Martin Thoma is a cofounder and principal with Thoma Thoma, a Little Rock-based brand development and activation firm.

        Thoma began his career in 1985 as a print journalist and copywriter, working for a number of newspapers and advertising agencies before forming Thoma Thoma with his wife, Melissa, in 1989.

        Initially a creative boutique, the firm quickly engaged with large and small companies alike. It has created award-winning, results-getting work for Entergy Corporation, a $6 billion global energy services provider; Alltel Information Services, a $2 billion global information technology company; and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the sixth-largest pediatric medical center in the U.S. On the other end of the spectrum, Thoma Thoma has consulted and created for a host of small banks, insurance companies, services providers, hospitality venues, manufacturing firms, and retailers. This range of experience first inspired Thoma to begin exploring the application of large-company marketing principles to smaller businesses.

        In the 1990s, Martin and Melissa focused the entire energies of their firm on exploring and developing the tools to help clients “live their brands.” Nearly every client engagement seemed to reinforce their philosophy that a brand was not so much a marketing discipline as a leadership principle.

        Thoma writes and speaks frequently on the concept of the living brand. He can be reached at martin@thomathoma.com.