Chad GermannPresident/CEO Chad Germann is an enrolled member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribe of Minnesota and founder and CEO of Red Circle Agency.
Germann’s career in gaming started while he was still in college, serving as a summer marketing intern with his tribe’s two casinos, Grand Casino Hinckley and Grand Casino Mille Lacs, each of his 4 years of undergraduate school. After graduate school Germann joined Grand Casino Hinckley as the Director of Advertising where he managed all advertising and media strategy, planning and budgeting for more than 3 years. With the support of the casino and his tribal leadership, Germann left the casino in 2001 to start a casino marketing agency called Red Circle Agency.
Red Circle, which specializes in Native-owned casinos, is the marketing agency of record for more than 20 Indian gaming casinos in the U.S. In 2008 Germann was named one of five people recognized as Change Agent Honorees as part of The 2008 ADCOLOR® Awards, presented by the ADCOLOR® Industry Coalition. Germann was one of just 21 total ADCOLOR® Awards honorees in the categories of Legend, Change Agent, Innovator and Rising Star. The honorees are from notable companies such as Google, Disney ESPN Media Networks, USA Today, Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi, Campbell-Ewald, Carol H. Williams Advertising, DDB, Denuo and many others.
Matt Benka
Vice-President/Operations
Matt got his start as a graphic designer and quickly gained regional and national attention for his work. After helming his own agency for 4 years, Matt transitioned into management consultation, utilizing his depth of knowledge in business and management strategies to help several agencies position themselves competitively and make successful adjustments for growth. Matt later served as a Creative Director for an established Central Minnesota firm before joining Red Circle as Managing Director.
With all the travel necessary to serve Red Circle clientele nationwide, Matt serves as an anchor in the office with his working knowledge of all aspects of the agency. He is instrumental in establishing and achieving operational goals as well as overseeing day-to-day activities.
Craig Peterson
Controller
Craig has a BS Degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Operations, and over six years of experience in Managerial Accounting and Finance. Prior to joining Red Circle Agency, Craig owned and operated Divine Capital, advising business owners on their financial goals and ambitions.
Craig’s exceptional work ethic and eagerness to integrate himself into a working environment has resulted in significant contributions to both long and short-term RCA goals. Craig recently became a Certified Agency Financial Manager, and is working towards becoming a Certified Management Accountant. His enthusiasm for continuing education has been an important part of helping Red Circle Agency consistently accomplish its goals.
Nikki Dorau
Account Supervisor/Database
Nikki Dorau has been working in the gaming industry for 12 years, having spent time in Native American casinos as a Database Manager, Director of Marketing, and acting Vice President. With her specialty in tier programs, Nikki’s programs boasted an average of more than 50% profit, while her direct mail programs averaged more than 75% profit.
After joining Red Circle as Database Specialist four years ago, Nikki has been working to successfully launch and maintain new Players Club programs for RCA clients, and has also been instrumental in the development of RCA’s new revenue controlling software RECON.
Tara Ezzell
Sr. Marketing Strategist Account Supervisor
Tara has worked in the Gaming industry for over 15 years and has done work for 11 tribes representing 21 casinos (and counting). Prior to joining Red Circle four years ago as an Account Executive and Database Specialist, Tara held a variety of of casino positions including Advertising Production Manager, Database Marketing Manager and Director of Advertising.
She works directly with Red Circle clients in the development of marketing and advertising strategy; projects as complex as full marketing plans, budgets and multi-property brand development to as simple as single casino promotions. She brings to every project and client a genuine passion for fostering team work and providing resources that grow, not only casino revenue, but whole departments and individuals as well.
Tara is co-author of Red Circle Agency's new database marketing software offering - RECON.
Cathy Grisham
Creative Director
Cathy Grisham already had an impressive career at large agencies in Chicago and Minneapolis before joining Red Circle in 2003. Trained as an art director and designer, she was Creative Director at FCB and DDB Chicago and later was Executive Creative Director at Campbell Mithun Minneapolis. She has created national media campaigns for such clients as Maybelline, General Mills, Dial Soap, Kimberly Clark, Dow, and many others for which she garnered various awards. (Clios, Cannes Certificate, Effies, Addys, New York Art Director’s Club)
She enjoys bringing an experienced 360-degree view of strategy and marketing to Red Circle Agency. She also relishes the challenge of creating the same sort smart, classy and effective messaging for her current clients that she brought to her Fortune 500 clients.
S. Bonn Banwell
Creative Director
Bonn has been an advertising agency creative for nearly twenty-five years and is an accomplished creator of both traditional and new media campaigns.
Before joining Red Circle Agency, Bonn served as creative director with Russell Herder, Minneapolis. During his tenure, the firm was a two-time finalist for the American Association of Advertising Agencies, O’Toole Award, honoring the nation’s most creative firms. Bonn’s background includes work for national and international brands, including 3M, Campbell’s Soup, Wellcraft Boats, General Mills, HealthPartners, Associated Press, Champion Paper, Best Western International and Merck Pharmaceutical.
His work has won more than 200 awards, including many at the national level. Bonn is a regular jurist for creative competitions throughout the country, including shows in Buffalo, New York; Houston, Texas; and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Ben Schmidt
Copywriter
After receiving a BA in Film from the University of Iowa, Ben worked for what is now Iowa Public Radio, co-creating an AP award-winning radio program. Looking to expand his writing skills Ben moved north to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he interned for American Radio Works, and then worked as a Production Assistant for Minnesota Public Radio.
In 2005 Ben co-wrote and starred in “The Adventures of Hover Man,” which went on to win Best Film and Best Special FX in the Minneapolis 48-Hour Film Festival. In 2005 Ben also co-wrote a television pilot that was accepted into the 1st Annual New York Television Festival. But it was the buzz around Hover Man that brought, or hovered, him to the attention of Red Circle Agency that same year.
Ben now spends his days at Red Circle canoodling creative for print, radio, and television. In 2009 he was thrilled to win his first 3 Telly Awards, including a Silver Telly for his work on Kewadin Casino’s brand television campaign.
Bonnie Ashton
Media Director
Bonnie’s media career began over 25 years ago and has included media strategy, planning and buying Spot and National Radio, Television, Outdoor, Magazine, Newspaper and Internet. Her past clients have included National Car Rental, Cost Cutters Hair Care, Rainbow Foods and Coca Cola as well as regional and Minnesota based companies.
Fourteen years ago Bonnie had her introduction to the Native American Casino Gaming world with Grand Casino Hinckley and Grand Casino Mille Lacs has worked exclusively in gaming ever since.
In the past Bonnie has served on the Board of Directors in various capacities for AWRT (American Women in Radio and TV) for five years and have been active in their mentoring program. Bonnie was also a judge for the AAF (American Advertising Federation) in the NSAC (National AAF Student Advertising Competition) in 2009.
