“It invigorates me to see quantifiable results from our work with clients. It is so rewarding to help clients meet – and in many cases exceed – their revenue goals. At PSM we have a philosophy we stick to: strategy before tactics. It works every time!”
Terrie: Founder & President
In 1997, Terrie Wheeler considered her future and made the life-changing decision to leave her job as a law firm marketing director and start her own company.
“I decided rather than finding another job, because I had already worked in three law large, prestigious law firms, I wanted to spread my entrepreneurial wings and start my own marketing company,” Terrie says.
Today, 25 years later, PSM Marketing (PSM) has a strong reputation for delivering effective outsourced marketing department services to law firms and many other industries, and personal coaching to professionals responsible for revenue generation.
Relationships that Work
President and Founder of PSM, Terrie attributes the company’s success to a dedicated, fabulous and diverse client service team, and dozens of equally awesome clients. PSM’s emphasis on relationships—both internally and with clients—has created an environment of long-term retention of resources, highly-satisfied clients, and remarkable growth.
Terrie believes that positive interaction with clients and her team translates to better results for everyone. In fact, good working relationships are so important to PSM that the company has criteria for deciding who to work with.
“I wanted clients who were going to be the best fit for PSM not just generate a lot of revenue. So, I came up with my A-Level Client Criteria and have focused every day since on attracting clients I like, trust, and respect, and where the feeling is mutual,” says Terrie.
Building on a Foundation of Experience
Prior to founding PSM, Terrie served in the senior marketing role for three of Minnesota’s largest law firms. This practical experience, combined with a master’s degree in business from the University of St. Thomas, and years teaching marketing at law schools across Minnesota, has given Terrie a holistic perspective on legal marketing, and marketing professional services firms.
Ethical Marketing Strategies
Her dynamic personality and breadth of experience have also made Terrie highly effective at educating lawyers on the ethics of marketing a law practice. For over 10 years, she served as an investigator and as a Minnesota Supreme Court-Appointed Member of the Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility, and in 2017, received the Volunteer of the Year award.
Thought Leadership Through Writing
Terrie is also a prolific writer and has written a nationally syndicated column for Attorney at Law Magazine, and a bi-monthly column for the American bar Association’s GP / Solo eReport. She also produces a steady stream of blog posts for the PSM website. Terrie also published an eBook on Law Firm Marketing Strategy: A Complete Guide to Grow your Practice.
It’s a Family Business Focused on Balance
With a business built on positive relationships and shared values, work-life balance comes naturally. In fact, Terrie’s talented daughter Michelle is her business partner! And with such a skilled and dedicated support team, Terrie doesn’t have to choose work over life, or vice versa; she has ample time for everything she considers important and meaningful.
Finding a Place in the Sun
You can often find Terrie snowshoeing or communing with nature on her 40 acres of wooded paradise just an hour north of the Twin Cities. An avid downhill skier, she learned the art of ballet skiing (ice dancing on skis) to counter the short ski runs in Minnesota. When a break is needed from the northland’s cold, Terrie and her husband of 34 years—Jim—try to hit a Caribbean beach now and again for the warm sun and the opportunity to bond with fish through her goggles and snorkel.
Whether spending time with Jim, playing with her five grandchildren, delivering results-driven marketing services to clients, or advocating for causes important to her (namely LGBTQ+ rights and the support of Minority and Women Owned Businesses), Terrie doesn’t need to sacrifice one aspect of her life in favor of another.
“What’s that phrase? ‘If you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life,’ right?”
- Master of Arts Degree, summa cum laude, Business Communications, Graduate School of Business, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Master of Arts Certificate in Public Relations, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Bachelor of Arts Degree, magna cum laude, Organizational Management and Communications, Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota
Now Available for FREE: Law Firm Marketing Strategy: A Complete Guide to Grow Your Practice
Didn’t learn how to market your practice in law school? Looking for a hands-on primer to market yourself and your law firm? PSM founder and president, Terrie S. Wheeler, MBC, created a FREE guide for attorneys titled, Law Firm Marketing Strategy: A Complete Guide to Grow Your Practice. Learn from a seasoned law firm marketing expert what you need to know to grow your practice!
Columnist for the ABA’s GP | Solo eReport
Terrie writes a bi-monthly column for the 110,000 readers of the American Bar Association’s General Practice and Solo Practitioner section. Terrie focuses her writing on providing pragmatic, action-oriented ideas for lawyers who want to succeed in marketing.
Terrie is a nationally syndicated columnist for Attorney at Law Magazine
Her articles are published in 22 markets across the country, with the most popular being: Minnesota | Phoenix, AZ | Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | Atlanta, GA | Kentucky | St. Louis, MI North Carolina | Salt Lake City, UT
View all Terrie’s Attorney at Law Article Archive or read her additional Legal Industry Articles.
Terrie is actively involved in helping educate lawyers on the ethics of marketing a law practice. Her involvement includes:
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- Vice Chair, Executive Committee, Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility, May 2016 – January 2018
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- Chair, District Ethics Committee (DEC), Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility, January 2016 – January 2018
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- Minnesota Supreme Court-Appointed Member, Search Committee for the Director, Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, 2015 – 2016
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- Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility, 2011 – January 2018
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- Investigator and Screening Committee Member, Hennepin County Bar Association Fourth District Ethics Committee, served for four years
- Past Chair, Minnesota State Bar Association’s Marketing and Client Service Section, served for two years
Being able to help prepare new lawyers for life in private practice motivates and inspires Terrie. She is currently teaching marketing and client service at three law schools:
- The University of St. Thomas Law School, Adjunct Faculty Member, presenting marketing and client service programming for third year law students, 2012 – present
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Adjunct Faculty Member, The Business of Lawyering course, 2012 – present
- The University of St. Thomas Law School, CLE Presenter, created a four-part marketing program on marketing best practices for lawyers, 2014 – 2015
- Marquette University Law School, Guest speaker, Ethical Marketing Strategies for New Lawyers, 2014 – present
Terrie’s teaching methods for marketing were also featured in Donald M. Lewis’s article entitled, “Teaching for Success: The Business of Lawyering,” Law Practice Magazine, American Bar Association, January/February 2014.
What Clients Say About Terrie…
Thank you, Terrie! I realized this morning that I WILL be successful because I have you helping with my marketing; something I did not have when I went out on my own the first time or at my current firm. THANK YOU, for putting my mind at ease!
Terrie takes a lifetime of experience to take your business to the next level. This group truly cares about the success of their clients and after working with them you will have made new friends too!
Terrie has helped me focus my marketing to take my business to the next level. She is both professional and knowledgeable. I feel so fortunate to work with her. Most importantly, she genuinely cares about her clients. Thank you, Terrie!
You are the best marketing coach in the world, Terrie. Thank you for all you are doing to help me build my practice!!
PSM, and Terrie Wheeler in particular, are responsive, creative, and truly understand and then partner with their clients to develop and execute a state-of-the art marketing and communications strategy, all while being very cost-sensitive.
I have really enjoyed working with Terrie and developing my marketing skills. Good job. By the way, who does your legal work?
You are the best marketing coach in the world, Terrie. Thank you for all you are doing to help me build my practice!!
I began working with Terrie Wheeler at PSM when my law practice was already busy and doing well. I wanted to keep the momentum of my firm going and grow what I already had, which was a dynamic, busy divorce and family law practice. Terrie continues to help me grow my firm by providing positive, practical coaching to help me reach my goals. Whether you are starting out or an experienced attorney whose law practice is doing well, PSM’s law firm marketing services will add value to your business.
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