For today’s Meet the Team blog, we get to meet Dain. Dain Tolbert has been a fixture at LeadingResponse for years, and today he serves as VP, Marketing Operations & Media Efficiency, where he keeps our campaigns running smoothly and our media dollars working as hard as possible.
Over the years, he’s built a reputation for turning complex operational challenges into clear, efficient processes, always keeping an eye on what makes a campaign perform. His tenure reflects not just deep institutional knowledge, but a steady hand in helping LeadingResponse adapt and grow as the business has evolved.
Give me your 30-second elevator speech. Who are you, what do you do, and what are your goals?
Hey, I’m Dain the VP, Marketing Operations & Media Efficiency (it’s a mouthful). I serve as connective tissue between Media, Growth, Analytics, Product, IT, and Finance to promote aligned, data-driven decision-making.
What is your favorite thing about your career?
All the people I’ve met along the way, of course! The jobs I’ve done haven’t saved anyone’s life or even been important to society in general. But I’ve met so many interesting people and been impacted by countless relationships over the years.
What motivates you to work hard?
Setting an example for my kids. Most people don’t have a job that can “change the world”, but everyone can change someone’s world, no matter what their job is.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Ski with my family. Any mountain. As long as there’s decent snow of course. And at least 1,000’ vertical. And…preferably high-speed chairlifts!
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
Listening to music. I believe music exists that can amplify almost every activity we do as humans. Need to relax? Want to make a fun time even more memorable? Missing someone important to you? Need to let out some frustration? Just add a song. Or even make your own.
Each time someone compliments one of my kids, it is the proudest accomplishment of my life at that moment. I believe the most important job anyone can have in the world is being a parent, so there is nothing better than someone making a point to tell me my kids are polite, kind, thoughtful, caring, or hard workers. Not because I deserve credit for my kids having those traits, but because I haven’t influenced them to the opposite.
What would you sing at Karaoke night?
I can be talked into just about any song I know, if the crowd will get into it. Even if there is only one person on stage, Karaoke is best when it’s a group activity. But 90’s country is my wheelhouse, so let’s go with “Friends In Low Places” by Garth Brooks. Not my personal favorite, but usually a crowd pleaser.
What song would you say best sums you up?
“I Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash. He wrote it about his relationship with his first wife, but later said it was also influenced by his relationship with God. For me, that song is a reminder that I am the only person who can hold myself accountable for doing what is right in any given situation.
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
This is such a hard question, but if I must pick only one year, it would be the last year of the life of Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine anything more impactful that to hear the words of the most important person ever to walk the Earth with my own ears.
Are you related or distantly related to anyone famous?
The most famous person I know of in my family was George Clymer. He was a distant relative of my paternal grand-mother who signed the Declaration of Independence. So…no…I’m not related to anyone “famous”.
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
I know myself well enough to admit my warning label would be the Black Diamond instantly recognizable to fellow skiers. It signifies some of the most difficult terrain on the mountain. Not double black diamond “expert only” level, but no bunny slope either.
Like me, black runs will keep you honest. Whether they have moguls, unmarked obstacles, or they’re just steep, black runs hold you accountable for your mistakes.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today, Dain. It’s been great getting to know you better. If you would like to learn more about our team, you can view more LeadingResponse Meet the Team blogs or visit our Team page.
