KATHY CAIN
kathy@zehno.com
Managing Partner, Creative Director
& Principal Strategist

Kathy Cain is the co-founder, principal, and chief strategist of Zehno Cross Media Communications, a national leader in creating Web and print marketing communications for educational organizations.

Kathy draws daily on her insight, experience and unparalleled interpersonal skills to help Zehno and its clients build winning, long-lasting brands. With an extensive background in both corporate and not-for-profit work, she brings impressive depth of synergy and creativity to marketing communications challenges and opportunities. Kathy’s ability to grasp immediately the big strategic picture while overseeing the impeccable implementation of the finest details is an unusual and highly productive combination. It has earned a sterling international reputation for her — and for Zehno.

After serving as an award-winning art director at Tulane University, Kathy and her partner Paulette founded a new kind of firm in 1984, focused on addressing the communications opportunities of clients — particularly in the education and not-for-profit sectors — while emphasizing design excellence. The thriving business enjoyed steady and impressive growth.

Kathy works with clients to identify goals and implement results-driven strategic plans and creative concepts. Then she serves as a communications advocate and champion over the long term, helping to build consensus, keep stakeholders focused, and ensure that brand and messaging remain consistent, recognizable and inspiring.

Unsurprisingly, she is in great demand as a speaker at industry conferences and workshops, usually focusing on the strategic importance of consistent branding and visual identity. She has conducted highly rated sessions at national and international gatherings for organizations including:

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
National Society for Fundraising Executives (NSFRE)
University and College Designers Association (UCDA)

Kathy’s work has also been featured in the international design publications How and Print and the Russian design magazine Pekrama.

Kathy spends much of her non-Zehno time working with her contractor husband Brad as they renovate a 37-year-old house. She is also the mother of two college students and a dedicated runner. Kathy is currently training her newest addition to the family, a German Shorthaired Pointer named Sadie, to join her morning 6-mile track around the neighborhood.

Kathy’s Hot List:

Sites:
www.expedia.com

www.salon.com

www.runnersworld.com

Sounds:
Anything on NPR
(when jogging)

Ray Charles

Natalie Cole

Anything by the Rat Pack
(Sammy, Frank, Dean)

Motown

Show Tunes
(Chicago, Aida, Menopause the Musical)

Really bad country music songs
(when weeding the garden)

Books:
Louisiana Gardener's Guide
by Dan Gill

Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years
by Karen Levin Coburn

Millennials Rising
by Neil Howe and William Strauss

The Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingslover

Eats:
Anything ethnic...favorites are Thai, Vietnamese, Sushi, Greek food
Restaurant August
Brigtsen’s
Kim Son
BBQ Oysters from Dragos