Jeremy L. Knauff, CEO, Wildfire Marketing Group

Jeremy’s biography—ultra condensed version

Mr. Knauff entered the United States Marine Corps immediately after high school, leaving at the rank of Sergeant to pursue new challenges after four years of honorable service. He then spent the next several years in marketing and advertising positions with various companies throughout Florida. He currently resides in South Tampa, where he manages Wildfire Marketing Group.

Jeremy’s goals and motivations—what makes him tick

I’ve been on both sides of the table when it comes to marketing and advertising. While employed at various ad agencies and marketing firms, I saw first hand the way that clients were sometimes treated. I’ve seen cases where clients were encouraged to invest in products or services that were not in the best interest of their company, or worse yet, cases where clients were billed for work that had never been done. I’ve also worked in house for a variety of companies, handling their marketing, and have experienced the difficulty that a smaller, under-funded company can have trying to reach their prospects and clients. I knew that their had to be a better way, a way to create a win-win scenario for everyone. That lead to the birth of Wildfire Marketing Group.

As our company has grown, I’ve made it a point to find new ways to help smaller businesses reach their target market in cost effective ways. I know what it’s like to start a business. I know what challenges you (business owners) face because I’ve been there – at twenty-two years old, my first business failed and I lost everything. One of my main goals for Wildfire Marketing Group is to enable as many entrepreneurs as possible to avoid having to go through that. They say that a smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others so he doesn’t have to make them. What a novel concept!

So what’s next for Jeremy?

I honestly don’t know. Wildfire Marketing Group still has a long way to go before it lives up to my vision, because I see it as a global leader some day. I know some of the things that I have planned for the near future, and some of the things that I have planned for a bit further down the road, and I won’t try to be humble when I say that they will revolutionize the industry.

I’m also looking at goals outside of business though. I’m working on learning Spanish right now and I’d like to have at least two more languages (probably Japanese and German) under my belt within two years. I’m finishing up my second book, which should be published before June of 2009. I’m doing some charity work here and there, and will be starting my own charity foundation (education related) within the year. I really have a pretty long list of goals, and if you get to know me, I might share them with you.

What should we know about Jeremy?

I’m approachable pretty much any time you see me out. If I’m at a restaurant though, wait until I finish chewing my food — otherwise I’ll have to do the whole nodding, chewing and pointing at my cheek thing. I’m always networking, so give me a business card, I’ll give you mine, and maybe we can help each other out. Also, if there’s something you think we can do better, or something new that we can do to help other businesses, by all means, let me know. If it makes sense and it’s feasible, we’ll do our best to make it happen. If you want to see what I’m up to, you can always read my blog: Jeremy L. Knauff