We fuel the business development efforts of professional service companies.
Leadership
Amy Hoppenrath, Principal
Amy loves strategy. Give her a marketing challenge and she’ll design a strategy to catapult a firm forward. Her background with national firms and marketing, advertising and public relations agencies gives her the strategic mindset to help professionals and firms develop their expertise.
Amy has an innate ability to see the big picture and then develop an implementation plan that doesn’t stop with traditional marketing and branding strategies but integrates business development and the firm’s culture to produce real results. She has developed strategic branding, internal marketing, business development, merger and acquisition and advertising programs for accounting, law and consulting companies.
Click The Link Below For More…
Kristin Wing, Principal
Kristin brings experience working in marketing leadership roles for professional services firms ranging from accounting to law and consulting engineering.
Kristin’s ability to position technical professionals as experts happens on the pages of magazines, newspapers and online blogs and websites. Her knack for helping clients tell their stories to editors and reporters has landed clients in Accounting Today, various Business Journal publications, the Kansas City Star and trade journals across the country. In addition, she helps clients build their social capital by building expert roundtables, applying for awards and meeting other experts.
Click The Link Below For More…
Amy Hoppenrath
Amy Hoppenrath, Principal
Amy loves strategy. Give her a marketing challenge and she’ll design a strategy to catapult a firm forward. Her background with national firms and marketing, advertising and public relations agencies gives her the strategic mindset to help professionals and firms develop their expertise.
Amy has an innate ability to see the big picture and then develop an implementation plan that doesn’t stop with traditional marketing and branding strategies but integrates business development and the firm’s culture to produce real results. She has developed strategic branding, internal marketing, business development, merger and acquisition and advertising programs for accounting, law and consulting companies.
Why She Likes What She Does: “I have a quote from Nelson Mandela hanging above my desk that says, “It is what we make of what we have, not what we are given that separates one person from another, “says Amy. “It not only has meaning, but for me a purpose to help others separate themselves from their competition and to accomplish their goals. Helping them capitalize on opportunities, get past roadblocks and create the attraction factor they deserve is what drives me to do what I do.”
Her Industry Experience: Amy’s spent the first 20 years of her career working for advertising, marketing, communications and public relations firms. When she landed a leadership marketing position with CBIZ Accounting, Tax and Advisory and Mayer Hoffman McCann, she fell so in love with marketing the intangibles, she focused her career, honed her skills and became an expert on marketing professional service firms.
How She Gives Back: Amy has contributed to the community in many ways from working with the homeless to teaching the unemployed how to use LinkedIn to leading a professional marketing association.
Like her career, Amy has also focused her volunteer efforts in the past years. Both of her children are retired competitive swimmers. Amy saw that swimming helped them deal with the peer pressure of being a teen, and taught them that drive and hard work do pay off. Amy works on many levels with USA Swimming in hopes to pay back and pay forward some of what the sport has given to her family. She serves on both the National Officials Committee and the local Missouri Valley Officials Committee. And she volunteer officiates at meets of all levels from summer league to Olympic Trials.
A Few More Details: Amy is a graduate of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurion Leadership Program where she received the Centurion of the Year award, the Centurions Community Service Awards and the Most Involved First Year. Additionally, she has received several Fountain and Nova awards for the work that she did on behalf of her clients. She is an Action Plan Marketing Certified Coach, a graduate of the Sandler Sales Training program and holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Kansas. When she’s not working, you will find her on her bicycle riding the scenic bluffs above the Missouri River, sitting by the pool or trying to play tennis.
Speaking Engagements
- Central Exchange, Perfecting your LinkedIn Profile, January 5, 2012
- DRI, Getting to Know You – How to Use Social Networking Effectively to Build Relationships, June 17, 2011
- Women’s Law Referral Group, Generating Endless Referrals, March 2, 2011
- Kansas Association of Colleges and Employers, Using Social Media to Recruit, November 1, 2010
- SHRM Lawrence, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, November 2010
- Society of Marketing Professional Services, Social Media for Business Development, September 28, 2010
- Kansas Association of Homes & Services, Social Media 101, April 2010
- Farris Law Firm Forum, Social Media 101, April 2010
- Kauffman Fast Track, The Game of Marketing, April 2010
- SHRM KC, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, January 2010
- Philanthropy Midwest Conference, Accelerate Your Outreach with Social Media, November 2009
- JoCo Job Club, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, November 2009
- Midwest Trust Women’s Group, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, November 2009
- ASTD Conference, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, November 2009
- South Kansas City Chamber, Social Media 101, September 2009
- NARI, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, June 2009
- Sacred Heart Job Club, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, June 2009
- Polsinelli Shughart Women’s Event, 10 Reasons to Use Social Media, June 2009
- BEX Northland, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, May 2009
- Business Connection, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, March 2009
- Business Collaboration, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, March 2009
- HR Spin, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, February 2009
- IMC, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, February 2009
- ACA, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, December 2008
- KC WebPros, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, November 2008
- Business Exchange, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, November 2008
- Central Exchange, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, November 2008
- Cole Business Development Group, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, November 2008
- Prospectors, 3 Reasons to Use LinkedIn, October 2008
- Central Exchange, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, October 2008
- Image Makers, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, October 2008
- IABC NE Chapter, Perfecting Your LinkedIn Profile, September 2008
Articles
- MEASURE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA RETURN ON INVESTMENT, Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- ONLINE STRATEGIES HELP STEP UP YOUR REFERRAL MARKETING PROGRAM, Kansas City Small Business Online Column -www.ThinkingBigger.com
- BAR CODE IN A BOX, Kansas City Small Business Online Column -www.ThinkingBigger.com
- HOW TO HIRE A SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT, Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- PAY IT FORWARD—USE LINKEDIN TO HELP YOUR NETWORK, Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- MANAGING YOUR PR EFFORTS ONLINE, Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- UN-NETWORKING: IS IT TIME TO UNFOLLOW, UNCONNECT, UNFRIEND? Kansas City Small Business Online Column -www.ThinkingBigger.com
- BUILD YOUR EXPERT BRAND USING SOCIAL MEDIA. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- THE CLUTTER AND TRENDS OF SOCIAL MEDIA. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- SEPARATING YOUR BUSINESS AND PERSONAL LIVES ONLINE. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- OLD TOOLS INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR NEW MEDIA.Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- DO YOU HAVE A DEFINED LINKEDIN STRATEGY? Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- DELIVERING ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA BRAND PROMISE. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- PROSPECTING IN THE LINKEDIN WATERS. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- USE LINKEDIN COMPANY PROFILES AS A NETWORKING TOOL. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- PERFECT YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE. Build your online visibility and credibility. Kansas City Small Business Online Column -www.ThinkingBigger.com
- LINK YOUR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY. Setting up and managing a LinkedIn Group can help your business. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- 10 TIPS TO ACCELERATE YOUR SOCIAL CAPITAL. Use social media to build and nurture relationships and turbo-charge your networking. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- MIND YOUR ONLINE MANNERS. How you handle yourself when using social media affects your credibility. Kansas City Small Business Online Column -www.ThinkingBigger.com
- IS CREATING CONTENT STOPPING YOU FROM USING SOCIAL MEDIA? Set up a process to engage an audience and position yourself as a subject matter expert. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- BUILDING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN FOR 2010. Seven steps to establishing a successful social media presence for your business. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG. Blogging can help further your company objectives, if done right. Kansas City Small Business Online Column -www.ThinkingBigger.com
- USING SEO CONTENT TO DRIVE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY. Provide valuable content and then take steps to ensure it is found. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- IS YOUR ONLINE BRAND WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE? Monitor search engine results and update your information to promote a positive brand. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- SOCIAL NETWORKING IN 10 MINUTES A DAY: IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE? Use these tips to quickly review and manage your LinkedIn profile and extend your online networking. Kansas City Small Business Online Column -www.ThinkingBigger.com
- SOCIAL MEDIA: WHAT IT TAKES TO GET RESULTS. Putting in the time can garner business. Kansas City Small Business Online Column -www.ThinkingBigger.com
- SHOULD YOUR COMPANY DEVELOP A SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY? Make sure your company policies are keeping pace with changes in communications. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- FACEBOOK FOR BUSINESS? It’s not just for college and high school students anymore. You can use it to your advantage in business as well. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
- SOCIAL NETWORKING…THE LEGAL SIDE. Hiring the right person is always difficult. Social networking sites add a new dimension. Kansas City Small Business Online Column – www.ThinkingBigger.com
Kristin Wing
Kristin Wing, Principal
Kristin brings experience working in marketing leadership roles for professional services firms ranging from accounting to law and consulting engineering.
Kristin’s ability to position technical professionals as experts happens on the pages of magazines, newspapers and online blogs and websites. Her knack for helping clients tell their stories to editors and reporters has landed clients in Accounting Today, various Business Journal publications, the Kansas City Star and trade journals across the country. In addition, she helps clients build their social capital by building expert roundtables, applying for awards and meeting other experts.
Why She Likes What She Does: “I enjoy helping clients tell their stories, whether that’s to an editor or reporter at a business publication or cheering them on as they build a 30 second commercial to describe what they do to a prospect,” says Kristin. Professionals often struggle with making the leap from a technical professional to becoming an expert. “By identifying the key messages that they can bring to a story, a client becomes an expert and a trusted source to continue to tell success stories.”
Her Industry Experience: Kristin’s career includes roles with professional services firms including RSM McGladrey, Grant Thornton, Spencer Fane Britt & Browne law firm, Terracon Consultants and positions with technology companies including Perceptive Software.
How She Gives Back: She also devotes many hours to mentoring college students at the University of Kansas, chairing the Advocacy Committee and serving on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City and the business development board for Equity Bank.
A Few More Details: She is the recipient of the McGladrey Community Service Award and the Team Award for Outstanding Excellence from Grant Thornton. She also served on McGladrey’s National Women’s Leadership Initiatives Committee, is a graduate of The Central Exchange Women on the Leading Edge, Leadership Lenexa and FastTrac® New Venture program from the Kauffman Foundation. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and a minor in Journalism from the University of Iowa, and a Masters of Arts degree in Marketing from Webster University. She is also very involved with the Greek sorority and fraternity system at the University of Kansas where she has served for over 10 years as an alumni advisor for both a sorority and fraternity. She received the Outstanding Alumni Service Award, the national Cable Award from Delta Gamma and the Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award from Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. When she’s not working with college kids, you will find her casting a fly rod on a trout stream or hitting tennis balls in a spirited doubles match.
Articles
- “Taming the Marketing Maverick: How to get the most out of your talented loose cannons” – Accounting Today, May 2012
- “How to Hire a Marketing Agency” – Accounting Today, July, 2012
- “SWOT Your Competitors” – Kansas City Small Business magazine, December, 2010
- “Help Your Accountant Help You” – Kansas City Small Business magazine, February, 2010
- “What’s in a Name?” – Kansas City Star, 2011
Speaking Engagements
- Association of Women Lawyers Greater Kansas City, Building Your Referral Networks, 2010
- Central Exchange, Flying Solo: How to Start Your Own Firm, 2009
- Central Exchange, Marketing Your Firm, 2008
- Practice Development Institute, Professional Services Marketing
Numerous client workshops
Community Works
Supporting community organizations is more than just an obligation to us. We believe in supporting causes, philanthropies and organizations that make our community so rich and vibrant. In addition to direct contributions, we devote hours of time and brain power to help organizations with consultant marketing plans.
Gillis
Started in 1870, Gillis has served over 1,400 families with emergency shelter services, therapy and counseling to at risk children and families. Raising the visibility of Gillis is Kristin’s passion, having donated her branding and PR talents to telling the Gillis story to area media and reporters.
The University of Kansas Student Involvement
& Leadership Center
The SILC organization serves the University as advocates, advisors, and educators for student organizations across campus. You will find Kristin in meetings with student leaders to create the first ever Greek Standards document, a partnership with fraternity and sorority leaders and the KU staff to ensure that every organization is accountable and well managed.
USA Swimming
Amy focuses her personal contributions to the sport of swimming. She does this because she knows that she can never give back enough to the sport to repay the positive influence it’s had on her and her children. Competitive swimming not only teaches the importance of discipline, stamina and exercise, it raises confident children who will become tomorrow’s leaders.
Amy volunteers as an official by working meets of all levels from Summer league to Regional meets to the USA Olympic Trials.
USA Swimming Women in Officiating Initiative. Amy leads the task force charged with identifying mentoring/training initiatives that help women get the experience and confidence they need to be successful.
Amy is a member USA Swimming National Officials Committee in charge of Communications.
The Women’s Foundation of Kansas City
The Women’s Foundation raises, invests and grants funds to promote equity and opportunity for women and girls. The Foundation was officially launched in June 1991 with four major objectives:
- To promote the long-term stability of organizations serving women and girls in our community.
- To fund innovative programs addressing key issues facing women and girls.
- To think strategically with other community leaders about the importance of women’s issues, and to increase support from other funders for those issues.
- To encourage women to recognize “the power of their purses,” to be thoughtful givers putting their dollars where their values are.
Company Fact Sheet
Company History
Often firms are created because someone had a great idea, an epiphany. A different way of serving clients or helping professionals become even better at what they do. That’s the story of AccelerAction.
We launched our firm in 2009, as two competitors who came together with a common idea: Create the first Kansas City firm that is solely focused on helping professional services firms with marketing, branding and public relations. After all, we spoke the strategic marketing program language of professional services firms, having served in leadership roles with Grant Thornton, McGladrey, CBIZ and others. We knew the dynamics, challenges and underlying issues that create roadblocks for firms that need to grow. Then we built processes that are easy for technical professionals to grasp and took it one step further: We actually work with firms to implement ideas.
Our collaboration for marketing an accounting firm includes writers, website designers, and creative people who we trust implicitly to translate a strategy or idea into action. Working in concert, we can bring experienced talent and a proven approach to every client.
