Gary Janzen

Gary's career in the media business began at age 18 as a radio disc jockey in Northern California, where he first found his passion for writing and producing advertising. Romanced by the chance to break into a major market early, he left college to pursue a job as junior copywriter/producer at a regional retail advertising agency in San Francisco, making the transition to the advertising world from media and beginning what now has become a 30 year career in the advertising agency business. While he broke his Mom's heart by leaving college and dashing her hope to have a lawyer in the family, Gary's professional and personal life show there is no substitute for life's experience as perhaps the best teacher.

Having helped put a new radio station on the air at 21, started his own creative boutique at age 23---the first in Central California---and having owned and operated a full-service advertising agency for 26 years, Gary's experience in the communications and marketing industry spans the technical, the creative, and the strategic disciplines, a rare combination. This same breadth applies to the number of industry categories in which Gary and his teams have worked---Health Care, Department Store Retail, Grocery, Consumer Packaged Goods, Entertainment, Food Service, Banking, Automotive, and Business-to-Business---including Fortune 50 companies, small businesses, and entrepreneurial start-ups alike. Unlike other professions, the advertising business---done well---requires you learn much about each industry in which you work, which leads to an enriching and diverse world view; something Gary cherishes.

In 2007, Gary's company, Janzen IdeaCorp, was acquired by Thielen Partners, to become Thielen IdeaCorp and number 362 of Advertising Age's top 500 advertising agencies in the U.S. by audited revenue and full-service capabilities. Gary continues to serve the combined shop as its Chief Strategic Officer, with offices in Fresno, Sacramento and San Diego, California.

Prior to the acquisition of Janzen, Thielen Partners, founded in 1969 by Mike Thielen, built a national reputation for its depth of account and media services, matched with full-service capabilities across creative, public relations, and promotional disciplines. Now, with Janzen IdeaCorp, there is an advertising agency with the depth of creative talent, acuity of strategic thought, and aptitude in all possible media---including today's rapidly developing Digital landscape---to help businesses of all kinds meet every new challenge ahead.

Gary is graced by his lovely wife of 11 years, Dr. Claudia Anrig, internationally recognized Chiropractor and authority in Family Wellness through Chiropractic, and as a fellow professional in an equally competitive and evolving industry, an inspirational supporter of her husband. Gary and Claudia are active in community organizations, from the arts, to the faith-based community, to local and regional change agents political and non-partisan in nature.