Press Release
Why Marketing That Connects Outlasts Marketing That Shouts — Linda Derks on Building Brands People Trust
IL, US, 26th August 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, In an age where consumers are bombarded by content at every scroll, swipe, and search, one voice is challenging brands to step back and rethink their approach. Linda Derks, founder of Linda Derks Strategy Group in Chicago, argues that the most effective marketing is not about being the loudest in the room—it’s about being the most meaningful.
“Shouting gets attention for a moment,” Derks explains. “Connection builds trust that lasts for years.”
With more than 15 years of experience guiding brands across industries like technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and finance, Derks has seen firsthand how quickly trends come and go. What doesn’t fade, she insists, is the human desire for authenticity.
From Noise to Nuance
Derks describes modern marketing as a crowded, sometimes chaotic space where brands are pressured to outdo each other with flashier campaigns, more aggressive promotions, or louder messaging. But in her view, this race for attention often backfires.
“Consumers are smarter than ever,” she says. “They can tell when a message is authentic versus when it’s just noise. And once you lose their trust, no amount of shouting will bring it back.”
Instead, Derks advocates for a nuanced approach. She emphasizes starting with clarity—understanding what a brand truly stands for, who it serves, and why it matters. From there, strategy and storytelling work together to create campaigns that resonate at an emotional level.
Building Brands on Trust
At Linda Derks Strategy Group, every project begins with a deep dive into a brand’s identity. Derks and her team work to uncover not just what the company sells but also the values and purpose behind it.
“A brand voice can’t be borrowed from competitors or built from buzzwords,” she explains. “It has to come from within. When a company is clear on its purpose, everything else—messaging, campaigns, even customer service—aligns more naturally.”
Her clients range from startups eager to establish a foothold to established corporations looking to reenergize their image. In both cases, Derks says the same principle applies: trust is the foundation of long-term success.
Data and Storytelling: A Balanced Approach
Derks acknowledges that marketing today is more data-driven than ever. Metrics like engagement, conversion rates, and ROI are vital for proving success. But she warns that numbers without narrative can fall flat.
“Data gives us direction, but storytelling creates connection,” she says. “If you only follow analytics, you risk losing the human side of the brand. If you only tell stories without measuring results, you risk irrelevance. The real power comes when you balance both.”
This balanced approach has earned her firm recognition for delivering campaigns that are not only creative but also measurable in their impact. Clients consistently credit her with simplifying complex insights into actionable strategies that drive both engagement and revenue.
A Broader Role in the Marketing Community
Beyond her client work, Derks plays an active role in shaping the marketing conversation nationwide. She is a frequent keynote speaker at industry conferences, a contributor to leading marketing publications, and a mentor for emerging professionals.
Her commentary often focuses on the evolving role of authenticity in branding, particularly in a marketplace increasingly influenced by AI, automation, and digital transformation.
“The tools will keep changing,” she notes. “What won’t change is the fact that people buy from people they trust. Whether we’re using billboards, social media, or AI-generated campaigns, connection will always be the deciding factor.”
Lessons from 15 Years in the Field
Over the course of her career, Derks has watched brands rise and fall. Some flared brightly with attention-grabbing campaigns but struggled to maintain relevance. Others took the slower, steadier path of building relationships—and are thriving today.
Her takeaway is clear: “Sustainable growth comes from consistency, not stunts. Brands that take the time to build real trust with their audiences will outlast those chasing quick wins.”
She often draws parallels between marketing and architecture. Just as strong buildings need solid foundations, strong brands require trust at their core. Without it, no amount of polish or noise can sustain them.
The Chicago Edge
Derks credits much of her perspective to her Chicago roots. The city’s mix of tradition and innovation has influenced her approach to strategy—grounded, yet forward-looking.
“Chicago has this incredible balance,” she reflects. “It’s a hub for business and culture, but it also values authenticity. That balance is something I carry into my work. Clients don’t just want ideas—they want ideas that will actually work in the real world.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of Connection
As the marketing landscape continues to evolve, Derks remains focused on what she calls “connection over clamor.” She believes the next decade will bring even more digital noise, making authenticity more critical than ever.
“Consumers are overwhelmed,” she says. “They’re looking for brands that cut through the chaos by being genuine. The companies that thrive will be the ones that choose connection over volume, trust over gimmicks, and clarity over confusion.”
Her advice to brands navigating this shift is simple: slow down, listen, and invest in understanding your audience.
Voices from Clients
Clients who have worked with Derks echo her philosophy. One technology startup founder shared, “Linda helped us realize that our story wasn’t about features—it was about people. Once we started focusing on the human side of our brand, everything changed: engagement, sales, even team morale.”
Another client in the consumer goods sector noted, “She challenged us to stop chasing every trend and instead stay true to our core. The result was a campaign that felt authentic, and it connected with our customers in a way we hadn’t seen before.”
About Linda Derks
Linda Derks is a Chicago-based Marketing Strategist & Brand Architect and the founder of Linda Derks Strategy Group. With more than 15 years of experience across technology, healthcare, finance, and consumer industries, she is known for helping organizations discover their authentic voice and translate it into strategies that build trust and drive measurable results. Derks is also a frequent keynote speaker, published contributor, and mentor committed to advancing the future of marketing through authenticity and collaboration.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Gabriel Malkin Florida Completes 120-Mile Camino Walk with Focus, Patience, and Preparation
Florida, US, 30th January 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, Most students don’t spend the start of summer walking across northern Spain. Gabriel Malkin did. In June 2025, the Florida high school graduate completed a 120-mile stretch of the Camino de Santiago, one of the world’s oldest pilgrimage routes. It wasn’t a last-minute idea. It was a goal he had planned for, trained for, and quietly worked toward for months.
This wasn’t about adventure or social media. For Gabriel, it was about setting a physical goal and showing up for it every day.
“I didn’t want to wing it,” he said. “It was important to take it seriously.”
Gabriel’s prep started long before his flight to Europe. He built up mileage slowly, starting with short daily walks in South Florida. As the months went on, he added distance, tested gear, and paid attention to recovery. Blisters, sore muscles, and weather were all part of the process. So was building patience.
“The Camino isn’t just hard because it’s long,” Gabriel said. “It’s hard because you have to get up and do it again every day. Even when you’re tired. Even when nothing hurts and you feel fine—you still have to walk.”
The daily rhythm became its own challenge. Mornings often started before sunrise, with quiet stretches of trail through farmland, hills, and towns. Gabriel carried a small pack with essentials. Water, snacks, extra socks. No Wi-Fi. No schedule beyond the day’s distance. Just a clear goal and a few hours of steady effort.
That focus and consistency mirrors how Gabriel approaches most things. Whether he’s in class, on the tennis court, or working on saxophone tone, he tends to favor structure and repetition over shortcuts. It’s not about perfection. It’s about showing up, improving slowly, and staying with it.
“I’ve never been the fastest or the strongest at anything,” he said. “But I like knowing I’m getting better, even if it’s slow.”
Gabriel grew up in South Florida and attended Virginia Shuman Young Elementary, Pine Crest in Fort Lauderdale, and NSU University School in Davie. He played tennis, baseball, and football through different stages of school. He also spent time hiking local trails and practicing saxophone, two interests he says helped him train for the Camino more than people might expect.
“Hiking helped with endurance, obviously,” he said. “But playing music teaches you a lot about repetition and listening to your body. You learn when to push and when to pause.”
For Gabriel, the Camino wasn’t a performance or a competition. It was a quiet personal test. He kept notes during the walk, not for a blog, but to track how each day felt. When he crossed the finish line in Santiago, there was no big moment. Just a quiet sense of completion.
Now back home, Gabriel hasn’t stopped walking. He’s back to local trails, early mornings, and training logs. He’s also thinking about what comes next—college, travel, more endurance goals—but isn’t rushing anything.
“There’s no rush,” he said. “The Camino reminded me that showing up every day matters more than trying to get somewhere fast.”
Gabriel Malkin Florida continues to build habits rooted in preparation, consistency, and follow-through. Whether through athletics, academics, or music, his focus remains steady: stay curious, stay active, and finish what you start.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Jon DiPietra Debunks 5 Real Estate Myths That Mislead New Yorkers
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Jon DiPietra, a New York–based real estate valuation executive, explains why common beliefs about space and value often miss the mark.
New York, US, 30th January 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, New York City is full of opinions about real estate. Many of them are repeated so often they start to feel true. But according to Jon DiPietra, decades of hands-on valuation work tell a different story.

“You learn things you cannot see in a report,” DiPietra says. “That’s where most of these myths fall apart.”
Below are five common myths that mislead everyday people across dense urban markets, why they persist, and what actually matters instead.
Myth 1: Bigger Space Always Means Better Value
Why people believe it:
Square footage is easy to compare. Listings highlight size first, so people assume more space equals more value.
The reality:
In dense cities, efficiency matters more than size. Studies show poorly used space can reduce productivity by up to 30 percent, even when square footage increases.
As DiPietra puts it, “The goal is not to produce the highest number. The goal is to produce something that makes sense in the real world.”
Try this today:
Identify one underused area in your home or office and repurpose it for a single clear function.
Myth 2: National Data Tells You Everything You Need to Know
Why people believe it:
Online tools and national reports feel authoritative and precise.
The reality:
Real estate is hyper-local. In New York, conditions can change block by block. National averages often lag reality by months.
“Real estate is ultimately driven by people, not formulas,” DiPietra says.
Try this today:
Walk your block at different times of day. Notice noise, foot traffic, and how spaces are actually used.
Myth 3: If a Space Worked Before, It Should Still Work Now
Why people believe it:
People resist change and assume layouts age well.
The reality:
How we live and work has shifted fast. Surveys show nearly 60 percent of people say their space no longer supports how they work today.
“Clear thinking matters more than being busy,” DiPietra notes.
Try this today:
Ask one simple question: What do I actually do here every day? Adjust one thing to support that reality.
Myth 4: More Information Leads to Better Decisions
Why people believe it:
Data feels safe. More feels smarter.
The reality:
Too much information can slow decisions and increase stress. Research links information overload to poorer judgment.
DiPietra says, “More data does not always lead to better decisions.”
Try this today:
Limit yourself to three criteria when evaluating a space or decision. Ignore the rest.
Myth 5: You Need a Major Renovation to Fix a Space
Why people believe it:
Media and social platforms spotlight dramatic transformations.
The reality:
Small changes often have outsized impact. Lighting, noise reduction, and decluttering consistently rank among the highest-return improvements.
“Sometimes the simplest changes create the most lasting value,” DiPietra says.
Try this today:
Improve lighting where you spend the most time. It is one of the fastest ways to change how a space feels.
If You Only Remember One Thing
Spaces influence behavior more than most people realize. When a space creates friction, it is often a design problem, not a personal one.
Understanding how space actually functions is more valuable than following assumptions or averages.
Call to Action
Share this myth list with someone who lives or works in a dense city. Pick one practical tip above and try it today. Small changes, applied intentionally, add up.
About Jon DiPietra
Jon DiPietra is a New York–based commercial real estate valuation executive and cofounder of H&T Appraisal, the valuation group of Horvath & Tremblay. With more than 20 years of experience, he has worked across residential, commercial, mixed-use, and special-use properties, focusing on how real people actually use space.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Roger Haenke Connects Healthcare and Faith in a Career Centered on Presence and Support
San Diego, California, 30th January 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, Roger Haenke has spent his career at the intersection of healthcare and faith. As a registered nurse and ordained priest, his work has placed him in moments where people are vulnerable, uncertain, and often searching for support. Whether in hospitals, churches, clinics, or classrooms, Roger Haenke has built a reputation for being present, steady, and quietly dependable.
Roger Haenke began his career in parish ministry after completing his theological education and ordination. He served churches across North Dakota, offering pastoral care, teaching, and leadership. Much of his early work focused on being there for others during personal transitions—illness, loss, change, and growth. These experiences helped shape how Roger Haenke would later approach leadership in every other part of his life.
After leaving active ministry, Roger Haenke returned to school and earned a nursing degree. He started at the bedside and quickly moved into leadership roles. His healthcare career took him through specialty clinics, hospital departments, and community-based health systems. He managed staff, trained nurses, developed new services, and helped improve patient care across several states. At every step, Roger Haenke kept his focus on people and the systems that support them.
The connection between healthcare and ministry was always clear to Roger Haenke. He saw how much both fields depend on trust, communication, and the ability to remain calm when things are hard. He brought this understanding into every room he entered—whether leading a care team, sitting with a patient, or offering support to staff under pressure.
Later, Roger Haenke joined the faculty at San Diego State University. He taught nursing leadership, financial management, and professional development. His students learned not only the structure of healthcare systems, but also how to show up for others with clarity and respect. Roger Haenke’s teaching reflected what he had lived: strong systems matter, but presence and consistency matter just as much.
In his later ministry roles, Roger Haenke continued to offer steady leadership to congregations in the San Diego area. He worked with teams, guided transitions, and focused on inclusion, listening, and shared responsibility. His approach was thoughtful, balanced, and always grounded in care for others.
Now, Roger Haenke is entering a new chapter. He is no longer working in formal institutional roles, but he continues to serve the San Diego community in smaller, more flexible ways. Whether volunteering, mentoring, or simply showing up when needed, Roger Haenke remains committed to steady, meaningful work rooted in the same values he has carried all along.
For Roger Haenke, leadership has never been about attention or titles. It has always been about being present when it counts.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
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