About Us

BMS offers clients the benefit of our proven experience in the development, support, management, and execution of traditional and digital marketing platforms, communication initiatives, and events. Our expertise in creative development, strategic management, and results-driven fulfillment of marketing campaigns, initiatives, and events are a great asset to our clients. We combine proficiency and knowledge of diverse markets to reach target audiences, constituents, and stakeholders. Innovative thinking and creative ideas provide strategic client counsel, breaking through boundaries, and leveraging for success.

The BMS integrated marketing-mix includes:

  • Strategic Business Planning
  • Brand Development & Support
  • Website  Platforms
  • Website Design & Monitoring
  • Social Media
  • Direct Marketing
  • Digital Marketing
  • Creative Services & Graphic Design
  • Video Production
  • Business Development & Support
  • Publishing
  • Trade Shows
  • Advertising Negotiations & Buys
  • Media Relations
  • Media Training
  • Community Relations
  • Issues, Advocacy & Crisis Management
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Product Fulfillment
  • Events Management
  • Events Staffing
  • Events Rentals
  • Speakers & Spokespersons
  • Community Outreach & Engagement
  • Stakeholder Relations
  • Political Strategist

The Team

Sharon Banks

Sharon Banks, President & CEO

Sharon formed Bankable Marketing Strategies in 2009.  She has more than twenty years in marketing and sales management positions with Fortune 500 companies including Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM Corporation, and Ford Motor Company. She has also held management positions in the public sector represented by the County of Wayne with its county-seat in Detroit, Michigan. Serving as director of communications and press secretary from 2003 through 2009, Sharon led a team that developed and implemented countywide marketing programs and campaign strategies for the thirteenth largest county in the United States with more than two million residents.  Sharon has consulted in education, arts and culture and non-profit organizations including Founding Executive Director for the Wayne County Community College District’s Education First Foundation and Executive Director for Oakland County Public School’s Foundation for Excellence.

Since its inception Sharon has engaged a team of professionals serving a variety of clients, many who have been with BMS since its early days.

Erica Banks, Director of Communications

Erica has more than fifteen years of Marketing, Event Management, Community Outreach, and Public Relations experience.  Her background includes agency experience in marketing and events management for Ford Motor Company.  There she managed and supported the Ford Motor Company Fund in three primary areas: innovation and education, community development and American legacy, and auto-related safety education.  She served on several projects for the Ford Racing Team and was the lead agency liaison on programs including the Grand Prix of Toronto, National Black MBA Convention, The Ford Motor Company Centennial Celebrations, The Ford Motor Company GLOBE (Gay, Lesbian or Bi-Asexual Employees) Annual Big Bash Gala and the Congressional Black Caucus Convention. Erica has experience in education, from the middle school to the community college level, as well as in the government and health care sectors. Erica has developed collateral materials, executed community outreach initiatives, and designed and monitored marketing efforts and key messaging for a variety of clients. She has worked on numerous projects in the areas of Student Affairs, International Studies, Marketing, and Public Relations.

Erica Banks
Galen Pauling

Galen Pauling, Art Director

Galen T. Pauling has more than twenty years of product development, brand building, advertising, and product marketing experience. In those years, he won national awards such as American Corporate Identity’s “Design Excellent Award” for logo design. Galen has helped extend the brand identity for several educational organizations, including McCormick Theological Seminary, Concordia University, Starr Detroit Academy, and Plymouth Educational Center. Global brands such as Mercedes-Benz, McDonald’s, Hewlett-Packard, and the Detroit Tigers Baseball Team have had marketing tools developed and enhanced by Galen. For ten years, Galen worked in the development of a children’s brand named “Q.T.Pie.” He was responsible for the entire licensing program for the Q.T. Pie Brand under his management company, the SanPaul Group, LLC. He consulted with licensees in developing successful strategies in branding the company’s consumer products. Galen provided graphic design services for all promotional and published materials. He also successfully negotiated licensing agreements with Scholastic Inc., Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Target Stores for the national distribution of his Pie Children’s Brand.