David Neelsen
Principal, Producer and Brand Storyteller, StoryFirst Media
A business strategist and relationship-driven person by nature, Dave has owned and helped develop various businesses his entire career. For him business is about relationships – and storytelling has always instinctively been an essential ingredient to success.
Dave has helped a wide variety of clients – business and non-profit – find their stories and then communicate them to build highly successful connections with their audiences and customers.
In 2009, Dave launched StoryFirst Media at the height of the recession. Call it craziness (or brilliance, as the entrepreneur in him would like to think) but exciting new opportunities developing in new media marketing Dave saw the need to connect via stories versus the traditional selling of features and benefits as reason enough to start StoryFirst Media – down economy or not. He's been telling brand stories ever since.
For seven years Dave also served on the Board of Directors of The Exchange Center for The Prevention of Child Abuse, and during his term as board president he oversaw the merger of The Exchange Center with two other non-profits into what is now The Center for Families. He continues to support the Center with his work on an Annual Golf Outing and leading a crew of volunteers at a Brat Stand for the Center during Badger Football Games every fall.
Being Wisconsin born-and-bred, when a quality craft beer is put in front of him, he’ll always pause if good conversation is included. Having spent many years in Illinois and Texas, he's equally at home having that beer in a Milwaukee tavern, a Chicago Blues joint, or an Austin icehouse. But while you're having that beer, don't ever question the excellence of the Green Bay Packers. Did we mention that he's Wisconsin born-and-bred?
StoryFirst Media
We're stewards of story. As a brand storytelling, film and video agency we work with brands and organizations to meet a critical need of today – to effectively tell stories. In a world where audiences have become the cultural gatekeepers, strong brands communicate their message in a way the public wants to receive it – through storytelling. As a unique collective of filmmakers and marketing professionals, we tell brand stories that entertain and engage. Opt-in audiences hold the power today, and our stories both embrace and respect their social mindset.
StoryFirst is based in Madison, WI with outposts in Milwaukee and Chicago. Our collective employs the services of over 30 professionals in markets from Madison to Milwaukee, Chicago, Austin, Los Angeles, Louisville and even Barcelona, Spain.
