Name of agency contact: Chris Blanz
Company name: Cabedge
Address: 1105 17th Avenue South , Nashville, Tennessee 37212
Phone: 615.942.9937
Web site: www.cabedge.com
Year established: 2001
Number of employees: 9
Clients: TwelveSouth.com, Reba.com, PeterNappi.com, BriteRevolution.com, full list at http://cabedge.com/work/clients/

This is what he had to tell us when we talked with him.

Imagewest: What is your title and brief job description?
Chris Blanz: Founder & CEO is my role, but “head of cabedge” is my more formal title. My job is to hire great people with incredible talent, then get out of their way.

IW: What college did you attend? What was your major?
CB: WKU of course! My major was Commercial Art / Graphic Design

IW: How did you get started in the business?
CB: Veronica Koss and Jeff Jensen were two of my teachers. They both urged me to talk to Tom Meacham over in the University Relations department because they had heard he was looking for interns. I jumped at the chance and was lucky enough to make it through the interview without making a total fool of myself. Tom gave me plenty of chances to do that after I got the job. From there, I got a job at a local sign company, then went to Nashville for another internship. Anytime I could get some professional experience, I went for it.

About a year and a half out of school, I saw an opportunity to get a big freelance project. That project turned into a full-time effort, so I quit my job and started my first Graphic Design business.

IW: What gets you excited to come to work everyday?
CB: Variety. New opportunities are always fun and exciting to explore.

IW: What is a typical day like for you?
CB: “Typical” is anything but typical. That variety thing I mentioned… well that’s the beauty for me. Of course, I check email and voice mail and wander around drinking coffee like most people with an office, but the rest of the day depends on the client’s needs.

IW: What advice can you provide upcoming graduates?
CB: Do some soul searching and figure out what makes you happy. While you’re doing that, take some business classes. Once you know what makes you happy, and you’re sure of it… figure out a way to make money doing that. The business classes will help.

IW: What qualities/skills are you looking for in new graduates?
CB: Portfolio is #1. There’s no need to talk to a designer if their portfolio isn’t up to par. If you’re a writer, photographer, illustrator, sculptor, painter… same thing applies. Assuming the portfolio is in line with our company’s style (very important), and there’s an opening, then we go from there.

IW: What is the best piece of advice or words you live by?
CB: The best rule is the Golden Rule… Play nice.

IW: Are you a dog lover or cat lover?
CB: I had a cat for almost 20 years. After she passed away, my family talked me into getting a giant black Lab. I do miss my cat, but when that 80 pounds of lovable slobber-monster came into my life, I discovered that I’m definitely a dog person. .

IW: What is your favorite color?
CB: I think I’m supposed to say Pantone 186 Red in honor of WKU, but I can honestly say that I don’t have a single favorite color. It might be easier for me to tell you the ones I don’t like.

IW: If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
CB: The power to see what the hell a client is really thinking. That would save a TON of time.

IW: What is your favorite blog, Web site and/or book?
CB: http://techcrunch.com/ take up too much of my day sometimes (I’m a geek), but FastCompany.com are what fascinate me the most because they talk about “the business of _______”. Knowing what makes businesses work is half of the battle in good design. If you’re a designer just remember that you’re working to make the client look good. If you do that, you win. If you’re not doing that, switch to the Fine Art track.

IW: Do you have any other comments, concerns, or advice to share?
CB: Read. Listen. Learn. Practice. Volunteer.
Experience as much as any mentor is willing to share.