Cornett

Jamon Deaver

Director of Marketing

Misfit

Jamon Deaver once held the actual job title "VIBE Manager" (Visionary Individual Behind Energy). This philosophy has defined his entire career approach in an industry often dominated by corporate rigidity.

Jamon is all about people over process. While traditional agencies focus on brands and bottom lines, Jamon operates on a fundamental truth: you work with people, not entities. His new business development centers on authentic human connections, understanding that if the vibes aren't there, neither the work nor relationship will flourish. What’s more, he places an emphasis on the Return on Relationships over Return on Investment, a distinctly indie mindset that prioritizes genuine connections over transactional exchanges. This approach recognizes that sustainable growth comes from long-term partnerships, exactly the kind of forward-thinking that sets indie agencies apart.

When you talk to Jamon about the work, his immense love for it is indisputable. Yet, he’s not about to devolve into pretentious rhetoric. In a former professional life, he used to say,  "It's not ER, it's PR.” The same goes for advertising: Jamon believes that joy should be at the center of great, collaborative work, not stress. 

Living by the "world is what you make it" mentality, Jamon actively chooses to make every interaction energizing. Known for literally "bringing Cornett to the parties," Jamon orchestrates social and networking events to expand Cornett's Chicago community. At industry events like POSSIBLE, Ad Age Small Agency, and Brand Innovators, he's consistently the last one keeping the energy alive and connections flowing.

Jamon doesn't just work differently, he makes the entire industry more human, authentic, and joyful. He's proof that when you lead with genuine energy and connection, extraordinary things happen.

Jamon Deaver has worked to dismantle nearly every "rule" of traditional business development, starting with his own unconventional path. As a PR creative turned biz dev professional, he brings zero traditional new business background. And that's his superpower.

His more grounded experience has allowed him to reject the persona of a salesperson, opting instead to build relationships over adopting aggressive sales tactics. He loves the showmanship of the pitch but refuses to sacrifice genuine human connection for closing deals. 

Craving IRL connections over LinkedIn DMs and cold-calls, Jamon recently went so far as loitering in the lobby of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart with a literal cardboard sign inviting prospects like Conagra Brands and Beam-Suntory to, “say hello and I’ll buy you a drink.” And the stunt worked, leading to multiple in-person meet-ups and new connections for the agency. Work smarter, not harder… or just hold a sign.

Despite being Chicago-based with dozens of notable agencies in his backyard, Jamon rejected offers to return to holding company culture and chose to elevate a female-owned agency in Lexington, Kentucky. This decision challenges the conventional wisdom that career advancement requires staying within major market holding companies and more recognizable zip codes.

Jamon’s new Behind the Brand series deliberately goes against every digital marketing playbook. In an era dominated by podcasts, video content, and algorithm-chasing, he chose a classic blog-style Q&A format—pairing intimate photos with compelling questions to prioritize meaningful connections over virality. The series spotlights the brilliant minds shaping today’s most successful businesses, with industry leaders in creative, strategy, media, and beyond sharing invaluable insights earned from personal experience.

His platform philosophy directly challenges industry obsessions: no gimmicks, no tricks, no need to download or subscribe. While everyone screams for attention in LinkedIn feeds and adds literal noise, Jamon quietly builds relationships through thoughtful content that people actually read rather than scroll past.

Jamon proves that questioning conventional wisdom, above all else, is about being effective while staying authentic.

Jamon's independence has catalyzed transformational change across three critical areas: agency evolution, client success, and industry progress. 

When he joined Cornett in 2022, the agency had just won Ad Age Small Agency of the Year but was experiencing rapid growing pains. The brand wasn't keeping pace with the sophisticated team they'd become over 40 years. Using his independence, Jamon encouraged the leadership and entire creative team that their existing brand needed massive attention, a conversation requiring both diplomatic skill and unflinching honesty. His passion pioneered Cornett's rebrand and value proposition evolution, transforming it into an agency almost unrecognizable from its origins while honoring its heritage.

Jamon leverages his platform to combat harmful stereotypes, actively shifting perceptions about Kentucky that don't reflect the actual people, culture, or quality of life. He championed Cornett's "Work is a Drag" policy to combat anti-drag sentiment and currently participates as a mentor in Project Violet's LGBTQ+ mentorship program, using his independence to create meaningful change beyond agency walls.

Cornett’s clients also reap the benefits of his indie approach. His idea for A&W to offer anyone over 100 free root beer floats for life generated 127+ earned media placements and over 1.6 billion earned impressions—proving that good ideas can come from anywhere, even the new business guy. His business development efforts have secured notable wins including Nissin Foods USA, Four Roses, DePaul Athletics, GE Appliances, and Q Mixers, while helping retain key clients like A&W Restaurants, UK HealthCare, and VisitLEX.

Jamon didn't just have a wedding—he created "Wonder Woods," a three-day camping festival featuring American Idol star Rayvon Owen and viral pop star Betty Who. The event was so extraordinary it landed in The New York Times.

This is so true to his character: rejecting conventional approaches for something meaningful, curating diverse talent, and creating community experiences that people remember forever. While most people plan weddings, Jamon planned a cultural moment that became newsworthy.

For Jamon, the convergence of COVID, the BLM movement, and divisive presidential elections created a profound inflection point. Witnessing the deepening divisions in our country, he, like so many others, experienced a period of intense self-reflection that forced him to process his feelings, beliefs, and priorities.

The moment of crystallization came when he realized he could no longer separate his values from his work. The upheaval encouraged him to carve a new path, dedicating his energy to people and causes that aligned with his values.

This realization led him to leave the familiar comfort of Chicago's holding company culture for Cornett—a female-owned agency that embodied the values-driven approach he now demanded from his career. It wasn't just about independent thinking; it was about independent living, aligning every aspect of his professional life with his authentic self.

Jamon's influence in the indie community centers on opening minds to alternative agency paths. He consistently encourages holding company colleagues and acquaintances to consider options beyond traditional big-city agencies. "While Chicago, LA and NY have some amazing big agencies, there are alternative options all across the country that could give renewed energy (and meaning) to their career journey," he advocates.

Jamon’s influence goes beyond the walls of Cornett and one-on-one connections. Recently, Do the WeRQ tapped him to join their leadership team—an organization dedicated to increasing queer creativity and representation in marketing. The connection came through recommendations from industry leaders Graham Nolan and Alan Brown, a reminder of how Jamon’s impact continues to create ripple effects across the community.