Zone 5 Meeting Workshop Session 1 -Power Promotions: Driving Results with Social Media & Email

Lori Bower is a highly accomplished strategic communications and marketing executive with over 25 years of experience, specializing in community development, nonprofit/foundation growth strategies, and strategic business-to-business marketing.

In 2009, Lori and her husband bid farewell to city life in Chicago, returning to live on the family farm in central Kansas. Armed with insights gained from her seven-year tenure working on Fortune 300 brands, Lori launched BowerComm in January 2010. What began as a solo venture has evolved into a thriving strategic marketing consultancy of 15 professionals, generating over $2 million in annual revenue and serving approximately 50 client organizations each year.

Under Lori's leadership, BowerComm has achieved notable success, including the development and launch of the Journey to Yes program. This strategic communications planning process has assisted over 75 organizations in various industries to achieve goals related to sales, employee recruitment, culture-building, and brand awareness. The program, now offered as a "done with you" coaching service, has attracted over 20 community foundations and nonprofits across the United States in the past two years.

Lori continues to spearhead marketing strategy and campaign implementation for various initiatives, such as workforce/resident recruitment in Kansas communities and efforts to drive retail traffic to Main Street. Notably, she leads the recruitment strategy and implementation for Level Up Kansas, a program aiming to recruit under-employed adults to pursue free community- and technical college certificates and degrees. Within the first 60 days, the program garnered over 5,000 prospective student inquiries.

In addition to her local impact, Lori has played a pivotal role in partnerships with renowned Chicago-based business-to-business agencies, leading marketing planning and execution for multiple General Electric business units, the Society of Actuaries, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers at various trade shows.

Before launching BowerComm, Lori served as Account Director with Fathom Communications in Chicago, where she led brand advertising, CRM, and dealer marketing efforts for multiple Navistar brands. Her career highlights include developing a "truckers' advocate" campaign, featuring a 50-minute documentary about three truckers, which she executive-produced with an Oscar-nominated director.

Lori's professional journey also includes a three-year stint as a direct marketing and b-to-b account leader for John Deere at FCB in Chicago. Prior to her time in Chicago, she was an account executive with Armstrong|Shank in Wichita, where she honed her marketing skills across various industries.

Lori holds a Master of Arts in Communication from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages (German) from Kansas State University. She is actively involved in her community and professional organizations, serving on boards and presenting at conferences. Outside of her professional pursuits, Lori is a reality show enthusiast, holding out hope that her pitch about her hometown’s volunteer fire department will catch the eye of Netflix. She is mom to two children, who keep her humble through frequent eyerolls.

As Director of Digital Media at BowerComm, Jo Hoffman focuses on helping clients cut through the clutter of today’s crowded digital landscape. With seven years at BowerComm and three in her current role, Jo is driven by a simple goal: finding strategies that work. Whether it’s optimizing ad performance, crafting targeted campaigns, or begging people to still care about email (it’s not flashy, but it works!!), Jo’s expertise lies in experimenting with tactics and creative, and refining what drives results.

Jo approaches every project with the belief that no two clients are the same. She takes the time to understand an organization’s unique goals, audience, and challenges, then uses data-driven insights to build strategies that connect with the right people, at the right time, in the right way. Her clients can count on her to bring fresh ideas, a relentless commitment to results, and a collaborative spirit to the table.

Outside of work, Jo brings the same energy and curiosity to life in McPherson, Kansas, where she shares her home with her cat Betty, who might just be the cutest terror on four legs in Kansas, and beyond. She thinks there’s no such thing as too long of a coffee date with friends to discuss the latest Taylor Swift fan theories. Speaking of Swiftie behavior, she often rallies the team on Friday afternoons to work in BowerComm’s “Living Room” with The Eras Tour on in the background. And, she believes them when they pretend they love watching it weekly, too.

Chelsey Dawson joined BowerComm three years ago as an Account Supervisor, bringing with her over a decade of experience in marketing and communication. With three years at BowerComm and over 12 years of experience in marketing and communication, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her early career in economic and community development. Chelsey thrives on creating strategies that drive growth and engagement and loves helping clients turn big ideas into actionable plans that deliver results.

Chelsey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Fort Hays State University and uses her expertise to guide campaigns across platforms, from initial brainstorming sessions to executing polished, impactful strategies. Whether she’s coordinating complex projects or diving into creative problem-solving, Chelsey’s clients count on her for her collaborative spirit, attention to detail, and unwavering focus on results.

Outside of work, Chelsey stays busy being a pro at juggling community involvement, family adventures, and the occasional quiet moment (emphasis on occasional). She’s always up for cheering on her kids at their activities, diving into local events, or finding the best way to turn everyday chaos into memories worth keeping. With her husband and two kids keeping her on her toes, Chelsey knows life is better with a little humor, a lot of love, and—of course—a great cup of coffee.