Behind the Scenes at Profound Strategy’s Staff Retreat [Pictures]

What a week! Last week I had the pleasure of hosting what is probably the most talented, creative, and committed team of marketers in the country. The event was Profound Strategy’s annual staff retreat at our headquarters in beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

The team had an incredibly productive three days discussing everything from process improvements, growth opportunities, and SEO trends/predictions. Every year I like to take a serious look at where we are and where we need to go by completing a brutally honest SWOT analysis together as a group. It’s fascinating to watch how these have evolved over the years. Ready for some full disclosure? Here are the conclusions from  ourSWOT:

• Top strengths: Team’s vast skills/experiences, respectful and encouraging work environment, pervasive client-minded attitude.
• Biggest weaknesses: Desire to do too much, process improvement needs, measurement needs.
• Greatest opportunities: Rank recommendations by effort vs. impact, adjust billable rates per recent industry benchmarks, improve internal sharing, explore new concepts for tactic evolution.
• Scariest threats: The changing world of SEO, overwhelmed influencers (too many groups vying for influencers’ attention), task bottlenecking.

We also had the opportunity to invite friends in the area to join us for an open house. Inspite of the clouds and colder temperatures last week, we had a great time enjoying much of what the Lake Geneva area has to offer, including: A boat tour with our friend Chris Meisner from Meisner Aircraft; dinner at Pier 290; incredible steak, drinks, wine, and desserts at the Hunt Club Steakhouse; and paddle boarding/kayaking with help from our neighbors at Clear Water Outdoor. And now, what you’ve all been waiting for—a true peak behind the curtain. Here are just a few of our favorite photos from the retreat!  

The Profound Strategy team enjoying each other’s company during one of our many sessions at the retreat.

Three days of meetings? Sign me up!

Rebecca Levinson sharing her always-brilliant ideas during one of our many brainstorming sessions.

Ginger Helm filling her notebook with Todd Mayfield’s thoughts and musings.

Todd discussing strategy with Emma Price from Geneva National at the open house.

Ginger meeting with Jeff Austin as they catch up during the Open House.

Allie Lofy shows off her husband’s adventure column in Keefe Real Estate’s newest Lake & Country magazine.

Rebecca, Ginger, Christa and Todd cheerfully staying warm during our sunset boat ride on Geneva Lake.

Some of the team gearing up at Clearwater Outdoor before going out on the lake.

Paddling on the beautiful Geneva Lake. Only the perfect moment for a group selfie!

Nate Dame

CEO and Founder

Nate is the founder and CEO of Profound Strategy, a results-oriented SEO consultancy trusted by forward-thinking companies, including a few of the world's largest B2B and technology brands. Profound Strategy builds holistic SEO strategies, supports internal teams, and offers full-service execution to create an organic search presence that generates significant revenue.

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