Force 5 Culture
Our Essence
Force 5 is a unique, next generation brand development and marketing communications firm—the only of its kind in the region. We combine unmatched expertise in technology, brand development and creative execution with soulful ideas to drive your goals beyond expectations. We work as your strategic partner to build communities one brand Soul at a time.
Our highly creative culture produces insightful brand expression, brilliant ideas and award-winning marketing programs. We are highly credentialed with certifications in brand strategy, account and project management, and technology—all producing an uncommonly broad skill set for a small agency with high efficiency.
The Hemispheres
We understand the importance of right and left brainers, and the quarks that come with both. We know that left brainers have an amazing ability to create fully functional websites and complex web applications. We also know that those logic lovers have a propensity for Star Trek that the rest of the world just doesn't get.
As for right brainers, they have an innate ability to create amazingly innovative designs, even if they must continually explain why Mac far surpasses any Windows-based computer. But in the end, both are an integral part of the team that unites form and function to meet and exceed your marketing needs. That's why we have asked the best of the best to join our team.
Take a Peek
As part of our desire to foster creativity, we have set up camp in a beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired building. As if that isn't awesome enough, the St. Joe River flows by just outside our front door. Want a peek at the beautiful serenity? Take a look at our web cam in the tab below.
Something to Say
Stay up-to-date on Force 5 happenings, get advice, learn all about branding or just see what's on our minds in our employee blogs.
You need 'em, we've got 'em. The best of the left and right brainers in the area. Form and function. Art and logic. Laurel and Hardy.... Give them a click and see why they tick the way they do....
Deb DeFreeuw works as creative director, a.k.a. the head right brainer and general partner, of Force 5. She graduated from the Kendall College of Art and Design with a bachelor's in fine arts/advertising. Her entrée into the ad world began at a regional agency where she held such titles as art director in traditional media and director of new media. During her 12 years there, her brainchildren included projects for Damon Corporation and Teachers Credit Union. With impressive experience under her belt, Deb set out on her own to create Wild Fire Media, specializing in electronic marketing communications. After three years, Wild Fire merged with Visions to form what is now Force 5.
David Morgan is the executive producer, general partner and left-brain (with a touch of right brain for good measure) head honcho for Force 5. He graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in education, majoring in radio and television, and received his master's degree from the University of Notre Dame in communication arts. Prior to starting Visions in 1986, he was director of media development for Bayer Inc. In that role, his staff of 12 was responsible for over 300 video projects, training presentations, annual reports and live events. At Visions, David was involved in the early stages of interactive training, formulating laser discs for emergency room and intensive room personnel. Visions gained a national reputation for its production of video walls for such clients as the Federal Aviation Administration. David's FAA programs were highlighted at the Paris, Farnborough and Singapore Air Shows for several years. Not too shabby, huh? After 16 years of production experience, he and Deb cooked up Force 5 and the rest is history.
Brent Decker, multimedia developer, has his master's degree in applied computer graphics technology from Purdue University. Brent works with our database programmer, linking the application backend with the frontend user experience. He creates the web templates to best practices standards, and is instrumental in the planning of the navigation and structure of the sites overall. In other words, he makes sure your websites function as they should. Brent brings a high level of technical and project expertise to our team.
Nevin McElwrath, media producer, was the owner of NFX Media before we brought him aboard. He graduated from the Illinois Institute of Art with an A.A.S. in multimedia production. He has experience in visual design for print and web, as well as 3D animation and video production. In other words, he can create some wicked web experiences!
The River Rock Building
We love our building and we'd love to share it with you. It's by the
river and just down from a great farmer's market.
That means we have the freshest veggies and market meats for our Friday
cook-outs. Didn't we tell you about those? Or just drop by for some
popcorn and meet the crew. (The popcorn machine usually cranks up
mid-afternoon.)
Our left brainers have provided a link to a nice map so you can come by
and visit. Our right brainers have included a photo so you know you are
in the right place. (see how that left brain/right stuff works?)
We look forward to seeing you, even if you are a left brainer (just
kidding)!
|
|
Force 5
1433 Northside Blvd.
South Bend, IN 46615
(574)234-2060
|
When we started our hunt for the perfect building, we looked at a warehouse, a barn (actually two barns), a house and then the old Boy Scout building. The minute we hit the door my right brain took over. The possibilities were there. It had good bones.
Then the fun started--12 weeks of renovations. Thanks to the help of family and friends we lived through the experience. Much gratitude to all of you who spent long hours with an ice scraper pulling down old ceiling tile and helping in so many other ways.
Right now we are going to show only the "before" photos. You'll have to stop by and see how it all turned out. Ok, maybe in a few weeks we will post the "after" photos.