ran mullins
founder & ceo
Ran Mullins is the founder and CEO of metaphor. He is a consultant and adviser on branding and Web site strategy integration to corporations and community organizations. In January 2003 BusinessWeek recognized him and metaphor as the major proponent and shaper of what he calls Community Experience Development (CeD), a business philosophy centered on the paradigm shift of the branding "push" mentality to the community "pull" concept. Ran focuses his work on turning brand "audiences" into brand "communities."
He is known for his visionary approach to design and his unified approach to business marketing strategy for clients such as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Tom Peters Company!, Fifth Third Bank, LCA Vision, CareSource Management Group, CJK, and Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. In addition to being an artist and entrepreneur, he is a business owner, and community advocate in Cincinnati's historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood where he created iRhine, a non-profit serving the community.
suzanne beane
svp, chief strategy officer
Suzanne Beane is Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer for metaphor. Beane joined metaphor in 2004 after working as an independent consultant providing clients with business strategy, marketing planning and public relations services. Previously, Beane was a partner in KGB! (KemperGaedeBeane Advertising), also in Cincinnati's historic Over-the-Rhine, neighborhood. There she managed multi-media advertising/brand campaigns and interactive projects for regional and national brands.
At metaphor Beane works with clients and associates directing multiple campaigns while maintaining a consistent brand experience for our client companies and metaphor. She is a strategic thinker, creative writer and experienced manager. Since her arrival she has become an indispensable member of the metaphor community, providing knowledge, expertise and direction for metaphor's competitiveness and growth.
raymond l. "buz" buse iii
svp, creative intelligence
Raymond (Buz) Buse III is a gifted PR practitioner, media strategist and writer who has been named best in the nation by two publications that cover the PR industry. In 2006 he was named Media Relations Professional of the Year by PR News at the National Press Club, and was also named by the Cincinnati Chapter of PRSA its PR Professional of the Year that same year. In 2007, he received what is regarded as the Oscar of PR – PRWeek’s PR Professional of the Year Award – before 1,000 of his peers at a black-tie gala at Tavern on the Green in New York City
Buse – who joined metaphor in early March of 2008 – served in PR and marketing capacities with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber from 1991 to 2008. His creative ideas and media relations strategies have led to prominent stories in The New York Times, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, the Associated Press, TIME, Newsweek, US News & World Report, NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN, CNN, FOX News, VH1, NPR, the BBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Company and two Japanese networks, Fuji TV and Nippon TV.
kevin armstrong
senior consultant
Kevin Armstrong is a consultant on communications strategy to corporations and civic organizations. He relishes the challenge of devising unified, strategically-driven solutions to clients’ business and communication needs. Kevin’s clients include Toyota, Kroger, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) and the African American Chamber of Commerce.
As a marketing and communications consultant, Armstrong has deep roots in Cincinnati’s strategic public relations, advertising and design communities. He has provided services to clients ranging from the region’s corporate elite to start-up businesses to non-profit organizations involved in healthcare, housing and minority business development.
