An Agency Focused on Pushing Boundaries
Mission- and member-driven organizations need strategic and creative thinking to navigate new challenges and ambitious goals.
After 16 years of working with mission- and member-driven organizations, we deeply understand your challenges and goals, and how insightful strategy and memorable creative can help create more impact. Beyond Definition exists to further your mission.
We offer a full range of services, including:
- Diagnostics and discovery
- Brand development and implementation
- Marketing strategy and campaigns
- Creative and interactive
We break through boundaries and move your mission forward.
Since 2003, we've worked with over
200
clients to build brands, connect with members and audiences,
and create impact.
History & Leadership
As Beyond Definition, we've served associations, foundations, and nonprofits for 16 years. We've always been passionate thinkers and doers who deliver beyond what our clients imagine is possible in a collaborative agency relationship.
Debbie Bates-Schrott
Founder & CEO
Outspoken Industry force, strategic design theorist and entrepreneur Debbie Bates-Schrott leads Beyond Definition (formerly Bates Creative) as Founder and CEO for over 16 years. With her 25+ years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, major associations, large scale nonprofits, and other high profile mission-based organizations, her visionary perspective on what next in marketing, brand strategy, and design philosophy is stronger than ever and has captivated audiences from the main stage at Adobe, American Marketing Association and Association Media and Publishing. After starting Bates Creative—a WBENC and WOSB certified agency—in 2003, Debbie has led her team to winning over 200 design and creative strategy awards including the prestigious FOLIO: Top Women in Media award for her achievements as a leader.
Other speaking engagements featured clients like The National Association of Convenient Stores, The National Business Aviation Association, Heifer International, and The Air Force Association. Debbie has served on numerous boards, including Chief Creative Officer for the DC Chapter of the American Marketing Association, Association Media and Publishing, International Association of Business Communicators, and Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington.
Mark DeVito
President
In Mark’s 20+ years of leading brand-centric campaigns and creative content strategies, his reputation as a sharp-meets-savvy force is stronger than ever. As President of Beyond Definition, formerly Bates Creative, Mark brings his unique expertise, strategic thinking and creative cohesion to our client’s challenges by guiding our team to translate relevant data into memorable experiences.
What separates Mark from other industry leaders is his ability to listen—listen to a client’s goals, a brand’s differentiating purpose and what the market demands. With this, he has created successful experiences for brands, including: Intel, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, The National Geographic Channel, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Raytheon.
Prior to joining Bates Creative, Mark has launched a branding agency in Washington, D.C., The Gigawatt Group, and WPP global advertising firm, Proof Integrated Communications, based in NYC/DC. He is also a three-time Emmy-award winning creative director for programming featured on A&E, PBS, and ZDTV. Mark’s enthusiasm for the industry has reached classrooms at American University and speaking engagements across the country. Additionally, Mark currently sits on the Board of Directors for the American Marketing Association, D.C. Chapter.
Our Team
We're a team of 25+ strategic and creative experts based in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.
Our team is passionate about creating powerful work in support of powerful missions. We celebrate diversity and value equity and inclusion on our team and with our clients, and offer a flexible, creative, and collaborative work environment. We are Beyond Definition.
Interested in joining
Beyond Definition?
We're a tight-knit team that's passionate about creating inspiring work.
Sound like a dream job? Then let's talk!
Send your resume to careers@beyond-definition.com.
Beyond Definition welcomes people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are a proud WBENC and WOSB-certified woman-owned business.