Stucky to retire after 25 years at Sullivan, Higdon & Sink

After 25 years with communications and marketing firm Sullivan, Higdon & Sink, Lynell Stucky is set to retire at the end of the month.

Stucky, a Newton native, began working for the company in 1991 in its Wichita office before moving to Kansas City to aid the company’s growth in that market.

Eagle business reporter Bryan Horwath recently spoke with Stucky, 63, to ask him about his career, the marketing business and his thoughts on Wichita.

Q: Come Jan. 1, you’re going to have more free time than what you’re probably used to. What’s going through your head as you near that date?

A: When I made the announcement recently, I told people that I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was both excited and a little scared. When I first started talking about this with my wife, Deb, I realized that she’s been at home for 15 years now, and she has her routine down. I’m going to have to fit into that routine.

The closer we get to the date, the more excited I get, though. It’s going to be an interesting next chapter of my life.

Q: Sullivan, Higdon & Sink was started in 1971 in Wichita, though the company now has offices in Kansas City and Washington, D.C. For more than two decades, you’ve been around to see a lot of growth, working your way up to managing partner at the firm. What are your thoughts as you look back on your time with SHS?

A: It’s been a wonderful 25 years with SHS. They brought me in as a director of marketing, which was a new position at that time. I had worked for Pizza Hut corporate marketing for seven years before that. I think (SHS leadership) wanted a new way of thinking – a more client-side type of marketing.

Almost immediately, we started growing out of our (business-to-business marketing) comfort zone. We picked up the Kansas Lottery, Pizza Hut print, Bank IV and others. We started getting some nice brands, and that’s continued, for the most part, for 25 years. These past five to eight years have been just phenomenal.

Q: What’s the secret formula for marketing success?

A: I wish I knew (laughs). If I knew, I would bottle it. We’ve talked about this a lot, and what I think is that you have to have good chemistry with clients, along with good chemistry within the agency. I really think that set us apart – we all liked each other here. We were often able to connect with clients on a personal level, too, and, when you can do that, you’ll win those pitches. That’s part of the secret formula. You also have to have a plan and have good strategy and be creative, but that chemistry aspect is so important.

Marketing has changed so much. It used to be just print, broadcast and radio, but think about all the different mediums we have now. Keeping up with those changes, that’s the challenge for any marketing agency.

Q: As you look back, is there one highlight that stands out about your time with the firm?

A: The growth of the Kansas City market stands out, as do the new business wins that we’ve had over the years. The one new client in particular that stands out is when we made a pitch to the makers of Copaxone, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis. We were surprised to even be in the room for that new business pitch, but we ended up winning it. It was an exhilarating win because it got us into pharmaceuticals, which was a new area for us. We did it by getting smart very quick and having the type of chemistry they were looking for.

Q: You’re from the Wichita area and went to graduate school at Wichita State University, so you’re very familiar with the city. What do you think of when you think about Wichita?

A: Wichita is very important to me. I raised two kids in Wichita. I spent seven years with Pizza Hut there and my first almost 10 years with SHS there. I certainly have a fondness for the city.

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Stucky to retire after 25 years at Sullivan, Higdon & Sink."