33
Longest Client Relationship
(years)
11
Average Client Tenure
(years)
95%
Client YOY Retention Rate
359
Service Offerings
Dale Dean
Founder / Chairman
- 45 years of professional experience
- 36.5 years with DeanHouston
- Founded DeanHouston in 1988 as a shoestring startup with no clients; 36 consecutive years of growth and profitability
Jason Kaple
CEO
- 27 years of professional experience
- 12 years with DeanHouston
- Previously the Director of Marketing & New Product Sales with OPW, a Dover company, 9 years
Mark Rudy
President
- 37 years of professional experience
- 2.5 years with DeanHouston
- Previous employer (32 years) – Hubert Company, President
Miki Johns
Chief Financial Officer
- 25 years of professional experience
- 8 years with DeanHouston
- Previously, the Controller with Grandin Properties
Darren Wight
Executive Vice President of Client Success
- 27 years of professional experience
- 19 years with DeanHouston
- Previously the Editor-in-Chief for Adams Business Media
Dana Arrasmith
Vice President of Client Operations
- 38 years of professional experience
- 12 years with DeanHouston
- Previously the Account Director, Brandience (formerly Sunrise Advertising)
Walter Bonnett
Executive Vice President of Strategy
- 30 years of professional experience
- 10 years with DeanHouston
- Previously the Director of Global Marketing from PSG (a Dover company), 18 years
Jim Molloy
Vice President of Digital Development
- 35 years of professional experience
- 21 years with DeanHouston
- Jim was instrumental in leading DeanHouston into the digital age by creating the company's web development team.
Colton Stombaugh
Executive Vice President of Performance Marketing
- 18 years of professional experience
- 12 years with DeanHouston
- Previously served as a Digital Production Associate for ESPN and CBS Sports Chicago affiliates and as a digital agency principal and entrepreneur.
Eric Hirth
Vice President of Content
- 21 years of professional experience
- 18 years with DeanHouston
- Leads a talented team of content, publicity, social and media professionals
Rene Normand
Vice President of Human Resources
- 40 years of professional experience
- 12 years with DeanHouston
- Previously the HR Director with Great American Insurance, 16 years
- Certified Master Coach
Dale Dean
Founder / Chairman
An entrepreneur at heart, Dale has launched multiple ventures, including DeanHouston's regional expansions and strategic partnerships. A two-time CEO of the Year finalist and EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominee, he has led DeanHouston to multiple Inc. 5000 and Cincinnati Business Courier Fast 55 recognitions. Dale serves on several boards, is a longtime Vistage International member, and enjoys family time, travel and the performing arts.
My life's mission is to build a business of enduring value that will benefit current and future generations of clients and team members forever – a business revered for helping people achieve success. For me, there is nothing more energizing or fulfilling than helping others achieve their goals, dreams and desired outcomes in life and business. I am as enthusiastic and passionate about this as the day we launched the business over 35 years ago.
Jason Kaple
CEO
Jason has been the CEO of DeanHouston since July 2023, previously serving as President & General Manager of its Chicago office, which he grew from a single employee in 2013 to a team of over 20. Before joining DeanHouston, he spent nearly a decade at OPW, a Dover company, gaining expertise in sales, client relationships, and international management. Fluent in multiple languages, Jason holds degrees from Miami University and Case Western Reserve University, serves on the Friends of the Forest Preserves board, and enjoys hiking, traveling and exploring local cultures.
Success in B2B marketing is not about campaigns or quick wins but about building a strategic, data-driven engine that fuels long-term growth. By deeply understanding your business, industry and customers, we craft precise, results-focused marketing strategies that don't just generate leads – they drive real business impact.
Mark Rudy
President
Mark joined DeanHouston as Chief Revenue Officer in May 2022 after serving as an external advisor and executive team member, bringing extensive C-suite experience to drive strategic growth. In December 2023, he was named President, leveraging his leadership background from Hubert North America, where he navigated significant growth and change. Based in Cincinnati with his wife, Amy, Mark enjoys concerts, traveling, golfing and drumming, a passion he has pursued for 37 years.
Leading a world-class, client-focused organization like DeanHouston provides many opportunities to work with incredible people, create incredible solutions, and impact incredible companies. Every day brings new opportunities to join forces and use our combined superpowers to deliver meaningful value to our clients, employees, and community. What can be better than that?!
Miki Johns
Chief Financial Officer
Miki leads the finance team, manages banking and retirement relationships with PNC, and oversees financial strategies and system implementations. A University of Cincinnati graduate, Miki lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two children and enjoys hiking, gardening and preserving local wildlife habitats.
As CFO of DeanHouston, I thrive in a highly creative environment where I can make a meaningful impact – not just on the company's financial success, but on the success of the clients we serve.
Darren Wight
Executive Vice President of Client Success
As Executive Vice President of Client Success, Darren oversees key client relationships and ensures top-tier engagement and performance. Previously, he led the Publicity & Media department, growing it from a one-person operation to a specialized Content and Media team with 10 professionals. A Western Illinois University graduate, Darren enjoys boating, skiing and spending time with his wife, Kristin, and their three daughters.
We have a tremendous culture at DeanHouston, and it's something that I've been proud to be a part of since 2006. We have a 'Whatever it Takes' approach to everything we do, which means going above and beyond for each and every client to make them as successful as possible. That's our goal every day, and it's extremely gratifying.
Dana Arrasmith
Vice President of Client Operations
Dana joined DeanHouston in 2013 and now serves as Vice President of Client Operations, while also leading client success training and leadership development initiatives. With a strong background in account management, she has worked with major automotive brands and played a key role in launching DeanHouston Nashville in 2019. A Michigan State University graduate, Dana splits her time between Nashville and Cincinnati with her husband, Tony, and their two grown children.
I love technical B2B marketing because we solve business problems while creating great work that connects with technical decision-makers. Our work is rooted deeply in customer and industry insights and driven by a long-term understanding of their business and its objectives. Our clients get more value from the focused expertise we offer.
Walter Bonnett
Executive Vice President of Strategy
With over 30 years of experience in B2B marketing, Walter has a proven track record of driving top-tier growth, previously leading global marketing strategies at PSG, a Dover company. A visionary marketing executive, he now leverages his expertise in digital marketing, communications strategy and change management to expand DeanHouston's strategic marketing services. Based in Eastvale, CA, with his wife, Arlene, and their three children, Walter holds a psychology degree with a minor in advertising and marketing from San Jose State University, where he was a standout student-athlete.
An effective B2B marketing strategy isn't just about reaching businesses, it's about deeply understanding the people behind them, their unique challenges, and the goals they're striving to achieve. It's about creating meaningful connections, delivering consistent value through insight-driven content, and building trust long before the first handshake. The most successful strategies don't chase attention, they earn it by showing up with purpose, clarity and a commitment to helping customers win.
Jim Molloy
Vice President of Digital Development
Jim began his career as a graphic designer before expanding his expertise into video editing, 3D modeling, web development, IT and project management. Now leading a team of web developers, he focuses on creating highly functional websites, web applications and mobile apps for technical clients and nonprofit organizations. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Jim lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Laurie, and they have two children. He enjoys walking, reading, travel, theater and live music.
Technical B2B marketers have unique challenges compared to their B2C or non-industrial counterparts, and I've always been drawn to those challenges. If budgets are especially tight, it presents an opportunity to focus on what is really important. If messaging isn't resonating with customers, it presents an opportunity to talk with distributors and end users to learn what matters most to them.
Colton Stombaugh
Executive Vice President of Performance Marketing
Colton began his DeanHouston journey in 2012 as Creative Director of the Chicago office before advancing into leadership roles in digital marketing and innovation. He founded the company's Demand Generation team, growing it into a multi-million-dollar business unit focused on driving quality leads and revenue opportunities for clients. A Carthage College graduate with a background in digital content production and web management, Colton lives in Chicago with his wife, Sarah, and their two sons.
Being able to serve the brands that engineer, build and sell the equipment that keep the world moving is incredibly inspiring. Many people first think of consumer brands when they think about marketing. But it's a lot more meaningful when you get to support the companies that help make sure grocery store shelves are stocked, medicine is safe and effective and that we have the infrastructure in place to get to the places we need to be.
Eric Hirth
Vice President of Content
With over 20 years of expertise in content strategy, thought leadership and multi-channel marketing, Eric has a proven track record of helping B2B companies drive measurable results through impactful storytelling. His career at DeanHouston has spanned multiple roles, from trade show coordination to media planning and content strategy, giving him a deep understanding of the marketing landscape. A Northern Kentucky University graduate with a background in journalism, Eric lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Krystal, and their three children. He enjoys sports, brewery visits and staying ahead of industry trends.
I love developing technical B2B content because it's where complex ideas meet compelling storytelling. Translating technical expertise into engaging, results-driven narratives isn't just about marketing – it's about making innovation accessible, driving real business impact and helping brands connect with the people who need them most.
Rene Normand
Vice President of Human Resources
Rene plays a key role in shaping DeanHouston's strategic direction by focusing on its most valuable asset — its people. She has overseen significant company growth, led hiring and HR processes and helped establish the Shanghai office while ensuring compliance with Chinese law. With over 40 years of HR experience, including 16 years at Great American Insurance Group, Rene is passionate about employee advocacy, culture cultivation, and coaching others to discover their passions. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and daughter.
Helping others grow and succeed in both work and life is a passion of mine. Seeing others reach their full potential and achieve their goals is what truly drives me. For me, it isn't about process and procedures – it's about the people! Building meaningful relationships, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration, and empowering others to thrive is what matters most.