ZACK DARLING

Marketing Strategist
Brand Accelerator
Creative Designer | Fabricator
Festival & Event Producer
International DJ

Years of experience

Primary OFFERING

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“Define your authentic purpose… Place it in the sky as your North Star… Now confidently hold your hand on the rudder of your ship, never losing sight of that star.” – Zack

BIO

As a proven growth driver in high-performing industries, Zack Darling collaborates within creative and strategic teams as a leader, designer and marketing executive to enhance brand value and drive sales. Specializing in purpose-driven ventures, highly regulated industries, lifestyle brands, consumer packaged goods, sustainable enterprises, and live events, Zack supports growth through omni-channel brand strategy, public relations, campaign planning, retail marketing, data-driven digital solutions, and tactical execution for both B2B and B2C brands.

Zack is an award-winning brand builder with decades of experience in strategy and development for high-growth industries such as cannabis, wellness, luxury goods, lifestyle products, hospitality, apparel, photography, solar power, beer & wine, beverage, food products, hydroponics, festivals, restaurants, venues, artists & musicians, architects, authors and nonprofits.

Zack has served in executive leadership positions for fifteen years, working directly with founders, board members and investors. He is an awarded designer and board member of trade, industry and nonprofit organizations.

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INSTRUCTOR

Green Flower Media: Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy curriculum (taught in 27 universities)
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Editor In Chief

Mendocino College Eagle Newspaper
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SRJC GRAPHIC DESIGN ADVISORY BOARD

Industry Co-Chair of the Santa Rosa Junior College Graphic Design Advisory Board (9 years)
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Education

Studied Graphic Design at Mendocino College & Santa Rosa Junior College

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN / BEST OF THE NORTH BAY 2014 // 2019 - ZDCA DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

“Best Digital Creative Services” award for 7 consecutive years.

US CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION / GREEN BUSINESS AWARD 2016 - ZDCA DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

State Congressional recognition for our green business practices.

NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL / 40 Under 40 2012

“Top 40 North Bay entrepreneurs under the age of 40” award from our local business publication.

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN / NORBAY AWARDS / BEST DJ 2005 & 2009 - DJ ZACK DARLING

I have won the Best DJ in the North Bay award each time I entered the contest.

Tech Experience

Adobe Suite
Google Suite
Marketing Platforms
CRM
Project Management Systems
Fabrication prototyping
Design and Production

Skills

Marketing Strategy
Sales Strategy
Leadership
Business Development
Graphic Design
Creative Direction
Project Management

BE • DO • SAY

In a branding world that loves to beat buzzwords like “authentic” into meaningless pulp, here was a clear simple set of actions, not postures, that marketers can and must take to create successful brands, whether in repositioning or from scratch.

Number one: Be. Be something meaningfully different. As Austin McGhie of Sterling Brands said in the same Roundtable, “You need to be willing to be truly different.” There’s that challenge, to not only pretend to have a purpose, but actually inhabit a meaningful reason for being. A brand must be, really and truly, what it claims.

Number two: Do. Start with brand actions, then whip out the fancy words. Brand bluster has been turning consumers off for years. Rather than create your brand promise and positioning and then start talking about it, first bring the promise to self-evident life. Think of concrete ways you can demonstrate, rather than describe, what makes your brand different and better. This may mean innovation in product design or features, or an investment in special customer service. But when you do good things, people say good things about you (first and foremost to themselves, a key aspect of loyalty-building). And it’s much better to have the “saying” begin with the most important third-party experts, your customers.

Number three: Say. Only start brand communications when your brand can honestly be what it says it is. Even then, it’s best to only say what is necessary, so as not to drown out other, more credible voices (to see whose words consumers truly trust, take a look at this recent survey).

Be. Do. Say. Three little words. One big brand impact. (I only wish that I had originated the phrase.)

~Bob Domenz

TESTIMONIALS FOR ZACK

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I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with Zack. He has an impressive ability to take creative ideas and carry them from visual concepts to beautifully fabricated displays that speak clearly to the end consumer. The retail programs he designed and implemented for Heavy Hitters were rooted in strong strategy and thoughtful brand communication. I’m glad I had the chance to work with Zack and highly recommend him to anyone looking for a marketing or creative leader to join their team.

Skyler Sutton
Co-Founder & Chairman
Mammoth Distribution / Heavy Hitters
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As the PR agency of record for CannaCraft, my team and I had the opportunity to work directly with Zack during his tenure there as the VP of Retail Marketing. We collaborated on a number of ongoing publicity projects that included product launches, influencer product reviews, press releases and industry culture pieces that elevated the public profile of CannaCraft and their mission. I found Zack to be a thoughtful and detailed advocate for the brands and enjoyed his professionalism and enthusiastic positivity. Zack was our primary point of contact for one year. I would be happy to work with him again in the future.

Jim Walsh
Founder / Publicist
Coppertop Media Relations
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I have known Zack Darling both professionally and personally for close to two decades now. Not only is Zack highly cultivated as a marketing leader in business, he has had a lifetime of brand building experience, stratey building and knowledge to bring to the table. Zack is a heart centered, mindful, compassionate, kind, confident man who is a pioneer visionary.

Tristan St Germain
Trauma Informed Somatic Coach
Movement Medicine Facilitator / Psychedelic Preparation-Integration
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Zack has been a powerful design force in the cannabis community for many years and all the work he has done has been very impressive.
If you have any questions about Zack, please feel free to reach out to us. We have known Zack for many years and it has been such a joy to watch him expand into a talented, team player with a joyous and creative spirit. We highly recommend Zack Darling.

Nikki Lastreto & Swami Chaitanya
Swami Select / Cannabis Legends
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I’ve known Zack Darling for over 20 years. He comes from a second generation psychedelic friendly family that is greatly appreciated throughout Northern California. Zack is a skilled marketer and designer with a history of community engagement and leadership. After watching Zack do great work on the Health and Harmony Festival as well as other jobs, the Emerald Cup hired Zack to do graphic and marketing work over the past 15 years. We’ve been pleased with everything Zack has done for us.

Zack was invited to speak on an Emerald Cup panel on psychedelics and his contribution was very warmly received. I have the utmost respect for Zack as a person and businessmen as well.

Tim Blake
Founder / Author
The Emerald Cup
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Zack is remarkable, not only for the breadth of his skills, but for growing up with the kind of heartfelt awareness of who we really are that most of the rest of us had to struggle to discover way later in our lives.
Zack is remarkable, not only for the range of his talents, but for how many times he has started with nothing more than a vision, turned it into a reality, and then eventually built a remarkably large team around it. Not once, not twice, but many times, not the same vision, not the same team, but the same growing it into a success and then moving on.
When you get to know Zack, you will know why I keep using that word “remarkable.”

James Fadiman
Founder / Psychedelic Pioneer / Author
Sofia University
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Zack is not only a talented, experienced marketer but also a passionate activist and advocate with years spent working toward liberating plants, people and so much more.

Ricardo Baca
Journalist / Founder
Grasslands Agency
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Zack has been an invaluable asset to our organization. He played a pivotal role in shaping the creative direction of our brands, leading numerous creative projects that have set new standards for excellence. His ability to conceptualize and execute branding and creative projects has been nothing short of remarkable. Under his leadership, our company has achieved outstanding results in terms of brand identity, marketing campaigns, and visual communication strategies.

One of Zack’s most commendable qualities is his innate talent for communication and collaboration. He fosters an environment of open dialogue and teamwork, making him incredibly approachable and easy to work with. His ability to connect with both our internal teams and external partners has been a catalyst for the seamless execution of complex projects. Zack’s friendly and engaging personality not only makes him a pleasure to work alongside but also a trusted source of inspiration for our team.

Zack has the utmost respect and recognition within our industry. His work has garnered accolades and admiration from industry peers, further cementing his status as a leading creative force. Zack’s contributions to CannaCraft have not only enhanced our brand’s reputation but have also solidified our standing as a respected entity within the cannabis industry.

I wholeheartedly recommend Zack Darling for any role or endeavor that requires a creative visionary with exceptional interpersonal skills. His outstanding creativity, collaborative spirit, and impeccable character make him an invaluable asset to any organization fortunate enough to have him on board.

Dennis Hunter
Co-Founder
CannaCraft

POSTS FROM Zack

A retail Point of sale display for The Farmer and The Felon

Retail Packaging & Marketing Strategy

The Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy series - CHAPTER 7Your customer’s journey with your brand starts at the first moment they are exposed to it. The absolute best way for them to receive that first exposure is a personal recommendation from a trusted...

Packaging Materials and Sustainability

The Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy series - CHAPTER 6  The materials you choose for your packaging and printing options are a great way to differentiate your brand on the shelf and add to the overall consumer experience. This is truly where form...

Regulatory Compliance, Trademark Law and Creative Freedom

The Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy series - CHAPTER 5It’s important to understand the legal requirements for cannabis packaging and labeling, but also to learn how to creatively navigate these regulations. Since cannabis isn’t federally legal, you’ll...

The Power of Visual Communication

The Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy series - CHAPTER 4Let’s explore how we can master the art of visual communication through your packaging and labeling. In this lesson, we’ll look at how to convey product information, dosage instructions, and...
By Mirko Toller - https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikotolino/33692546634/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86127198

Storytelling Through Design and Marketing (Star Wars edition)

The Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy series - CHAPTER 3Storytelling is a powerful art that has inspired and influenced people since the dawn of humanity. You have an opportunity to tell a story that empowers your audience to be the hero of their own...
Woman looking at shelf of Cannabis packaging

Five Packaging Design Principles

The Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy series - CHAPTER 2Your goal is to have such consistency that someone could see a small torn piece of your packaging on a table and immediately know what brand it is. Although cannabis packaging is unique in the...

Building a Strong Cannabis Brand

The Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy series - CHAPTER 1The key branding principle to building a meaningful brand is authenticity. If your brand is inauthentic, all of the greatest design and packaging in the world will only amount to empty fluff....

Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy

The Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy series - INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Learn the art and science of branding for this uniquely regulated industry Welcome to the "Cannabis Branding, Packaging and Retail Strategy" series.This series places a strong...