Great brands are built on differentiation.
By standing out.
Strategic positioning.
Authentic identity, personality, and design.
Compelling and consistent experiences.
Dynamic storytelling.
If you are hungry to stand out,
If you are determined to be different,
If you are ready to brand bolder …
It’s time we talk.
darbyDarnit — brand marketing, creative storytelling & PR
Building and growing brands. Telling stories to change hearts and minds, and ultimately lives.
That’s what darbyDarnit is all about.
Petri Darby, has 30 years of experience spanning nearly every marketing and communications discipline: brand strategy and creative direction, public relations and advertising, public affairs and policy campaigns, community relations and stakeholder engagement, social media and grassroots organizing, issues/crisis management and copywriting. He’s worked on the agency and client sides, in the traditional and non-profit arenas. He’s represented clients ranging from Fortune 50 oil & gas, chemical, and retail corporations to top law firms and national nonprofits, renowned health care institutions to a medical device company, and a premium sipping tequila brand to a specialty coffee roasting company.
Petri currently serves as chair of the Make-A-Wish of Central & South Texas Board of Directors and as a member of the Cedar Park City Council. He also is a dual-citizen of the U.S. and Finland and the founder of Voices of Karelia, a nonprofit that collects, shares, and preserves stories and content of Finnish Karelian evacuees of the Winter War and Continuation War.
A Few Highlights
- Helped build two philanthropic brands founded by Charles Butt, chairman & former CEO of H-E-B and built and led an in-house multimedia brand marketing, creative, and communications studio serving internal and external clients
- Oversaw multimedia policy/advocacy campaigns that supported successful passage of bills resulting in $11.6 billion for school finance and pre-K, release of $16.7 billion in federal stimulus funds for schools, and grants to scale blended learning approaches across Texas
- Led brand marketing, digital strategy, and strategic communications for one of the nation’s most trusted nonprofit brands
- Served as the sole PR & corporate communications representative for an AMLAW 50 law firm, represented several others as clients
- Successfully Shepherded clients and employers through high-stakes issues/crisis management situations involving environmental, celebrity, safety, legal, political, and other issues
- Directed a statewide initiative with 150+ partnering organizations to elevate the teaching profession that raised $3 million for Texas teachers and classrooms
- Oversaw team responsible for branding, PR, social media, web development, and campaigns for Uvalde Moving Forward Foundation that raised $60 million campaign to build new elementary school
Clients/Experience
From Those Who Know Us
“Here’s the guy AI will never be able to displace, because his approach to strategically advancing organizations through a creativity that neither another human nor a machine can match is singular and legendary.
Petri finds the humanity at the core of every great story, and his chosen combination of words, visuals, and sounds bring it to life and into hearts. Causes gain more meaning through his creative expressions, and organizations gain more ground through his strategies.
For all of the efficiencies it generates, technology cannot approach the care Petri puts into his craft, his teams, and his causes.”
Paul Allvin, VP & Chief Brand Officer — George Mason University
“It’s a common problem: you enter a panel thinking the South by Southwest program swapped his first name for his last name, you leave the panel wanting to name your next son Petri.
Petri Darby is the guy with the weird name who shows up on non-profit panels everywhere. His materials are case-study rich and very hands-on. Practitioners will learn from his successful, smart teachings.”
Claire Diaz-Ortiz, author, venture capitalist, former Director of Social Innovation & Philanthropy for Twitter
“In a business like ours, time is of the essence. I always feel as though I am number one on Petri’s priority list, and, I get a perfect product each time. As one of his smaller customers, that is a great thing to be able to say. Do yourself a favor and do business with this man.”
Brian Wing, former President and CEO — Wing Aviation