
Ep 81 – Traits of a Successful Marketing Director
We’ve met a lot of bank and credit union marketing teams – and we’ve noticed some commonalities among those that see more success in their efforts. In this episode, we talk about the role of a marketing director (or VP, or manager, or any…
LATEST EPISODES
Ep 80 – Marketing in a Cookieless Future with Hollie Brown
Many community banks are missing out on valuable marketing opportunities. Statistics show that many community banks aren’t currently utilizing cookies, which used to put them at a disadvantage. However, with cookies being increasingly phased out,…
Ep 79 – How Much Should You Spend on Marketing
Regardless of your asset size and marketing bandwidth, budgeting is a challenge. Marketers never have as much as they would like, and those setting the budgets might see it as an expense (hint: it’s not! It’s an investment!). In this…
Ep 78 – Good Marketing Starts With Culture
Chris and Dan discuss the critical importance of business culture in impacting and enhancing marketing efforts. They explore how a positive internal culture can translate into authentic and engaging marketing & content that connects with…
ABOUT CHRIS & DAN

Chris S. Bates
Chris is CEO of AgoraEversole Marketing Agency. Chris attended the University of Alabama, completing his B.A.in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration at Belhaven University in 1994. He was a nonprofit executive for 10 years, and then owned Mean Mallard, a 50-employee outdoor sporting goods retail operation for nearly a decade. In 2009, Chris focused his career experiences to guide other business operators through his marketing services agency, Agora Company. On January 1, 2020, the agency merged with The Eversole Group, bringing more than 30 years of bank marketing expertise into a combined new agency, AgoraEversole.
While his company has focused for 12 years on many industry verticals, banking and healthcare have become their primary service specialties. He and his team deliver goal-focused marketing through partnerships with their clients, providing services in marketing design/consulting, digital marketing (SEO, Digital Advertising, etc.), web design and social media management. They are currently partnering with over 150 financial institution and other clients across 15 states.
Chris and his wife, Stacy, live in Madison, MS near their young adult children and attend St. James Episcopal Church. Chris is an active outdoorsman, and serves in leadership roles on several nonprofit Boards of Directors including Harbor House and the Belhaven University School of Business Advisory Board.

Dan Novalis
Dan is CEO of 2Novas, a marketing agency for community banks, based in St. Louis, Missouri. Dan earned his MBA in Marketing and Strategy from New York University’s Stern School of Business, and also holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to 2Novas, Dan worked for a variety of ad tech startups and global agencies as a marketing and technology strategist. His prior clients include Citibank, Morgan Stanley, Bankrate, Liberty Mutual, and more.
In 2018, Dan founded 2Novas with the idea of making the Fortune 100 consulting methodology available to community banks and other financial institutions. 2Novas focuses on data-driven marketing, and enabling smaller institutions to utilize marketing technology to better compete with fintechs and megabanks, who are steadily eating away at the traditional institutions’ market share.
Dan and his wife, Christine, live in Webster Groves, Missouri with their two dogs, two cats, and two sons (the 2 in 2Novas!), and are continually cleaning their home. When he can find the time, Dan is a powerlifter, drummer, and can grill a mean burger.
Our combined agency years
Marketing pros in US
Average marketer career years
Banks & Credit Unions in US

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