Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Botvidson.
Chris, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2008, while bouncing around agencies as a freelance graphic designer, I responded to an ad on Craigslist. It was an opportunity to have an office on the fifth floor of Mockingbird Tower in Dallas. At the time, I had a handful of small clients, mostly friends and family and a long-term contract helping to rebrand the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains. The fifth-floor office (now called, The Foundry) was a collection of creative businesses and agencies ranging from PR, to web development and video production. The entire floor was owned by a printing company and I was able to trade out graphic design services for the majority of my rent. I seized the opportunity and Ascend Concepts was born.
The following two years was spent building the business, driving back and forth between Dallas and Fort Worth, burning fuel that was over $4 per gallon. In 2010, Ascend Concepts incorporated as an S-Corp, and settled on Fort Worth as a long-term home base. Establishing roots in Fort Worth takes some grit but it is worth it. In 2013, Chuck Bouligny joined Ascend Concepts as an equal partner. Before coming onboard, Chuck was COO of Sundance Childcare. After becoming friends and sharing many, many pints together and working together to create a new brand of childcare centers called, Xplor [xplortoday.com]. I could see a passion for marketing was bursting out of him. We decided to join forces to combine his zeal for marketing with my passion for design.
A month later, Mary Daniels joined the team. She was an ultra-talented but green designer fresh out of the TCU design program. With Mary’s talents, we had the team in place that remains the core of Ascend Concepts. Mary has blossomed into one of the finest designers in all of DFW. Once the team was in place, we moved into an office in Downtown Fort Worth and proceeded to work our asses off. We have since moved to Magnolia Ave. in Near Southside, Fort Worth where we have been for the past 3.5 years. Over the past few years, we have been honing our craft, streamlining processes and growing with our clients. We have won ADDY and PRSA awards along the way and have established solid client relationships. Right now, Ascend Concepts is poised for growth and ready for the big time.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
If any business owner says they have had a smooth road, they are full of shit. No matter what stage your business is in, there will be curveballs and new problems to figure out. It’s part of the beautiful grind.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Ascend Concepts story. Tell us more about the business.
Ascend Concepts specializes in branding and design. Our strength is in understanding our client’s vision from a business perspective and developing an identity around that vision. We use business strategy, creative problem solving, purposeful design and creative copy writing to develop identities and campaigns that work. We keep an eye to the future, always working to incorporate the latest technologies and social media strategies into the fold.
What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
Wow, going deep now, huh? My favorite memory would have to be when my baby sister Katie was born. I was so proud to be a big brother. Another great memory was visiting my aunt in Alaska. I spent 2 weeks climbing mountains, hiking, fishing, panning for gold, white water rafting and experiencing the Alaskan frontier. Fishing with my dad, playing with my cousins and grandparents are some of my most precious memories. I am blessed to have the family that I have.
Contact Info:
- Address: 607 W. Magnolia Ave., Suite 201 Fort Worth, TX 76104
- Website: ascendconcepts.com
- Phone: 817-900-8777
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendconcepts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AscendConcepts/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ascendconcepts
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascend-concepts
Image Credit:
Pablo Valles
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