President
Pittsburgh-native Rich Odato’s background ranges from reciting TV commercials at age two to now running one of the most innovative agencies on the East Coast, with a wealth of experiences in between. After earning a dual major/dual minor degree from the University of Pittsburgh and starting his career as a journalist, Rich settled into a marketing communications role with Pittsburgh Mercy Health System’s award-winning in-house agency, where he handled routine and crisis public relations, won “Best of the Web” recognition, produced television, radio and print campaigns and received intensive training in media planning and placement to manage the hospital’s $1.6 million annual ad budget. His Mercy career culminated with the launch of “Get Healthy, Pittsburgh!”, a $3 million wellness education campaign featuring Mercy physicians, local celebrities (including the mayor and the coach of a popular local NFL team) and an infectious, upbeat theme song that he wrote and recorded.
In 1997, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System recruited Rich to manage the brand development for its 50-physician medical practice, First Physicians Group. The hospital realized an unexpected side benefit when he brought his media skills to bear, resulting in more than $650,000 in savings and refunds in his first year. Despite his success in healthcare, his desire to diversify his experience would eventually bring him to join Sarasota’s largest advertising agency, where he managed advertising and public relations accounts and won several copywriting awards.
In the five years prior to the launch of Odato Marketing Group, he worked with a diverse base of clients ranging from American Express Financial Advisors to the national advertising for the NY-based American Craft Council.
He managed accounts in several industries, including real estate and development (DeBartolo Property Group, Prudential Palms Realty), banking (American Bank, Gulf Coast National Bank, First National Bank of the Florida Keys), insurance (Florida Select, Chemplan), marine (Carolina Classic, King StarBoard) manufacturing (King Plastic Corp.), restaurant (First Watch national) and technology (Key Voice, Elcotel).
Rich’s volunteer work currently includes serving on the Sarasota Chamber board (Workforce Chair) and as a volunteer with the Sarasota Manatee Area Manufacturers Association.
When he’s not working, you can find him fishing the flats and turning his catch into gyotaku prints and gourmet meals, making music with his full-time musician friends or spending time with Colleen, his wife. He is also a second-generation photographer, a skill that’s becoming more and more useful as his agency expands its video production capabilities.
