2022 ThinkNW Marketing All-Star: Chuck Blevens, Director of Marketing at Funko Games
We’re pleased to announce the 2022 class of ThinkNW Marketing All-Stars, a peer-nominated award recognizing excellence in marketing in the region. Our goal is to shine a light on the people driving growth in the industry and contributing to the regional brand and marketing ecosystem.
We asked our 2022 honorees to share a bit about their work, lives, and what the Pacific Northwest means to them. Here’s what Chuck Blevens, Director of Marketing at Funko Games, had to say:
How long have you been in your current role?
Three and a half years.
What do you value most in your work in this role, and what do you consider your biggest accomplishment in your current role?
There are several important aspects of working at Funko that I’ve valued during my time here: the “fan-first” approach and creative spirit of everyone in the organization, in delivering products and experiences that delight the many fandoms around the world; and that everyone’s contributions are valued in helping to grow the business.
As the marketing director for Funko Games, I strive to lead my team with a “team first” approach. We’re fortunate that we get to create world-class go-to-market campaigns that bring fun board game experiences to life for many audiences. Our Prospero Hall game design studio team creates storytelling experiences through the games they make, and we as marketers must convey these stories and experiences to customers through compelling and creative communications. I’m especially proud of my team’s work on recent collectible games such as Marvel Battleworld, Disney Kingdomania, and the studio’s first legacy game based on a global IP – Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar – which we released through our first Kickstarter campaign earlier this year and achieved our initial sales goal in under two hours.
What do you like to do outside of your work?
Outside of work, I really value my time spent with close family and friends – something that became especially important for my wife and me the past several pandemic-driven years, as we all helped each other get through that difficult period. Now that the world has mostly reopened, resuming those in-person connections are paramount: meeting up for brunch, dinners, watching sporting events, seeing live shows, celebration gatherings – it’s what keeps me going!
What impact does the Pacific Northwest have on your work?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have spent most of my professional career working at some esteemed global brands that are headquartered here: Nike, Microsoft, Starbucks, The Pokemon Company, and now at Funko. It’s been a great journey and the many talented and creative professionals I’ve met along the way (many of whom I call friends) really make the region a very special one.
How would you characterize the Pacific Northwest marketing/creative community? In your mind, what makes it unique?
During my career, I’ve left the PNW a couple of times to pursue new opportunities on the East Coast. And both times I’ve returned to the Pacific Northwest. It’s the place I’ve always been proud to call home. The marketing community in the region is such a unique one – the creativity, professionalism, and innovation that happens here in telling stories on behalf of some of the biggest global brands and products – it’s truly inspiring.
