STRATEGIC, SMART SOCIAL, DIGITAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA SOLUTIONS
Canary and Coal, a Duryea Strategic Marketing Company, is a resource for organizations that want to boldly harness the power of digital media and public relations in ways that are strategic, smart and built on a bedrock of sound marketing practices. Duryea was founded in 2013, with a focus on direct response marketing using online and direct mail lead-generation and traditional media.
A working partnership with Canary and Coal began a few years later, allowing Duryea to add a full complement of social media, digital media and public relations to our capabilities. And at the same time, provide clients with the ability to deploy our services in ways that make the most sense for you. In 2019, the partnership became permanent with the purchase of Canary and Coal to combine the full capabilities of two successful organizations into one.
THE TEAM THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE:
At Canary and Coal, our capabilities come down to a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who are well versed in the research, development and execution of multi-channel solutions that are customized to help you meet your strategic goals.
CHERI DURYEA
PRESIDENT
From keeping your eye on the ball to getting across the finish line first, we can apply any number of popular sports analogies to self-described sports fan Cheri Duryea McPherson, Canary and Coal president. Using her planning and engagement skills to cultivate social media platforms and campaigns, as well as search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and Google Ad campaigns, she helps to keep clients moving forward and growing in the digital environment.
In addition, she’s built an integrated marketing portfolio that includes managed database, campaign analysis; media buying across broadcast, print and digital media; ground-up development of sales support programs; list brokerage; and direct marketing campaigns for local and national companies. Her experience includes industries such as financial services, real estate, retail, technology, franchise relations, healthcare and nonprofit.
She is a current member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) Omaha and the American Advertising Federation Omaha, as well as president-elect of Omaha Network. Cheri is also a past board member of Heartland Family Service and past board president of Women’s Fund of Omaha.
Watch that fancy footwork.
A dance major when she started college, Cheri loves to watch sports, particularly soccer and basketball. She also likes to keep busy working out, reading and spending time with family and friends.
SOPHIE FORD
DIGITAL AND DESIGN MANAGER
Combining the best of creative and strategy, Sophie Ford develops and executes digital efforts that ensure successful outcomes for Canary and Coal’s clients. Her expertise extends across organic and paid social media campaigns, website projects, video editing, digital and print design.
A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Sophie earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and advertising, as well as a bachelor’s in studio arts with an emphasis in graphic design. She was president of the UNO student chapter of the American Advertising Federation, and also editor-in-chief of the Gateway student newspaper. She is currently a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) Omaha chapter.
Life, with a world view.
Is that hint of an accent you hear when you speak with Sophie? She was born in England and lived there until moving stateside at the age of 10. It’s given her a great world perspective in how she approaches life.
ERIN CEJKA
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
For someone with so much knowledge of the past, Erin Cejka understands how the future is built by creating engagement through her social media management and content creation. Her background includes marketing, media relations, social media management and even major renovations for two midwestern museums – helping them to increase visibility online and in-person.
Erin graduated from Northwest Missouri State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history, with a minor in public history and museum studies. During her tenure, she served as president and vice president of the history club.
You don’t always have to dig for a memorable find.
The avid traveler has been to Europe twice, but still values her time at home where she can be found cuddling up with her cat, Sabastian. You can also find her thrifting for hidden treasures – perhaps a long-lost relic from the past or a find from last season’s fashion.