Graphic Designer

Today, I'm speaking with Mark Reid, who is the CEO of Atlantic Tractor, which is a 17 location John Deere equipment dealership, as well as the co-founder of Opera Via, which is a dealership focused software platform built to improve communication, intake, quoting, follow up and operational efficiency across sales, parts and service departments in the ag industry.

I was really intrigued by Mark's profile when I reached out to him, not just because he has the leadership experience and the expertise in ag, but because he started as a senior graphic designer and now he is the CEO of Atlantic Tractor.

So that's kind of where we start in this interview is his really unique background across college wrestling, horse racing, graphic design, and now leadership.

And then we kind of transition into how he thinks about taking care of his people and workplace culture, workplace mental health, and how the culture of help seeking within the agricultural industry affects some of those mechanisms within a company.

So if you're involved in agriculture in some capacity or you're working in another industry where a suicide risk is higher than the average, so mining, forestry, construction, different things like that, this is absolutely the interview for you.

So buckle up, tune in, and I will see you in the episode.

I think your career is particularly interesting because you are now the CEO, but you started as a senior graphic designer.

Was it always your intention to become the guy at the top? How did you get there?

Yeah.

I started as an all-purpose graphic designer.

Um, I did everything, web, email, print, packaging, um, branding.

Over time, I realized that I was only doing some of those things because I was told it was what you had to do to be successful.

We can go the other way also.

You described it as everyone in the book being graphic designers who are doing something else, which is true.

I would twist that a little bit and say that other thing that they're doing is also graphic design.

Welcome back to another episode of the AIGA Design Podcast.

And our guest today is Jared Fuller.

Jared is a designer, writer, educator, and host of the podcast Scratching the Surface.

He currently teaches design and is the author of a new book called Graphic Designers After Graphic Design.

Designer as a publisher, researcher, change maker, performer, and artist.

Yes, always a good idea to bring your own extension cord, which is something that I learned the hard way.

And with that, we are pleased to welcome today's guests, Peter Osborne, MMA Director of Educational Services, Melissa White, MMA Assistant Director of Educational Services, Sue Borden, MMA Graphic Designer.

Sandra Berry, MMA Education and Member Engagement Coordinator.

And last but not least, Elizabeth Cabral, MMA Manager of Administration and Building Maintenance.

[clicks tongue] Nah, I'm just messing with you.

Most graphic designers have been preparing for a career that won't exist five years from now.

Not because the future of design is at risk, because it isn't, because, to be honest, I think businesses need good design now more than ever.

And so before we go all blaming AI and Canva and Fiverr, or for the fact that clients don't value design anymore, let me save you the trouble.

Because I've been through this before.

Actually, I've been through it about seven times before.

Every few years, graphic designers find something new to panic about.

I mean, some new end-of-design moment, you know? Seriously, when I started, people were terrified that the Mac was going to replace designers.