About

With over 30 years of combined experience in top notch marketing communications, we know how to get it done…professionally, competitively, effectively, and at a pleasingly low price. Browse the website, and then contact us; let’s sit down and discuss your next, and greatest, strategy.

Kim Bode, Owner

Kim Bode, Principal of 834 Design, received her bachelors degree in communications  from Grand Valley State University. While employed by the University, she rapidly worked her way up the administrative ranks. By 2002, Bode was with a GVSU start up entity, the West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative where she served as WMSTI’s Director of Marketing.

Bode is an advanced communicator  with extensive experience in strategic planning, marketing communications, media relations, event planning, and social media.

In 2008, Bode was featured in both Grand Rapids Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 and Grand Rapids Magazine’s Influential Women. She is also a graduate of the Center of Community Leadership’s Inside Grand Rapids program and a 2009 Athena award nominee.

In the past several years, Bode began receiving numerous speaking requests from corporations who followed her on social media, to discuss strategy, engagement, measurement and policy. She has spoken for the Michigan Association of CPAs, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Kalamazoo Chamber Business Expo, West Michigan Public Relations Society of America, small business groups and more.

Bode also hosts the monthly radio show “Your Biz, Your Town” with WGVU’s Shelley Irwin on 88.5 FM.

Kim’s drive and ambition, added to her desire to deliver the best quality product to her client make her one of the most in-demand professionals in Grand Rapids.

She currently resides in the Grand Rapids community with her two dogs, Bentley and Murphy and her husband, Josh.

Marketing Chair, Susan G. Komen West Michigan
Committee Member, American Cancer Society, Relay for Life Downtown Grand Rapids
Founding Member, Vignette Marketing
Event Chair, The Grand Rapids Red Project

Renay Schoenmaker, Intern Marketing Coordinator

Renay Schoenmaker grew up on Michigan’s east side before attending college at Grand Valley State University. She is currently in her junior year studying Advertising/Public Relations with a minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Renay’s interests include communication, event planning, marketing and public relations. Her career goal is to become an event planner or creative director.

Her responsibilities at 834 Design & Marketing are market research, event coordination, copywriting and communication strategy assistance.

Hillary Ascroft, Intern PR & Event Coordinator

Hillary Ascroft grew up on Michigan’s east side and has been attending Lansing Community College to obtain her associates in Hospitality and Tourism. She has been working in the event industry for five years now and loves it. She plans to attend Grand Valley State University to obtain her bachelors in Marketing and PR.

Her interests include planning corporate or social events, and strengthening her skills in marketing and PR.

Her responsibilities at 834 Design & Marketing include event planning, public relations, assisting in pro bono relationships and assisting with other communication projects as needed.

834 Virtual Team

Adrienne Wallace, Project Manager, Chief Do-Gooder, Intern Wrangler 

Adrienne Wallace is an enthusiastic communicator with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors ranging in scope from nonprofit, health, education, government, to finance.  She currently works for a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit as Manager of Volunteer Services and Queen of Tweets, previously she served as the Marketing Leads & Events Manager for Amway Hotel Collection and prior to that as Recreation & Special Events Director for the City of Holland.

She earned a Bachelors degree in Health Communications and Public Relations, a Masters degree in Communications, and a second Masters degree in Public Administration, all from Grand Valley State University (GVSU).

Adrienne is a published author, runner, amateur chef and photographer, and friend to animals.  She maintains a vegetarian food blog, is a regular contributor to The Mode Life, Vegan GR, and a hyper-local citizen journalist for The Rapidian.  She is also an adjunct professor and student champion at GVSU in the School of Communications, where she teaches Public Relations, Argumentative Analysis, Social Media and Emerging Communication Technologies.  She has also taught Interpersonal Communication, Non Verbal Communication and Speech Communication.

As a lifelong learner, Adrienne seeks to monitor trends and analyze unique intersections of technology with personal relationships and is super fascinated with aiding nonprofits as they champion noble causes.  She’s a social-change leader, Grand Rapids Westsider, wife to techno/PR geek Derek DeVries, mother to wonderdog rescue pups Walter and Bosley and loyal Eco-trekker.

If you are in to awards and such, Adrienne, is a Leadership Holland Alum, was named to the Lakeshore 40 under 40, was honored as a “Woman of Influence” by “I” magazine, received Michigan Recreation and Parks Association “Best New Professional” and “Media Advocate” awards, and is a Rising Women Leaders Alum through the Grand Rapids Center for Community Leadership.  She sits on the WGVU Engage Committee, GVSU Social Media Advocacy Council, Kids’ Food Basket Marketing and School Liaison Committees, the Volunteer Manager’s Association of West Michigan Board and is a member of the Michigan Nonprofit Administration and Young Nonprofit Network of Grand Rapids.

Jason Dodge, Online Marketing Guru

Jason Dodge is driven by his passion for Internet marketing strategies and positive communication.  Helping others achieve success through engaging with their customers is what drives Jason and Black Truck Media + Marketing to work toward excellence on every project.

Sara Stachon Durham, Nonprofit Guru

Sara Stachon Durham is an energetic, brazen young professional who is a passionate advocate for social justice issues.  Sara has over eight years of experience in various administrative roles in the nonprofit sector, including volunteer coordination and management, strategic planning, client services, as well as program development and fund development.

Sara serves as the Internal-Communications Chair for the Volunteer Management Association of West Michigan board of directors in addition to serving on the board for the National Organization for Women-Greater Grand Rapids as their acting Membership Chair. In addition to these appointments she is also a member of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids (YNPN).  She is an accomplished orator and has presented at the Michigan Women’s Studies Association conference, Supporting Families with Young Children Conference and has been a facilitator for the Race Matters round table discussion through Michigan’s Children.

She earned a Bachelors degree in Sociology from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and a Masters of Social Justice from Marygrove College.  Sara grew up in the “tip of the mitten” and moved to Grand Rapids to attend GVSU. She is still very much connected to the community where she grew up where she loves to fish, and spend time on the lake with family and friends.  Sara Stachon Durham is a dedicated nonprofit volunteer, wife, mother, avid reader of all things nonfiction and a devoted Tigers fan.

Chris Koens, Project Manager, Graphic Designer Extraordinaire, Web Developer, Therapist

Chris Koens is a marketer by desire, a designer by passion, and a writer by happenstance. Chris has a background in web and print design that spans a decade and a half and touches multiple industries with a variety of b2b and b2c clients. As a marketer he uses his ability to connect concept to design to end user and create successful campaigns and unique individual pieces. Additionally, Chris uses his words and wit to connect the written word to the consumer – whether the words exist in pixels or ink, having developed content for both on-line and in-life projects and contributing writings to multiple on-line publications.

Chris has passion for the local Grand Rapids area, but panache for the global marketplace. Born in West Michigan, but having spent significant time living, working, and vacationing in eight countries and multiple US States, Chris now calls Grand Rapids “home.”

Jeff Tow, Graphic Designer & Web Developer

Jeff Tow is a graphic designer and web developer with over 17 years of experience providing solutions for a wide range of customers, in a variety of industries. Whether it’s web design, graphic design or motion graphics, Jeff moves seamlessly across the media to provide solid creative elements that build and enhance branding.

Jeff leverages his development skill set, experience with open-source applications, and his deep understanding of internet technologies to make a client’s design work and deliver the desired results.

Laura Sullivan, Designer Extraordinaire

Laura Sullivan is a intuitive graphic designer that specializes in print and web design. From the simplest flyer to a full fledged identity package, Laura is in her element.

Laura feels that even the smallest project deserves great design and a keen attention to detail. Laura joined the 834 virtual team in 2009 and has been working with clients on logo design, web development, brochures, posters, banners and more.

She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and son.

Partner Company – JLG Consulting
Orlando, FL

JLG Consulting, INC., has a strong business network in the 7 county Central Florida region as well as the 26 states east of the Mississippi.  We specialize in long term, targeted relationships with key individuals in the real estate and A/E/C industry.   Beyond simply participating in leads groups or attending networking functions, JLG proactively fosters working relationships with senior, ‘C-Level’ professionals from a wide array of professional services.  We are very proud of the quality of the individuals we work with and consider them our fundamental resource in business development.

JLG Consulting, INC., was formed in 2009 by Johanna Lixey-Greene.  Johanna obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.  She has worked as a Director of Business Development and Marketing in the real estate and A/E/C industry since 2002.  Before starting JLG Consulting, INC., Johanna worked as the V.P of Business Development & Marketing with C.D. Barnes Associates in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  C.D. Barnes is a General Contractor/Construction Manager/Design Builder and Real Estate Developer.  She was then recruited and relocated to Orlando, FL by QORE Property Sciences. She served as the Central Florida Director of Business Development.  Following QORE Johanna led NOVA Engineering & Environmentals’ business development and marketing efforts as the Director of Business Development.

Her list of clients include:

SCA Design Group – www.scadg.com

U.S Green Building Council – Central Florida Chapter: www.usgbc-cf.com

Venator Contracting: www.venatorcontracting.com