SecretPenguin Youth Branding Agency

SecretPenguin Agency is rooted in skateboarding and music. We focus on making authentic branding for core companies such as Hosoi Skateboards - to larger companies like the NFL.

We were tired of seeing agencies not involved in youth cultures try to market down to us, so we decided to do something about it.

We specialize in brand strategy, web and print.

Hi there!
My name is Dave Nelson. I'm the owner and creative director here.

I started SecretPenguin a while back just as an outlet to make stuff. The SecretPenguin used to be a little character I'd hide in my artwork.

I started traveling for skateboarding, and toured almost non-stop for 7 years. While I was on the road, I started doing design work and marketing for the companies I was riding for.
Seemed like the more I got hurt, the more design work I took on... and I sorta accidently started a company, and just fell in love with the business!

I now live in Dundee, Omaha with my wife Sara Jean, our cat and 2 dogs.
In my spare time, I serve as Treasurer for the Nebraska Chapter of AIGA, and am the Team Manager at BBB LTD (a local skateshop that has supported Omaha skateboarding since 1993).

Thanks for taking the time to check us out. Don't hesitate to contact us, if you need anything.
Take care!

Howdy!
My name is Cody Peterson, I am an Art Director here at SecretPenguin.

I started working at SecretPenguin as an intern and they liked me so much that they wanted me to be around permanently, until I die (which will be a long time because I eat healthy and ride my bike a lot in the summer so I think I will live to be at least like 93... Oh, wait does that mean I don't get to retire? Dang! they tricked me!)

My friends, Aaron, Elle, and I also run a small indie record label called Slumber Party Records with the help of a bunch of our friends.

I also play music with the bands Honeybee, Bear Country, and sometimes with Darren Keen. I don't know any music theory and am partially tone deaf I think, but somehow people keep letting me be in their bands.

If you want me to be in your band just give us a call and I will come rock out with you... or make you a website... or draw you a picture...

Hello!
My name is Matt Helt and I'm the Account Director here at SecretPenguin. I oversee client services and make sure things get done on time and on budget. I also work on new business development and occasionally write a bit of copy.

I'm originally from Sioux City, IA. Omaha is my wife's hometown, so I followed her here after a stint at art school in Minneapolis. I ended up graduating from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a degree in art. I thought I was going to spend my life painting masterpieces, but I instead found my way into a career as a marketing geek. Yeah, I said it - I'm a marketing geek. I love developing strategy and get super excited about brand work. I started my marketing career at Ameritrade as a graphic designer, then worked my way up into project management. After that, I worked for a couple of other places then found my way to agency life, and have never looked back.

Outside of work, I'm the father of two energetic kids who are incredibly curious and a blast to hang out with. I'm happily married to the love of my life, Janie, who I met on the very first day of college. On occasion I get over to my studio and paint. Someday I'll complete a body of work and have a show, but that probably won't be until my kids are in college.

So that's a little bit about me. Feel free to contact me if you have any interest in working with us.

Hola!
I'm Lindsay Trapnell, the newest inductee of the SecretPenguin team. I'm here to do two things I love: to write and make videos. I'm also somewhat new to Omaha, although I've been visiting my family here for almost ten years now.

Here's a little back-story for you: I grew up in Michigan and Illinois and attended the University of Michigan. Nebraska-related factoid: While there, my feature script was chosen for a workshop with Alexander Payne (whom I might add was very encouraging).

After college I moved to Los Angeles and attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where I received an MFA in Film Production. While in L.A., I ate a lot of Mexican food, interned at A Band Apart (Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender's production company) and worked for the talented screenwriter/novelist Kirsten Smith. I also worked for film critic Leonard Maltin's class at USC, which meant that I got to watch a soon-to-be released movie and listen to a Q & A afterwards with the filmmakers or actors in the film. Three years of that class alone was probably worth all those student loans.

Now I am in Omaha, where I recently bought my first house! I split my work time pretty equally among film/video and writing. I teach part-time in the Visual Arts department at Metropolitan Community College, and am a member of the Film Streams Education Committee. I recently directed music videos for Omaha bands Thunder Power and Honeybee (currently in post-production).

I write freelance for The Reader, Omaha City Weekly, and Venus Zine. A group of friends and I also recently started a small literary publishing group called Moxie Paper Press.

I look forward to doing more of the stuff I enjoy and meeting more nice people!