Profile: Steve Bawden

Steve Bawden, with more than 30 years of integrated marketing communications and entrepreneurial experience, brings a wealth of marketing and business acumen to Big River Associates.

Bawden began his marketing and advertising career in 1978 with his family’s agency, Advertising Communications Incorporated (ACI), with offices in Davenport, Iowa and St. Louis, Missouri. . Over a thirteen-year period Bawden led the expansion of the company from eight to sixty employees, and to peak revenue of $35 million. Bawden also served on the Board of Bawden Printing, a privately owned printing company employing over 400 people that specialized in the production and distribution of soft bound one and two color books. Their services also included the printing and distribution of the ACT and SAT test programs. Other categories served included health care, insurance, equipment manufacturing, trade publishing and commercial catalogs.

Following his tenure at ACI, Bawden joined Glennon & Company, St. Louis, Missouri from 1990 to 1996. As Vice President and Consumer/Retail Team Leader, Bawden was responsible for all consumer related brands and accounts, which included Midas Muffler & Brakes, May Company Department Stores and Missouri Tourism. He was also responsible for 1,500 McDonald’s restaurants, and was an active member of McDonald’s National Marketing and Calendar Planning Advisory Committee. This committee was responsible for consumer segmentation, understanding the competitive marketplace, eating trends and innovation of new initiatives and promotions.

Following Glennon, Bawden joined Bates USA New York, one of the largest global marketing firms at that time. As Senior Vice President, Bawden was responsible for managing a twenty-six-person team and a $240 million marketing budget for Wendy’s International. His responsibilities included the United States, Canada and Latin America.

In 2001 Bawden joined Kansas City based Barkley Evergreen. As Executive Vice President and Partner, Bawden was responsible for the rebranding and positioning of Sonic Drive-In Restaurants. This effort enabled the brand to grow from a southwestern regional chain into a national company, listed on the NYSE.

In addition to his agency work, Bawden was a founding partner and head of the marketing committee for Sweet Traditions, the Area Development franchisee for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Eastern Missouri, Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Bawden played a vital role in concepting Sweet Traditions public relations strategy to tip and stimulate the brand. The strategy successfully generated regional and national attention, which produced record-breaking sales.

Most recently, Bawden served as Senior Vice President of National Systems Incorporated (NSI), a national marketing firm specializing in internet development and web based tools. NSI enables national brands to implement marketing activities and tactics through the channel for local retail implementation.

Bawden holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. To maintain his professional edge and expertise in his field, Bawden attends numerous AAAA, DMA, IFA and Restaurant Leadership educational seminars.