Meet Cody, He's Been Around For Awhile
Hey world! Elaina here. It is with great pleasure that I get to introduce to you the backbone of our organization: Cody Eastlick.
All of us at Helix have a deep respect and admiration for Cody— but it’s not because Cody can analze and strategize an SEO plan like a wizard. And it’s not because Cody is incredible at writing copy that provokes me (co-copywriter here!) to say, “Damn! That’s good!”, out loud, on a weekly basis.
No, no.
I mean those things do, by definition, make him really good at his job.
But Cody brings so much more to the table.
It’s the way Cody is always willing to help anyone out in any department. It’s the way he says, “I will figure this out!”, and his gentle approach to teaching people and leading by example. You can count on Cody to do anything, and if he doesn’t know how, he will find a way. The man will not be outdone or out-worked.
THAT is what makes Cody an amazing colleague and just an over-all stand up dude.
So without further adieu, Cody Eastlick, ya’ll:
Where are you from?
I am from Platteville, WI, but I have lived the majority of my life here in the Valley of the Sun.
How did you find your way to digital marketing?
Man, lemme think back. I was finishing up an English degree, watching Mad Men (still am, just restarted the series. This time I’ll finish it!) and realized that it was a career. So I looked for any internships I could find where I’d actually use my degree. Found a copywriting internship here at Helix House and it just kind of went from there!
You’re the vet here at the agency, going on 7 years, right? What is something that you’ve learned at Helix that has impacted your life outside of work?
That’s a big one. Yeah, I’ve been around for six and a half years so far. I mean, like anything when you learn how the sausage is made, you start understanding it elsewhere, so to speak. So understanding advertising and marketing has helped me better navigate the digital world.
Also, something like 6 years ago, Nathan told me to “strike while the iron was hot,” and now I am engaged to the love of my life. So that was a big impact, lemme tell ya.
What project are you most proud of and why?
Man, there has been a lot of work in six years. I really am proud of some of the work we’ve put out for Nature’s Medicines. It’s always great when you have a client whose brand is so fun to work with and you dig their vibe (and their products).
If you were a mythological creature, what would you be?
What would I be or what would I want to be? I would be some sort of Sasquatch, I’m certain. Just a big, hairy forest man.
We know you’re super into Dungeons and Dragons. How did you get into it and why do you love it so much?
I first played D&D back in 2000, in 3rd edition. I bounced around a few different systems until I fell off the hobby a bit in college and then came back to D&D with 5e. My soon-to-be brother-in-law asked if I would run a game for him sometime. We made a group and have been playing almost weekly ever since. Wow, that’s going on… almost eight years now!
It’s an adventure! I love fantasy and have always had an overactive imagination which makes the creative, collaborative worldbuilding and storytelling of RPGs just the exact type of fuel for my brain. My fiance and I always joke that I am sustained off D & D. When we’re playing a long session, I can go for hours without eating, just rolling dice, improving stories, and inhabiting monsters.
You always seem to have your head in a book. What have you been reading lately?
I am almost always reading three or four books at a time. Right now, I am reading Space Wolf (a Warhammer 40,000 (another big nerd game I’m into)), Sacrosanct & Other Stories (a short story collection for Warhammer Age of Sigmar (you guessed it, another game), Arts & Arcana - A Visual History of Dungeons & Dragons, and I just finished Star Wars: The Rising Storm literally right before answering these. I have been on a big kick of what I call “popcorn fantasy and sci-fi” lately. Stuff that entertains and goes down quick and easy, though they might not have much depth. I’m sure I’m forgetting something I’m reading.
Who or what inspires you?
The things that inspire me the most frequently are the athletes I follow. Whether they’re jiu-jitsu practitioners, my coaches, powerlifters, or Arnold Schwarzenegger himself – these are the people that inspire me to push harder, work harder, do better. While those things mostly apply to physical sports and activity, that discipline bleeds over into how I approach work, at least on the good days.
Authors are the other big source of inspiration – or I should say storytellers of all stripes. Whether they’re writing novels, creating podcasts, or designing great role playing games, it all get’s me amped!!
You’re big on Halloween. What is the best Halloween costume you ever wore?
Love a good Halloween! I’ve had a few costumes I’m proud of lately. My fiance and I have been killing it in couples' costumes lately. We had Hopper and Joyce from Stranger Things, Dr. Grant and a T-Rex from Jurassic Park. Last year we did Nadja and Laszlo from What We Do In The Shadows. Great outfits one and all (and mostly figured out by Janna).
Last meal on earth — what would it be?
Damn! This might be impossible. Meat pies from this New Zealand restaurant? Steak from Durant’s? Just a big pot of mac and cheese? Chicken Tikka Masala? I won’t choose and you can’t make me!
What ONE thing do you want everyone to know about YOU?
I always try my best to be as helpful as I can.
