Kim Bode | Source | Owner at 8thirtyfour

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Kim Bode

Owner at 8thirtyfour
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Kim Bode, Dog rescuer (hoarder), community advocate (vigilante), wine drinker (wino) and proud (obsessed) business owner - often distracted but never deterred.

Bode loves small businesses, almost as much as she does dogs, so she spends her time happy houring, advocating and writing about them. She shares her thoughts on leadership, culture and communications on her blog, Small Biz Musings, Entrepreneur Magazine, 8THIRTYFOUR podcast, Happy Hour Hustle and more. She has also written sensational articles on the reboot of The Gilmore Girls and a host of other subjects in Huffington Post, Thrive, Authority Magazine and more.

Surrounding herself with small business owners led her to serve on the Small Business Association of Michigan’s Board, Legislative Action Council, and Leadership Council Advisory Committee. Don’t worry; she also passes her knowledge of all things onto college students by supporting Dr. Adrienne Wallace’s efforts to mold young minds through GrandPR and Grand Valley State University’s PRSSA.

Supporting women is another passion of Bode. She lives it out by serving on the Leadership Advisory Council as Marketing and Events Chair for Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and is also a regional leader for the Northeast.

She is a member of the board of The Association of Independent Workers (IPSE) and holds the position of Communications Director on the board of the Michigan Women in Defense chapter. Additionally, she is a founding board member of the non-profit organization For the Vets and the founder of the Small Biz 4 Equality GVSU Annual Scholarship.

When Bode isn’t networking and serving, she is hanging at her cabin in the woods with her incredibly supportive husband and seven eight seven six eight seven eight dogs.

• Badass accomplishment: Being a business owner for 16+ years, a Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, being on the Forbes Top 200 PR Firms of 2021 (only one in Michigan), and being recognized by Crain’s Communication as a top leader in DEI.

Past Speaking Engagements:
• West Michigan Public Relations Society of America
• American Marketing Association of West Michigan
• Small Business Association of Michigan
• Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
• Women in Defense – Michigan Chapter
• Women Impacting Public Policy
• NDIA Michigan

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  • 'Morning Shed' Trend: The New Beauty Craze or Dangerous Obsession?
    Kim explains, “The 'morning shed' trend promises instant beauty with minimal effort, appealing to busy moms. However, it sets dangerous precedents, pushing women to extreme, potentially harmful practices to meet unrealistic beauty standards. It's time for a reality check on true self-care.”
  • Small Business Boosts Employee Well-being with EAP
    Kim of 8THIRTYFOUR, a 10-person agency, launched an EAP with Pine Rest to provide mental health resources, financial and executive coaching, and team building. "Sometimes, even just having it there... makes all the difference." The low-cost program is a key hiring benefit and shows employees their mental health is valued.
  • Paid Social Media: Still Worth the Investment in 2024?
    Kim asserts that paid social media remains crucial for brands despite limited organic reach. Effective strategies include paid ads, partnerships, and high-quality content. "Platform choice matters," with TikTok and Instagram key for Gen Z. B2B brands benefit from LinkedIn, while B2C requires nuanced Meta strategies. Expect increased ad spend, especially during peak seasons.
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