It’s what we do – because we love our work and because you’re counting on us. Meet the innovators that have created more than 200+ successful community brand outcomes. They are not freelancers. We are a fully integrated organization of multi-disciplinary place branding and marketing professionals.
Creativity, bravery, strategic wizardry and relentless drive. These are the requirements for starting your own community branding agency. Don puts all of these attributes to work for clients every day. After a long, rewarding career dotted with high-profile clients and recognition in the form of Clios and Effies, his crowning achievement is North Star. For the last two decades, he and his team have helped nearly 200 communities in 44 states with integrity, tenacity and heart. And with Don leading the charge, that’s exactly what all North Star clients can expect from us, no matter the size of their place or branding challenge. When he isn’t hunting for the next big idea, you can find Don fishing for the legendary Big One or spending time with his family.
Pride. Spirit. Essence. When it comes to discovering all the things that make a place a community, Will has a keen ability to suss out that what makes each place a distinct one to call home. From our Jacksonville office, he manages North Star operations guided by nearly 30 years of experience in marketing. His focus — and passion — lies in community branding and economic development. Will has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders in creating meaningful branding that brings community-wide visions to life. Along the way, he’s also advised Fortune 1000 companies to solve unique branding challenges with messaging that drives action. When he isn’t exploring new territory for clients, he does it for fun and brings his family along for the ride.
A true Renaissance man, Patrick’s interests couldn’t align more perfectly with what’s required to create brands that capture the true essence of a community — architecture, history and the love of a good story. His appreciation for such things is evident in his overflowing awards cabinet, which includes dozens of ADDYs and an Effie. As the brain trust behind all creative marketing for North Star, Patrick has the keen ability to lead our team in the creation of logos, straplines, ads and narratives that evoke authenticity for every destination we champion. For Patrick, travel is as essential as oxygen. You can always find him ready for the next journey, armed with his backpack, camera and sketchbook. When he sits still long enough, Patrick uses paint to express his experiences, with works gracing our office walls as well as exhibitions.
Avid curiosity. For some, it’s a personality trait. For Anita, it’s the hard-wired need to go beyond face value on any piece of information. What’s the meaning? What’s the origin? What’s behind the curtain? Her inquisitive nature — combined with an attention for detail that’s like a sixth sense — lead to a competitive advantage for all North Star clients. Anita’s psychology background, consumer marketing experience and desire to “uncover the why” help us dig deeper than most place marketing firms would to reveal what truly resonates. When she isn’t applying her curiosity to develop strategic foundations or bring big ideas to life, she can be found exploring various wine growing regions with her husband.
With 25 years in marketing and operations, Mark is our go-to guy for streamlining the processes that help us produce great work for each and every place we represent. His rich background spans Fortune 1000 companies and global leaders like FedEx. Much like his affinity for making music, Mark applies the same commitment and perfectionism to creating an excellent return and results for our agency and our clients. When he isn’t focused on improving operations for clients or playing guitar for intimate audiences, he enjoys spending time with his family. With an MBA from Vanderbilt, Mark never takes his eye off the bottom line while shaping the policies that impact our clients’ successes, too.
A triple-threat of attention to detail, quick wit and boundless analytical skills, Roberto brings the Swiss-Army-knife versatility our clients have come to appreciate. Part writer, part marketer and researcher to the core, he doesn’t come up for air until he has the right words and numbers to vividly depict what makes a place remarkable. He’s focused on discovering more than trivia tidbits — like community voice and character that cannot be fabricated. When Roberto isn’t finding facts that add up to a better destination story, he takes in baseball games in Nashville and pilgrimages to Wrigley Field (where he keeps close tabs on his beloved Cubs’ RBIs).
Organized. Efficient. Relationship-oriented. Sam is well-versed and familiar with what it takes to create and execute an impactful brand. Born and raised in Idaho and calling a few states home, Sam understands what separates great communities from good ones. Entranced by the allure of warmer weather and year-round golf he now calls Florida home. Throughout his career, Sam has worked on a full breadth of clients and industries ranging from sports and entertainment, automotive, healthcare, tech, education and even an NBA team. As a highly disciplined account leader with an attempt at creativity, Sam helps develop the strategies and messages to make that needle move. When he isn’t helping the team make cool things, you can find Sam with his family outdoors — where good things grow.
While a Florida native, Tyler’s career and curiosity often takes him well beyond state lines. From supporting economic development projects to managing community initiatives across the U.S. and beyond, Tyler brings a wealth of experience in public relations, content creation and social media management to our team. Whether it’s developing the positioning for a place marketing campaign or navigating complex, multi-layered local issues, his integrated mindset ensures we approach each project holistically, considering all perspectives and opportunities. As an avid and steadfast Jacksonville Jaguars fan, Tyler takes time away from the office to venture into a couple away stadiums in his teal and black each year – from New York, Houston, Nashville, Seattle, and more.
Angela is a “place kind of person,” immersing herself in the soul of a community to help craft a distinctive brand. The places she’s called home include her birthplace of small-town Colorado, the island of Oahu in Hawaii, and Upstate New York. She has over a decade of experience in marketing, communications, and branding; previous clients include a Fortune 500 fintech company, a contemporary women’s fashion label, and a national chain of fitness clubs. Her expertise is the intersection of data and creativity, and building out strong strategies that are rooted in research. When she’s away from the office, she’s most likely adding stamps to her passport—she is a “place kind of person,” after all.
Originally from Los Angeles, Mellisa made Jacksonville her home, earning a degree in public relations and communications with a minor in marketing from the University of North Florida. Over the years, she has watched the city evolve, finding joy in uncovering the rich history, distinct character, and vibrant people that give a place its soul. For Mellisa, great storytelling isn’t just about visibility—it’s about capturing a place’s essence, cultivating pride, and forging connections that extend beyond its borders. When she’s not helping clients bring their stories to life, you’ll find her exploring Jacksonville’s latest hotspots, discovering hidden gems, or making memories with family and friends.
Perseverance, dependability and teamwork. These are the skills Jordan is known to exhibit in everything he does. A Jacksonville native but no stranger to small-town America, he understands that a brand sends a powerful message about who and what you are, and what sets you apart from the competition. With over six years’ experience in creative solutions and project management, Jordan works relentlessly to produce impactful creative and strategies that lead communities toward their preferred futures. When Jordan isn’t learning a new tool in Photoshop, you can find him on the soccer field with his friends or traveling with his wife exploring somewhere new.
Originally from just outside of New Orleans, Haley has spent most of her life right here in Jacksonville, Florida. Since high school she’s been on the fast track to jump straight into the bustling Advertising industry. Haley graduated from University of South Florida in 3 short years with her Bachelor’s in Advertising and soon after moved to Richmond, Virginia to obtain her Master’s in Art Direction from the renowned Brandcenter program. She firmly believes that nothing is out of reach when you have wit and determination at your disposal. When Haley isn’t diving in to figure out what makes our client communities tick, you can find her throwing tennis balls for her dogs or playing poker with friends and family.
Ayona was born, nurtured, and raised in Dallas, TX. After becoming a first-generation college graduate, Ayona went on to gain more than 15 years of experience leading and executing integrated marcomm, public relations, and digital + social media strategies with global agencies and corporations. During her career, Ayona has earned more than 500 million media impressions for clients in top national media outlets and blogs. She has been a featured speaker at the Greater Southwest Black Chamber of Commerce Women’s Conference, Mountain View College – Marketing & Social Media Small Business Lecture Series, and the Inaugural Young Women in Leadership Symposium at Southern Methodist University. Ayona enjoys spending her days outdoors, traveling, working out, and being a mom.
Fueled by a passion for journalism, Sydney brings creativity and excitement to developing content that brings North Star and our client’s social media handles to life. Born in Maryland and spent time in Pennsylvania before settling in Florida, Sydney has a passion for discovering what makes a place a community. Sydney’s copywriting, social media marketing and brand building experience pair nicely with our integrated team. When not focusing on our client’s social media efforts, you can find Sydney snapping photos or spending time on the beach.
Raised in the heartland of Florida and having spent her college years on the plains of Auburn, Alabama, Robin has a soft spot for small-town America. With an education in business marketing and intercultural communication, Robin brings a love of learning and a keen eye for detail to the North Star team. Well-traveled and well-versed in all-things-marketing — including graphic design, social media, and research — she uses her skills to develop business relationships that result in lasting change in our partner communities. After the workday is over, Robin trades in her pencil and keyboard to read fantasy novels and Twitter trends and spends her weekends caring for her plants and cheering her sports teams on to victory.
Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Amy spent time in Savannah earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from SCAD, established her career as a dynamic creative force in Jacksonville, Florida and spent three years in Japan before returning to Jacksonville and joining the North Star team. With over 15 years of experience in advertising and marketing along this path, it is safe to say her creative influence transcends borders. With a deeply rooted passion for visual storytelling and artistic expression, Amy brings her keen ability to uncover what is truly unique and a discerning eye for detail together to help bring brand stories to life for North Star clients. In her downtime, you can find Amy having adventures with her son and husband, hosting backyard BBQ’s for friends and family, and searching for her next vintage treasure.
Having lived in cities as sprawling as LA and as quaint as Little Rock, Heather has experienced firsthand what makes for a great place. A quiet, creative type, she prefers to soak in everything there is to know about a community using all five senses before putting pen to paper. Throughout her 15-year career, Heather has written for everything from household names like Toyota and Neutrogena to a tiny mountain town in the Ozarks. A graduate of acclaimed advertising school, The Creative Circus, Heather can deflect non-funny clown jokes without skipping a beat. When she isn’t painting the ideal picture for North Star clients with her words, you can find Heather recharging with live music and sunshine, or spoiling her rescue dog rotten.
Don’t let Leslie’s cheery disposition fool you. When it comes to making sure our clients receive accurate and timely invoices, she’s strictly business. With more than 25 years of experience in accounting and finance, including tenure at a Big Four accounting firm, Leslie combines the drive to ensure total accuracy with lightning-quick responsiveness in the unlikely event that a question arises. When she isn’t making sure our books are impeccable, Leslie enjoys playing with her dog, dining out and spending time with her family.