There are a lot of updates to cover in this new faces post, so let’s get to it…

Julia Doria recently joined Phenomblue as our director of client services. With more than eight years of industry experience, Julia most recently served as an account director at Bailey Lauerman, where she counseled national brands including AMC Theatres, the Toro Corporation and Cargill. She will continue to build the agency’s client services team, in addition to leading several key client relationships. A two-time Effie award winner and a 2011 Creative Media Award winner, Julia brings extensive experience in brand development and management, strategic planning and a keen focus on using technology to help drive client’s business objectives. When she’s not busy problem solving, Julia loves playing beach volleyball, chasing her baby girl and tackling DIY home projects.

As our new vice president of engagement, Deb Lammel is passionate about the opportunity to create sustainable value for our clients by connecting brand experiences and technological solutions. While collaborating with our multi-disciplinary teams, she’ll work to identify and develop new business opportunities while leading the engagement team to achieve Phenomblue’s aggressive growth objectives. Deb joins Phenomblue from West Corporation, where she served as director of business development responsible for selling, retaining and growing West’s business solutions to C-suite executives of Fortune 500 corporations. Prior to West, Deb served in numerous leadership positions for Omnium Worldwide, Inc., including VP of Business Development and Director of Marketing. A former Walt Disney World intern, Deb continues to live by the creed of the mouse.

Kt McBratney has spent a decade in the advertising trenches – and nearly four of those have been spent here at Phenomblue. That’s right, Kt isn’t a new hire – she’s our new vice president and general manager at Phenomblue LA. From creative to in-house strategy to public relations for corporations, not-for-profits and agencies, Kt also built the production, QA and client services arms at Phenomblue. We look forward to watching her obsession with detail and addiction to quality play a huge role in managing the LA office and West Coast operations. Kt is a firm believer in exceeding expectations and proof in results – she’s also looking forward to escaping Midwestern winters.

As our new content strategist, Tom McCauley will be copywriting and producing content for clients and the agency alike. In his free time, he writes poetry and creative nonfiction, edits the literary journal Strange Machine, curates the Strange Machine reading series and plays guitar for the Answer Team, an instrumental post-rock band. Additionally, Tom volunteers at the Literacy Center for the Midlands, helping adults attain basic reading skills. This fall, he will begin teaching a creative writing class for at-risk middle school youth in North Omaha. Previously Tom worked at the City of Omaha Mayor’s Office, moving from intern to Communications Assistant to Grant Writer with the awkward grace of a poet. He has also worked as a freelance copywriter for local and national ad agencies. His poems have been published in The Oyez Review and Leveler Poetry, and his work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. His favorite kind of sleep is coffee.

Andrew Osborn comes to us as senior designer, graphic and motion. He specializes in ideation, problem solving, concept development, design strategy, branding, art direction and visual design. Andrew’s work has received recognition on the local and national level. Prior to joining Phenomblue, Andrew worked at the New BLK as an art director and creative, contributing his skills to campaigns for Lucky Bucket Brewing Co. and the first national fundraising campaign for stem cell research at the University of California. Additionally, Andrew worked for a South Dakota-based branding and creative agency – Fresh Produce, where he grew his position from intern to art director.

Shannon Wallace, director of strategy, joins Phenomblue from her previous role as chief media strategist for Media W, a media planning and buying agency. Shannon will work within our Strategy group, determining how to best reach desired audiences in order to fulfill our clients’ business goals. She’ll develop the appropriate metrics, and interpret insights to optimize programs. Working closely with our other groups, Shannon will ensure paid media campaigns work in conjunction with other marketing communication efforts. When not at the office, Shannon is with her son and fiancé at baseball games and watching super hero movies. She also surfs and travels around the world to build houses for Habitat for Humanity.

We’re excited to welcome all our new faces to the Phenomblue family and congratulate Kt on her promotion and move to Phenomblue LA!