In 1983, Douglas Spencer ’87 left the small Ohio town where he grew up and traveled four hours south to Marietta College. After graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, he spent a year working for fellow members of The Long Blue Line — Elsa Thompson ’56 and Bill Thompson ’57 at their magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest. After that year, he moved to Massachusetts where he has lived ever since.
Doug is currently founder and president at Spencer Brenneman, LLC, which helps mission-driven organizations reframe their focus and remaster their messaging to thrive in any environment. He has more than 30 years of branding and marketing experience, working with professionals from around the world in verticals such as financial and professional services, high tech, higher education, healthcare, and not-for-profits.
He is also the author of Do They Care? The one question all brands should ask themselves, continually, a book that shows leaders how they can create meaningful connections with everyone important to their organization's success. His podcast, Messaging on a Mission, focuses on the messaging strategies of mission-driven organizations.
A lifelong volunteer, Doug is active in Boston’s not-for-profit community and once served as the Board Chair of a $100 million community health and research center.