About Lead the Pack

Lead the Pack helps our clients - businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals - get a leg up on the competition.

An Indianapolis, Indiana marketing company with a global perspective, Lead the Pack has experience in:

creating strategic communications plans resulting in more followers, more press and more profits
developing compelling content including magazine articles, audio and video podcasts, and blogs for national companies
leading large non-profits away from the brink of disaster by working with news media instead of shunning it, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in earned television spots and printed media
turning negative public perception into positive by utilizing social media to open two-way communication between organizations and tens of thousands of followers
rebranding multi-million-dollar organizations
leading redesigns of websites attracting thousands of visits daily

Lead the Pack serves a variety of clients and gives back to the community you serve: Lead the Pack donates a percentage of our profits to good causes.

About Tristan Schmid, Founder

I tell stories. As founder and ‘pack leader,’ I have a range of experience in communications and marketing. I started and produced blogs and podcasts for a fast-growing national company; taught graphic and web design classes in Indiana University’s New Media program; and presented a webcast for the Indiana state government on using social media for non-profits.

I care for animals. In addition to leading Lead the Pack, I’m former director of communications and marketing for Indiana’s largest non-profit animal shelter, where I led major website redesigns, public relations initiatives, and marketing efforts. I’ve served on the board of Indy animal-welfare groups Move to Act and Indy Pit Crew.

I see the small details in the big picture. Unlike many people in the marketing world, I take a holistic view with everything I do and make sure all marketing efforts correspond with public relations efforts, fundraising goals, and most importantly, an organization’s vision and mission.

I love life. Personally, I love to write, produce music, hike, and ski.