Bijoy Datta
Director of business development, GrafiQa Creative Services, Endwell, N.Y.
CAST member from 2002–2005,
and again since 2008
What does your company do?
GrafiQa Creative Services is a marketing and brand development company based in Oneonta and Endwell that works with companies, corporations and not-for-profits across New York State. We work for clients to create powerful brands through effective marketing, including focused planning, stellar graphic design, and integrated Web sites and e-marketing.
What’s your role in the company?
I find and develop relationships with professionals at companies and not-for-profits that need help with their branding and marketing and help them strategize and define ways to improve their efforts — whether that means a new Web site, a new brochure, a one-time ad in a national publication or just new marketing strategy. We’re like guides taking our clients to a destination called Brand Power.
Tell us about the special challenges you face in your job.
We stay ahead of the curve to make sure our clients get the most return on investment possible. In our upstate market, it can sometimes be a challenge to help our clients learn about how new e-tools can be more effective — and sometimes less expensive — than some traditional forms of marketing and advertising.
What training and prior experience led you to this point in your career?
I graduated from Binghamton University with a B.A. in philosophy, and a second major in philosophy, politics and law (which is actually a long title for pre-law). As a student, I had a summer internship in the office of State Senator Tom Libous. After graduation, I was hired into that office. I spent ten years there, finishing as the Senator’s director of public affairs and campaign manager. When the unexpected opportunity to join GrafiQa popped up in 2008, I jumped at the chance to join this up-and-coming group of fellow marketing experts.
Why do you belong to CAST?
It’s a great opportunity to network with other communications professionals in our area, whether they work at other marketing and advertising firms or within businesses and not-for-profits.
Final Words?
In a community that’s not a large metropolitan area, we’re lucky to have an organization like CAST that gives us a chance to all get together and learn from one another. We at GrafiqQa value this opportunity quite a bit.
To learn more about GrafiQa Creative Services, call 607-433-8837 or visit www.grafiqa.com.
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