Julio Colmenares, Partner
As a Chief Creative Officer, Julio is a master at integrating strategy and creative, and matching in-house talent to client needs. He is fluent in multi-cultural communication, and able to manage a diverse and complex slate of projects. Julio earned his degree in graphic design from Instituto de Diseño de Caracas, Venezuela. He began his career as a graphic designer in Caracas, Venezuela where he did agency work for L’Oreal Cosmetics. From designer and creative director for bi-lingual newspapers and magazines, to environmental design for an architecture firm, to his current role at CGR, Julio brings the expertise, experience, and enthusiasm necessary to lead our company, and serve our client base well into the future.

When Julio isn’t working or spending time at home with his wife, Veruska, son, Julian Andres, and daughter Camila, he can be found on the golf course or playing a serious game of dominos. He is also an Executive Board Member for the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte and Chair of the Marketing Committee.

Jason Ramsey, Partner
As Creative Director, Web, Print and SEO Strategist, Jason has quietly been influencing the graphic design aesthetic in Charlotte and the surrounding region since he graduated from King’s College with the Top Design Student Award in 2003. His unique ability to communicate complex concepts with simple yet vibrant designs sets him apart from the field. He is a workaholic, regularly putting in 60 hours a week in his loft office cranking out some of the most inspired creative material you are likely to find outside of an art gallery.

Jason spends what little free time he has with his wife, children, and dogs. He leads an active lifestyle that mirrors his energetic personality. Jason is always looking for a challenge; he relishes the opportunity to try something new and different that is out of the box.

Joe Burroughs, New Media Specialist
With over 15 years in the Charlotte design community Joe brings a range of skills to the table. He has a bachelor’s degree in Communication with a concentration in Advertising from Appalachian State University and a masters of Science in print media from the prestigious Rochester Institute of Technology. He currently chairs the graphic design department at King’s College and is a sought after lecturer on various design topics. Joe is on the cutting edge of new media in the Charlotte community helping retailers and businesses cope with social networking and search engine marketing among other issues. Joe is a problem solver who constantly uses design to overcome challenges for his clients.

Tay Fewell, Lead Designer
Tay brings agency experience and professionalism to every project he touches at CGR Creative. He is truly a sponge soaking up every drop of design related information he can get his hands on. Tay feels like a true designer must constantly learn new techniques and seek new and diverse sources of inspiration. He is well versed in both web and print design which allows him to develop synergistic campaigns for our clients

Ben Shaver, Media Buying/Client Services & Strategy
Client Services is headed by Ben Shaver and supported by reps in three states. Ben started in Newspaper sales 13 years ago before moving into television. He has been CGR Creative for close to five years. There are reps in NC, SC and VA that support those areas. One of the key notes about client services is that we only take clients we can serve properly. If a client’s goals and objectives don’t align with the strengths of the agency we will not take the client. If we do not have proper support to fully satisfy a client’s needs we will not take on that client.

Laurel Odell-Clapp, Media Buying/Client Services & Strategy
Media is headed by Laurel Odell-Clapp. She has 25 years experience in the media business. Before joining Proactive media she was a buyer, senior buyer, and eventually media supervisor for Coca Cola, Before Coke she worked as a media buyer for Goody’s. She currently buys for all different types of industries in over 60 markets nationwide. She is a fair and aggressive buyer who gets the most competitive rates for clients as well as 1 to 1 added value on radio. Services include: Customer Research - Media Placement - Invoice Validation - Vendor Research and Negotiation - Co-Op Services

Astrid Chirinos, Marketing Strategist
Astrid has been providing Multicultural Marketing and Multicultural Workforce Development Strategy to Fortune 500 companies and other large organizations in the Charlotte Region through an integrated approach that includes the Cross-Cultural Competency, the Organizational Readiness and the effective Community Outreach and Action Plans required to retain and increase our fast growing multicultural markets.

Lisa Lee Morgan, Environmental Consultant
Lisa Lee Morgan, AIA, LEED AP is the Sustainability and Technology Strategist at Calor Energy, offering a full range of audits, analyses and solutions for “greening” built facilities, mobile assets, manufactured products, and corporate administrations . Lisa Lee is a licensed architect and holds US Green Building Council LEED-AP accreditation. She is a native of Charlotte, NC and a graduate of Princeton University with both a BA and Master of Architecture.

Antonio Calderon, Programmer/Apps Developer

Francisco Gaivis, Programmer/Apps Developer