Today we’d like to introduce you to Damien Denmark.
Hi Damien, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I originally moved to Kansas working in the private sector, but was later given the opportunity to transition into the public sector through economic development. That shift opened the door for me to work directly with communities, understand their challenges, and see firsthand how stronger communication, data, and marketing could change local outcomes.
Southwind Marketing Group began as an idea in 2023 and officially launched in 2025. The concept was simple: most small businesses, local governments, and nonprofits do meaningful work, but they don’t always have the resources, strategy, or digital tools to tell their story well. I kept seeing the same pattern—good people doing important work, but without the infrastructure to reach the public in a modern, consistent way.
My early experience working across rural Kansas showed me how much potential these communities had, but also how big the gap was between the work being done and the story being told. That’s what pushed me to build Southwind. I wanted to create a firm that could move fast, operate hands-on, and bring big-city capabilities to the types of organizations that usually get overlooked.
Southwind now works with cities, chambers, nonprofits, and small businesses across Kansas, Oklahoma, and beyond. We build websites, design brands, manage communications, create tourism and economic dashboards, and handle the behind-the-scenes systems that make an organization run smoothly. Whether it’s a city improving transparency, a small business growing online, or a local nonprofit trying to increase its visibility, the mission is the same: give them the tools and strategy to compete with anyone.
Southwind exists because of where I come from and the places I care about. My work has always been rooted in community, storytelling, efficiency, and making sure people have access to information that actually helps them move forward. We’re still growing, but the purpose hasn’t changed—Southwind was built to serve, to elevate, and to create real impact for the people and places that make up the backbone of this region.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Transitioning from the private sector into economic development was a major shift on its own, but building Southwind on top of that came with a different level of pressure. I wasn’t coming from a big agency background, and I didn’t inherit a network of clients. I had to earn trust project by project, often in communities where relationships matter more than anything you can put on a website.
One of the biggest challenges was proving that a small, independent firm could deliver the level of work cities and businesses expect—websites, branding, tourism dashboards, communications, all at a professional standard. That took long nights, constant learning, and building systems from scratch while still showing up for clients every day.
Working in rural economic development also came with its own unique challenges. Every community has different needs, political dynamics, and expectations. I had to learn quickly, adapt faster, and deliver results that spoke louder than titles or credentials.
Financially, starting a firm while serving multiple communities meant taking on risk—funding tools, software, design, hosting, travel, and reinvesting everything back into the business. Nothing about it was easy, but it forced discipline, clarity, and a commitment to doing the job the right way.
Those obstacles shaped Southwind. They taught me resilience, patience, and how to build a company that serves people honestly and efficiently. The challenges weren’t setbacks—they were the reason Southwind became what it is today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Southwind Marketing Group is a full-service marketing, communications, and data strategy firm that works with organizations of all sizes — from small businesses and rural communities to mid-size cities, county governments, chambers, economic development organizations, and nonprofits across the Midwest and East Coast. Our mission is to give every client, regardless of geography or budget, access to the level of strategy, branding, and digital infrastructure typically reserved for big agencies.
We specialize in website design and hosting, brand development, social media management, communication strategy, economic development dashboards, tourism analytics, and full digital systems support. But at the center of everything we do is clarity — helping organizations modernize the way they operate, strengthen how they communicate, and use data to make smarter decisions.
What sets Southwind apart is our approach. We work fast. We stay hands-on. And we lead with relationships. Many firms focus only on creative work; we focus on outcomes. We partner directly with cities to improve transparency, with businesses to grow visibility and revenue, and with nonprofits to strengthen their message and credibility. Because we blend marketing with economic development thinking, our clients benefit from deeper strategy and more practical solutions.
I’m most proud that Southwind was built to serve people and organizations that often get overlooked — but today, our reach and impact extend far beyond that. Whether it’s a rural town, a growing city, or a multi-state organization, we stay close to the people we’re helping. We don’t outsource the heart of our work. We show up, listen, and make operations easier, more efficient, and more modern.
At its core, Southwind exists to elevate the good work already happening in the communities and organizations we serve. Every project matters to us — whether it’s a website, a dashboard, a brand refresh, or a communication plan — because the impact always reaches further than the deliverable. Our goal is to build tools that help people tell their story, grow their organization, and move forward with confidence.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m most proud that Southwind was built to serve people who are often overlooked—rural towns, family-owned businesses, local organizations, and communities trying to grow with limited resources. We don’t outsource the heart of our work. We stay close to the people we’re helping, and we focus on making their operations easier, more efficient, and more modern.
Southwind exists to elevate the work that’s already happening in these communities. We want people to know that we take every project seriously, no matter how small, because the impact is always bigger than the deliverable. Whether it’s a website, a dashboard, a brand refresh, or a communication plan, our job is to create tools that help people tell their story, grow their organization, and serve their community with clarity and confidence.
One thing that surprises people is that I didn’t grow up imagining I’d run a company like this. I come from a place where you work hard, keep your head down, and do what needs to be done. When I moved to Kansas, I had no idea that path would lead to economic development, public-sector work, and eventually building a firm that works with cities and businesses across the region.
What people don’t always see is how personal this work is for me. Southwind became the outlet where I put every lesson, every setback, and every bit of resilience into something that helps other people move forward. One of our earliest projects was supporting a small rural chamber that needed a full rebrand with almost no resources. That project became the blueprint for how we approach community work today—meeting people where they are, working with what they have, and helping them create something they’re proud of.
In just our first year, Southwind supported more than a dozen city, nonprofit, and small business initiatives across the Midwest and East Coast. What sets us apart is simple: most firms focus on big-city clients; we built ours intentionally for the towns that often get overlooked. The goal isn’t to be the biggest firm in the room—it’s to make sure the people who rarely get a seat at the table still have access to the tools that move communities forward.
Looking ahead, our mission stays the same: keep building work that matters, keep serving the communities that shaped us, and keep helping people tell their story with confidence.
Pricing:
- • Website Design & Hosting: Projects typically range from $1,500–$8,500 depending on size, pages, and functionality.
- • Social Media Management: Monthly packages start at $650 for small businesses and nonprofits.
- • Branding & Creative Services: Logo and brand packages start at $750.
- • City & Government Communications Support: Contracted services vary by scope but generally range from $1,000–$4,500 per month.
- Data Dashboards (Tourism, Economic Development, Finance, HR, Public Safety, and General Reporting): Custom dashboards begin at $2,500 with monthly or quarterly update options.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://southwindmarketing.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthwindMarketing/
