Long-Term Vision, Tangible Moments, and the Power of Perspective: Getting to Know Chief Strategy Officer Jack Burris

Whether he’s leading our Research division, shaping our Events strategy, or bringing new energy to our clients’ brand visions, Jack Burris is a constant defender of big-picture strategy. Formerly the owner of 54 Brands before joining Buffalo Groupe, Jack brings an entrepreneurial, “think-like-a-client” mindset to everything he touches. We sat down with Jack to talk about his new role as Chief Strategy Officer, how data fuels creative, his favorite live event experiences, and what inspires his work every day.

Q: As Buffalo’s new Chief Strategy Officer, what does “great strategy” look like for our clients as we look toward 2027 and beyond?

Jack: I always go back to a simple rule: be long-term focused, but short-term capable. So often, both agencies and clients get caught up in “What do we need to do today?” or “What’s the next deadline on the calendar?” But great strategy requires taking a step back to ask: Where does this business need to be five or ten years from now, and what are the micro-steps we need to take today to get there?

At Buffalo, that means continuing to level up our research, integrating data across every client service, and constantly bringing fresh, bold creative ideas that help our clients sell more of whatever they make.

Q: You’ve worn a lot of hats here—including leading our Research division and overseeing Events. How do data, physical experiences, and creative strategy connect?

Jack: Whenever a client wants to run a research study, I always ask two questions:

1. What do you want to learn?
2. What are you actually prepared to do with the data once you get it?

Research should never be done just to check a box or validate what you already hope is true. It’s the baseline that informs the creative process. Once you have real data, creative strategy becomes the connector—whether you’re launching a digital media campaign or building an in-person event activation. Creative is the heart of it all.

Q: Before joining Buffalo, you were the owner of 54 Brands and have started, owned, and invested in several other companies. How does that founder mindset shape your approach to strategy today?

Jack: Having been a business owner and investor, it gives me a distinct perspective as an agency leader that ties directly into one of our core Buffalo mantras: Think like a client.

Thinking like a client doesn’t just mean guessing how they’ll react to a presentation. It means being just as smart about their products, goals, and challenges as they are—and spending their dollars as if it were our own money. When you operate that way, you become a true partner. If you’re just checking boxes, you become dispensable.

Q: Events are high-touch and experiential. What is one trend or concept in live events that more brands should be tapping into?

Jack: Creating tangible, lasting memories. If you close your eyes and think about the most impactful moments of your life, chances are you were at an event or an experience with other people.

That’s what gets me so excited about the work we do with clients like the USTA. When we bring tennis activations to life in the community, it’s not just about promoting a sport. Research shows active tennis play can add up to almost 10 years to someone’s life! When you watch someone pick up a racquet, smile, and have fun in real life, you’re creating a tangible memory they take home. In a world full of AI and screen time, there is nothing better than doing something real with other people.

Q: When you need to step away from spreadsheets and strategy decks to get inspired, where do you turn?

Jack: I love to stay active—F45 workouts, golf, tennis, or anything outdoors. Music is also huge for me; I’ll go to almost any live concert (I saw my first Widespread Panic show back in 1992!).

Outside of that, traveling with my family, going to my kids’ soccer games and ballet recitals, or just sitting down with my wife to enjoy a great glass of wine.

Q: Living in North Carolina, what’s your ultimate local spot to clear your head?

Jack: Asheville. Our family spends a lot of time up there at a club we belong to—it’s only about a two-hour drive for us. Seeing the town bounce back with so much vibrancy and resilience after Hurricane Helene has been incredible to watch. It’s an amazing place to play a round of golf, clear your head, and spend quality time with family.

Q: What’s your favorite recurring sporting event?

Jack: It’s a tie between the Masters and the US Open Tennis. The Masters is one of the top golf experiences. But the US Open Tennis is incredible in a totally unique way—I mean, name another major sporting event where Fan Week during the first week is completely free to attend! The food, the energy, the fan village, and the tennis are world-class.

Q: If you left for vacation tomorrow, what book is in your bag?

Jack: I’ve been alternating between fiction and non-fiction lately. Right now, I’m revisiting a high school classic—Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. On the flip side, I’m also reading Danny McBride’s collection of short stories, The Thrilling Tales of Modern Men. It’s hilarious, light, and very entertaining.

Q: If you could take on any fictional movie job, whose would it be?

Jack: Tom Cruise’s role as the lawyer in A Few Good Men. That courtroom scene where he’s cross-examining Jack Nicholson is absolute perfection—laser-focused, intense, and asking the hard questions with total composure.

Q: Out of Buffalo’s three core values—Kindness, Clarity, and Courage—which one resonates most with you?

Jack: Clarity. My uncle once told me: “It’s good to have strongly held opinions that are concisely stated.”

To have true clarity, you have to spend the time thinking through an idea so thoroughly that you can defend it with confidence. It means operating with intention rather than just reacting.

Q: What’s the single best piece of advice you’d offer to young strategists looking to drive an impact?

Jack: Don’t just bring options—bring a perspective.

Anyone can shuttle options back and forth. But whether you’re presenting creative concepts to a client or reviewing research data, don’t just show the choices—tell people what you think and why. Even if the client chooses a different path, having a clear point of view shows you’ve put in the work to think critically about their business.