Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendrick Disch.
Hi Kendrick, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all starts with writing. Without ideas that need to be shared, there is nothing else. So it began for me as a writer. Poems, songs, essays, short stories, scripts, blogs, etc… In college, I landed a job in a multimedia lab and quickly learned the software for being a professional creative and knew I was on the right path. I figured out how to use the creative tools to tell the stories that were important to me. I used my camera as a ticket to adventure which included extended stays in New Mexico, Maine, and a variety of stops in Mexico.
Eventually, my path brought me to Atlanta and I started working for creative agencies and in-house creative production studios.
In 2019, I teamed up with a friend to start Vertical RIver, a video marketing agency. We got off to a hot start, but then Covid slowed us down, and eventually, we decided to go our separate ways. I purchased his share of the company and retooled a bit to make sure our services aligned with what our customers really needed, which is authentic and sincere storytelling.
Now in 2023, our focus is on helping the brands and orgs we love use sophisticated video stories to amplify the messages they need customers to hear. This includes customer testimonials, mini and micro-documentaries, social media advertisements, explainer videos, and of course, photography that can also help tell the stories.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a small business is very hard. There’s so much that has to go right and so many ways it can wrong. Every day is at least a little bit bumpy.
The Pandemic halted our momentum and cost us some clients. But it allowed us to create some new service lines (YouTube channel optimization and growth strategy) that have actually proven to be popular with our customers and we are currently expanding those services as well.
So with every challenge, there’s an opportunity to rethink and recalibrate to find a way through.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Vertical River?
Vertical River is a Branded Content Studio focused on serving the sustainability industry. Our mission is to help forward-thinking organizations make a meaningful impact with authentic brand communication and content strategies. We have decades of experience telling insightful stories through strategic storytelling—often that’s via powerful cinematic documentaries, but we also craft compelling commercials, entertaining episodic content, and scroll-stopping photography.
Our clients touch a wide range of industries and categories, but they all have one thing in common: A deep need to make the world a better place. We use our storytelling skills to amplify the impact of our clients.
Here’s an example: We can bring credibility to your sustainability initiatives through mini-documentaries. Creating engaging proof points that you’re not greenwashing. The younger generations aren’t going to take your word for it. You need to prove your promise.
Our production team of directors, cinematographers, writers, and producers can build every aspect of production, including location scouting, running sets, and finding you the right talent to tell your story.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Networking shouldn’t be viewed as a task that needs to happen. It should be viewed as a lifestyle. Meeting people and talking about our interests (AND listening as they talk about their interests!) should just be something you do as part of your daily routine.
Go ahead and do the “networking events” but stop thinking about how you can get value out of someone. Instead, just work on enjoying meeting new people and learning about them. It’s amazing how often a short, memorable conversation can be turned into a more meaningful relationship down the road.
Contact Info:
- Website: verticalriver.co
- Instagram: instagram.com/verticalriver.co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendrickdisch/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCszZiDwFHFXH8x2z70vCDvQ?sub_confirmation=1
