World of IMS

Background | Areas of Specialties | Bios

Background:

International Marketing Systems (IMS)/American Restaurant Marketing Group (ARMG) develops Franchising Programs/System Marketing Plans; support tools and materials for clients that are growth oriented. Our “retail network” clients require marketing and planning support. In many instances, we function as a supplement to the marketing department of our clients, who have streamlined organizations and wish not to get top heavy in the staffing of their marketing and franchising departments.

IMS/ARMG creates and then links communications, promotional, marketing and human resource efforts among organizations’ employees and customers, in order to enhance sales, profits and customer satisfaction.

IMS/ARMG designs and implements field marketing systems and programs for multi-unit businesses who have from three to thirty thousand locations. We create vertically-integrated strategies and programs that promote our clients’ corporate cultures and sales goals to employees and customers.

We craft realistic, measurable programs in the trenches at the cash register level, ensuring the realization of total customer satisfaction through customer service fulfillment.

Corporations can spend fortunes on product development and advertising, but results are either achieved or lost at each cash register. International Marketing Systems specializes in the execution of the sales, advertising, promotion and corporate mission of our clients.

IMS/ARMG analyzes, or helps develop, the organizational, business and marketing plans of companies as the preliminary step in supplying guidance on ultimately entering into the franchising method of business expansion. We then plan with our clients all next steps, business and marketing needs for effectively organizing and supporting a franchise operation. In areas where called upon, IMS/ARMG helps execute the Franchising/Marketing/Business Operating Plan.

Areas of Specialties:

• Retail field marketing systems
• Franchising and licensing business systems
• Franchisee/franchisor relationships
• Research, analysis and strategic planning
• Service delivery systems
• Quality assurance systems
• Human resource systems and skills development
• Local store marketing systems, curricula, and execution
• Retail network marketing and expansion plans
• Field network communications
• Professional Development Seminars

Lamar D. Berry
Founder and Chairman

Lamar Berry, author of The Power of Internal Marketing, has nearly three decades of senior management experience in marketing, advertising and the development of corporate cultures.

Before founding International Marketing Systems, as Chief Marketing Officer of Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken and Biscuits, Lamar built that international franchising organization's field marketing and brand management systems from the ground up. He also directed the development of the creative positioning and award winning advertising for the product that catapulted Popeyes to the number two position in the category in only a dozen years from a handful of stores in New Orleans to nearly 1,000 facilities worldwide with annual sales approaching $1 billion. Lamar was an integral catalyst to the organizations' growth.

Earlier in his career, Lamar was a founding partner of the regional advertising agency Brown, Berry & Goodwin. With national accounts (such as Columbia Pictures, Warner Brothers Pictures, Avco Embassy and Paramount), Brown, Berry & Goodwin quickly became recognized as a leader in the areas of field promotion and entertainment marketing.

Frequently a speaker on university campuses, television and radio talk shows and professional conferences, Lamar appeared as a guest speaker and key panelist at the National Restaurant Association's National Marketing Convention on board the Queen Mary in California and as the featured speaker for the 7th Annual American Marketing Association's "International Collegiate Conference." Lamar sits on the University of New Orleans Advisory Board which advises on curriculum development in the Liberal Arts College.

Gary Dickson
President

Gary has amassed experience in almost every marketing and sales discipline. Starting with the Pillsbury Company, his career path took him from sales and marketing management to positions as national sales promotion manager and product marketing manager.

From there, Gary ventured into the marketing/advertising agency side of the business, managing client acquisition and developing strategic plans and campaigns. He then led the marketing, sales and client services effort for a direct response firm specializing in sophisticated lead generation and customer service.

As President of IMS, Gary applies this diverse expertise to the strategic planning and management of internal marketing initiatives for all IMS clients.

Hal Katz
SR Vice President, Media Design

Hal started his career at Grey Advertising and BBDO, then went on to become Executive Vice President and Marketing Director of Vitt Media International.

In addition to running the marketing, new business and media planning groups, he ran one of the largest broadcast negotiating groups in the country. He is the architect of Cognitive Based Advertising, the first application of cognitive theory to media exposure. Hal also pioneered the development of short form television and radio programming, being the first to use five-minute network television political "infomercials."

Hal, in the role of CEO, went on to found and develop an advertising agency (Katz Dochtermann & Epstein) and a media and marketing company (Katz Marketing & Media).

He has been widely published in both trade and business periodicals, lectured at NYU Graduate School and St Johns University.

Jan Ray
Vice President Business Development

Jan is an innovative sales and marketing executive with broad industry experience. Her career includes both business to business and consumer market experience leading start-ups, turn arounds and high-growth organizations through profitablilty and growth. Prior to joining International Marketing Systems, she was in high technology digital sales with Corbis, a Bill Gates global company, in their Los Angeles office.

She has a strong background in corporate sales, strategic marketing, establishing strategic alliances and public speaking/presentations. Additionally, she has managed internal advertising departments and was responsible for business development at a large US advertising agency serving Fortune 1000 clients.

She is recognized for her networking and leadership skills. Examples include participation in a Dan Rather CBS interview, numerous newspaper interviews and significant Board positions. Her international experience includes serving as President of the International Trade Club of Kansas City, an 800 member organization, and Board of Directors for the International Visitors Council in Kansas City.

Peter Jens
Marketing Director-Europe

Peter Jens professional journey from architectural and financial engineering to financial behaviourism took him into the area of effective marketing, advertising and promotions. His intellectual and cultural curiosity offers practical insights on how people act and how they spend their money.

He began his career managing market-entry projects for manufacturing companies in Asia, South America and Europe (Danzas, Dutch Rail, Renault, Dexia, Makro and MGI) and now manages overseas projects for IMS.

Kathy McNamara
Vice President Production/Logistics and Administration

Kathy has over fifteen years experience in print production and the trafficking and coordination of marketing activities. Kathy has managed the production of print advertising and marketing support materials ranging from single advertisements to full campaigns.

Upon joining IMS in 1989, her first task was to establish and implement a communications network for Texaco Latin America/West Africa, linking marketing personnel in over 35 countries. Most recently, she directed and managed the development and production of support materials for Texaco's global brand management initiative, encompassing 64 pieces of collateral produced in three languages. Kathy's ability to coordinate a wide range of activities in minute detail is key to the implementation and execution of internal marketing systems for all IMS clients.

Sally Rodman
Vice President, Creative Services

For over fifteen years, Sally held account management and creative positions in advertising agencies both large and small. Her career began at Benton & Bowles in New York City, where she was an assistant account executive on the Texaco business. Following a brief stint at a subsidiary of Darcy, McManus & Masius on the U.S. Treasury account, Sally's writing talents and natural inclinations led her to the "creative" side of the business.

After moving to New Orleans in 1984, she held copywriter and broadcast producer positions at local advertising agencies, writing and producing award-winning advertising for clients such as Louisiana Power & Light and Ruth's Chris Steak House. Joining IMS as Creative Director in 1989, Sally has applied expertise and talents honed in the world of advertising to develop strategic creative positioning and impactful and motivating internal communications for IMS clients.

Bruce Bendinger
IMS Promotion Integration

Bruce's career is best described as "one of Chicago's creative superstars." An award-winning copywriter in his early twenties, at 27, he became the youngest Vice-President Creative Director in the history of the Leo Burnett ad agency.

He has been a "Creative Consultant" including everything from serving as Creative Director for a President of the United States to helping Apple Computer with strategy systems. He created one of the most successful jingles in advertising for Popeyes Chicken with Dr. John, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and The Neville Brothers. It was at Popeyes that Bruce met IMS Chairman Lamar Berry, in his previous role as Popeyes Chief Marketing Officer.

Bruce is the author of numerous textbooks including The Copy Workshop Workbook, the #1 textbook at universities and design schools for advertising copywriting, with translations in Chinese and Korea. His thorough understanding of advertising, promotion and media is further evidenced in other books used by universities, marketers and advertising agencies worldwide:

--Make The Sale! How to Sell Media with Marketing
--Advertising & The Business of Brands
--Law and Advertising: Current Legal Issues for Agencies, Advertisers and Attorneys
--Advertising Campaign Planning
--Hitting The Sweet Spot (first US book on account planning)
--How To Put your Book together and Get a Job in Advertising (#1 career book)
--The Book of Gossage