Ted Nelson
Founder/Director of Strategic Partnerships
Ted Nelson began his marketing career over 25 years ago, under the watchful eyes of several industry legends. He is quick to credit his mentors for his rapid success in some of the country's most respected creative advertising agencies. At 28, he became the youngest Creative Director in the history of (then leading agency) Earl Palmer Brown, already having won over 100 industry awards in categories like healthcare, technology, packaged goods, travel and hospitality. His campaigns have appeared in several textbooks on advertising and have been received highest national honors in the USA, Great Britain and France.
Ted was responsible for the merger of Tucker Wayne and WestGroup in 1998, which formed the largest independent marketing firm in the Southeast: 22 Squared.
In 2005, Ted's entrepreneurial spirit led him away from the corner office and he started his own marketing consultancy, TedCo Worldwide, which specialized in developing digital strategies and integrating emerging channels like social and digital media with traditional, paid media. His strategic approach was instrumental in helping Google win the “America Cheers” campaign, sponsored by Nation's Bank, for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Observing the convergence of sustainable lifestyle and responsible food policies, Ted founded GUMBO Marketing in 2011. His goal was to build a nimble marketing consultancy that could advise food clients on how to build Chef Partnership Programs that would help them inform and inspire consumers. GUMBO Marketing is small and focused by design; this allows Ted to be hands-on with each project. He continues to be the direct contact for all our client relationships, many of which are now approaching their ten-year anniversary.