About Us

Sue Dobbe-Leahy

Leveraging a legacy of strategic branding and marketing communications since 1989, Sue Dobbe-Leahy is a master of marketing trades and facilitator extraordinaire. Collaborating with a diverse team of talent to perform the precise combinations in each unique situation, Sue has the knack of gleaning what’s relevant. A knack honed over 30 years of successful marketing research, strategic development and branding implementation.

Communications strategist and content specialist, Sue distills the message into concise, relevant copy to capture the audience. Not just making noise, but making RESULTS!

Established expertise in public relations, web copy, image and brand projections, Sue helps clients delve into their strengths and craft compelling message, ads, scripts and posts.

Clients span the spectrum from business-to-business, government, nonprofit, academia, retail and professional services.

Dobbe Marketing has maintained relationships with clients and vendors for 5, 10, and even 25 years! From local mental health services, engineering and municipality marketing programs to national campaigns for temporary housing, potty training toys and digital traffic measurement, interpreting what is great about each client to their customer is a privilege and a joy!

Call on Dobbe Marketing for a deep bench of experience in branding, strategic marketing, key messaging and mind-boggling results.

Beyond for-profit marketing services, Sue Dobbe-Leahy is a leader, consultant, coach and collaborator willing to serve her community and world with passion.

Each month, Sue leads two Business Women Round Table groups which meet monthly through McHenry County College Small Business Development Center. She provides consultation to SBDC clients on marketing strategy, business development and communications.

Deeply involved in the Downtown Crystal Lake Main Street, Sue served two terms as president of the organization and leads the Marketing Committee. Member of the Crystal Lake Chamber, she was on the board of directors for 8 years and continues to be active. McHenry Chamber of Commerce membership resulted in serving as Membership Director as well as creating the current chamber brand image.

McHenry County Economic Development Corporation investor, Dobbe Marketing and Sue Dobbe-Leahy have been instrumental in the creation and ongoing presentation of the annual Business Champions Awards since 2008. Sue was a board member for MCEDC for 8 years as well as involved in the marketing committee.

Rotary Club of Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers is Sue Dobbe-Leahy’s club since 2004. She has served in various leadership positions including president of the club from 2009-2010. Rotary offered several trips to Sue. She has attended Rotary International Conventions in New Orleans, Birmingham England and visited clubs in many states and countries.

In community service, Sue Dobbe-Leahy has crafted and executed many pro bono projects in marketing, written hundreds of press releases, hosted and served as master of ceremony at events and enjoyed every moment in Service Above Self.

A lifetime resident of Illinois, Sue Dobbe-Leahy enjoys sailing, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and getting outdoors as often as possible. She is mother to two, step-mom to two and grandma to three. Her husband, Tom Leahy is her constant companion who shares her love of outdoors and travel. They are always planning their next getaway!


Morgan Leahy

We partner to ultimately produce not a strategy, a design, nor a campaign; but rather a business outcome. Equally interested in business and technology problems, Morgan helps organizations find ways to serve clientele more efficiently and fund growth through business results. While the cost of technology continuously falls, solution paths proliferate and confuse. He helps clients clarify strategy and uncover, navigate and execute solutions.

He founded his digital consulting agency after leaving his role in product design engineering at Procter & Gamble, earning an MBA from Chicago Booth and co-founding an enterprise SaaS startup in Chicago. He has partnered with agencies, business owners and startups to create digital commerce platforms and campaigns.

Morgan has been invited to create speaking and training events on web and digital marketing topics to various Chicago forums, including Freelancers Union Spark Chicago, State Farm Next Door Chicago and the WordPress Meetup Group of Chicago.

A member of the Dobbe Marketing team for several years, Morgan has been involved in projects such as NAMI McHenry County, Substance Abuse Coalition of McHenry County, Gallant Building Solutions, Father Jim Talks, American Legion Post 171, VFW McHenry, Trinity Wilmette and Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs.

Morgan’s creative services include:

  • Strategic road mapping
  • Business analysis
  • Web design
  • eMail campaign automation
  • Social ad campaigns
  • Search ad campaigns
  • Web development
  • A/B testing
  • Analytics configuration and reporting

Gail Straus

“Build it and they will come” is often mistaken for a marketing strategy rather than a line from a movie. With more than 40 years of institution and agency-based experience serving business to-business, nonprofits and consumer companies, Gail Straus understands the difference.

Effective communications begin by listening to both organizational stakeholders and their valued audience members.

Bringing the voice of clients to the conversation challenges internal hypotheses and breaks the “we’ve always done it this way” cycle.

Spanning a career of nearly 50 years, Gail has worked largely in the nonprofit sector. Her work in marketing and marketing research has addressed overall organizational needs as well as specific focus on audience development and fundraising. Gail’s clients have included large public universities and small colleges, independent schools, professional associations, social service organizations and government agencies.

Gail has also served several organizations as a senior volunteer with the Taproot Foundation with clients including Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook, Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley, and DuPage PADs. Gail current serves on the Development Committee as a Board member with the IMD Guest House Foundation.

As a long-standing member of the Dobbe Marketing team, Gail contributed to projects including the McHenry Mental Health Board, Trinity Wilmette, Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs, Professional Wealth Advisors, LLC, Pioneer Center and Gewalt Hamilton & Associates.