Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Burleson.
Kelly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story begins in the media. I worked at a major news publication for 18 years. During that time, I worked closely with large corporations and non-profit groups assisting them in marketing their brands and promoting their business at major events and sporting venues.
One thing I realized is these organizations gave financially but didn’t have the resources to be present and promote their business at the actual event. That’s when I left and started Chameleon Marketing Teams in 2008. At conception, Chameleon was a group of Street Teams who would attend events on behalf of local corporations, wear branded t-shirts, and promote their business by handing out logo’d promotional items. Our tagline was “We Adapt to You”, hence the name, Chameleon. It has since evolved into Chameleon Marketing Solutions – A full-service marketing company / PR firm. Most of our clients are on a national level and we work alongside them with social media marketing, writing news releases and articles, consulting, and providing strategic sales and marketing to help companies get their message in front of the right audience at the right time. We also do publicity work for clients, which has led to a lot of my work in the Dallas/Ft Worth area to-date.
Personally, I have been the Race Director for the OKC Memorial Kids Marathon for the past 15 years working and consulting with other races throughout the country. I also assist people in finding employment as a side gig. It’s something I enjoy doing – connecting great people with good organizations. Working with people and being in the community is my passion – whatever that looks like. I always wanted to be an educator or a pediatrician, now I have the opportunity to educate/consult with companies and work with 4,000 plus children with the marathon. Best of both worlds! I have also mentored a group of young girls weekly at our church, LifeChurch, for the past six years.
And last, but certainly not least, I love spending time with our children and six grandsons. Our children range in ages from 17 to 36 years old. Our oldest son was drafted by the KC Royals so we spent many years traveling around watching him play baseball. During the summer, he played in the Texas Collegiate League and lived with a host family in Graham, Texas. And now we get to watch our grandsons play. Makes for a very busy schedule, but nothing better than family!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting a business is never easy. Especially when you’ve been doing the same thing for almost two decades. But I had developed great relationships within the community and I had a loving family who supported me.
Once I decided exactly what I wanted to do, I wrote my business plan and jumped in with both feet. When you own a business everything rests on your shoulders. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And you realize you can’t help everyone. That’s when you do what you can, and trust that you’ve given all that you’ve got. Along the way, there have been times of doubt and uncertainty, but I stayed the course and relied on my faith to see me through.
Challenges: Coming up with a marketing plan for a business and truly believing it will work but then having that company decide to go in another direction, has always been a struggle for me. But I also realize as a business owner, this is their business and no one has more skin in the game than they do. So I respect that decision and do what I can to help.
After a decade of owning my business, I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work with great people and do what I love doing. In this field, clients change over the years, which I enjoy. It’s so much fun helping these businesses grow and actually see the fruits of your labor.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Chameleon Marketing Solutions – what should we know?
Chameleon Marketing Solutions is a full-service Marketing/PR company. We consult with our clients and provide strategic sales and marketing to companies looking to launch a new company, or grow their existing company. We specialize in building long-lasting relationships within their industry with clients and potential clients who want/need the product or service they offer. In other words…you tell us what you do, we’ll find your audience, and we’ll help make you “Top of Mind” within that audience. So, whenever they need your product or service, YOU will be the first person they think of. We do this through social media marketing, news releases, articles in local and industry publications, cause marketing, and just day-to-day, in-your-face marketing.
We are unique from other PR firms because we get personal. We connect the dots. Sometimes, it is as simple as connecting with like-minded people who can help you grow your business. Social media has changed the world of marketing. You have a mass audience just waiting to hear what you have to say. The only thing is, you have to say it louder than the others and at the right time. Timely, relevant marketing. That’s who we are. And that’s what we do.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Wow…there have been so many people along the way who have stood beside me in this journey. First and foremost, my faith in God has played a huge part in who I am and where I am today.
My husband, Brett Burleson, for one. From day one, when we were originally street-teams, he would go out, roll up his sleeves, and work alongside me. Even with the Marathon, he does a lot of the “heavy lifting” and never complains. One other person would be a close childhood friend, and client, DeDe Murcer-Moffett. DeDe is an excellent keynote speaker and entertainer – and one of my biggest cheerleaders. She has spoken to groups and organizations across the country and multiple businesses in the Texas area, (Ambit Energy, Ambitious Women’s Organization, McKesson, Cornerstone Credit Union League, and Texas Economic Development), just to name a few. She also sang the national anthem for the NY Yankees, (which her late uncle, Bobby Murcer played for), the Houston Astros, and the OKC Thunder. I am her publicist and it has been a fun journey working side-by-side and watching her flourish.
As far as business, Dot Rhyne has to be one of the most influential people in my business life. I worked with Dot years ago. She believed in me from the beginning and encouraged me along the way. We both worked in media together and today, we both own a marketing company. It’s fun to look back and see who changed the course of your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://chameleon-marketing.com/index.html
- Email: kelly@chameleon-marketing.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChameleonMarketingSolutions/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyburleson/
Image Credit:
KFOR News4
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
