COMPANY HISTORY :: PROFILES OF FOUNDERS :: AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

COMPANY HISTORY
Our founders:
Cognitive Marketing Inc. was formed in 1993 by two marketing communications professionals with quite different backgrounds, but very similar ideas about being of service to our clients:
Peter Holloran, an account service veteran with experience in strategic marketing planning and brand positioning development.

Josanne DeNatale, a communications designer with a background developing organizational brand identity programs and marketing communications campaigns.

PROFILES OF FOUNDERS
Peter Holloran, President / Strategic Director

Peter is a co-founder of Cognitive Marketing, and somewhat chagrined to admit that he’s been in the marketing and communications business for 24 years. Peter began his career in the advertising and public relations training program at General Electric Company, first in Schenectady, and later in Washington, D.C., providing services to high technology and industrial GE business units. While in Washington, Peter also worked at EDS Corporation, where as Marketing Manager he built an in-house communications agency to support the marketing of the National Flood Insurance Program.

Upon Peter’s return to his hometown of Rochester, New York, he took account service positions of increasing responsibility at three local advertising agencies, including the Rochester offices of BBDO and Young & Rubicam. Prior to the founding of Cognitive Marketing, Peter served for over four years as Buck & Pulleyn’s first Director of Client Services.

Peter has provided strategic communications services to a wide range of clients, ranging from very large to very small corporations; colleges and universities; social service and cultural non-profits; and government at city, county and federal levels.

A graduate of Gettysburg College, Peter also holds a Masters degree from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication. He is actively involved in the Rochester community, currently serving as Chair of the Advertising Council of Rochester, and as a trustee of the Landmark Society of Western NY. He also serves on WXXI’s Community Advisory Board, and is a past Board Chair of the Hochstein Music School. Peter is on the marketing advisory committee supporting Gettysburg College’s national capital campaign. He guest lectures from time to time on the subjects of marketing, positioning and brand building at the University of Rochester’s Simon School and at SUNY/Brockport. top

Josanne DeNatale, Executive Vice President / Creative Director

Co-founder of Cognitive Marketing, Josanne manages new media services and develops web-based communications solutions. Her experience also includes the creation of brand positioning and identity programs as well as the full range of traditional marketing communications materials.

Prior to founding Cognitive Marketing, Josanne served for nine years as senior art director at a Rochester-based marketing communications company, where she produced award-winning creative work for commercial and non-profit clients including The Rockefeller Foundation, Starlight Children's Foundation, Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region, Volunteers of America, Xerox Corporation and the Automobile Club of America/Rochester Chapter. Her career began in Buffalo, NY working for a trade show exhibit and graphic design firm. She graduated from Buffalo State College of the State University of New York majoring in graphic design, with a minor in communications, and with course credits in just about every other subject offered. This active curiosity still sustains her today.

Josanne is very engaged in Rochester's design and arts community. She is on the board of directors of the Arts and Cultural Council of the Greater Rochester Region and also serves on the Executive Committee. Josanne is a member of the Marketing Committee of Writers & Books and on the Economic Development Team of Third Presbyterian Church of Rochester. Josanne is a former adjunct faculty member with the technical communications program of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Part-time Studies. She is a member of the Rochester Women's Network, the Advertising Council of Rochester, and The Rochester Contemporary (ROCO) Art Center. A career-long member of the International Type Director's Club, Josanne's avocation is typographic design and she often lectures on this topic. top

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Cognitive Marketing specializes in the development, implementation and management of organizational and corporate positioning programs, as well as product and service brand development. We are equally at home working with traditional media and on the Internet, and know how to integrate our clients’ messages in all media. Our clients include high technology companies, professional services organizations, schools, colleges and universities, cultural, social service and economic development not-for-profits, and city and county government.