Veteran production executive Andy Traines has launched AT Consulting, a business consultancy for advertising-related companies. Already serving clients such as The Directors Bureau, Wondros and Station Film, AT Consulting offers an array of services including production company management, marketing and sales leadership, business development and staffing solutions.
“Our services augment a company’s strengths, and are tailored to meet clients’ individual areas of need, be it executive functions, sales, marketing or fostering specific areas of growth,” Traines explained. “Because of the way our companies are structured, with most execs slammed dealing with the demands of the day-to-day, there is little time for business development and assessing what’s going on around us to find those new opportunities. That’s where AT Consulting comes in, by designing answers that address the infrastructure needs of the advertising industry today.”
Traines calls his form of outsourcing “The Pocket Executive,” consulting with executive expertise that allows him to not only help clients assess their company in the present, but also keep an eye on the future. The Pocket Executive serves as someone that companies can keep in their back pocket, who can be their third eye, their brainstormer, and who can introduce them to new contacts worldwide.
Traines boasts over two decades of experience in commercial production and has a proven track record for building and growing production companies internationally. He has worked with top directorial talent including David Fincher, David Kellogg, Mark Romanek, Andrew Douglas, David Slade, Malcolm Venville, and Garth Davis and has served as a member of the AICP West Board from 1999 to 2011 and served as AICP/West president from 2003 to 2005.
With a background in theatre, Traines followed a passion for storytelling into production, getting his start in commercials as a bidder at Smillie Films. He worked his way up to head of production there and later at Tool of North America. He moved on the serve as an executive producer at Propaganda Films, Omaha Pictures, and Anonymous Content. In 2009, he became partner and managing director of BRW USA, later joining The Sweet Shop as managing director of the company’s North and South American operations. Traines had been doing freelance consulting prior to opening AT Consulting.
Anne-Marie Mackay, chief creative officer of Wondros, said of Traines, “His deep wealth of knowledge and experience, his grace and his creative instincts make him a number one choice for anyone who needs a guiding light in this business. He is by far one of the best I have had the pleasure to work with in my lengthy career.”
