Michelle Edelman can be described in one word: fierce. She’s one of the 1% of woman agency owners. She’s among the 1% of agency strategists whose ideas have had lasting cultural impact. And she will quickly become one of the 1% of the go-to people in your circle — because she gets you, and she’s got your back.

Michelle joined PETERMAYER in 2013 to build the future of the agency’s strategy group, drawing from her experience leading marketing for global tech companies and brand planning for global agencies. She rose in the company by establishing integrated planning across disciplines.

Prior to PETERMAYER, Michelle earned a reputation for her astute insights about cultural change, leading to transformational work, such as Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty, which elevated the brand as a contemporary icon.

She holds a BS, MBA and MPH from Northwestern University and the Kellogg School of Management. A Chicagoan who took a stint in Southern California, Michelle now calls New Orleans home.

Matt Kuttan has lived in 10 countries and speaks five languages. His trick for learning the real culture of a place? Talk to the doorman, not the concierge. A voracious traveler who wears his exuberance on his sleeve (literally — note his colorful wardrobe acquired along the way), Matt’s approach to multiculturalism is lived experience coupled with deep curiosity and a genuine love of people.

As CCO, Matt fuels the agency’s creative vision to reflect changing cultural trends and clients’ needs for creative that spans all media. He brings an omnichannel perspective to his creative product and challenges his team to incorporate human-centered approaches to solving business problems.

Prior to joining PETERMAYER, Matt led creative departments at multinational agencies including Leo Burnett, Saatchi X, Burrell, JWT and BBDO. His work has won awards including Cannes, Clios, One Show and Effies.

Matt has an MFA from Tiffin University and has taught at a number of academic institutions and portfolio schools throughout the U.S. as well as in London and Mexico. We aren’t sure where Matt’s source of exuberant energy comes from, but watch this space: We intend to bottle and brand it.

Adam Blankenship started out as an architecture/civil engineering double major — he wanted to build bridges. A pragmatist by nature, he did the math on the number of bridges designed and built in a given year and quickly realized the odds weren’t in his favor. He changed his major to advertising, and has been building bridges ever since.

Adam leads the account management and project management departments to ensure the agency is delivering on its promise to be “better together” with our client partners. He passionately believes in the power of creativity to drive business results and coaches his teams to be strong negotiators, empathetic problem solvers and tireless champions of great creative ideas.

Prior to joining PETERMAYER, Adam gained experience at global network agencies like BBDO and DDB as well as independent agencies like McKinney and RPA, working with a variety of brands across categories but developing specialized expertise with automotive brands. But his heart lies in the spirits space — ask him about Craft Cocktail Fridays, and clear your afternoon calendar.

Laura Thomas has spent more than 25 years building innovative ways of working and thinking in the advertising industry. Her voracious appetite for knowledge has driven her to explore an immersive form of strategy that marries statistical trends with real experience to drive insights that leap off the brief. Thomas has held leadership positions in strategy at Curiosity, Deskey and LPK, in addition to serving as Chief Innovation Officer for her own agency, Nontraditional. She has led her last agency to win after win strategically.

Thomas holds a BA in business administration from Thomas More University and resides in Cincinnati with her two teenage daughters and husband of 22 years. Although she’s always searching life’s moments for new ways to understand people, she spends her time beekeeping, doing hot yoga, playing Magic the Gathering with her kids and reading anything and everything she can get her hands on. She loves travel, specifically in nature, and has visited 22 national parks; her favorites include Denali, Olympic and Mount Rainier.

A collaborative, results-driven, executive with more than 35 years of experience in strategic marketing, branding and advertising. Passionate about cultivating authentic, genuine and trusting relationships. Curious about what motivates people and is adept at prioritizing and managing in a fast-paced environment.

David holds the record for PETERMAYER’s longest tenure, clocking in this Fall at 36 years. He leads the agency’s travel & tourism practice group, helping clients achieve their marketing goals and more importantly, visitation objectives.

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Liz’s passion for driving new business and growth isunmatched. A visionary who is energized by building an agency's sales practiceand high performing teams, her experience lies in building strategic clientrelationships and designing business solutions that make an impact. Over her twenty-yearcareer crossing corporate and agency development and growth, management andexecutive roles, she is a trusted partner, innovative marketer and businessdevelopment powerhouse. She has a unique portfolio of experience includingbusiness development, account management, new product and sponsorship launches,and B2B/B2C/B2i solutions, resulting in a well-rounded career. She spent herearly years at brands such as Citi, State Farm and Coca-Cola as well asagencies, including Momentum, New Honor Society/FCB, Manifest andHawkeye/Publicis. A consummate Midwesterner, she calls Chicago home.

Keith returned to New Orleans full time in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to found the Loftin Group, LLC, a managerial consulting practice focusing in financial management, capital management, and strategic planning for emerging and high-growth businesses. 

Although Keith is new to the advertising industry, he’s no rookie to growing companies. Among his many prior clients are Krewe du optic LLC, a fashion eyewear company based in New Orleans as well as Preservation Hall LLC and the Preservation Hall Foundation, where he also served on the Board of Directors. He concurrently founded and operates Loftin Property Holdings, a real estate holding company which owns, invests in, and manages multi-family residential real estate in the New Orleans area. This business has grown to include over 380 residential units, filling an important gap in the current housing landscape of the New Orleans area.

A native New Orleanian, Keith received his BA from Louisiana State University and MBA from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.

Jaime is a seasoned media professional with experience in several verticals, disciplines, and audiences. His planning philosophy is deeply rooted in data, fueling both strategy and creativity. He has significant experience in general and multicultural audiences at regional, national and global scales. He has successfully managed plans that target all parts of the integrated planning funnel, from driving awareness to conversions and acquisitions.

He is a huge sports fan, with tennis being his sport of choice. Additionally, he is a big basketball enthusiast, specifically supporting the Miami Heat. He is a proud parent to three amazing kids, one of whom is a beautiful 6-month-old baby girl.