Early Life and Connection to Rural America
Gus is a retired farm kid, if anyone can truly retire from farming. His family raised livestock in Franklin County, Missouri until it was time for him to leave the farm. Additionally, the now Ameren Missouri had two transmission towers for their lines which ran through the farm. This early exposure to agriculture and utilities instilled in him a strong work ethic, a curiosity about infrastructure, and a desire to support and promote rural areas.
Professional Journey
Gus’s professional career began in the realm of manufacturing marketing, where he quickly made a name for himself by leveraging his background and understanding of rural life which is where a lot of manufacturing was located. His work allowed him to travel the country which also allowed him to get involved with advocacy, inside and outside of politics. His expertise in these areas led to the founding of The Rocket Group in 2001, a full-service marketing agency who had no idea of the technological and media changes to come in a very short time.
The Rocket Group
The Rocket Group, under Gus’s leadership, has become a beacon of innovative marketing solutions for businesses, organizations, and nonprofits. The agency works with clients from the Fortune 100 to local small businesses, and everything in between. With a team of skilled professionals, The Rocket Group delivers services ranging from digital marketing and social media management to traditional advertising and public relations.
The digital and social revolution and continued evolutions is something The Rocket Group stays ahead of the curve on for its clients. From running one of the first international ad campaigns on Twitter to connecting with more than one million Americans a month on Facebook, the company and Gus have widely been recognized as a leader in social media since 2007 when the platforms really went public. Gus is a five-time certified strategist in social media, is a national-level speaker and trainer regarding modern media tools and strategies, and encourages the entire team of The Rocket Group to be as well-trained and up-to-date with social strategies and updates as is possible.
Advocacy and Impact
Gus Wagner’s dedication to advocacy in all arena’s began by trying to get county roads upgraded while in his early teens and have led him, and The Rocket Group, to involvement in more than 800 election campaigns, awareness and education efforts which have spanned the country, and as a frequent contributor to improvement efforts in our headquarters location of Jefferson City, Missouri.
Along the way he was the Chief of Staff in the Missouri State Senate of the Committee on Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources, the longest-serving state chair of a Young Republican statewide organization in history, and quarterbacked the establishment of the second ethanol standard in America. He is also a retired national champion youth hockey coach.
ARC media
In 2015, a side project collaboration began to help the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives get established on social media. A short time later this new effort, now named ARC media, was serving daily social media and marketing content – among many other services – for almost thirty different #RuralElectric cooperatives in Missouri. When the decision was made to accept a competitors purchase offer, ARC media was serving the national association, fourteen state associations, and nearly 200 individual electric cooperatives with daily social media content, advocacy and grassroots campaigns, and paid advertising in every part of America.
The Rural Agency
At the heart of Gus Wagner’s work is a genuine passion for rural America and rural Americans. He believes in the potential of rural communities to thrive and prosper, and he dedicates his business efforts to making that vision a reality in association with clients and colleagues. His personal philosophy centers around the idea that effective communication and innovative marketing can drive positive change in rural areas, enhancing the quality of life for residents and supporting local economies.
To better serve rural clients, and those who wish to honestly communicate within rural America, The Rural Agency was established in 2023 to direct the decades of marketing skills within the team of The Rocket Group for rural-based clients. The Rural Agency focuses on creating true and effective marketing on behalf of businesses, cooperatives, and publications in rural America and connecting the world with the awesome opportunities within rural America.
Conclusion
Gus Wagner’s personal and professional journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to rural America, agriculture, and rural utilities. Through his work with The Rocket Group and his advocacy efforts, he continues to make a significant impact on rural communities, helping them navigate the challenges of the modern world while preserving their unique way of life. His dedication and expertise have earned him a respected place in the world of marketing, and his contributions will undoubtedly continue to benefit rural America, and America, for years to come.