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Clarity

Gary Zorko

Greater Los Angeles Area

I am your “Personal Technology Advisor”. Much like your own accountant, lawyer, or anyone else to whom you would go for targeted, personalized advice, I am your source for coaching and direction on the business and technology issues that impact your company and contribute to your own professional growth.

I'm here to offer seasoned guidance when you’re venturing into unfamiliar territory, solid expertise when circumstances require quick action, and a discreet and unbiased ear when you need a reality check.

My technology and leadership career spans 27 years in the fields of entertainment, advertising, digital media, legal services and retail, including fulfillment logistics and e-commerce. In progressive management roles, he has guided technology operations, software development and interactive media for small, privately-held firms, mid-sized enterprises (Z Gallerie, Hot Topic, Newegg) and multi-national Fortune 500 companies (Prudential Insurance, The Walt Disney Company).

$1.67/min

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Social Media Product Management Digital Strategy Digital Media E-commerce IT Management Leadership Development Media & Entertainment Executive Mentoring Digital Imaging

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Reviews 7

Answers

Gary Zorko answered

When hiring a creative firm to work with our branding needs, what are some questions and deciding factors we should ask and evaluate?

Good answers so far, so I'll echo a few things and refute some others. Having worked on both the agency and client sides, I can say:

1. Consider portfolio and process with equal weight. Absolutely, past work is an indicator of creative capability, but without process, you may be entering a world of frustration and cost overages. Pay special attention to how they propose to communicate with you and to the kinds of questions they ask. Even if you've worked with agencies before, go into your investigation with them as if you haven't - consider how they guide you and explain their perceived roles and responsibilities. You do yourself no favors by playing know-it-all.

2. Do not hire an agency without talking to two reference customers, asking each specifically about the agency's process.

3. Contrary to some other answers here, place little weight on whether they've done work in your industry. A good agency, working with you to understand your product and its value proposition, can do branding in any industry. If you consider it at all, consider it lightly - it's insulting to the agency and limiting to you and your search.

4. Frankly, the biggest factor for success in working with any agency is you knowing what you want at the end of the project. What are the success factors? Conversely, not knowing your own goals is the surest way to make any agency project fail. They can help you tease that out and solidify it through a good creative brief process, but it's not the agency's job to tell you what you want to achieve for your brand.

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Brand development

Branding & Identity

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Reviews

I have known and worked with Gary for many years. He is a complimentary brainstrust for any Fortune 500 company seeking a technically gifted and venerated contributor in the Internet and broadcasting space. His ability to see to the heart of corporate issues and convey core essentials to executive management has been proven time and again. I look forward to the day when I can work with Gary again.

Ron Wetzel Source: LinkedIn

Few people in a lead position take an active interest in the details of a project like Gary. From the moment I began working with him it was apparent he not only talked the talk but he walked the walk in an admirable way. Gary receives my highest recommendation but more than that my respect as a fellow web professional.

Seth Scott Source: LinkedIn

Gary is truly a visionary leader. When I came to Sample Digital he knew what we needed to get things done effectively and efficiently. He's the roll-up your sleeves person and not afraid to get his hand dirty. His vast experience was a key factor in improving The performance of the product 200% He grew the customer baseline, improve the sales, Marketing and clearly made his mark in the creation of what Sample Digital is today, a leader in Television and movies Dailies. I would welcome the opportunity to work with him again and again in any project.

private private Source: LinkedIn

It was wonderful working with Gary. His vision, determination and management ability was really something to look up to. I especially appreciated his management style and his ability to cooperate, communicate and yield results on a consistent basis from those working underneath him. Gary is the consummate professional in how he carries himself, his workload and his relationships within the workplace.

John R Schulenburg Source: LinkedIn

I had the pleasure of working with Gary at Newegg.com. I found him to be a detail-oriented, positivly focused manager with the tools to be able to develop a clear vision for the department. He has great presence and interpersonal skills, an ability to analyze situations and define problems, and a real gift for project management and coordination. I'd be happy to work with him any time.

Jim Davis Source: LinkedIn

I had the opportunity to work with Gary several years while he was at Disney. Gary is a goal driven technical manager that hires the right talent to get the job done and at the same time inspires his team to go the extra mile without having to ask. Gary takes pride in his efforts and that of his team and likes to think outside the box to achieve their goals to meet or exceed the needs of the company.

Brenda Anderson-Rivera Source: LinkedIn

Gary is an original - A renaissance man not easily classified but an enormous talent across multiple disciplines. He is bright, caring, insightful and analytical, with a great eye for details and he is extremely talented in product management, technology and creating positive business impacts. I highly recommend Gary and would love to work with him again.

Robert Gonsalves Source: LinkedIn

Member since June 2013