For more than 50 years, LADD Inc. (Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled) has been at the forefront of redefining what it means to live with developmental disabilities. From housing solutions to employment opportunities and even an international film festival, LADD creates pathways for adults with disabilities to live, work, and contribute fully in their communities. Despite their transformative impact, they faced a challenge many mission-driven organizations encounter: their story wasn’t reaching as far as it should. That’s when LADD partnered with CMO-OnLoan.
From Reinventing the Wheel to Running with a Plan
As LADD expanded its programs and outreach, the internal team felt the strain. “Every time we did something, it was like starting from scratch,” said Susan Brownknight, CEO of LADD. “The annual film festival, our magazine, it felt like we were recreating the wheel every single time.” Without structured systems in place, marketing efforts were reactive and exhausting, rather than strategic and sustainable.
CMO-OnLoan stepped in to help shift that pattern. “The first thing we did was create a marketing strategy, not only for LADD as an organization but also for their Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival,” said Amy Connor, Founder & CEO of CMO-OnLoan. “We built out the systems, tools, and templates their team could use year after year.”
Simplicity That Scales
One of the biggest transformations was documentation. Together, they developed a master plan that outlined key marketing activities, timelines, and expectations across the year. It was simple, effective, and most importantly repeatable.
“Simple is hard,” Susan shared. “But simple is also sustainable, and that’s exactly what we needed.”
Beyond internal structure, CMO-OnLoan helped LADD elevate its visibility. CMO-OnLoan brought a strategic PR firm to the team, resulting in the OTR International Film Festival gaining national recognition, even earning a spot on Moviemaker magazine’s list of the “Coolest Film Festivals in the World.”
“I’ve worked with a lot of marketing and PR folks, many of them expensive and ineffective,” Susan added. “But this partnership delivered. It took focus and relentlessness, and we saw real results.”
A New Chapter of Growth and Impact
Perhaps the most telling sign of success? “For the first time, the CEO and Chief Development Officer are not running the daily activities of marketing and PR,” Susan said with a smile. LADD now has a dedicated Director of Marketing and the systems to support long-term success. “We’re looking forward to scaling with excellence,” Susan continued. “We’ve developed new ways for people to live independently, and now it’s about scaling those innovations to meet greater needs.”
Amy reflects on the partnership with deep gratitude: “LADD is an incredible organization that changes lives, not just for people living with disabilities, but for entire communities. It was an honor to help them build a foundation that makes marketing easier and more effective.”
Built for the Long Run
LADD now has the confidence and infrastructure to keep telling their story year after year, campaign after campaign. “Structure and execution, that’s where the magic happens,” Susan said. “And when we need to return to that magic again, I can’t think of anyone better than CMO-OnLoan.”
To learn more about LADD, visit www.laddinc.org.