From printing the brands of others to managing the design process himself, Jamey Crump understands the intricacies of the branding world, but that wasn’t always the case. As Business Report details in its new Executive Spotlight feature, early career experiences working at Emprint/Moran Printing Inc. taught Crump how to handle pressure, execute quick turnarounds and perform tasks to the best of his ability.
When two partners asked him to join their business venture, he agreed despite not having any prior marketing or agency experience. Now after 25 years with Xdesign, Crump leads an imaginative team with a light-hearted attitude, executing marketing and branding campaigns for major clients around the country but keeping a special focus in south Louisiana with clients like Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Blue Runner Foods and Community Coffee.
When Crump left the printing industry for Xdesign, one thing that stuck with him was the support he received from his former boss, which he says now guides how he reacts when changes happen on his own team.
“He was so gracious and good to me, and I have never forgotten it,” Crump recalls. “I have always tried to be the same way with our employees.”
Having been with Xdesign since its inception in 1990, Crump says the biggest change in the industry is the advent of new technologies.
“Twenty-five years ago, we were just starting to work with computer technology,” Crump says. “The transition was slow and painful, but we got there.”
Crump says he’s proud that Xdesign has not only adapted to the changing market, but also thrived as the Baton Rouge branding, marketing and advertising industry has become more competitive.
Read the full Executive Spotlight Q&A with Crump. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find:
What is the most difficult part about holding the title of CEO? What is the best part?
“It is the CEO’s responsibility to maintain the health of a company. Sometimes, difficult decisions have to be made that are not popular. I have never liked that part. The best part for me has always been the ability to make decisions that directly affect our company. It is definitely a risk/reward situation.”
