Meet Leah Manlove Howard of John Manlove Marketing & Communications in Pasadena and Clear Lake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Manlove Howard.

Leah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
With over a decade of experience in the marketing and advertising field, I have learned the value of effective communications in all aspects of life. I currently spearhead the creative and marketing strategy for local, regional and international clients. Years in this business have garnered me with strong relationships with media partners and industry professionals but this didn’t happen overnight. My sister and I have grown up in and around marketing and advertising. My father took over the business from his father which was founded in 1961. John Manlove, my father, built his business from a one-car garage into one of the largest most successful marketing firms in the Houston area. He has built and sold two companies, a printing company, and ChurchMarketing.com. I can still remember skating with my sister around the old printing press to MC Hammer. I’ll probably always love the smell of paper and ink just off the press. We spent many hours there, but it showed us what a true entrepreneur looks like.

After graduating with my Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University, I came on board as the third generation in 2006. I had no idea what I was in for. We are now one of the most successful and one of the most award-winning ad agencies in the Houston/Galveston area, winning awards for some of the best branding and creative work in the country. What I’ve learned from being in a family business and one of the toughest industries is #1 HAVE FAITH: God has a divine plan so have faith in the process, #2 LOYALTY: Build solid, honest, and loving relationships because your character builds your reputation, #3 BE BOLD: The world needs who we were created to be, so do what you love #4 COLLABORATE & LISTEN: Sometime you’ll come up with a “brand new invention” ;). Learning to collaborate can open up new doors, allow for resourceful thinking and unique approaches to each job. ALL of this has helped build a solid reputation that delivers results and drives me every day.

Now, as Principal, I take an executive leadership role on all major accounts with JMMC. I handle advertising, public relations and creative strategy for clients and have expertise in strategic marketing and communication planning, which develops into influential campaigns. Over 12+ years at John Manlove Marketing & Communications’ (JMMC), I have been inspired by my clients and the entrepreneurial spirit. While working at JMMC, I helped start and ran an international flower business for three years, ITZ Floral in 2006, which imported pre-packaged flowers direct from Guatemala to Houston and became an instrumental player in launching Regional Vue Point, a regional magazine that provided an in-depth look at leadership, lifestyle, and commerce in the Bay Area. I serve as a Board Director and Program Chair for the American Advertising Federation – Houston, which is an incredible organization to be involved in.

As the third generation, I believe we can not get where we want to go without looking back and reflecting on all the blessings God has given our family. I’m blessed with a loving family at home and work, which at the end of the day, is the biggest thing I’m proud of.

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?
It has been a wild road for sure, but I’m thankful for it. There is an old quote that I love: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”-Abraham Lincoln. That statement was true then and even more today, when the world is less and less predictable. Some of the biggest struggles have been when “data” started to become more important than actually looking at people and communicating with them. I’m sure every agency can agree with me on this, when the digital age started to take over it flipped our approache on its head. I would say that it was a challenging time. Trying to “keep up” with all the new roll-outs of data, reporting, new media, and mediums was a challenge. And honestly, it still is, but the learning gap has shortened. This is why having great people on your team becomes crucial. Thank goodness I’ve surrounded myself with people much smarter than me 😉 I’m also blessed to be married to a man in the digital space, not sure how I got that lucky, but sometimes a little luck can go a long way!

We can either risk the unusual or settle for the ordinary, so it’s important to be transparent, lean on others to fill the gap of your weaknesses and find loyal partners/mentors that will teach you.

Please tell us about the company.
With John Manlove Marketing & Communications (JMMC) as your partner, you will have a firm that is uniquely qualified for the project. Not only are we an award-winning creative agency, but JMMC is proud of our city and hope to continue the legacy for the next generation.

Working with JMMC and our proven process will guarantee you get the most unique, insightful and well-positioned creative campaign that you deserve. Even though our process is established, every campaign we produce is individual. The JMMC creative campaign starts with research and a thorough evaluation of its findings. Based on research indications, key messaging is developed and followed by creative executions. The creative strategy will highlight the brand’s personality, position and promise.

JMMC’s creative is successful because we never settle for the easy solution, we dig deeper to find the real authentic appeal, the differences that drive curiosity, the deeper emotional appeal that separates your campaign from all others. There are no short-cuts for developing compelling messaging and award-winning creative it must start with research and a deep understanding of the product – this is why JMMC is the most qualified agency for performing creative marketing strategy.

JMMC delivers considerable bandwidth to our clients. We have real experience with all aspects of developing core values, crafting vision and mission statements, marketing and communications campaigns and project management. JMMC provides a depth of service that is rarely found in one organization: media planning, media buying, web design and maintenance, social media, display advertising, digital remarketing, video, and digital advertising, public relations, TV production, outdoor marketing, and direct mail. This means you will have a creative partner that knows and works with the local media on an ongoing basis evaluating new media opportunities and emerging trends. This also means the major media players know JMMC as a proven and respected media and marketing expert. Because of our depth of experience and understanding of complete marketing campaigns, you can expect to receive unexpected value-added opportunities from your partnership with JMMC.

JMMC is the oldest and one of the most respected marketing firms in the Greater Houston/Galveston Area. We exist to create influence for our clients. We look for partners that want to redefine the future and uncover a new path forward. If this is you – then we’re your agency.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Plans for the future. We are moving heavily into international business. In September of 2019, we announced our International Economic Development Division, providing extensive services to international companies engaging in Foreign Direct Investment in the Houston region and to U.S. companies looking to invest globally. The Houston region is home to more than 90 Consulate offices. All of which represent not only their respective countries but also companies who desire to either relocate or expand into the U.S. market. The expertise to support this effort is multifaceted and multi-functional. It requires an experienced team to support the varied efforts of these expanding companies. JMMC has done extensive networking with the consulates in Houston and, as a result, has forged relationships that have grown into multiple opportunities. There is a void in holistic engagement as it relates to international companies expanding into the Houston market and eventually into other regions of the U.S. Our experienced team has been assembled to provide a clear and comprehensive pathway to support international companies entering the U.S. marketplace.

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