WHO WE ARE
Bright Brothers Strategy Group is a people-first, data-driven consultancy that works with cities, districts and DMOs on strategic planning, marketing, and placemaking.
From connecting with your constituents and target audiences, to mapping out customer journeys and strategic touchpoints that drive tangible results, to human-centered placemaking initiatives, Bright Brothers Strategy Group is on the cutting edge of the intersectionality between urban planning, vibrant places and economic impact. We've worked with dozens of downtowns and districts around the country, and understand that every community starts with one thing: people.
Our Founders
David Romako & Josh Yeager started it all.
Both native Pennsylvanians, this dynamic duo met in Arizona and a beautiful & productive working relationship blossomed immediately. There’s yin to our yang and Dave & Josh play off one another’s skill sets, personalities and experience — bringing a well-heeled, well-rounded and robust set of superpowers to the table. With intelligence, integrity and inventiveness there’s not much this team can’t accomplish.
Partner
Josh Yeager
Josh is seasoned strategist with over 29 years’ experience in marketing, communications, and business consulting. He is the account lead for Bright Brothers’ clients; handling marketing, communications, planning, events, activations and overall strategy. He is a “man of letters” and works in tandem with the team to deliver exceptional results, economic development acumen and placemaking deliverables.
Josh organized the Downtown Tempe Authority’s Marketing Symposium, completed seven terms on the Tempe Tourism Office’s Board of Directors, is the co-chair of the TAPs Committee for the Urban Land Institute (ULI PHL), and is active in volunteering with local advocacy groups, as well as with the International Downtown Association (IDA) within the MarCom, Placemaking, Policy & Advocacy and Econ Dev verticals. Josh was tapped as a curriculum development SME for IDA's AICP-accredited Leadership in Place Management (LPM) certification, is a 3x IDA Pinnacle Award Juror, and on the Top Issues Council for Place Branding/Making. Josh is a frequent public speaker
Partner
David Romako
David Romako is a millennial marketing strategist with 15 years of marketing experience and an ardent passion for building stronger communities. David is the statistical strategist and data analyst behind Bright Brothers’ analytical work, and has a keen and unique ability to visualize and distill salient stories from scores of raw data.
Arizona-based David headed up marketing faculty at Arizona Nonprofit Academy where he taught actionable and measurable marketing strategies and tactics for nonprofits. He has presented at Central Arizona Project Long Term Ecological Research symposium, and taught with the Downtown Tempe Authority’s Marketing Symposium. David is a frequent public speaker and educator, often found sharing his knowledge at IDA conferences, regional summits and hyper-local merchant marketing presentations.
David attended Kenyon College where he studied political science and sociology, and earned his B.A. in Sustainable Development and Public Policy from Arizona State University. David was a junior board member for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, on the Marketing Committee for one•n•ten (1N10, Inc.), a Phoenix-based LGBTQ nonprofit and held a Vice President position for the Coalition for Inclusive Scouting.
Lead Creative
Brandi Walsh
Brandi Walsh is an accomplished creative with a dynamic point of view. Her career in design has led her to in-depth collaborations on projects focused on everything from aviation and technology, to restaurants and retail, healthcare to cannabis, and luxury travel to downtown tourism. Brandi was the creative lead on the branding for Downtown San Francisco Partnership’s award winning “Lets Glow SF” in 2021.
Native to the Southwest and an Arizona local, Brandi’s work has been placed in publications including The Business Journals, Phoenix Magazine, Forbes, Condé Nast Traveler and The Wall Street Journal. She has designed for Whole Foods Market, Banner Hospitals, Dunkin Donuts, Downtown Tempe Authority and Mesa City Limitless. Once, she even worked on a project for Sir Richard Branson and his partner and aerospace engineer, Burt Rutan during the development of SpaceShipOne. It’s a fair bet you’ve seen her work somewhere.
Brandi digs good design, thrift shopping for vintage denim, and is an advocate for supporting small businesses and fostering a culture of community. She likes to spend her weekends exploring Arizona’s small towns with her husband Phillip, son Pearce, and enormous Bloodhound Roscoe.
What We Do
We have deep experience advising places, but we specialize in supporting the residents, business owners, property owners, commuters, tourists and people who make a vibrant district grow, thrive and succeed.
We work with
BIDs, BIAs, CDCs, DMOs, UPMOs
Community organizations
Downtown districts
Nonprofits
District services
Placemaking
Events and activations
Built environment
Place branding
Community engagement
Consulting
Stragegic planning
Persona development
Stakeholder support
Community research
Education and training
Agency services
Design
Branding
Public art
Asset strategy
Websites
Wanna see a sample persona? Let’s talk to see if we’re a good fit!