As we wrap up our 35th-anniversary celebration, we reflect on a marketing world that’s evolving faster than ever. Yet through it all, LKF Marketing’s core values stand the test of time—Be Honest, Have Fun, Be Smart, Do Whatever It Takes, and Contribute to Family.
These have been our compass, guiding us and our clients through changing trends and driving success.
Silos are a No-Go
From the start, LKF’s approach has been silo-free by design. Teamwork is essential, and most teams are more effective when ideas and skills aren’t confined to individual departments or roles.
Related to that, we’ve seen that much of the business world loves to use “collaboration” as a buzzword. For us, it’s always been much more than that—it’s the essence of everything we do because collaboration is a natural extension of our core values.
Being honest, contributing to family, and having fun—all of these are actions that require more than one person. (Well, you could have fun by yourself, but it wouldn’t be nearly as fun without a fellow LKFer!)
Because of that, the whole cross-functional team thing really is nothing new to us because we’ve always worked together to leverage results from team members who come from a variety of backgrounds and realms of expertise.
The Heart of LKF: Personal Stories Behind Our Values
As we celebrate 35 years of growth and innovation, it’s easy to focus on the big-picture milestones and industry shifts. However, at the core of LKF Marketing are the personal experiences and relationships that have shaped who we are.
Our values aren’t just words on a wall—they’re principles we live by every day. And behind each value is a story, a lesson, or a moment that reminds us why these tenets matter so deeply.
I’ll give you a closer look at what these core values mean to me through the lens of real experiences that have defined my journey at LKF.
Be Honest
In my younger years, honesty didn’t always come easily. I often struggled to admit my mistakes, fearing how others might perceive me.
Over time, I’ve learned that being truthful is incredibly liberating. The reality is, we’re usually our own toughest critics.
I’ve also discovered that when I acknowledge my mistakes, it’s equally important to present solutions for fixing them. Honesty, paired with accountability, fosters growth and builds trust.
Have Fun
Believe it or not, I really struggle with this one. (Insert sarcasm here.)
This core value resonates deeply with me and has quickly become one of my favorites. Finding a workplace and a community that fully embraces me—including all my quirks and “weirdness”—has been transformative. It’s a reminder that fun and authenticity go hand in hand, making work feel less like work and more like a place to thrive.
Be Smart
Seems obvious, right? But trusting your instincts or thinking outside the box can be challenging for many.
Early in my career, one of our clients had a highly sought-after product catalog. At the time, putting it online wasn’t an option (yes, I’ve been around that long!). Instead of mailing bulky printed catalogs, we suggested creating a digital version on a CD and attaching it to a widely read trade journal.
It was an ambitious project, but, by trusting my gut and embracing creative problem-solving, the idea came to life successfully.
Do Whatever It Takes and Contribute to Family
These two core values often go hand in hand, and throughout my career at LKF, I’ve seen them in action—long before they were formally defined. Every day, in small yet meaningful ways, the agency embodied these principles.
This became especially evident when my now 6-year-old son, Alex, was diagnosed with cancer.
Beyond the initial shock and fear, my family faced over a year of weekly doctor appointments, a temporary move to the east side of Michigan, and the constant stress and worry that come with such a diagnosis.
During this challenging time, my work family stepped up in extraordinary ways.
They created an incredible care package for Alex, showered me and my family with unwavering support and encouragement, and provided the flexibility I needed—adjusting meetings, my schedule, and workload to meet me where I was. They didn’t just talk about supporting family; they lived it, becoming some of our biggest cheerleaders along the way. They were integral in getting us through.
Into 2025 and Beyond
In the whirlwind of our professional and personal lives, we need something that will ground us. For LKF, it’s our core values.
Industry trends come and go, and technology will keep advancing at lightning speed. However, one thing will remain constant—our commitment to the core values that have defined us for 35 years.
They aren’t just a roadmap for where we’ve been; they’re a
promise for where we’re going—and we can’t wait to bring our team, families,
and clients with us.
Contact us to put our core values to work for your organization and its marketing needs.
