Watch the full conversation here:
https://shrimptankpodcast.com/ep-61-doug-burton-head-coach-of-vsg-marketing/
Show Details:
Doug Burton is the founder and Head Coach of VSG Marketing. VSG is a full service marketing agency headquartered in Tacoma, WA. VSG was founded in 2003. Prior to that, Doug served as the Executive Manager of a large retail organization. Doug attended Pacific Lutheran University from 1989 – 1992 earning his Bachelor of Arts degree.
While at PLU, Doug had a successful athletic career as a part of a national championship caliber football team. In his junior season, he played on the 1991 National Championship Runner-Up team. As a senior, Doug was a Team Captain and won both the Coach’s Award and the Captain’s Award in recognition of his leadership contributions. He was an All-Conference Tight End in the Northwest Conference in both the 1991 & 1992 seasons and was also selected to the All Northwest Team as a Tight End for the 1992 season. Doug had the opportunity to travel overseas as a player for PLU Football China Tour. He was on the field for the first American Football game ever played on Chinese soil. In 1992, Doug traveled to Germany with the PLU team and scored the opening touchdown in a benefit game for UNICEF.
Doug credits much of his athletic and business success to significant mentors in his life. While playing college football for legendary Coach Frosty Westering, Doug developed many of his business and coaching philosophies. Frosty’s “Make The Big Time Where You Are” philosophy of peak performance allowed him to play at a high level and really “Enjoy the Trip” of college athletics and life in general. Doug still models his business after the Frosty philosophy and even considers himself the Head Coach of his organization. “Hey Frosty, Go Frosty, Attaway!” Doug considers his Father & former football coach, Ed Burton, his hero. Nobody has a bigger heart for kids than Ed Burton, and he has simply given his life away to serve others. Doug learned discipline, work ethic, perseverance and toughness from his father and owes so much to this amazing friend and mentor. “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!” A plaque above his mother Penny Burton’s desk with this quote says so much about who she is and what she passed on to Doug. “My Mom is really the tough one in the family,” credits Doug.
In 2003, Doug created Vision Service Group (VSG) in order to pursue his passion for marketing & technology. Today, VSG is a leader in providing professional marketing, consultation and technology solutions to companies of all sizes and industries. In his business career, Doug has served on numerous boards including the Northwest Chevrolet Dealers Steering Committee, Goodwill & Youth For Christ. Doug was a Business Examiner 40 under 40 Honoree and his organization, VSG, was awarded the South Sound “Top Places to Work” Winner in the small to medium business category. VSG has also been nominated for the South Sound Fastest Growing Companies Award and the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber’s New Tacoma Award for the revitalization of Downtown Tacoma.
While at PLU, Doug met Kristi, his wife of 25 years. Doug & Kristi live in University Place, WA, with their four children. As Coach Frosty would say and Doug carries on the tradition, “Make it a great day!”
