Bruce Kupper

Bruce Kupper is a marketer, author and entrepreneur who currently lives in the St. Louis suburb of Ladue, Mo. With 31 years in the communications industry, Kupper currently serves as a founding partner of Black Twig Communications, as Vice President of Marketing for Celebrity Chef Kitchens and author of the recently published book "Personality Sells." [ [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/reppshudson/story/B64E52E2197FAAC6862574210000269B?OpenDocument STLtoday - Marketer angles to get his clients' messages out ] ]

Early Life and Education

Born in Geneva, New York, and raised in Nashua, New Hampshire, Bruce graduated cum laude from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where he received a B.A. in political science. [ [http://eventuring.stage.kauffman.org/eShip/appmanager/eVenturing/eVenturingDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=eShip_aboutTheAuthor&_nfls=false&id=Profiles/Profile_035.htm Kauffman eVenturing : Profile : Bruce Kupper ] ]

Professional Background

As a young man, he worked as a sports reporter for "The Nashua Telegraph" as well as a radio sports announcer in Lewiston. Bruce served Senator William Cohen, then U.S. Senator from Maine and later Secretary of Defense in the Clinton administration, as central district staff member and office manager from 1973 to 1975. [ [http://eventuring.stage.kauffman.org/eShip/appmanager/eVenturing/eVenturingDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=eShip_aboutTheAuthor&_nfls=false&id=Profiles/Profile_035.htm Kauffman eVenturing : Profile : Bruce Kupper ] ]

Kupper was accepted into the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Turning down the opportunity, he won a fellowship in public affairs from the Coro Foundation and set his sights on San Francisco. Instead, Kupper ended up in St. Louis. [ [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/reppshudson/story/B64E52E2197FAAC6862574210000269B?OpenDocument STLtoday - Marketer angles to get his clients' messages out ] ]

From 1976-1977, Kupper was an Account Executive at Lieberman Advertising. He then founded Kupper Advertising in 1977. In 1991, Kupper Advertising acquired the Parker Group and formed Kupper Parker Communications. Kupper served as President of Kupper Parker until the company dissolved in 2006 and then helped launch Black Twig Communications. [ [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/reppshudson/story/B64E52E2197FAAC6862574210000269B?OpenDocument STLtoday - Marketer angles to get his clients' messages out ] ]

Black Twig Communications

Bruce Kupper is currently a founding partner of Black Twig Communications, a full service communications agency specializing in public relations, marketing, web development and creative services. [ [http://www.blacktwigllc.com Black Twig Marketing ] ] Black Twig’s management team offers more than 100 years experience in the communications industry. Black Twig holds offices in St. Louis, Mo and in New York. [ [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/reppshudson/story/B64E52E2197FAAC6862574210000269B?OpenDocument STLtoday - Marketer angles to get his clients' messages out ] ]

In 2006 and 2007, the St. Louis Business Journal ranked Black Twig as the largest privately held Public Relations firm in St. Louis. [ [http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/top25lists/list/?list_uid=37501&minor_id=65 St. Louis Public Relations Agencies - View Top St. Louis PR Agencies ] ] Black Twig’s headquarters are now located at 7711 Bonhomme Avenue in Clayton, Missouri. [ [http://www.blacktwigllc.com Black Twig Marketing ] ]

Celebrity Chef Kitchens

Kupper also serves as Vice President for Marketing for Celebrity Chef Kitchens, which is all about delivering the Best of the Best in “Foodie” products. The organization is committed to delivering great food items to the consumer that have exceptional taste, natural ingredients and focus on utilizing small farms focusing on sustainability. The organization works with a culinary council of talented chefs to provide creativity and expertise. The growing list of products includes: coffees, all natural salsas (vinegar free), all natural barbecue sauce (without any high fructose corn syrup), grass fed butter, grass fed beef, soups, Sous Vide Entrees and gourmet snacks. The sous vide products are sold as frozen entrees you boil in water for 20 to 25 minutes, depending upon the meal. They make it possible to enjoy restaurant-quality food within your own home. [ [http://www.celebritychefkitchens.com Celebrity Chef Kitchens - Index ] ]

Personality Sells

In spring of 2008, Kupper penned the marketing book "Personality Sells." [ [http://www.laduenews.com/articles/2008/05/23/society/ladue_lips/doc4835ab93c3e5c226228260.txt The Ladue News | Society > Ladue Lips - Ladue Lips: The word around town ] ] "Personality Sells" is an in-depth look into how a product's definable personality can help it transcend advertising and become a recognizable part of our landscape. [ [http://www.stltoday.com/pr/business/PR05130811231019 STLtoday - Community News Releases ] ]

Awards and Recognition

In 2000, the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program recognized Bruce’s entrepreneurial achievements.

He was also awarded recognition in the Communication/Entertainment category in both 1998 and 1999. [http://www.stlcommercemagazine.com/archives/july2000/cover.htmlhttp://eoyhof.ey.com/MemberProfile.aspx] His management practices were acknowledged in 1999 when he received the Arthur Andersen Gateway Best Practices Award for “Best Practices Motivating and Retaining Employees.” [ [http://www.stlcommercemagazine.com/archives/november1999/practices.html St. Louis Commerce Magazine ] ]

References