a little bit about us...
Kerning is a strategically-lead branding and design consultancy. We strive to deliver digital-first, consumer-centric, marketing and design solutions driven by strategic analysis, hard data & creative results.
the kerning approach
We believe we’re the new model in design consultancies – highly experienced core with a flexible, on-demand specialist network that’s handpicked for your project.
Our clients range from F50 companies, to emerging and startup businesses. We work with local and global businesses alike as they rapidly grow through in-store and online sales.
our team leads
Lisa Boh
Strategy Partner
Lisa’s mastery of brand strategy, customer understanding, and digital marketing blends innovative and proven processes. Honing these skills in immersive practice using quant and qualitative data in storytelling, she applies data-driven insight to creative execution.
She excels as an outsource CMO, leading insights, innovation, and marketing strategy for B2B and Consumer companies. From PE & VC-backed turnarounds, to rapid growth tech, or established companies who need to find new market opportunities, her nimble style works as a consultant our part of the team. Key categories include consumer products, health & wellness, and F&B.
She has a BS in Design from the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP, and executive education certifications from Yale SOM.
Glen Spurrier
Creative Partner
A seasoned creative leader with expertise in branding, design and design management, Glen leads global brands and products from new product development through commercialization. His experience building teams and developing talent makes him a unique consultant with additional strengths in client collaboration and change management.
Utilizing design-thinking and rapid prototyping as strategic problem-solving methodologies, he excels at seeing opportunity through lenses of design, brand, financial, marketing, and sourcing. His seemingly endless supply of energy and passion allows him to continually develop relevant, cost-efficient and strategic design solutions that fulfill tangible business needs for all B2B, B2C and CPG clients.
McKENNA L. BROOKS
Head of client management & content
McKenna has over 20 years of experience in consulting, sales, brand strategy/ management, customer loyalty marketing and local marketing publishing across digital and print media. Her passion for building unique brands, consumer insights and bringing beautiful content to life across channels is evident in her work.
After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Finance, McKenna pursued roles in consulting and sales, and then received an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, where she studied brand marketing. She has spent the last 17 years doing just that – building brands and marketing for some of the biggest and most loved brands in the U.S., from Pillsbury to Totino’s, to Jergens and O’Keeffe’s, and ultimately to Simple Truth, a Kroger exclusive brand.
Over the past 5 years, McKenna has Owned and Edited The Scout Guide (TSG) Cincinnati, and grown that marketing platform for local businesses into one of the region’s strongest communication platforms available to locally owned businesses.
At Kerning Brands, McKenna is responsible for Client Management and Content Creation, and is most passionate about fueling the growth of new, small, entrepreneurial brands and businesses, and helping passionate business owners build their brands into those their customers love.
some our team members...
A Smart and focused leader, Anna is highly analytical and an extremely strategic thinker with an impressive background in product development and brand management. She adds depth and expertise to brands and teams across multiple categories including Beauty Care, Juvenile Products and the Toy industry to name a few. She abounds with energy and passion with a transparent approach to improving the quality of products, services and organizations she works with.
Her specialties include: Strategic Planning; Brand Development; Marketing; New Business and Product Development, Marketing Communications, Consumer and Trade Event Planning.
Operating across Marketing, Business and Product Development functions Anna has worked at C-Suite levels across recognized global brands such as Hazbro, Primavera, Summer Infant, Crabtree & Evelyn and Stride Right.
Julie’s experience includes new brand development & market launches. Developing traditional and digital marketing strategies for both global brands and digital agencies across multiple categories.
Julie’s helped create brands that people love, operating across research, conception to ongoing engagement, and has led client management, creative and strategic teams numerous regional and global B2B and B2C companies. At E.J. Gallo, she was responsible for managing the high-level strategic marketing initiatives for such brands including; Barefoot, Turning Leaf, Gallo Family Vineyards, Apothic Red, Ecco Domani, William Hill, Frei Brothers, Louis Martini, MacMurray Ranch, amongst others.
Leading Design for Kaleidoscope, Alberto Culver, Unilever, PepsiCo Latin America and many more, Dennis has. track record of reinventing brands, driving growth and innovating consumer-centric brand experiences.
Heather’s extensive design management and marketing background begins with building creative teams in a small Cincinnati-based agency and managing that company through acquisition by a publicly-traded parent company. With a degree in visual communication, two decades of design leadership experience, and a six sigma green belt, she’s equal parts creative and process, a rare quality in design management. She’s managed multiple global accounts, focusing on both the strategic goals and everyday details, keeping the team motivated, focused, and efficient. She brings to kerning a wealth of experience in client management, process design, creative management, design and production.