Nick Kastner

Nick serves as the director of brand and digital strategy at Forum Communications – leading strategies for our clients that positively impact every area of their business. His focus is helping clients build consistent and meaningful brand messaging and leveraging the digital marketplace to drive real results for clients.  Additional to his work at Forum, Nick continues to serve as an adjunct instructor at the University of North Georgia’ Mike Cottrell College of Business teaching in both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Prior to joining Forum, Nick worked extensively in the agency space as well as in financial services and higher education marketing. He is a published author, both academically and in industry, speaker, and podcaster. After a short stint pursuing music, Nick received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Concentration in Marketing) and his Master of Business Administration in Managerial Leadership from Piedmont University. He holds active certifications in Google Ads Display, Google Ads Video, Google Ads Search, Google Analytics Individual Qualification and Hubspot Inbound Certification. Nick is also a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and Certified Agile Marketing Specialist. He is a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, an opt-in research community of business professionals, a member of the University of North Georgia's Digital Marketing Advisory board, and logistics chair of the North Hall High School Band Boosters.

Across his 20+ year career, Nick has also given back by serving on a variety non-profit and community boards across northeast Georgia and most recently as president of the Piedmont College Alumni Association. He is a 2012 Leadership Hall graduate, has won awards from the University System of Georgia, Piedmont University and American Bankers Association and served as strategy lead on industry awards ranging from the Webbys to the Hermes Creative Awards.

• M.B.A., Managerial Leadership, Piedmont College, 2006
• B.A., Business Administration, Concentration in Marketing; Magna Cum Laude, Piedmont College, 2003

Trade Publications

Kastner, N. (2016, May 9). The Bank Marketer's Agile Manifesto. ABA Bank Marketing. Retrieved from http://ababankmarketing.com/insights/bank-marketers-agile-manifesto/.

Kastner, N. (2015, October). Strengthening your core: three ways to tell your brand story without saying it. ABA Bank Marketing & Sales Magazine, American Bankers Association, October 2015.

Kastner, N. (2015, January 8). Brands will need to care more, motivate more, and "sell" less to create customer value. Coaching the Conversation eNewsletter, St. Meyer & Hubbard. Retrieved from http://stmeyerandhubbard.com/coaching-the-conversation/2015/january/brands-will-need-to-care-more-motivate-more-and-sell-less-to-create-customer-value.php

Kastner, N. (2013). Gamification: From the Arcade to the Bank, ABA Bank Marketing Magazine, American Bankers Association, December 2013.

Kastner, N. (2013). Monetizing Your Bank's Website, ABA Bank Marketing Magazine, American Bankers Association, September 2013 (Cover Story).

Kastner, N. (2013). SEO: Stop Obsessing About Rankings!, ABA Bank Marketing Magazine, American Bankers Association, June 2013.

Kastner, N. (2013). Time to 'Pin' Your Bank?, ABA Bank Marketing Magazine, American Bankers Association, March 2013.

Published Interviews

McDermott, M. (2014, September). Digital vs. print media: its all about balance, 2014 Inc. 5000 America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, Advertising & Marketing Industry Mini-Magazine, 6-7.