Meet Roderic Covey of Crowl Marketing | Creative. He urges people to volunteer
Roderic A. Covey serves as executive vice president of Crowl Marketing | Creative in North Canton.
Covey, who grew up in Stark County and graduated from Glenwood High School and The Ohio State University, began his career as a journalist, working as a staff writer for The Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. That early experience shaped his belief in the power of clear storytelling — a skill that would guide the rest of his career.
"After I returned to Canton and joined Covey & Koons Inc. as a copywriter, I brought a reporter's mindset to advertising and client work," he said. "Over time, I had greater leadership roles, becoming an account executive in 1979, vice president in 1994, and president in 1999.
"In 2004, my wife Kathie and I purchased the agency from my father, continuing a family business while positioning it for the future. We relocated the firm to North Canton in 2005 and, three years later, acquired Odell Advertising/Marketing, forming Covey-Odell Advertising. In 2009, the agency was named Business of the Year by the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce. That journey — from journalism to advertising, and from family enterprise to regional agency — came full circle in 2017, when Covey-Odell was acquired by Crowl Marketing | Creative, one of the Midwest's premier marketing and design firms."
He feels privileged to live and work in an area where people have deep roots, a strong work ethic, and a sincere concern for their fellow citizens.
"Volunteering in the community and serving on the publicity/fundraising committees of various nonprofit organizations has allowed me to develop business contacts and form friendships with people who share similar values and interests," Covey said. "I encourage young people to get involved in the community — it's good for the receiver as well as the giver, which is something I learned from my father."
How did the job writing for a suburban Chicago daily newspaper come about?
I got the job shortly after graduating from The Ohio State University. The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Illinois, needed a reporter and contacted one of my Ohio State journalism professors, who told me about the job and encouraged me to apply.
I mailed the newspaper a cover letter and resume. The newspaper flew me to Chicago to meet with the editors, and I was offered the job a few weeks later.
What drew you to writing for marketing, advertising and public relations?
After working at the newspaper for two years, I had the opportunity to return to Canton to join my father at Covey & Koons Inc. as a copywriter.
The transition from journalism to public relations was easy for me. I missed the excitement of the newsroom, but found writing for marketing, advertising and public relations to be more fun and rewarding.
You were named Ad Person of the Year in 1997, and your company was named Business of the Year in 2009 by the North Canton Chamber. What do such accolades mean to you?
Being named Ad Person of the Year meant a lot to me, because I was selected by my peers, people whom I looked up to and considered my mentors.
Being named Business of the Year meant a lot because we had just acquired another agency, added three employees, and doubled our billings. The agency also won some new business that year, even though 2008 was the peak of the Great Recession.
What do you feel is your proudest accomplishment in life?
I am most proud of my family. My wife Kathie and I have been married for 23 years and have a blended family of five grown children; I am proud of each of them and their accomplishments.
Kathie and I wondered if we would ever have grandchildren, but we now have six — four boys and two girls.
One for fun: If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why?
If I could travel back in time, it would be 1970 when I joined my high school buddies in a rock band named Cottonmouth and began gigging for audiences in and around Stark County. After the band broke up and I went away to college, I never thought I would get a chance to play in a band again.
But about five years ago, my friend Tom Jepson invited me to join his acoustic duo, CrossRoads Band. We are now a quartet covering classic rock, pop and country songs at local wineries and breweries. It works well with my part-time schedule at Crowl Marketing | Creative. We already have 15 gigs lined up for 2026.
Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com .
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meet Roderic Covey, executive VP at Crowl Marketing | Creative
