Expert Marketing, Advertising, Brand Management Services
Advertising Counsel
Logo, Tagline, Business Cards
Influencer Marketing Management
Brand Management
Web Development
Digital Advertising
Media Plan Development
PowerPoint & Keynote
Production and Post-Production
MG100 Preferred Marketing
MG100 Preferred Marketing, a Chicago-based marketing and advertising agency, provides best-in-class strategic planning and brand management services to B2B and B2C businesses across numerous industries nationwide. For every engagement, a team of highly experienced marketing professionals is assembled delivering expert marketing solutions at an extraordinary value. We focus on elevating your marketing efforts in the most efficient and cost-effective way. MG100 continuously monitors and fine tunes its marketing efforts / performance to optimize impact. We have helped clients gain market share,
grow, and thrive.
Core services include brand identity, corporate identity, website design and development, SEO, strategic marketing plan development, digital marketing, and graphic design. MG100 produces comprehensive video and audio services including corporate culture videos, testimonials, how-to/ demonstration
videos, and television production (storyboarding, scripting, producing / directing, motion graphics). MG100 develops sparkling presentations for capabilities decks, proposals, recaps, and a host of other needs.
MG100 Preferred Marketing has strategic alliances with top-tier marketing partners in many fields including web design and development, SEO, public relations, market research, shopper marketing, influencer marketing, and app development. Our alliances include many best-in-class marketing fulfillment resources including printers, photographers, and mailing list brokers.
Our B2C success stories span numerous brands and industries. MG100 provides expert B2B services including trade media negotiations, campaign development, public relations, and booth design. We negotiate with trade media to position clients as industry experts and thought leaders securing sponsorship, keynote speeches, and presentations at signature industry expos and events.
Michael Gerardi has teamed up with MG100 Client CEOs to launch new ventures that are game changers, disrupting the buy / sell process in multiple industries for the better. His team is providing corporate and brand identity services, digital marketing creative / campaign management, and web development services as well as the day-to-day marketing management.
About Michael Gerardi
Michael Gerardi is a seasoned expert in marketing, advertising, and brand management, serving as a trusted advisor to C-Suites and field marketing teams. With over 35 years of experience, Michael has led B2C and B2B brands, accounts, and strategic partners on both the client and agency side. Gerardi excels as a leader of account, creative, and media teams providing strategic vision and delivering best-in-class marketing solutions.
As Founder, CEO of MG100 Preferred Marketing, Michael Gerardi heads a full-service boutique marketing / advertising agency. His team of marketing professionals have helped clients compete, grow, and thrive.
MG100 provides comprehensive strategic marketing and brand management services. The agency has strategic alliances with top-tier marketing partners in various fields including web design and development, SEO, public relations, market research, shopper marketing, influencer marketing, and app development. Michael’s marketing network is wide, it includes many best-in-class marketing resources including printers, photographers, mailing list brokers, and focus group agencies.
Michael Gerardi has teamed up with MG100 Client CEOs to launch new ventures that are game-changers, disrupting the buy / sell process in multiple industries for the better. His team is providing corporate and brand identity services, digital marketing creative / campaign management, and web development services as well as the day-to-day marketing management.
Gerardi spent 25+ years as an Account Management Executive at two full service, Chicago-based Advertising Agencies: Blue Chip Worldwide and, most recently, PINNACLE Advertising (21 years). He excelled as both the voice of the account and the agency providing expert advertising and marketing counsel to CEO’s then pivoting to get the best of out of creative, media, and account teams. Under his leadership, Michael has helped many companies increase brand awareness and gain market share.
Michael is an account management and marketing expert. He directed 40+ grand opening campaigns and was a team member for 20+ new business wins. Gerardi built strong client and media relationships, managed / mentored account managers and coordinators, and directed agency college internship / mentoring programs.
Michael managed many key accounts on the agency side including Garrett Popcorn Shops, Arlington International Racecourse, Authorized Agents for leading wireless carriers (U.S. Cellular, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint), Parkway Bank, Cole Taylor Bank, P&G (Oil of Olay, Pampers), Farmland Foods, Krakus Foods, Miracle Ear, Advocate Health Care, Better Business Bureau – Chicago, Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, Ditka’s Restaurants, World Gym, Beechen & Dill Homes, and many leading B2B companies all leaders in their industries.
Under his leadership, Gerardi and his team won numerous creative awards including Davey Awards (8), Telly Awards (1), Chicago Financial Advertisers (3). Gerardi is a consultant for PINNACLE Advertising for occasional special projects.
In the 1990’s, Michael Gerardi was Regional Marketing Manager — Midwest for Bally Total Fitness and Blockbuster Entertainment.
At Blockbuster, Gerardi partnered with every major music distribution company1 and major music labels2 to promote artists and bands3 of all genres in all Blockbuster media platforms and special event initiatives. Gerardi has hosted and promoted 100+ artist in-store performances, CD signings, and/or meet ‘n greets. Michael Gerardi has negotiated and managed the sponsorship of major music festivals and signature radio station events including SXSW, B96 Jingle Bash, Q101 Jamboree, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival which, under his direction, the fully stocked Blockbuster onsite store established records for visits, sales, music label co-op funds, and artist meet ‘n greets.
At Bally, Gerardi developed and managed 25+ successful grand opening campaigns in the U.S. and Canada including signature health clubs boasting some of the best facilities and amenities anywhere in the system. The Midwest Region included competitive, high-profile markets (Chicago, Dallas, New York, Miami, and Toronto) and included a separate tier of health and tennis clubs featuring higher-end amenities and services. Gerardi negotiated and managed Bally’s most prestigious sponsorships and cross promotions including Reebok (introduction of new Reebok products / programs through Bally clubs systemwide including Reebok Step Aerobics, and Reebok Pump, one of the most successful shoe launches ever, now The Pump Collection — Reebok), NBA sponsorships (Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls featuring a halftime $1 Million Halfcourt Shot Contest), Taste of Chicago sponsorship featuring the inaugural Bally’s 5K Race to the Taste (a collaboration Gerardi negotiated with the Mayor’s Office of Special Events), Nutcracker on Ice Professional Figure Skating Tour (45 Cities – U.S. & Canada), U.S. Summer Olympics Festival, St. Louis (sponsored USA Weightlifting), and Special Olympics 25th Anniversary Celebration (Soldier Field, Chicago).
Gerardi has always been involved in Volunteer, Fundraising, and Charity efforts happily supporting Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services, St. John Bosco Parish, St. James Parish, St. Patrick High School, Hersey High School, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Ohio State University, University of Notre Dame, Envision, Girl Scouts, One for the Kids, U.S. Military Veterans, A Soldier’s Journey Home, The Dash to Cure Diabetes, and Ronald McDonald House.
Born in Chicago and raised on the northwest side, Michael Gerardi has experienced a great deal of Chicago’s best. Gerardi graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago (marketing major). Michael and his wife Mary live in beautiful Arlington Heights since 1997 and have two children, Daniel and Kathryn. Mary is a career pre-school and kindergarten teacher with a nice, long stretch as a stay-at-home super mom. Daniel is a public relations professional, crushing it at a Chicago-based PR powerhouse. Kathryn is a smart, dialed-in advertising professional at a top agency in Chicago where her account management and brand strategy skills are shining bright. It is a joy having Kathryn follow in Michael’s marketing / advertising footsteps; they talk endless shop and get super-charged sharing the profession they love.
Michael is an NFL / Chicago Bears Super Fan picking every NFL game since 2005*, an ACC and Big Ten College Football fanatic; a foodie — enjoys seafood, BBQ and discovering new tasty dishes / restaurants; a live music fan and quasi classic rock music historian, NASA / Space enthusiast, an avid walker; and seeks out every opportunity to jet ski, water ski, fish, and travel.
* NFL Picks: As of 2024, that’s nearly 5,000 games with a 65% win percentage (10-6 weekly average).
No betting… just a rewarding father / son bonding experience as we discuss, debate, and settle on weekly picks for nearly 20 years. This streak spans Daniel’s grammar school, high school, college, and adult life. Picking weekly games can take minutes or an hour. Michael often comments that talking football at the start of meetings is a cool icebreaker as people share their college and pro football experiences.
Best Week — 2020 Season · Week 2: 15-1-0 Best Season — 2020 Season: 175-80-1 .707
1 Music distribution companies: BMG, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group,
Warner Music Group
2 Major music labels: including Atlantic Records, Capital Records, Columbia Records, Def Jam Recordings, Epic Records, Interscope Records, Island Records, Motown, Virgin Records
3 Artists: AC/DC, Alanis Morisette, Backstreet Boys, Beastie Boys, Blink 182, Britney Spears, Busta Rhymes, Christina Aguilera, Collective Soul, Counting Crows, Cranberries, Creed, Dave Matthews Band, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Eric Clapton, Foo Fighters, Gin Blossoms, Green Day, Jay-Z, Jewel, Kid Rock, Madonna,
Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Matchbox 20, Metallica, Muddy Waters, Natalie Merchant, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, No Doubt, ’NSYNC, Oasis, Offspring, Pearl Jam, Prince, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Santana, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Spice Girls, Sting, The Verve,
Tracy Chapman, U2, Van Morrison
What People Are Saying About MG100
MG100 exceeded my expectations in creating the logo for my newly launched business. Their attentive listening and responsiveness resulted in several iterations that were precisely aligned with my vision. The decision-making process was challenging due to the high quality of their work. I am exceptionally pleased with the final result, and the entire experience was enjoyable. I highly recommend MG100 for any branding needs
We have worked with MG100 on several projects. At all times, they have over-delivered.
Not only have we been thoroughly impressed with the results, but the ease of working with their team made our job easy. They are a great team with great results!
Michael and I worked together directly helping Garrett Popcorn raise awareness and grow its business through a sponsorship of the CBS Sunday Night Movie. It is a true joy working with Michael; he operates with a high sense of integrity and is a man of his word. Michael is hard working, dedicated, easy to work with, and treats people with respect. I can’t wait to collaborate with him again!
I have had the pleasure of working with Michael Gerardi since 2014 and can’t say enough good things about him. First off, he’s a BEARS fan, so that makes him a winner in my book! 🙂 And as a Marketing Partner, he’ll always have your back. Michael is responsive and helpful and always upbeat. Love working with you, MG!
MG100 consistently provides our firm, Terra Firma Consulting Services, LLC with innovative design solutions and impressively quick project turnaround times. Their strategic excellence shines through as they thoroughly understand our specific needs and devise customized growth plans. Leveraging a data-centric strategy, they align their tactics perfectly with our goals making them indispensable allies.
Their approach to customer service is nothing short of exemplary. MG100 engages with us through active listening, transparent communication, and a genuine commitment to making our concerns their priority. This results-focused mindset not only significantly enhances our position but also firmly establishes us as thought leaders in the higher education field.
At TR Data Strategy, all of our business development is referral-based, so the organizations we partner with to support our clients must meet high expectations and create real results. We love contacting MG100 about projects because we know they will hit it out of the park! Their world-class team is incredibly talented, nimble, communicative, and creates true value for everyone involved.
Michael Gerardi and his team at MG100 provide exceptional and expedient services that make us look extraordinary with our clients. The team at MG100 is a true partner and essential element to our business development strategy.
Michael and his team at MG100 are a true pleasure to work with. They are exceptionally attuned to the project’s design scope and scale, bringing ideas to life with impressive skill.
Their responsiveness, efficiency, and swift adaptability in making edits stand out. Their deep industry knowledge proves invaluable during brainstorming sessions and in shaping our strategy, enabling us to advance rapidly and achieve meaningful results.
Latest Projects
Developed ten 500-1,000 page strategic planning decks for ten private Catholic universities. Compiled research, charts, graphs,
and recommendations from five industry experts into brand-centric format providing a professional, polished cohesive
document which includes custom photography. Most work is completed with aggressive deadlines.
Strategic website audit resulting in improved user experience, optimized customer support,
streamlined path to purchase, and reduced website administrative effort.
Trade Media Support: developed online ads plus full-page print ads.
Upgraded and enhanced design providing a more brand centric look and feel.
A leading lamp manufacturer with multiple product lines in big box retailers including Walmart, Target, and Pottery Barn turned to MG100 to develop a logo for a new lamp product line extension. The new logo we created exceeded client expectations meeting their requirements: sophisticated, modern, and timeless.
Press Releases
Coming Soon