Sara Gadeken

CURRENT ROLE

As Flood Communications first Chief Marketing Officer, Sara has taken on marketing’s role as a creative problem solver and strategic thinker. With over 15 years of marketing and content design experience, she brings her reputation for industry storytelling, serving as a connector and integrator in creative marketing campaigns for businesses. She believes that creative content is vital for developing a successful brand strategy, and forms strategic opportunities and impactful solutions to ensure the companies marketing strategies are able to deliver on its results.

Sara has the privilege of leading our talented teams in diverse marketing outlets to produce effective campaigns and ensure client satisfaction. She has helped clients across all industries grow with a simple philosophy: Bring people together with affective communication. Brands must tell a story that generates curiosity, which drive and motivate connections that builds trust with its target audience.

She takes pride in helping companies thrive in this omni-media channel world, and is captivated by how new technology can effect and change the way we communicate and the ways consumers relate to information. She is passionate about innovation, and is dedicated to creating a sustainable advantage for clients, assisting in providing outstanding products, services, and results for returns on investment.

BACKGROUND

Prior to Flood Communications, Sara was a former Account Executive with Sparklight Marketing and Advertising, where she was responsible for sales and business development, optimizing company growth by running market research, building relationships with target audiences, increasing brand exposure, and creating targeted ad campaigns integrated across multiple media channels. She also previously served as the Sales and Marketing Manager at Divots Conference Center and Norfolk Lodge & Suites, and an entrepreneur herself; Sara was the owner and Editor in Chief of the Nebraska Scene Magazine, and publisher and designer of the Discover Northeast Nebraska Travel Magazine for multiple years.

GIVING BACK

Sara invests a lot of time and energy into the community, and currently serves as a Chamber Ambassador and as a board member on the marketing committee for WEB, Women Embracing Business. She also enjoys volunteering her time on the marketing committee for Norfolk Area Young Life, the Annual Christian Cross Festival, Toys-for-Tots, the Northeast Nebraska Travel Council and Norfolk Community Theatre.

EDUCATION

Sara holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management, concentrating in Brand Management and Marketing from NC State University.

FAMILY AND FUN

Sara is married to Grant Gadeken, and together they have three children; Colton, Hunter and Harper. When not working in the marketing field, or busy with her active kiddos, she is often found behind the sewing machine. As an apparel designer hobbyist, she found her passion for fabric early in life. Whether it’s tailoring a garment or a creating a custom design, she loves watching the transformation of a flat piece of fabric into something that becomes visual and physical item of happiness.