Today we’d like to introduce you to Gery Deer
Hi Gery, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am an award-winning writer, creative director, and the founder of GLD Communications. My diverse career began on my family farm in Jamestown, Ohio. I worked livestock, participated in 4-H, and worked as a mechanic and driver in my father’s agricultural trucking business, Gary Deer & Sons, LLC.
I am a 1985 graduate of Greeneview High School in Jamestown. I started my college career at Wright State University, where I first studied biology but later changed to mechanical engineering and computer science at Sinclair Community College. I also spent some time at Ohio University, where he continued his technological education and studied writing and composition. To help pay for school, I began freelancing and sold my first piece of writing to my college newspaper. That set the stage for a future as a copywriter, editor, and feature journalist.
After graduation, I spent several years as a technician, computer programmer, database developer, and research analyst studying petrochemical operations in the U.S. and Canada. In 1998, I left the corporate world to go out on my own and opened “Deer Computer Consulting, Ltd.,” an information technology support firm. Over the years, the company evolved into GLD Communications, which uniquely combines technology and creativity to create a full-service communications and public relations media agency that serves clients nationwide.
I’m considered a leading expert in the areas of copywriting, creative development, editing, public relations, and referral marketing. I’m a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, the Authors Guild, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and a 24-year Business Networking International (BNI) member.
When I can, I volunteer and raise money through endurance cycling events to support national literacy programs through Reading is Fundamental (RIF). Locally, I serve on the Board of Directors for the Miami Valley Nonprofit Coalition and am a founding member of the Patient Advocacy Council of the international Association of the Bladder Exstrophy Community. I also serve as a Mentor and Education Coordinator of The Green Team Chapter of Business Network International (BNI) in Dayton and a chapter success coach for the Dayton Miami Valley Region of BNI.
From 2016 until 2019, I served as chairperson of the Executive Council and Communications Committee of Prevent Blindness Ohio’s Miami Valley Ohio chapter. I spent several years in various positions with the Yellow Springs, Ohio Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Challenges. That’s a great question. The challenges of working independently are many. If I had to narrow it down, I’d say the greatest challenge is always adjusting to market demand and not getting sucked into the nonsense of trends. For example, when the market changed in 2008 due to the housing crisis and subsequent recession, I adjusted my business accordingly so we could remain profitable. The Pandemic created a similar challenge. However, since my business doesn’t carry the overhead of most others, I was able to weather the shutdown and adapt again to the market needs.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Tapping into my background in engineering and computer science, GLD Communications started out as an IT firm. However, I also continued my work as a freelance copywriter and journalist even after it opened. I combined my technical skills with my knowledge of the media, audio-video production, and public relations and built an agency that generates credible media for our clients. We are perhaps best known for storytelling. Our clients benefit daily from my diverse background and that of my staff. I’m not interested in one-off sales. With every client, I’m trying to create a long-term partnership. I care about their success because it’s directly tied to ours. If they do well, we do well.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
From copywriting and content strategy to video production and podcasting, we offer more than a quarter-century of experience in public relations media. Our communications channels enhance your exposure and a MESSAGE FIRST strategy. “Your message matters” isn’t just our tagline; it’s our professional philosophy. Without the right message, you’re just throwing good money after bad, regardless of how great the platform is or how well-targeted the audience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gldcommunications.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialgeryldeer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GLDEnterprisesCommunications
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gldenterprisescommunicatio9278
