The Guild
The Guild is a growing network of creative, socially-conscious people, groups and companies who are connected to HERO|farm either as a Friend of the Farm or a Strategic Partner. This network forms the basis of HERO|farm's goal of working with like-minded people who also want to do their part in marking the world a better place. To find out more information about a Friend of the Farm or a Strategic Partner, email TheGuild@hero-farm.com.
Our Not-So-Secret Identities
Reid Stone, Chief Strategist/Founding Partner
has had client relationships longer than girlfriends. He moved to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to do his part in the rebuilding…and to save any attractive women bobbing in the yet-to-recede waters. After earning his stripes for years in an advertising agency, he then marched his way through a nasty little recession with the mission of bringing marketing a little attitude and even a little conscience.
With experience that includes two years of SEC football, a stint in New York and an exile in Panama, this guy is dedicated to bringing utility to advertising and actually providing value to customers on behalf of brands. His first clients consisted of social entrepreneurs and startups in need of creative branding and product development. The book he plans to publish in 2024 is tentatively titled Relevance is Elephants, or, Advertising Sucks: Why Scarlett Johansson Won’t Go Out With Me.
Shaun Walker, Creative Director/Founding Partner
has fathered tons of imaginative ideas over the years. Thankfully none of them have asked for any monthly support. Born and raised in New Orleans, he returned to his hometown after Hurricane Katrina to help rebuild and be part of a defining generation. He amassed his student loan debt at the University of Southern Mississippi where he obtained an expensive piece of paper declaring he had earned a degree in advertising.
Shaun is the pickiest person you’ll ever meet. Although that can sometimes cause problems like when deciding where you'll take him out to eat (Steak house. Pick him up for 7.), it’s a quality that clients crave when seeking top-notch work. Shaun loves to write. He and the written word usually get along, though sometimes they fight, often disagreeing as to whether Y is really a vowel or not. He writes, the words help create, and together they make statements. Oh, and remember, 7 o'clock. He and the parrot are hungry. Om nom nom.
Strategic Partners
Stephen Schulkens, Public Relations
is known by those closest to him (meaning himself) as the Incredible Schulk. Stephen has been meeting and greeting people his entire life, including when he handed a business card to the doctor who delivered him while also initiating a ribbon/umbilical cutting ceremony (with media coverage) to celebrate his arrival.
Stephen knows more people than have actually lived on earth. I don't know how that's possible, but reincarnation may play a role. The Schulk is president of Schulkens Communications, a public relations firm. Prior to establishing his own company, he worked for The Ehrhardt group where he oversaw the entire direction, management and planning for the marketing of The National World War II Museum. He also worked for the Audubon Nature Institute where he was instrumental in the dramatic turnaround of Audubon Zoo and the development, fundraising, marketing, opening and expansion of the world-renowned Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Before that Schulkens worked as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Louisiana State Museum. Better yet, he can chew several pieces of gum at once. But only Big Red.
Prior to his marketing and public relations career, Schulkens worked in TV as a producer, reporter, managing news editor and news assignment editor, including stops at WWL-TV, WVUE-TV and WBRZ-TV. Schulkens graduated from Jesuit High School in 1978 and Loyola University New Orleans in 1982, where he majored in Communications and Political Science.
In his next life, Stephen would like to take a breather. Maybe. Or be a weatherman.
Geoff Gauchet, Web Developer
has been designing and developing websites for over ten years. He wrote his first program in the third grade -- a non-functioning game of Tic-Tac-Toe. Since then, he's gone on to develop websites for a variety of clients, including a school, floral arrangement company, a couple of rappers and some marketing company that apparently grows fields of superheros.
His philosophy on design is that it should be clean, intuitive and light-weight, much like himself. He currently designs websites under the Zhephree name and plans on buying a new Lego set soon.
The Brothers Taix, Graphic Design & Photography
The Brothers Taix were born and raised in New Orleans. The elder brother, Ray, spent his college years at Loyola University studying Costumed Vigilantism with a minor in Hero Gadget Construction, or in lameman terms, Graphic Design & Photography. The younger brother, Jason, attended Southeastern Louisiana University and later the University of New Orleans where he perfected the ancient art of awesome. Jason’s years of study and skills proved a godsend when New Orleans was besieged by a group of renegade interior designers who threatened bridled redecoration of the colorful city. Fortunately, Jason's newfound awesomeness was their kryptonite.
Jason and Ray Taix have been designing for print for about ten years as freelance Graphic Designers/Artists, and have been professional photographers for about the last five years because sleep is overrated. Ray and Jason share many of the same interests but each brother brings his own unique style to their work. They love what they do and it shows in their work, be it Art Supply Catalogs, Websites, Wedding Photography, Portraits or a charcoal rendering of the Hero-Farm Guild at their Annual Picnic/Dodgeball Challenge.
Friends of the Farm
Jealous Monk
Looking for some toe tappin', soul slappin' music that keeps you and the party moving? Then meet Jealous Monk, a progressive group of inspired New Orleans musicians who uniquely blend hip hop and brass to form a style of music that's unmistakably like the Crescent City, always entertaining. There's never a last call for the energy that Jealous Monk brings to each and every performance. Check out their recently dropped album to get a taste.
Sorted Noise
Relax. When it's your time to face the music, you've got some pretty cool people who can back you up. Sorted Noise is a web of interconnected music industry professionals, built around the production team of producers / writers / multi-instrumentalists Thad Beaty and Jason Collum, for artist positioning, writing, production and licensing. This crack team of joes is to music like the Globetrotters are to basketball, amazing.
Enter the phonebooth
Tired of having other people save you? Return the favor and become a hero. We're always looking for talented individuals with good missions of their own. Unmask some opportunities to work with us by emailing SuitUp@hero-farm.com
