Ozarks Profile: Julie Tumy

Tell us about your company.

Noble & Associates a Noble World Communications company is a Springfield-based advertising and food-marketing agency. Since 1969, Noble has devoted a majority of its efforts and talent to understanding the food consumer and industry knowledge we use to help our clients connect with customers in new and exciting ways. These efforts have made Noble & Associates a nationally recognized leader in building food brands with a client portfolio that includes Campbell's, C. H. Guenther & Son, Krispy Kreme, MasterFoodServices, McCormick, Pepsi, Schwan's, Smucker's and Tyson.

Noble World Communications is a network of agencies that employs more than 300 with combined capitalized billings of $250 million. Offices are located in Springfield, Chicago, Washington, N.J., Milwaukee and Fayetteville, Ark. Noble World Communications is the 11th-largest independent agency group in the United States and the 51st largest overall according to Adweek. For more information, visit www.noble.net.

Specifically, what is your job?

I am the president of Noble & Associates and have ultimate responsibility for the multidisciplinary teams that provide strategic business planning, advertising, marketing and public relations for the agency's food clients.

What is Noble's biggest challenge right now?

Staying three to five years ahead of consumer thinking, understanding the food products consumers need before they are even aware of it, and helping our clients get their fair share of the consumer's food dollar.

What's your role in addressing these challenges?

My role is to provide our food practice with a vision of where we're going in terms of building business for our clients and for Noble. I then communicate that vision to our associates and provide them with the resources necessary to get us there.

What company goals are you helping to pursue?

The specific goals I help our company pursue include providing best-in-class marketing services for our clients, growing the food practice financially, nurturing our creative process, and further developing our associates, who are our greatest asset.

Tell us about your family.

I'm married to Jeff Hamlin and have two wonderful children Jack Porter, age 3, and 4-month-old Anna. I'm a later-in-life mother who had a career in full swing when I delivered my first child. My husband and I are so grateful to have this opportunity. Our children teach us many lessons, but most of all it's about keeping balance and perspective. It's very clear to us what's really important in life and what isn't. We think they're two of the best new products to hit the market in the past five years.