Cheryl Russell

Agency Marketing

Picture it…the year was 1967. Cheryl Russell, a college freshman, is one of three female Marketing majors at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. As she tells it, in those days if she had $100 for every time she was asked whether she was majoring in grocery stores, she could have retired years ago.

Grateful that was not the case, Cheryl has more than 40 years of experience igniting her imagination and professional expertise in every aspect of marketing communications. She’s thrived in careers as a television news director, travel consultant, nonprofit development director, and business owner.

Her creative marketing ideas increased viewership 27% at KBAK-TV (ABC), annually produced $5 million in travel sales (1981-90) and from 1991-2005 garnered over $10 million for three large Orange County nonprofits. In 2005, she established CR Productions, a projects-based business providing marketing communications services including marketing campaigns, statistical analysis, PR/media support, website content development, and creative for publications and video. Informally, she describes herself as a word ninja, a CIO (chief imagination officer) and Thankyouologist. David Epstein, author of the New York Times bestselling book, Range, would call her a generalist who triumphs in a specialized world.

A newspaper columnist for nearly 10 years, Cheryl describes it as a written version of the late Andy Rooney’s commentary on 60 Minutes. She is also the author of four books and a feature writer for magazines. A native of Southern California, Cheryl enjoys hiking, line dancing dancing, and leading a laughter class for over 11 years at the senior community where she resides in Laguna Woods.

What are your three favorite logos?

What are your three favorite logos?

We may not know that logos had their beginning in 1870. Yet, more than a century later, we do know the power of logos to influence buying decisions, and that companies spend billions to promote them.

In the book, Logo Beginnings, Jens Miller details a study of nearly 10,000 logos.

The One Thing

The One Thing

A book for achievers who want to know why long ‘to do’ lists need to be replaced by short success lists, readers also learn the “truths” that derail success and the “lies” that sustain success with the brilliance of The One Thing.

Creative approach to creativity training

Creative approach to creativity training

Can adults learn how to be creative? Yes, claim researchers, especially since children reportedly lose their creativity after four or five years of schooling when educational instruction focuses more on logic, semantics and memory training.

Until recently, creativity training employed a 1950s technique known as divergent thinking—a “computational approach”

Getting your words just right

Getting your words just right

Please raise your hand if you know what ablaut reduplication means. Even though we can’t see them, we’re confident most of your hands didn’t move.

Ablaut reduplication is a little-known rule….

Seeds have a history

Seeds have a history

Today’s tale is a shout out to spring and what’s behind those green shoots and budding flowers, which at one time or another began with a seed. When we did some digging around, we found some dazzling “dirt” about how long seeds can do nothing before doing something.

Sleeping in shifts?

Sleeping in shifts?

Move over the belief that blissful slumber is only obtained from eight hours of nonstop sleep. Two-part sleeping is on the rise, a practice that’s been dormant for the past 100 years.

Technically called segmented sleeping…

Book Review: The Future of Health

Book Review: The Future of Health

The Future of Health by Roberto Ascione is an insightful and comprehensive overview of the past, present, and future of digital health. He skillfully explores how the latest digital technologies are transforming the practice of medicine, and redefining health itself, by making it more accessible, sustainable, and human.

The future of mRNAs?

The future of mRNAs?

Find out how scientists are studying mRNA’s ability to improve flu and shingles vaccines, and to produce first-time vaccines for Lyme disease, HIV and Zika.