111 Words
startups | technology | designBio
Steve Glynn, President of Spreenkler, LLC
Fresh out of college in the early days of the dot com boom, Steve Glynn landed his first job as website manager for a large financial software corporation. Unaware of the fortuitous impact at the time, Steve gained a critical base of web marketing and infrastructure development knowledge. In fact, even though he graduated with a business/marketing degree, he taught himself how to build websites from scratch.
Steve spent the next decade working for and with other Fortune 500 companies developing traditional and new media communication strategy. In varying creative roles, Steve always remained focused on blending the right technology with business objectives. He believes in being creative while staying focused on solving a real business problem.
The Breakthrough
In 2006, Steve created Spreenkler (an organization of creative professionals) using basic website and blog software. Over the next two years he used a mix of social media tools, word-of-mouth and in-person events to build a passionate, active community leading to the resurgence of Milwaukee’s creative class.
In 2008, Steve spun the success of Spreenkler into the launch of an actual business, Spreenkler Creative–a creative services firm that trains students in design and technology while educating businesses and cities on how to engage youth with compelling ideas to retain talent.
In 2010, Steve launched a non-profit, Spreenkler Talent Labs, to train students on how to start businesses. Through Spreenkler Talent Labs, Steve and Greg Meier are currently running a seed incubator program to bring software and social/mobile technology companies to market.
The success of the “Spreenkler vision” which is opening access to ideas and integrating youth into that process, has created a case study in how the use of technology, inclusion and passion can build a business, create an engaged community and use creativity with purpose.
