GREGORY BASSO:
 
Gregory Basso




 
 
 
 
 
Managing Partner, Basso Design Group in Troy. Basso Design Group provides interactive media, web design and development, social media strategies, search-engine marketing and optimization, email marketing, graphic design, branding, corporate identity, and communications consulting for clients around the world. The company has expanded its customer base to over 600 clients worldwide. In his career spanning more than 15 years, Basso has transformed the image and operations of companies and organizations in the not-for-profit, government, and consumer markets and industries. After working with Internet startups and witnessing the way they failed at operating their businesses, he started his own interactive agency to help businesses market themselves more intelligently and efficiently on the Internet. Recently, Basso Design has moved into mobile apps, complete with a software program that allows small businesses to create their own apps. Under his leadership, the agency has been recognized with the Communicator Award for Excellence in the field of interactive design, International Davey Award, W3 Award for interactive design, and Women in Communication's Clarion Award. It has been named a Webby Awards honoree and recognized as one of the top five interactive design agencies in Michigan by the Michigan Design Awards Association. Basso is an active volunteer, contributing support to organizations such as Gleaners, Art & Scraps, and other Detroit-focused initiatives. He received his MBA from Western Michigan University.


WHERE BORN: “Farmington Hills.”

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: “My dad. He was always big with relationship building with clients, and I learned a lot. He was with our company when we started out and he gave me a lot of pointers. He's been instrumental in this business.”

LAST BOOK READ: “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks.”

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: “Energetic, outgoing. I love to talk to people.”

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: “If I could put a dime on it, all marketing, all communications is heading digital. Some are doing traditional advertising but everything is going digital. We're seeing more going mobile. There's going to be a giant push toward mobile apps and any technology geared toward mobile platforms. It's already happening.”

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: “My iPhone or my iPad. I love those things.”

FAVORITE PLACE: “Locally, it would definitely be Cranbrook. I love walking around there. Not locally would be Vegas.”

FAVORITE HOBBIES: “It's geeky but I'm proud of it - I'm a huge fan of Transformers. Anyone walking into my office will know about it. I was an extra in the Transformers 3 movie when it was filmed here.”

FAVORITE FOOD: “Anything and everything Italian.”

MY HIDDEN TALENT: “I am an enormous F1 (Formula 1) auto racing fan and go annually to different circuits to watch the races. I have met several people over the years because of that.”

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: “As someone who was likable and that people had a good experience when they met me. And as someone who passed on information or wisdom to people or companies to help them succeed.”


Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2014, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.