Our History – Connect

OUR FOUNDERS

LaVon Lewis, one of the nation’s most respected authorities on branding, design, and marketing, and he is the Co-Founder, President, and Creative Director of Connect Branding, an Atlanta-based, award winning branding and marketing firm. LaVon transforms conceptual ideas into signature brands for companies all over the world. Today, LaVon has earned his way to being one of the most sought-after branding and marketing professionals in the nation as noted by Black Enterprise Magazine.

LaVon founded his first company in a dorm room at his alma mater at the tender age of 19 with his business partner and CONNECT BRANDING, Co-Founder, Sherrod Shackelford. Upon graduation and submitting numerous resumes and applications, Mr. Lewis was rejected from more than 25 different employers. Despite the obstacles that were placed along his path, his ambition, passion and vision superseded his lack of experience, finances and business support. With his goal clearly in view, LaVon has led creative direction for several Fortune 100 companies and thousands of small businesses. LaVon was recently named one of Atlanta’s Top 25 Rising Stars.

Today, with over twenty years of business achievements under his business belt, LaVon Lewis and the CONNECT BRANDING team have amassed over 50 awards worldwide (i.e. U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Technology Firm of the Year, Golden Addy, GMSDC Supplier of the Year and Entrepreneur Of The Year) and have garnished a business clientele portfolio that boasts of the countries Who’s Who in business and entertainment (SeaWorld, Panasonic, The Home Depot, Wal-Mart, AT&T, and Coca-Cola, to name a few).

In addition to his business successes, Mr. Lewis is also an author with his book, “Today is a Great Day for a WOW Image!” which has been a great resource for business owners and aspiring business professionals alike. With his vast knowledge of the marketing genre, LaVon has not only been featured in several publications, websites and TV shows such as BlackEnterprise.com and ABC to name a few, but he has also joined the ranks of the most sought-after public speakers of our time, hosting and headlining conferences, seminars and workshops in addition to Co-Founding the Make Them Buy Marketing and Branding Boot camps.

Sherrod Shackelford is the Co-Founder, CEO and Chief Strategic Architect of Connect Branding, an Atlanta-based, award winning branding and marketing firm. Launching his first business at the age of 15, Sherrod used his talents to help businesses maximize their web and commercial presence; earning this up-and-coming young professional his first paycheck of $5,000. Sherrod also boasts over 300,000 home grown social media followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube. Today, has earned his way to being one of the most sought-after branding and marketing professionals in the nation as noted by Black Enterprise Magazine.

Possessing a federal security clearance, Sherrod has had the opportunity to work with several federal government contractors (e.g., Phacil, Inc., a Missile Defense Agency; CAS/ITT Corporation; Intergraph Corporation, etc.) and execute software development program/web development and graphic design objectives using Microsoft SharePoint and a variety of other technical applications (such as Visual Basic, VB Script, HTML, JavaScript, ASP, ASP.NET, CSS, SQL, Action Script, XML, etc.). Sherrod’s custom- built, web-based utilities have been used in countries across the globe and translated into multiple languages by multi-billion-dollar companies.

Sherrod approaches every project and endeavor with a high-level of energy, creativity and passion. His talent is evidenced by a long history of success in the business world and by the 50+ industry-related, creative design and marketing awards received by SL BRANDS. Combining his professional expertise with a dynamic speaking style; Sherrod has a unique ability to engage, motivate, energize and inspire audiences from all walks of life.

Graduating with honors, Sherrod earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Marketing Information Systems (MIS) from Alabama A & M University. Additionally, Sherrod received extensive training in Microsoft SharePoint Application Development through the Mindsharp Institute and 64 hours of supplemental Microsoft SharePoint training by a certified Microsoft SharePoint Expert.

In addition to his business successes, Mr. Shackelford is also an accomplished, author, with his highly sought-after book, “Make Them Buy: The Definitive Guide to Building a Multi-Million Dollar Business, Brand and Attitude. Sherrod has not only been featured in several publications, websites and TV shows such as ABC, Gospel Music Channel, Stellar Awards, Word Network, to name a few, but he has also joined the ranks of the most sought-after public speakers of our time, hosting and headlining 500 conferences, seminars and workshops in addition to Co-Founding the Make Them Buy Marketing and Branding Boot camps.

Our team consists of over 25 creative professionals and our clients include AT&T, Home Depot, Panasonic, SeaWorld, Amazon, Coca-Cola, Shipt, and hundreds of small businesses. We specialize in Marketing Strategy, Branding, Digital, Design, and Public Relations.

We’ve served thousands of businesses, and branding and marketing are our core.

The greatest skill an agency like ours could ever cultivate is not what you may assume. We believe that the most important element of our service is quite simple…

Listening.

We listen to our customers, the market, competitors, industry experts, critics, and detractors. We aren’t looking for guidance as much as for clarity. We understand that every event within our industry should be, at a minimum, interpreted, analyzed, and understood.

The good is then put to use, and the stagnant ideas of yesteryear are reconfirmed as ineffective; we then resort to trusting the skill that has enabled us to handle millions in branding projects… Instinct.

As a CEO, Entrepreneur, or business executive, you realize that instinct is not a frivolous guess, as it is the summation of all of your knowledge and experience combined with your will to succeed. It’s what led you here.

We are the best at leveraging this in partnership with our clients.

Welcome to one of the nation’s premier agencies, Connect Branding and Marketing.

Branding Simplified.