Dave
Dave has been advising brand managers, founders, and executives on names for over 19 years. He now relishes in what the Earworm™ naming service has afforded him – the ability to be brutally honest with clients regarding their names, while marrying his legal and branding experience to deliver names that a brand can be built around. Specifically, phenomenal names that are protectable. Boring wall flower names, like Apex and Summit, make him want to puke in his mouth; while outstanding names, like INCOGmeatO, have him dancing on the couch like Tom Cruise (totally false, perhaps more like… have him giving an approving head nod and an ironic thumbs up). Sure, he has all the qualifications, a law degree, an MBA, an engineering degree, but let’s be honest – none of that matters if he can’t deliver on the promise. Do his thoughts on branding and naming resonate with you? If so, give us a shot – after all, what do you have to lose? OK, we know… that profile is not nearly hip enough to ever qualify as a “naming guru,” so just check out his ironic hipster branding alter ego profile if that’s what it takes to pique your interest.
Tonya
Tonya has been researching names for over a decade. Let’s just say she knows a thing or two about names. She has a knack for sizing up the landscape surrounding a name we are considering, and killing it when appropriate so we don’t waste time on a name that provides little or no scope of protection (but more importantly so that you, the client, don’t even see names that aren’t viable candidates). To say that she is practical and sensible is an understatement; yet somehow creative. Some would say an enigma, a mystery wrapped in a riddle. And don’t worry, her brand consultant alter ego always wears a beanie, carries a pocket thesaurus, and can only work when seated in front of a staged bookshelf loaded with never-opened books.
Mark
Mark is the integrator. As an attorney and engineer he uses his technical know-how to try to black-box the perfect name generation and clearance system, which fortunately cannot be done. Nonetheless, methods can be implemented that streamline the process. After all, we need to put at least two times the number of names in the top of the funnel to ensure only awesome protectable names exit the bottom of the funnel. He is responsible for streamlining and automating so that we can accomplish the goals without going broke, while also ensuring we don’t take a beating due to our industry changing refund policy. His branding agency alter ego can only work outdoors while smoking a vintage pipe filled with artisan tobacco.
Red
Red joined the firm in March of 2018 to develop the pet treat naming division and quickly became the most popular employee. He specializes in product research and is adamant that smell, texture, and taste are critical in the naming process. Fortunately, he is so cute that no one has the heart to question his methods. Some may say his client interactions border on inappropriate, as he does like to sneak in a face lick, but fortunately no complaints have filed. Red was educated in the Ohio Department of Corrections, courtesy of A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue. That’s right, after the organization rescued him from a kill shelter in Kentucky, Red served over 12 months in prison paired with inmate canine handlers 24 hours a day. Red doesn’t like to talk about his time in prison, but he will admit that it transformed him into the man he is today, and hopes to one day give a TEDx talk on his experience. Red is very humble and doesn’t like to brag, but we believe he graduated at the top of his class.