Otter, mutual respect and employee loyalty are paramount. That is what drives me to perform at my highest levels, and to excel and exceed personal goals as well as company expectations.
I have had so much fun working with clients like Nick Donarski of Ore System, OG Arabian Prince (a founding member of the Hall of Fame rap group N.W.A.) and his management team at MdDAO, Gabriella Kusz of the Global DCA, and Insoo Park of Ecosense, as well as a myriad of others who I don’t have space to list. I have had massive success with these and other clients, landing them placements in CNBC, Yahoo! News, CBS News, Time, Wall Street Journal, Marketwatch, US News & World Report, Investor’s Business Daily, Tech Crunch, Tech Target, Bloomberg, Insider, Spectrum News, Miami Herald, The Street, Charlotte Observer, Forbes, and Fortune. At the end of the day, however, it is not the placement that truly matters, but rather the client’s satisfaction with the placement. To see the client happy is my end goal. And, yes, I do get a rush everytime I get that notice that a placement has gone live.
On top of all that, there is more to me than my business side. I was always attracted to the Central Florida weather and tourist experiences, so I relocated with my family to the Sunshine State in 2004. I have an incredibly beautiful and understanding wife who puts up with me, three extraordinary children, and an old but adorable chihuahua. After meeting client commitments, I make time to be involved in my childrens’ lives whether my its my youngest’s theater program, my son’s e-sports team, or my oldest’s med school application process, and of course the family partakes in the Central Florida theme park experiences. If we are not at home, you can probably find us walking around Universal Studios or Disney World enjoying each other’s company and making memories.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Back in 2007, a client of mine landed a $25+ million purchase order with the Department of Homeland Security for thumb drives. It was one of the most exciting deals I had worked on. The client did media interviews, was on the floor of the NASDAQ, and was excitedly describing all the business he was getting as a result of that order. However, in the end it all turned out to be false. The client forged the purchase order, wire transfers for the money, and even lied about having cancer. It was an unbelievable story and only one of many that I have experienced. If you want to read more, they are all in my book, “From Pennies to Millions.”
In the end no matter what happens I live by the motto “Never be a prisoner of your past. It was just a lesson, not a life sentence.” That quote also ties in with something that C.S. Lewis said, which is, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
I have found success and failure. I have taken my lumps in life. I made mistakes and grew from them. At the same time, I am generally a positive person who sees the glass as half full. I believe that, on this roller coaster that we call life, you have the choice of enjoying the ride or screaming about. In either case, you have to get on the ride.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the PR Manager for Otter Public Relations, and work on both the operations and sales side of the company. In a nutshell I am responsible for understanding the client’s goals and objectives during the sales process and making sure our clients’ goals and objectives are met once onboarded. The PR work I do with small business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs to help them to tell their unique story to the market often involves positioning them as thought leaders. Those who want to sell a product or service benefit greatly from being known as a thought leader or industry expert. Why should anyone believe in the project if its management team or founder has no expertise, or is not seen as a thought leader who is sparking dialogue in the industry and provoking thoughts about the concept?
Take, for example, Nick Donarski from Ore, or Gabriella Kusz from Global DCA. I have leveraged their expertise and thought leadership to make them household names in their respective industries. If you are looking for blockchain solutions, then you will find that Nick — whose company was named as one of the top 10 blockchain solution companies in 2022 — is the person with whom you need to speak. In terms of digital assets, you will find that Gabby Kusz is your go-to. By highlighting their unique backgrounds and showcasing their expertise in articles and interviews, I was able to build them a media resume that showed them as important voices in their respective fields. This enhanced their credibility and allowed them to advance the discourse within their industries. How did we define a particular expertise for each of them? We examined the space, found a platform that needed a speaker, and positioned them to fill the role.
People listen to those who are qualified, and qualifications help to sell. If you are not seen as a thought leader, people will question whether what you have is beneficial to them or able to effectively meet their needs. Even if you have a product that is the next best thing since sliced bread, you still need to have some expertise to convince people that they need it. Why would they buy from you if someone else who is more of an expert has a comparable product? You need expertise to sell and, in the end, it is all about sales.
I am most proud of the fact that I have helped participate in the growth of Otter Public Relations. I have implemented a series of enhanced processes and procedures that have helped Otter PR grow its client portfolio by over 300%. I like to think my expert insights have empowered the firm to optimize its client management strategies and give our publicists and account strategists the capacity to handle a larger client load while supporting a healthy work-life balance. I have also been instrumental in creating and developing new revenue streams for Otter PR, including an influencer program, a social media program, and SEO services that adds considerable value to the brand boosting Otter PR clients’ experience. My contributions to Otter PR also include playing an instrumental role in fine-tuning the company’s sales process. I like to think my influence raised the performance of the entire Otter PR team to new heights, earning the company the No. 33 spot on Inc. Magazine’s 2024 list of fastest-growing private companies in the Southeast US.
Also, personally winning the 2024 Bronze Stevie Award for Maverick of the Year was nice recognition as well.
What are your plans for the future?
I see too much division in politics today, and I think we need to find a balance between both the extremes of the right and the left. Politicians play for polls, soundbites, and airtime, rather than governing based on common sense. The wind may blow one way today, but the decision today may have serious consequences tomorrow. Something needs to change.
I would love to run for political office. I have always believed in what some may describe as traditional Republican values of capitalism, personal freedoms, and the like, but I also realize that my rights are no more paramount than others at times. I think there needs to be an elected official in this country that does not come from either political party. I would absolutely love it if I was a winning write-in independent candidate. I would do so much good and return this country to the values it stood for — equality, opportunity, and freedom from tyranny.
While those are big dreams, I would also probably settle for a nice two week cruise – LOL!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mkaley.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/markkaleyauthor
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/markckaley
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkaley/
- Other: https://www.otterpr.com
