About
Hi! We’re Daake (dĕy-kēy).
Since 2001, we’ve delivered breakthrough brand thinking executed with precision.
Our work spans from Tucson to Dallas to Omaha to Chicago to Boston.
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With Daake what you see isn’t what you get. We go deep to make your brand come true.
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We are a tight-knit group of thinkers, do-ers, creators, narrators and organizers.
Meet our team
Greg Daake
Principal & Creative Director
Greg Daake
Principal & Creative Director
Daake was founded on Greg’s passion for striking a balance between art and science. For more than 20 years, he’s effectively merged thoughtful design and the human experience through branding. His ability to align leadership’s intentions with authentic brand expression transforms companies. He simplifies the complex. Sees into the core of an organization when others can’t. And translates vision into a brand expression that inspires an audience. Greg’s extensive knowledge and tireless spirit have led to numerous industry publications and speaking engagements on branding, culture and leadership.
Recent Posts
Unburied Treasure: Chapter 9 of “HOW TO Rebrand a Hospital”
by Greg Daake, Nick Schinker
To everyone else, it was a block of marble. But to Michelangelo, it was an angel, and he carved until...
Brand Tip: Finding Your Brand Magnet
by Greg Daake
Video Transcript: The process of really rebranding brings to light who are you. What do you stand for? What...
Advice for CEOs: The Politics of Being New
by Greg Daake
Video Transcript: You can’t do it from back here. You got to get to where they are. Hi. I’m...
Culture and New Scrubs: Chapter 3 of “HOW TO Rebrand A Hospital”
by Greg Daake, Nick Schinker
(Excerpt from chapter 3) For your brand to thrive, it needs to be nurtured by a culture that embraces...
Lisa Daake
Vice President
Lisa Daake
Vice President
Warm smile and a meticulous mind. Lisa adds to Daake’s success in countless ways: She makes every client and guest feel welcome from the moment they step inside our offices. She keeps key information and vital office supplies at the team’s fingertips. And she embodies Daake’s family-oriented environment, offering support and encouragement on all levels. Lisa’s caring attitude and attention to detail help keep everyone engaged and equipped to provide the highest level of service to our clients.
Susan Linde
Director of Project Management
Susan Linde
Director of Project Management
When it comes to sorting through the details, organizing and then clarifying them, no one does it better than Susan. She absorbs information quickly, identifying key messages and facilitating communication between creatives and clients to deliver work that often exceeds expectations. At Daake, Susan moves projects and monitors all aspects of each from project kickoff to final execution for clients in the healthcare, higher education and financial industries.
Dave Webster
Creative Director Emeritus
Dave Webster
Creative Director Emeritus
Incredible opportunities, courageous clients, and industry-changing mentors. Dave’s career is rich with all three, but it’s his genuine care and unquenching curiosity that led him to open and lead Webster Design for more than 30 years. From the beginning, he understood that branding and storytelling go hand in hand, giving companies a voice and presence that resonates with specific audiences. Dave’s experience further elevates the caliber of work Daake delivers, and he’ll continue to guide and inspire others to work harder and further perfect their craft to best serve clients’ needs.
Lisa Healy
Senior Brand Strategist
Lisa Healy
Senior Brand Strategist
If you want something done and done really well, Lisa’s your go-to. She loves a challenge, is crazy resourceful, and has limitless passion for branding. With more than 20 years of client relations and strategy experience, she adds clarity and meaning to new and established brands. Equal parts learner and teacher, Lisa also serves as AAF-Omaha President, collaborating with area pros to elevate the industry and inspire the next generation of experts.
Tina Stokes
Senior Brand Strategist
Tina Stokes
Senior Brand Strategist
With an investigative spirit, Tina works with clients to develop their brand identity. A creative problem-solver, she enjoys aligning our clients’ business goals with effective marketing strategies. She has a knack for helping clients find their voice and tell their story in an authentic and meaningful way. Tina’s experience includes brand strategy, copywriting and producing for a range of industries, including healthcare, agriculture, technology, education and finance.
Recent Posts
How to Not Lose Existing Brand Equity in a Rebrand
by Tina Stokes
Potential client: We’re interested in a rebrand, but how do we keep our existing brand equity? Daake: We can tell you, but...
How New CEOs Move Organizations Forward: Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs)
by Tina Stokes
Every new CEO has a Mount Everest in front of them. Whether brought in to overcome some crisis, or to...
The Difference Between an Advertising Agency and a Branding Firm
by Tina Stokes
Advertising agency. Marketing and communications firm. Branding company. The lines by which this industry was defined decades ago are anything...
How Engagement During a Rebrand Leads to More Measurable ROI
by Tina Stokes
When leaders start considering a rebrand, the words “return on investment” often prevent any forward movement. Proving ROI as...
Steven Valish
Senior Design Director
Steven Valish
Senior Design Director
Steve’s motivation is simple: to be better than you were yesterday. He thrives on learning from the best, working with the best and creating the best possible results for Daake clients. Steve’s skills extend well beyond print design. He has a wealth of experience developing brand identity, spaces and digital media. Steve has been recognized for his work by several organizations, including: Print, Communication Arts, Neenah, and AIGA and ADDY Awards.
Recent Posts
Lively Bank Environment Promotes Ideas
by Steven Valish
Rather than walls that separate people, a series of new environmental displays at First National Bank technology in Omaha brings...
Iowa Western Displays Signify Excellence
by Steven Valish
The creative team at DAAKE designed two visually engaging environmental displays at Iowa Western Community College that serve to highlight...
Sean Heisler
Senior Design Director
Sean Heisler
Senior Design Director
Sean designs work that digs deeper into who a company is and what they stand for. Whether designing a logo or an environment, he takes careful consideration of the brand, client wants and needs, and looks for opportunities to create the best possible result. Over the course of his 20+ year career, Sean’s work has been recognized by Print, Graphis, Communication Arts, Logo Lounge and other publications and competitions. Not to mention his incredible talent and laid-back nature have garnered tens of thousands of followers worldwide on social media.
Katie Divine Turner
Senior Design Director
Katie Divine Turner
Senior Design Director
Design and communication go hand in hand. It’s a philosophy Katie lives by, and it fuels the solutions she brings to clients. Call it visual storytelling, strategic design, or simply cool design; she has a way of bringing together research, creative thinking and impactful design to help brands evolve and grow. Her expertise comes from more than eight years in the industry, developing brand identity, advertising and marketing solutions for a diverse roster of clients, from start-ups to well-established national brands.
Rob Heggen
Senior Digital Strategist
Rob Heggen
Senior Digital Strategist
Rob is a self-taught phenom in front- and back-end website development. Raised on technology, he takes the intimidation and unknowns of the digital world to solve problems, creates opportunity, and help companies get the most from their online presence. He brings more than 15 years of digital strategy experience to Daake, further helping brands of any size or industry to evolve and explore what’s possible across all facets of their business.
Max Mentzer
Writer & Producer
Max Mentzer
Writer & Producer
As he puts it, he’s some sort of ‘creative mutt.’ He studied broadcasting and worked in film/commercial production before joining the agency world. But whether Max is developing compelling copy, a complete brand strategy, or a branded video series, he loves the challenge of solving his clients’ problems every day. He prides himself on his ability to bring a fresh angle, humor, and genuine brand advocacy to every client project he’s on.
Lisa Link
Media Manager
Lisa Link
Media Manager
Growing up in and around advertising, Lisa always dreamt of doing just what she is doing now. And what makes her so good at it, is her genuine fascination with what makes other people tick. She can’t help but bring that curiosity and incite into every client project, communication strategy, and media plan. But more importantly, her positivity and kindness have allowed her to build solid, lasting relationships. And if you ask her, that’s what makes her the proudest.
Johnny Shea
Designer
Johnny Shea
Designer
Equal parts problem solver and artist, Johnny takes every opportunity to help clients resolve challenges and communicate in more meaningful ways through design. No matter the touchpoint, from social platforms to environments, he can elevate the customer experience through sound creative solutions. Beyond the office walls, Johnny shares his talent in ways that help and support his local community.
Julie Ly
Designer
Wanna Join Us?
Learn MoreJulie Ly
Designer
Julie believes that critical critique makes you a better designer. Her passion for design stems from the freedom it gives her to create something that can impact someone’s life. Her design experience ranges from print to illustration to packaging, and it’s the opportunity to explore all forms of media for a wide range of clients — every day — that keep Julie excited and eager to come back for more.
We’re on a mission to help brands transform what is — to what could be.
Innovation and experience are our tools. Imagination is our guide. Nothing gets our hearts racing more than finding ways to bring your vision into focus, uniting factions in one culture and creating substantive opportunities for your brand.
