Brandon Chesnutt

Background

About Brandon Chesnutt

I serve as “chief evangelist” for all Identity agency work and spearhead new client partnerships. I also act as the initial architect for all new client programs while infusing an elevated level of strategic insight and direction across the agency.In 2007, I founded Identity’s social media practice group, which is recognized as one of the first dedicated social media teams within Detroit’s PR landscape. Once it became clear that social media wasn’t a fad, my team helped to propel the agency’s growth and diversification of services within the digital space. While I was leading Identity’s social media efforts, the agency garnered more than a dozen social media and communications awards for digital strategy, content development, corporate blogs, crisis communications and more. In my development role, I've led Identity's national and global expansion. Additionally, I've played the lead role in forging the agency’s path within new industries and verticals, including self-storage and cannabis. Outside of the office, I'm a sought-after speaker and presenter on the topic of social media strategy and digital crisis management. I've had the good fortune to present at social media and digital marketing conferences around the country and share the stage with representatives from the world’s biggest brands, including VISA, Lockheed Martin, Nestle Purina, IBM, Taco Bell, Chili’s Bar & Grill, IMAX, Western Union, GoDaddy, BuzzFeed and many more. I'm known for bringing contagious energy and enthusiasm to the stage, along with real-world, applicable examples of companies succeeding—or failing­—in the digital space. Most recently, I was a featured panelist and presenter at the inaugural PRWeek Crisis Comms Conference in Washington, D.C, and led the first full-day crisis communications bootcamp hosted at PRSA ICON, the largest gathering of public relations professionals in the world. A member of the Crain’s Detroit Business “20 in their 20s,” my business accomplishments, community involvement and viral content have also been featured in PRWeek, Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, FOX 2 News Detroit, Ragan’s PR Daily, REBusinessOnline.com, Mashable, Rolling Stone and Detroit News.Outside of the office, I love to travel with my wife, Heather. I'm also a t-ball coach, avid video gamer, sports car enthusiast and doting dad to Calvin, my son named after the famous comic character, and a fluffy and obnoxiously cute goldendoodle named Scout.