Meet Adam Ortman

 

We were lucky to catch up with Adam Ortman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Adam with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic is rooted in the values I learned as a fourth-generation business owner. From an early age, I was surrounded by the ethos of grit, resilience, and professionalism, instilled by my family. This upbringing shaped my approach to business and, probably more importantly, customer satisfaction, emphasizing hard work and a commitment to excellence. Additionally, my passion for media strategy and consumer psychology fuels my drive to continuously innovate and deliver meaningful results for clients. Honestly, there is something about my field that is the perfect blend of data analytics, strategy, and creativity that I crave. I believe true success comes from following your passion, mastering empathy (especially in the sense of your customers), integrity, and building authentic relationships.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At Kinetic319, we do more than just media strategy—we focus on creating impactful, strategic marketing experiences for our clients and their target customers. We’re passionate about finding that sweet spot where data analytics, creative vision, and strategic execution meet. I truly think what sets us apart is that we are a relationships-first agency. With over 17 years of experience in this industry, I found that the practice of marketing and the bond between client and agency had become incredibly transactional: brief, launch, reported numbers (with no meaning), paid invoice, brief, launch…and around and around they go. In my career, I have been incredibly fortunate enough to have clients and colleagues become life-long friends and partners. When you do great work, have open and transparent communication (both good and constructive), and you engage with individuals as people rather than as “a client,” amazing result occur. It is with this approach and vision that I have built Kinetic319.

One of the things I’m most excited about is our rapid growth. In just a year, we’ve quadrupled in size, which is a testament to the value we bring to our clients and the relationships we foster. We’ve built Kinetic319 on a foundation of trust and long-term partnerships, always ensuring that we not only deliver results but also understand the unique challenges and goals of every client we work with.

This year, we’re taking it a step further with the launch of Ask Kinetic (www.Ask-Kinetic.com). This platform is designed to democratize marketing information, advice, and resources for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, Ask Kinetic is there to provide accessible solutions for navigating today’s complex marketing landscape. We’ve recognized that businesses need on-demand guidance, and we’re excited to offer a platform that allows them to get exactly that.

Kinetic319’s success has always been about balancing innovative strategies with a human touch. For me, it’s about empathy—understanding the customer’s needs and delivering a strategy that not only meets expectations but exceeds them. This may be a cliche in today’s business world, however, sadly many do not adhere to this. The future of Kinetic319 is incredibly bright, and we’re just getting started!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are empathy, adaptability, and “optimistic resilience”.

Empathy has been a game-changer. Marketing isn’t just about numbers; it’s about connecting with real people. In one project, we were tasked with a campaign for a health and wellness brand. By taking the time to truly understand the end user’s challenges, we crafted a campaign strategy that aligned deeply with the target audience’s lifestyle and motivations. It wasn’t about pushing products; it was about building trust. That’s where empathy shows its power—when you approach clients and their customers as people rather than just business opportunities, the results speak for themselves. This is also where my consumer psychology obsessions comes into play.

Adaptability has also been critical, especially in the early days. In the life of an agency owner, no day is ever the same from an operational/situational perspective, but marketing trends and platforms are constantly evolving as well, so staying curious and willing to pivot has been essential. ALWAYS be seeking increased performance, increased efficiency, a new strategy, a new operational process, a new SOP. If you want to succeed in this industry, adaptability isn’t optional—it’s survival.

Finally, something that I call “optimistic resilience” has helped me push through the inevitable roadblocks. Entrepreneurship is filled with ups and downs, and I’ve faced my share of setbacks. There was one instance where a significant client left, and it felt like a punch to the gut. But instead of letting that derail the agency’s momentum, we took it as a learning opportunity, refined our processes, and this ultimately lead to different, some even larger, opportunities. There will always be bad days. It is critical to stay optimistic, focused, and keep pushing forward, no matter the hurdles.

For those early in their journey, my advice is simple:

– Develop empathy by actively listening. Whether it’s your team, your clients, or their customers, approach every conversation with a genuine desire to understand (not hear or document).

– Embrace adaptability by staying constantly curious and flexible. The moment you think you’ve mastered your field, you’ve stopped growing. Stay open to change and pivot when necessary. If you have a process or a tool or even your prized capabilities deck, in 6-8 months, revisit it. Trust me.

– Foster optimism and resilience by reframing setbacks as opportunities. Challenges will come, but how you react to them will define your trajectory. To quote my mother, “the only ceilings that exist for you are those that you create for yourself,” aka, there are no ceilings only opportunities, you can do anything.

These qualities aren’t just buzzwords; they’ve been essential in building Kinetic319.

How would you describe your ideal client?

At Kinetic319, we’re all about building strategic, long-term partnerships with clients who are equally invested in the process. The clients we work best with are those who prioritize data-driven decisions and are eager to dive into the numbers. They understand that success comes from deep insights, not guesswork. We love working with companies that recognize the value of customized solutions, because generic, cookie-cutter strategies don’t drive lasting impact.

Innovation is at the heart of what we do, so our ideal client is forward-thinking and wants to push boundaries. Whether they’re in e-commerce, technology, finance, or another competitive industry, they seek out the latest trends and emerging technologies to stay ahead of the curve. These are the clients who embrace creativity, challenge the status quo, and trust us to deliver a marketing strategy that’s tailored specifically to their business goals.

In the end, the clients who get the most value from Kinetic319 are those who understand that marketing isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon—and they’re ready to invest in a collaborative, transparent, and growth-oriented partnership.

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