Good work deserves a great message.
We are a virtual team of strategic and passionate thinkers and creatives that work together to match the skill sets or experiences to the clients we serve. For us, working virtually is a lifestyle choice. It allows us to do what we do best and work with brands that truly inspire us.
Good enough never is.
If you struggle to explain what your organization does, you’re not alone. We’re all so close to our work that our message can come out like a recap of a Netflix show, season 6, episode 12, to someone who’s only seen season 1, episode 2.
We believe strong brands give people the power to affect change in their own lives and in the world we all share. So we help leaders connect with the people who matter most through a differentiated, compelling, and memorable brand.
Who we work with
- Growth-stage B2B companies that need a foundation they can build on and grow from
- Established companies in transition—through a merger, a repositioning, or a new market entry—that need clarity reflecting who they are now
- For- and nonprofit organizations with a social impact mission that need a brand carrying both the business value and the purpose
How We Work
Ask, Build, and Connect. Our proven methodology has guided every engagement since day one and keeps evolving with the organizations we serve. We start with the right questions, including a competitive messaging audit. We build a core messaging framework. Then we create the tools that bring it to life.
Strategy-first creative. Every visual and verbal decision flows from strategy. A beautiful logo matters most when it connects you with the people who matter most.
A practical reinvention of the traditional brand house. Ours adds what your audiences need and want, giving you a tool built for focus as much as for storytelling.
What We Do
- Brand Strategy. A Focus & Messaging Framework that defines why you do the work, who you serve, and how you show up in the world.
- Messaging Audits. A competitive look at how your message stacks up against the organizations competing for the same attention.
- Brand Centers. One online home for your guidelines, assets, and messaging, so everyone tells your story the same way.
- Visual Identity and Graphic Design. Logos, identity systems, and the materials that carry them, with every choice flowing from strategy.
Who We Are
Douglas Spencer founded Spencer Brenneman in 2014 after more than 30 years in marketing and branding. As Vice President/Global Head of Brand at Thomson Reuters, he guided the migration of the multiple Thomson and Reuters businesses to form the then new Thomson Reuters brand, which consistently ranked within the top 50 of BusinessWeek’s Best Global Brands survey during his tenure. He’s also the author of Do They Care? (2018) and List Bump (2023), and he hosts Spencer on Brand, a YouTube channel on brand strategy and messaging.
Douglas works with a bespoke team of professionals, including Senior Art Director Kim Vanni, brought together around what each project needs. Our clients span financial services, professional services, higher education, biotech, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector.
What parts of your message are you concerned aren’t hitting the mark? Let’s talk.