Mark Vogel, Senior Partner

As senior partner with Avant, Mark is responsible for the strategic planning, research analysis and brand management strategies for all clients. He brings professional and personal experience to the client's business, utilizing more than 25 years of experience in developing strategic direction, branding campaigns and market development initiatives for agricultural, industrial and commercial businesses, as well as federal and state government agencies.

Prior to forming Avant, Mark was the director of the account planning, market research and analysis group for Osborn & Barr Communications. Mark's extensive experience in working with agriculture organizations and government also included work for the USDA Rural Development, the U.S. Department of Interior-Minerals Management Service, the U.S. Treasury Department, Monsanto, John Deere, Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Mark was also responsible for the business and product management for Andersen Residential and Commercial businesses, North America and International Divisions. While there, he led brand management and strategic planning efforts for Andersen in the building products category. Mark was also the "brand steward" for THE BOLD LOOK OF KOHLER for nearly 10 years. He was responsible for the advertising and marketing for Kohler Plumbing & Specialty Products, Kohler Power Systems, and Kohler Hospitality and Real Estate Divisions.

Mark has a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Illinois-Champaign.

When he is not cheering for his beloved Illini, he is raising three daughters and is an active member in his church.

Kate Lammert, Partner

As a founding partner of Avant, Kate brings 13 years of agency experience delivering account management, communications planning and market research services. As a trained focus group moderator, she has worked with a variety of clients in agriculture, leisure products, rural community development and animal health to gather intelligent insight from the marketplace and translate this research into actionable strategic and marketing direction.

Prior to joining Avant, Kate was with a St. Louis-based communications agency managing brand identity campaigns, customer loyalty programs, channel marketing programs and strategic planning meetings for a variety of clients including John Deere, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As a market planning manager, she led qualitative and quantitative market research projects for a number of prominent clients including the United Soybean Board, USDA Rural Development, the Propane Education & Research Council, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, John Deere, Hayward and Intervet.

Before moving to the Midwest, Kate worked in New York City with a public relations firm providing communications planning, media relations, industry analyst relations and article placements for IT clients.

Kate is a graduate from Lake Forest College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English.