AAR Partners
Lisa Colantuono
President
Lisa Colantuono is the President of AAR Partners, an agency search consultancy servicing marketers since 1980. Often referred to as a “cupid in a suit” Lisa has been creating successful relationships between brands and agencies for 21 years. Not only does Lisa believe in enduring partnerships that matter, but she actively participates in creating them. Having consulted on and managed agency reviews including Ancestry, Aruba Tourism, American Airlines, Brown-Forman, ClearChoice Dental Centers, Lee Jeans, Subaru, Ben and Jerry's, Nikon, Thrivent Financial and Panera Bread (to name a few) – Lisa tackles and solves the most vexing agency search challenges and has enabled hundreds of marketers to meet and/or exceed their business goals. Throughout her career, she’s an advocate for client-agency relationships that yield results: smAARt partnerships = better work = positive ROI.
Now Lisa is on a mission to “modernize the matchmaking process” by not only streamlining the search process, but also by doing everything possible to “avoid the pitch” altogether. How? She launched The AAR Agency Growth Program in January 2019 to help marketers have a shortcut to the shortlist and assist agencies with developing more relationships instead of pitch decks!
Described as an agency search consultant whose unique perspective is highly valued, Lisa counsels both marketers and communications agencies on their business and branding efforts. Her wisdom has been shared throughout top industry publications including AdAge, Adweek, ANA Newsstand, Forbes, Hubspot, Mediapost, The Marketing Insider, The Huffington Post and in 2016 she published her first book, @AARLisa: New Biz in 140 Characters (or Less). Lisa is also part of the industry speaking circuit, presenting at national conferences including AAF, ANA Agency Relations Committee, BOLO, Brandemonium, HOW Design Live, Mirren and AdAge Small Agency Conference. And her Podcast, “On Purpose”, reaches thousands of marketers helping to educate them on specific agencies by highlighting what those agencies are doing “on purpose” to create meaningful brands and consumer connections.
Outside of her consulting career, Lisa was an enthusiastic Adjunct Professor of Advertising at NYIT for 16 years. She also participated each year as a judge for the AAF National Advertising Student Competition and a speaker for the AEF’s “Inside Advertising Speakers Program”, sharing her expertise to educate and motivate the next generation of communications professionals. Lisa, a trained pianist, also recorded and markets a NAPPA award-winning CD entitled Classical Cradle on which she personally performs nine sets of lullaby medleys from Beethoven, Strauss, Brahms and other classical composers. Most of all, she adores being Aunt Lisa to her favorite niece and nephew.
This Speaker's Sessions
Search Consultants: What’s Ahead for the Small & Mid-Size Agency New Business Pipeline
Nov 7, 2023 | 5:30 pm
Search consultants are an effective leading indicator for the new business pipelines of agencies. This group of leading matchmakers will help you understand what's ahead, unpacking the latest trends and sharing valuable insights.
In this panel discussion, they’ll give their take on opportunities for small and mid-size agencies, discussing the latest makeup of client requests, including budget sizes, client objectives, agency capabilities, and the volume of opportunities.
Time will be provided for audience Q&A, and we’ve invited them to join the cocktail reception.
In this panel discussion, they’ll give their take on opportunities for small and mid-size agencies, discussing the latest makeup of client requests, including budget sizes, client objectives, agency capabilities, and the volume of opportunities.
Time will be provided for audience Q&A, and we’ve invited them to join the cocktail reception.