We deliver messages that matter.
The TAGS Group was founded in 2014 by Stacy Leistner, a lifelong storyteller with a passion for people and parties. Following his entrepreneurial spirit and believing in the adage that “it’s not work if you love what you do,” he formed a creative services firm dedicated to helping people, organizations, and causes deliver messages that matter through words (written and spoken) and experiences (events).
The TAGS Group grew from Stacy’s deep roots in traditional communications strategy and his background as in-house communications counsel.
We don’t want to be “that outside agency,” so we make the time and resource investment to become a valued extension of your current team. Our work is sustainable. The tools, systems and processes that we build are left behind for you to use again … but we’ll have made the project and process so seamless and easy that you’ll want to keep us as an ongoing partner!
Our approach.
Regardless of a project’s size, we take a long-range view. We know what we do with you today will make other things possible tomorrow.
When you engage The TAGS Group, we’ll work together to clearly define your goals and what success will look like. We’ll lay out a plan that details the steps to be taken and the timeline for action. We’ll check in with you regularly to confirm what's working … and what isn't. We’re nimble, adjusting along the way to ensure we’re staying on track.
➤ What can WE accomplish together?
Our Founder and Chief Storyteller
Stacy M. Leistner
Our founder began his story, and learned his strong work ethic, on a family farm in the Midwest. His formal education in business and communications was followed with post-graduate training in graphic and digital design.
While in college, a summer job as a poolside snack stand attendant morphed into a multi-year gig as a country club waiter. Leveraging these new connections, he formed his first company — a bartending service manned by fellow fraternity brothers — that quickly became the ‘go to’ event staffing provider for the social circuit in the city. The day after graduation, he started work as assistant and chief of staff to the college’s president.
Making his way to New York City, Stacy continued his professional career in the not-for-profit sector. His work over nearly two decades with the same organization took him across the country and around the world supporting dozens of industries. An initial assignment as project manager for a global team working in the IT-space led to his development, launch and management of a revenue-generating education and training program complete with an early-generation online learning platform. From there, his responsibilities expanded to become media spokesperson and head of the organization’s communications, education, and special events team.
Transitioning to a consumer product trade association as head of strategic communications, Stacy led teams responsible for B2B and B2C messaging, media relations, crisis communications, integrated marketing, and special events.
His communications portfolio ranges from healthcare to higher education, the visual and performing arts to consumer product safety, environmental protection to fashion, financial services to healthcare, homeland security to data privacy, nanotechnology to toys … and the list continues to grow.
Professional History
The TAGS Group
2014-
The Toy Industry Association
2009-2014
American National Standards Institute
1990-2009
University of Evansville
1988-1990
Education
University of Evansville
Business and Communications
Parsons School of Design
The New School
Graphic and Digital Design Certificate
Our Team
Our Team
The TAGS Group is supported by a network of content professionals (writers, editors, proofreaders), digital experts, graphic artists, entertainers, florists, photographers and videographers, and other specialized partners.
Stacy personally selects the team that will work with him for every assignment.
