small but effective
No big box here. No cookie-cutter production. We’re small by design. It keeps things personal, and your costs down. We know you need results. We understand the game. With both corporate and agency experience, we bring the Atomic advantage to the field.
Leadership TEAM
THE DYNAMIC DUO
Duane Ciacco
As Strategy Director, Duane has spent his career in marketing and advertising, both on the client and agency side. He enjoys being a liaison between the creative and client side, always seeking to deliver sound strategies backed by solid creative.
Duane has spent his career in marketing and advertising, both on the client and agency side. He enjoys being a liaison between the creative and client side, always seeking to deliver sound strategies backed by solid creative. Duane provides strategic and creative direction for Atomic Idea’s clients. He enjoys forging strong client relationships, truly becoming a partner for his clients. The satisfaction of seeing a client excited about creative and impressed with the results is what drives him.
Duane successfully completed two courses in 2021 with Marty Neumeier the author of “The Brand Gap” and Andy Starr the co-founder with Marty of Level C brand workshops. The workshops included 40+ students from over 16 different countries. It was an intense two weeks of instruction, discussion, group collaboration, and presentations. The goal of the Level C Masterclasses is to provide a mastery of brand with a deep dive into modern brand-building disciplines, definitions, and methodologies. Masterclass Brand Specialist is designed to give you a clear view of the entire brand chessboard, and the fundamentals to navigate the shift from marketing to mattering. Masterclass Brand Strategist focused on Differentiation, understanding the brand’s competitive advantage combining strategy and storytelling.
Here is Duane’s complete portfolio of work as a director and producer which includes videos created for several different clients and agencies over the last 11 years.
My secret talent: Quick wit, making people laugh.
Favorite food: Grandma Ciacco’s Raviolis
Best advice I’ve ever received: Always remember work life balance, life is much more important than a job.
Pets: Louie our 84 lb. Boxer
A book I’d love to read again for the first time: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
What I love about Atomic Idea: The name! Its such a simple yet powerful name and it perfectly describes the process we go through with clients. It takes strategic and creative thinking to produce an Atomic Idea.
Keith Durbin
Keith is a Design Director with expansive experience bringing brands to life with insightful design and vision. His expertise includes graphic design, industrial design, trade show, print, digital, and creative strategy.
Keith Durbin is a Designer and Art Director with expansive experience bringing brands to life with insightful design. In his dynamic and full career, he’s designed for major brands such as Amazon, REI, Verizon, Pearl Izumi, Land Rover, Thule, Sephora, Vans, Marriott Hotels, and many more. His expertise includes graphic design, physical product and packaging design, industrial design, trade show, print management, material discovery, and creative strategy. Keith’s designs are like trees: they’re unique, beautiful, and pretty much everywhere. If you’ve purchased a gift card from Wal-Mart, Keith probably designed it. If you’re an NHRA drag racing fan, Keith designed and printed the eye-catching wraps that adorn the cars. If you’ve flipped through Denver Broncos Magazine, Keith brought it to life as the Creative Director.
Keith’s passion for his work has created these opportunities, and each experience has prepared him for the next one. He believes that form always follows function, and that strategic, sensible thinking is the foundation of great design. It’s this fundamental approach that has allowed him to build such an impressive body of work. He even has his own action figure. Keith takes inspiration from all over, but especially enjoys mid-century modern design, vintage camping equipment, and the outdoors. Despite his extensive experience, Keith Durbin still approaches each new project like it’s his first: with passion, care, and a whole lot of imagination.
My secret talent: Articulating Eyebrows
What I do out of the office: Husband, Dad, Restore Vintage Things, Jeeping
Favorite places I’ve visited: Black Bear Pass, Telluride and Pritchett Canyon, Moab and Whistler, BC
Favorite food: Anything served as a buffet
Best advice I’ve ever received: The grass is greener where you water it.
What I love about Atomic Idea: All the possibilities. There are projects and people on the horizon that will shape our journey in ways yet to be realized. That’s exciting!
SUPPORT TEAM
The TALENT
Marie
Social Media Marketer
Marie is a data-driven social media marketer. She believes numbers tell a story and is passionate about using current marketing data to inform future content strategy. Before joining the Atomic Idea team, Marie helped develop and execute social media content for a small finance firm and a global ed-tech company. She enjoys creating engaging copy and compelling graphics that tell the brand’s story – all while infusing the latest social media trends. Marie holds a BA in Communication from the University of Colorado Denver.
My secret talent: I can do a one-handed cartwheel (and the splits!)
Favorite food: Anything chocolate!
Best advice I’ve ever received: “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” – Dale Carnegie
Pets: A Westie named Elly.
A book I’d love to read again for the first time: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
What I love about Atomic Idea: The atmosphere is so collaborative! I love working with such a diverse clientele and being able to help them uncover their unique brand identity.
Paul
Creative Copywriter
Paul Anderson is a creative copywriter with a dynamic background in marketing, education, publishing, and writing. He’s taught English and writing in university and high school classrooms in Chicago, Seattle, Italy, and Denver, and has worked for literary outlets in New York City and Seattle. In his time as a copywriter, he’s quickly established a reputation for consistently delivering powerful copy and concepts that move readers to meaningful action. Whether writing a four-word ad tagline or a long-form technical paper, great writing—writing that moves—is always Paul’s standard.
His goal as a copywriter is to help you discover the authentic voice, story, and message that will quickly engage your target audience, hold their attention, and move them to action. Aside from a perfect mountain bike trail, a truly great novel, or a seventh ring for the Chicago Bulls, few things are more exciting to Paul than a new writing project. He’s thrilled to learn more about yours.
My secret talent: Electric guitar
What I do out of the office: Bike (mountain and road), read, cook, and play basketball.
Favorite food: Pasta in nearly any form
Pets: Roma (American Bulldog/Boxer mix)
What I love about Atomic Idea: I love that Atomic Idea is small team where everyone has a voice and space for creativity
Kevin
Project Manager
Kevin is our swiss army knife, an experienced project manager and producer that wears many hats at Atomic Idea. Duane and Kevin worked together at two previous agencies and Atomic Idea is thankful to have him on our team. Kevin handles project management, timelines, and production teams — always ensuring that we are on budget and meeting the client’s expectations. Kevin has a great work ethic and delivers superior client service. His skillset is vast, with a BS Degree in Marketing and an Associate Degree in Video and Music production.
My secret talent: Name that tune – especially for 80’s music
Favorite places I’ve visited: Bora Bora, Paris, Santorini, Cinque Terre, Grindelwald
Favorite food: Cheese Pizza
Best advice I’ve ever received: Don’t sweat the small stuff
What I love about Atomic Idea: Collaboration and innovation
Derrick
Website Developer & Designer
Derrick is our website expert. With a solid background in graphic design, Derrick migrated into website design and development. His expertise is in HTML/CSS/JS and designing and developing intuitive and engaging website experiences. Derrick is a master at all things WordPress, with 10+ years’ experience with the platform and plugins. Derrick has owned and helped grow many startups with print marketing and digital marketing solutions. When he isn’t designing or building websites he is enjoying a homemade cappuccino, playing volleyball or traveling the world with his wife.
What I do out of the office: Play and Travel with the Wife!
Favorite places I’ve visited: Thailand
Best advice I’ve ever received: There’s always two sides to a tortilla
A book I’d love to read again for the first time: I am lame and don’t read……hardly ever
What I love about Atomic Idea: The fun and creative atmosphere
Taylor
Graphic Designer
Taylor is a graphic designer and digital illustrator. He uses his years of experience and education in photography, art, and composition to craft simple yet refined digital designs that meet the needs of the client. From production art to detailed storyboards Taylor always works hard to take the client’s vision and put it to paper. Taylor is a great asset to the Atomic Idea team.
What I do out of the office: Play games and spend time outdoors
Favorite places I’ve visited: Scotland and Vietnam
Best advice I’ve ever received: It’s never wrong to be kind.
Pets: Two rowdy dogs, Daisy and Penny, a gaggle of chickens, an aquarium full of tiny orange fish
A book I’d love to read again for the first time: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
What I love about Atomic Idea: Working with creative people in a creative environment
Leo
Motion Graphics
Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Leo is an Emmy and Telly award winning motion graphics animator and designer. He brings 15+ years of motion graphics experience, working with advertising agencies, production companies and private industry to the Atomic Idea team. Leo has worked on projects ranging from broadcast commercials to documentaries to feature films giving him an experienced approach to motion graphics design. Duane and Leo worked together at the same agency 22 years ago and have been friends, colleagues and golf buddies ever since!
My secret talent: Woodworking
What I do out of the office: golf mountain biking, concerts
Best advice I’ve ever received: of all the paths you take in life make sure some of them are dirt
Pets: 2 Dogs (Toby and Kai)
What I love about Atomic Idea: Potential
Erica
Videographer & Video Editor
Erica is a talented videographer and video editor. She has over 14 years of experience working on a wide variety of projects, including corporate videos, online videos, broadcast commercials, feature stories, promotional videos and live video productions. She holds a BA degree from Hastings College in Broadcast Journalism as well as a BA in Business Administration. Erica works closely with Duane and Keith to create compelling and engaging videos for Atomic Idea’s clients.
What I do out of the office: Play music (orchestral, theater, big band)
Favorite places I’ve visited: New Zealand, Poland
Favorite food: Peanut Butter
Pets: Chill & Thomas (Budgies), Maroo & Buddy (Blue Tongue Skinks)
What I love about Atomic Idea: The collaborative nature of working on projects.
Kurt
Strategic Public Relations
An award-winning communications professional with deep experience in strategic public relations, marketing communications, internal communications, project management, social media, event planning, and journalism. Kurt is an expert in creating and implementing strategic public relations plans and tactics.
My secret talent: Guessing your weight
What I do out of the office: I Love to Ski
Favorite places I’ve visited: Nashville
Favorite food: Bread
What I love about Atomic Idea: The people!
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At Atomic Idea, you’ll work with one of the best brand and marketing teams in Colorado.
