Dare Greatly with John Gatesman

More Than A Broker | Spot

More Than A Broker | Spot
Dare Greatly with John Gatesman
Sep 09, 2025
Spot, Inc.

Welcome back to More Than a Broker
 
In this episode of More Than a Broker, Spot Co-Founder, Andrew Elsener, sits down with John Gatesman, CEO and Founder of Gatesman, an award-winning ad agency, as the pair compare insights into the logistics and marketing industries.   

Gatesman shares his journey from aspiring to be a truck driver at a young age to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He emphasizes the importance of creativity, adaptability, and building strong client relationships in a rapidly changing business landscape.  

The conversation also explores the impact of technology and AI on marketing, the importance of hiring for culture, and the lessons each has learned throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. 

About John Gatesman 
 
Under John Gatesman’s leadership, Gatesman has grown to become one of the most successful independent agencies in the Northeast, having been named one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies for nine consecutive years. Gatesman has also been recognized as one of the top 100 independent agencies nationwide and as one of the Best Places to Work for eight straight years.  

John identified and led the successful acquisitions of digital firm Quest Fore in 2014 and Nobel Communications in 2017, which expanded agency operations into Chicago and the Midwest. His passion and devotion to his clients, along with his relentless pursuit of their success, continue to be the driving force behind Gateman’s agency’s mantra, “Good Enough Sucks.” 

John’s leadership has guided and cultivated teams across a diverse array of notable brands, such as UPMC, Northwell Health, Coen Children’s, Del Monte, PPG, Disney, and many more. He began his career with Ross Roy Group after being selected as one of only six people nationally for its Executive Management Training Program. He then moved on to management positions at Ogilvy, Doner, and Ketchum before joining BNY Mellon as Senior Marketing Director and later Brunner as VP of Client Services, ultimately founding Gatesman in 2006.



Episode Artwork Dare Greatly with John Gatesman 48:22 Episode Artwork Phil Daniels’ Journey Beyond Corporate Norms 43:20 Episode Artwork Berkeley to Biostats: Greg Enas's Journey of Leadership and Innovation 41:00 Episode Artwork Spot Logistics Market Update: June 2025 12:34 Episode Artwork From Startup to Successful Exit: Brian Schutt's Entrepreneurial Blueprint 49:21 Episode Artwork Spot Logistics Market Update: May 2025 23:48 Episode Artwork Decoding Global Trade with New York Times Reporter Peter S. Goodman 46:12 Episode Artwork Spot Logistics Market Update: April 2025 12:33 Episode Artwork Driving Change for Women in Trucking: A Conversation with Ellen Voie 40:04 Episode Artwork Spot Logistics Market Update: March 2025 12:46 Episode Artwork Economies of Scope Not Scale: A Conversation with Dr. Chris Caplice 43:40 Episode Artwork Spot Logistics Market Update: February 2025 14:23 Episode Artwork Navigating the Evolving Logistics Landscape: A Conversation with Noël Perry 41:17 Episode Artwork Spot Logistics Market Update: December 2024 17:40 Episode Artwork Digging Into The Data: A Conversation with DAT Freight & Analytics’s Ken Adamo 37:41 Episode Artwork Talking Tactics: A Sales Conversation with Sell Hoffman's Jeff Hoffman and CeCe Aparo 48:11 Episode Artwork Spot's Logistics Market Update: October 2024 14:52 Episode Artwork Objection! A Conversation with Helmreich Law's Craig Helmreich, ESQ 56:40 Episode Artwork Spot's Logistics Market Update: August 2024 15:08 Episode Artwork Fortifying Your Firewall: On A.I. and Cybersecurity with Arctic Wolf Field CTO Christopher Fielder 47:51 Episode Artwork Initiating a Brush Pass - A Conversation with Brush Pass Research's Kevin Hill 33:30 Episode Artwork Spot's Logistics Market Update: June 2024 14:33 Episode Artwork Spot's Logistics Market Update: May 2024 12:09 Episode Artwork Shoring Up Supply Chain Security: An In-Depth Look at Double Broker Behavior 38:54 Episode Artwork Spot's Logistics Market Update: April 2024 13:57