Stigma Marketing & Development Updates: Growth, Relationships, & Business Plans

Stigma Marketing & Development Updates: Growth, Relationships, and Business Plans

Stigma Marketing & Development is built around values that are deeply personal to me, with authenticity at the core. It’s been a long road to get here—one filled with self-discovery, difficult decisions, and growth, both personally and professionally. I’ve had to face the baggage that comes with telling my story, sort through relationships affected by my drinking, and work through what it means to live authentically while creating the business I was building every day. If I was going to build something meaningful through Stigma, I’d have to dig deep, make things right, and do the hard work to become the kind of leader and consultant I believe in. That was February of 2024. This is part of the reason authenticity matters even more to me now—and why it’s central to the work I do. Burnout, poor decision-making, and moral …

Men's Mental Health: A Glimpse Into Montana's Suicide Statistics

Men’s Mental Health: A Personal Glimpse Into Montana’s Suicide Statistics

If you’re reading this, you’re likely seeking more than just statistics or emotional backstories. This is a real conversation for real people—men and women—who want to understand a part of what’s happening with mental health in our communities and what we can do to make a difference. This does not cover everything nor is it a collective voice. There are things in here that are nuanced and border on topics that can be “delicate” in today’s sensitive polar climate. This isn’t about casting blame or portraying men as victims. It’s about raising awareness, challenging stigma, and taking actionable steps to help those who might be silently struggling. My Journey Through Mental Health, Isolation, and Sobriety My personal journey through mental health, addiction, and sobriety is deeply tied to why I wrote this. Almost three years sober from alcoholism and the …

AI Llama Art - Business & Recovery: Authentic Lessons from the Startup Process

Business and Recovery: Authentic Lessons From The Startup Process

As someone who’s been in the trenches of both personal growth and professional development, I want to share a genuine update on what’s happening behind the scenes at Stigma Marketing & Development. It’s been a journey of growth—not just for the business, but for me personally. I don’t hide my history with alcoholism, at least not as much anymore. One-on-one, in private, I could easily talk about my recovery and confidently navigate the conversation. Looking back, I was getting more comfortable with it for many reasons: time, growth, and getting over the shame that drove me to alcohol in the first place. Yet, starting Stigma wasn’t exactly a black-and-white, clean decision. What was a clear decision was to leave my GM position at a fast “craft” food restaurant. Several things were going on then: Navigating the Messy Reality of Career …

Marketing Basics: How To Make Authenticity Work For You

Marketing Basics: Building Authentic Connections from the Ground Up Starting a business, especially one rooted in authenticity and genuine human connection, is no easy feat when you’ve spent most of your life avoiding vulnerability. It requires not just a good idea, but mistakes, strategy, and a lot of perseverance. When I launched Stigma Marketing & Development in Missoula, Montana, I knew it had to reflect my journey—both the highs and lows. In part, it started to make me do the kind of things I knew I should be. Drawing from my life experiences—my professional management and development background, my struggles with mental health, GMing an Arby’s, my near-MBA, and the lessons learned from my sobriety journey—I aimed to create a marketing company that wasn’t about gimmicks but about believing in people, their visions, and helping them succeed. This blog post …

Finding Your Why - A Recovering Pastor & Stigma Marketing

Finding Your Why: A Recovering Pastor & Stigma Marketing & Development

The Magic of Digital Marketing: Turning Ideas into Impact As a storyteller at heart, I’ve always believed in the power of a great idea. In today’s digital world, even a simple idea—when paired with the right content, audience, and timing—can do more than just catch fire; it can start a movement. But how do you take an idea and turn it into real, impactful results that resonate with your audience? That’s where authentic digital marketing comes into play. Why Authenticity Matters More Than Ever In a world full of noise, authenticity has become a game-changer for brands and businesses. Which is also kind of sad. People are craving genuine connections—they want to support brands that align with their values, tell compelling stories, and offer real value. In fact, 86% of consumers say that authenticity is a key factor when deciding …