Salukis in Business — Nic Skovgaard
By: Siu Alumni Association
Tags: Giving, Business Development, Media, Marketing, Entrepreneurship

Salukis in Business — Nic Skovgaard

For as long as he can remember, Nic Skovgaard dreamed of owning his own marketing company. So after graduating from SIU Carbondale with a degree in communication studies, he founded AlterEgo Marketing.

Nic Skovgaard

“I founded AlterEgo Marketing because I love working with small businesses to help them tell their stories. I believe when people do something they really love, they can make an incredible difference regardless of their industry,” said Skovgaard.

AlterEgo is a full-service marketing and creative firm that provides high-level, long-term, strategic marketing consulting services for business across the Midwest. They help small businesses invest in Brand Development, Television Commercial Production, Website Design, and Digital Marketing.

“And anything else that can help our clients make good things happen for their employees, customers and communities. Simply put, we believe in telling stories that look and feel real, because they are,” he continued.

Skovgaard says they’ve been keeping pretty busy to kick off 2019.

“We started off the year by launching a new website for one of our national clients, Joy Pet Food, and we have several more in the works. We’ve been working with a few local companies over the past few weeks to develop new logos and we’re now in the early part of helping a few of them create all of the collateral pieces that go with a new brand,” Skovgaard said.

Skovgaard says that helping a business roll out a completely new identity system is probably one of the most rewarding things his company gets to work on.

“Starting from the very concept of a new logo all the way through the process of creating new business cards, letterhead, signage, vehicle wraps, a website and whatever else they may need is absolutely one of our favorite things to do,” he said.

In addition, AlterEgo marketing just finished a new billboard campaign with a law firm in St. Louis and are working on a referral program for Complete Family Eyecare, as well as printing some custom apparel for CrossFit Little Egypt and Tru-Bilt Buildings.

“The beginning of the year for us always tends to involve working with the local TV and Radio stations on media buys as we move on to planning for shooting new television commercials when the weather warms up,” Skovgaard said.

One of their recent projects was creating a beautiful custom die-cut mail piece for the Illinois Broadcasters Association that was sent out of all TV and Radio Stations statewide last week.

“I just love it when we get to see something we get to create for our clients in action in the real world,” Skovgaard said.

Skovgaard said his time at SIU helped prepare him to run his own business by teaching him how to grow his network and develop strong communication skills.

“The sense of community is one of the most amazing things about both SIU and Carbondale as a whole. Making connections in Southern Illinois is almost effortless. On campus, the faculty and staff are approachable and welcoming, and the same can be said about the entire community.”

Skovgaard says SIU promotes and encourages creativity, and invests in entrepreneurship, by providing incredible resources and services like the Small Business Development Center.

Skovgaard speaking before a class in 2018

“Things like this can make all the difference when it comes to getting started. That level of support for young entrepreneurs is invaluable,” he said.

And what does a busy man do in his off time? Skovgaard says there isn’t a lot of that these days.

“Between running AlterEgo Marketing and raising four young children there isn’t a lot of down time, but I wouldn’t change a thing. My wife Nancy and I spend our evenings playing “gymnast” with my three daughters Ari (Age 7), Aurora (Age 4) and Everly (Age 2) or building Legos with my son Archer who is 5. It keeps things pretty interesting for sure,” he said.

Nic and Nancy Skovgaard on a Broadway stage during a recent trip to New York City

Skovgaard said he also loves to give back to the community wherever he can.

“I’m currently the committee chair for the Carbondale Young Professionals, a recent graduate of the Leadership Carbondale program, active with the Herrin Kiwanis Club and volunteering as a mentor,” he said.

To find out more about Skovgaard and AlterEgo Marketing, please visit: http://ow.ly/BtaE30lR6JM

“Salukis in Business” celebrates the unique relationship between regional business and Saluki Alumni.

If you’d like to be the focus of this weekly feature, or nominate someone you think we should feature, please email us at alumni-socialmedia@alumni.siu.edu.