Aker Ink PR & Marketing, a full-service agency helping companies increase brand awareness, enhance thought leadership and generate leads, has hired industry veteran and expert digital strategist Lauren Garstecki as managing director. In addition to overseeing account teams and developing creative, results-driven marketing programs, Garstecki will help to scale the firm’s operations and expand its market presence.
With more than two decades of experience, Garstecki has steered cross-disciplinary teams and guided business development strategies for organizations at all levels – from Fortune 500s to early-stage enterprises. Her far-reaching expertise spans a variety of industries, including healthcare, consumer packaged goods, financial services and manufacturing.
“Lauren isn’t just an executive who’s content to distantly manage teams from on high,” said Aker Ink CEO Andrea Aker. “She’s a marketing leader who is unafraid to get into the weeds with her team. She is passionate about devising clever ways to get results for clients and eager to take on the most trying challenges. She’s a perfect fit for our high standards, work ethos and reputation for excellence.”
Before joining Aker Ink, Garstecki served as the senior vice president of client services for a prominent Milwaukee-based digital marketing and advertising agency, where she was responsible for growing profitability, driving market expansion, leading organizational change and introducing new, results-getting techniques to client campaigns. Additionally, Garstecki served as a digital strategy consultant for enterprise-level organizations, advising on digital transformations and high-impact solutions yielding business success.
“I was drawn to Aker Ink’s overall drive for excellence,” said Garstecki. “The entire team is truly dedicated to executing PR and marketing strategies at the highest level. The agency is poised for incredible growth in the near- and long-term, and I welcomed the opportunity to lead such a talented team through this expansion.”
Garstecki earned a Bachelor of Arts in advertising and public relations from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She has additional executive training in context and road mapping, organic growth and leadership development.
