The MMRI team: experience personified

An old Spanish proverb has it that “Experience is not always the kindest of teachers, but it is surely the best.”

The ancient Chinese said, “Experience, if remembered, points to the future.”

MMRI is blessed with staff members who have experiences in many fields, including advertising, marketing, management, entertainment, fine arts, and business. It all comes together to make us resourceful, even when dealing with new experiences, and puts a distinctive stamp on our work.

Donald J. Schoen

President

• 35 years in sales, marketing, and event management. Formerly with Mobil, Don held several sales and marketing positions. His transition into tactical marketing was spurred by a move into Mobil’s headquarters in New York City and then Fairfax, Virginia. After spending the last 13 years at Mobil in Advertising and Sales Promotions, Don decided it was time to try a different path, created Mercury Marketing, and built it into a successful tactical marketing shop in less than two years.
• Don is an avid scuba diver, volunteers many hours each month to cook for the homeless in area shelters, and is currently re-learning to play guitar after a 30-year hiatus.

Donnie J. Schoen, Jr.

V.P. of Marketing and General Manager

• Administrator for project development, management, and tracking; Technology Director. Donnie puts his MBA to good use, not just for running MMRI’s day-to-day operations, but as a consultant to MMRI’s creative staff in developing sound sales and support materials for the company’s wide range of client businesses.
• Donnie toured with a rock and roll band for several years after acquiring an engineering degree at Virginia Tech, and before joining his father in the business. He still plays a wicked guitar, and competes with MMRI’s Creative Director, who played professionally for years. He is better known within the shop, however, for his coffee, which will dissolve varnish, etch stainless steel, and change the weather. This prompts two MMRI staffers to get into the shop extra early each morning to make drinkable coffee.

Deborah Rowe

V.P. of Motorsports Marketing and Special Events

• With more than two decades’ experience in planning and managing corporate events, Deborah and her team are responsible for multi-million dollar sponsorship programs and high-level corporate meetings, creating ideal environments for high-ROI business transactions and development.
• Somehow, she finds time to combine her high-energy passions as a football/soccer/lacrosse mom with personal “support our troops” enthusiasm in support of her warrior husband, now on deployment.

Barry Turner

Director of Business Development

• After leaving California and retiring from TV production in 1991, Barry began a career in sales & marketing in the DC area. Since then he has had the opportunity to work with many local and national companies; ultimately growing his business to be present in every Home Depot, Lowes and most building product distributors and lumber yards across the USA and Canada.
• Barry also has a lot of fun playing guitar for his church band.