Creative Noggin is a branding, marketing and communications firm serving clients in various industries around the country. We specialize in the humanization of marketing messaging and are adept at developing real brands from the inside out that are authentic and evocative.
Our work has been recognized with awards and media accolades. But the biggest kudos we get is the continued loyalty of our clients and regular referrals from those who have worked with us.
We’re agile and ahead of the curve. So are our clients.
While many agencies skew either very creative or very strategic, depending upon the background of their founders, Creative Noggin was built on a balance of left and right brain thinking. In other words, ours is a culture that emphasizes strategy while embracing creativity. This attitude makes its way into every team member and every project, resulting in Real Branding™ for every client.
Creative Noggin has been 100% virtual since our beginning in 2001— before virtual was cool. We believe that if you empower talented people to do the work they love and leverage technology to keep them connected and communicating as a team, you don’t need an office. All you need are unique ideas coming from great minds, collaborating together. Almost 20 years later, we are still turning heads while operating under the same collaborative and innovative philosophy.
Because of our virtual nature, we only hire people we know will get the work done while working remotely— typically seasoned professionals who have earned their stripes with impressive resumes and a bevy of outstanding references. As a result, you have a team of experienced marketing veterans working on your brand. Always.
Tracy Marlowe’s superpower is the uncanny ability to unleash creative energy.
Tracy finds her joy in freeing top marketing talent from the confines of a traditional workplace, inspiring them to do their best work. Creative Noggin is a 100% virtual agency whose success is measured in team member satisfaction and a thriving client base. And currently, all of their employees also happen to be women.
“I’ve strived to build a business that empowers women,” Marlowe explains. “Originally, the business was designed to empower me as a new mother who was juggling a career and an infant daughter. But as the business has grown, I love how we’ve been able to provide a platform upon which other women can thrive.”
Early in her career, Tracy worked in offices where she saw that women were often considered “less than” because they were juggling their careers with family matters. By contrast, at Creative Noggin, a woman can still perform at the top of her game and never question whether she’ll be considered less-than because she has to pick up a sick child from school or take a dog to the vet. “It’s an ambiance of trust that helps women thrive and have careers without sacrificing their personal lives. The virtual agency business model allows each individual to live more wholeheartedly when they show up at work each day. They don’t have to pretend that they don’t have a life outside of work. There is no inner conflict balancing career and home.”
Instead of taking an entire page to explain Terri’s credentials, let’s just assume that anything you would need to know or have experienced in advertising and marketing, Terri knows it, has done it, and has perfected it. Any size budget, she’s handled it. Any size plan, she’s orchestrated it. Her B.S. in advertising means she doesn’t put up with the “BS” in advertising. Terri brings over 25 years of experience working at San Antonio’s top agencies to the clients of Creative Noggin. Not only is she an avid brand steward, she is extremely detail-oriented and — while totally unrelated — can beat just about anyone in a game of horseshoes.
She may moonlight as a humor writer, but Susanne takes client service very seriously. She has over 15 years of traditional and digital marketing experience with brands like Apple and Disney. When not at work, she enjoys co-hosting her podcast, getting walked by her dogs, and volunteering for organizations that champion equity, inclusion, and parental support.
Her first job was at Dairy Queen, where she frequently (and thoroughly) proved the “you will get tired of eating ice cream” theory wrong. From managing drive-thru orders of 20 Blizzards to launching complex ad campaigns, Susanne stays as cool as a Dilly bar under pressure and always strives to deliver results that will bring a smile to your face.
There’s no lack of communication skills when it comes to Maren Minchew. In fact, it’s her specialty. As our resident communication strategist, she relies on her love for research and strategy development to tell client stories in the most efficient and effective way. We’d like to think that her ability to rise to every challenge is fueled by her sweet tooth and latest culinary creation, but it’s more likely a product of her passion to help our clients succeed.
Sometimes timing is a blessing. We just happened to be looking for a media buyer when one of San Antonio’s most respected agencies closed its doors. Anel brings to Creative Noggin a power-packed background of media savvy, having worked with numerous national ad agencies and international clients for over 20 years. She not only knows print inside and out, but is completely versed in the latest technologies of outdoor, broadcast, and interactive media. A master negotiator, she’s earned the nickname “Added Value Anel.” She’s a self-proclaimed craft project wannabe, a former “cheer mom” and an avid runner. But forget marathons. After just one she said, “I like to run. Not suffer.” Smart cookie. We’ll keep ‘er.
Erica is our behind-the-scenes-wind-beneath-our-wings for a number of our clients. While she’s happy to let other people take the spotlight, she’s busy making sure everything falls in place. Erica began her professional journey at San Antonio Express-News as a Marketing Assistant. Then moved to a local marketing agency before taking an exciting leap to South Korea as an ESL instructor. After her international teaching and travel journey came to an end, she came back to Texas to continue her passion for branding and marketing with Creative Noggin. Whether she’s managing schedules, setting up meetings, overseeing timelines, or providing internal feedback. Erica handles it all with aplomb. If it’s not working hours, you might find Erica at the latest horror movie, curled up with a Neil Gaiman book, or out seeing what Texas has to offer for Asian culture aficionados.
Sara Yeager likes to do things her own way, thank you very much. While some people relocate to New York City for job opportunities, Sara moved from the Big Apple to San Antonio for her career and family pursuits. And we couldn’t be happier that she did! With over 20 years of marketing experience, specifically in account and project management, Sara is a proven strategic thinker and problem solver. Whether it’s juggling timelines, tracking budgets or communicating with the team and clients—Sara’s a pro. In fact, here at Creative Noggin, we like to think of her as our very own personal Swiss Army Knife—whatever you need, Sara’s got it!
When she isn’t on the clock, you can find her hanging out with her geography professor husband and two little ones. On weekends, the family enjoys exploring trails and hiking around San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country. Whether at work or at play, Sara is a go-getter—and we’re so glad we got-her!
Meet Raquenel. This bi-lingual Brand Manager brings over 20 years of experience in the marketing field to Creative Noggin clients, including a proven track record with the development and implementation of strategy and tactics to launch, reposition, expand, and grow new and existing business. What keeps her batteries charged is the opportunity to wear so many hats. “One day I might be researching and planning; the next day at client meetings; and then next, tapping into my creative side.”
She balances work life with a passion for reflection, journaling, meditation and time outside with her family. Yes, she owns an RV. And is not afraid to use it. OFTEN! While her immense fear of heights keeps her grounded (literally), her adventurous spirit leads her heart and there’s no telling where that will take her! With three kids in scouting and sports, she’s one proud and busy mama, but wouldn’t trade it for the world, scout’s honor!
Although Nicole’s role is fractional, her impact is not. As our Fractional EOS Integrator, Nicole has a hand in all areas of Creative Noggin. From day-to-day processes to long-term planning, her strategies help us thrive. Complex challenges delight her—to Nicole, these are simply opportunities for us to become stronger.
As a military wife, Nicole relocates frequently with her husband and two boys, but she still finds time to share her business strategy wisdom via podcasts and speaking opportunities.
Oh, and her 15 years of marketing industry experience are just a bonus.
If there was ever a “marketing artist” it’s Jackie McGinnis. Backed by over a decade of marketing experience, her medium is numbers and her canvas is the digital world. An eye for details and an enthusiasm for reading between the analytics give her a sixth sense for all things digital. She eats up the whole process — from concept to optimization — and reporting is her icing on the cake.
She’s been here long enough to be considered a native of San Antonio. When she’s not crunching numbers, she’s enjoying time with her family, reading, cooking, playing Dungeons & Dragons (How cool is that?) and volunteering. Random fact: One day she’d like to live in a castle. She’s already done the research and some of them cost less than a flat in NYC, so she may one day get the vote for “coolest home office.”
Shari spent eight years as an English teacher in sunny Florida before switching career paths and becoming a Brand Manager at Creative Noggin. Her desire to bring a company’s truth to light is just one of the reasons why she’s perfect for our team. And as a former drum major, she’s used to coordinating and leading the way (although we refuse to give her a whistle).
On the weekend, you can find her at a Saturday Fearless Toastmaster's meeting, working out, writing, reading, or you might even catch her playing the saxophone. A self-proclaimed seeker of solitude, you can find her by following the melted trail of cookies and cream ice cream.
The decision to send Alex a Hogwart’s letter wasn’t a difficult one, and we were more than excited that she accepted. Alex is as unassuming and humble as they come, but she’s no muggle. She possesses some wizard-like web development skills. While she loves the magical world of Harry Potter, she is down-to-earth, analytical, and detail-oriented—three traits critical to web development.
It’s a good thing dog hair doesn’t stick to code because we can’t mention Alex without mentioning her dogs. When she’s not behind her keyboard, you can find Alex outside with her dogs, gardening, or hiking one of the local trails.
Kelly is our go-to for all things written word. Her grammatical expertise and content marketing ability help our clients elevate their brands.
For Kelly, writing is not only an art, but also a science. Her passion for honing brand voices is complemented by her keen attention to data and analytics. From website copy to email campaigns and beyond, she means business.
After hours, she contrasts her tranquil wordsmithing with a much louder pursuit—playing the trumpet. Fortunately, her captive audience members (both human and feline) are appreciative listeners.
Want an awesome graphic or website design? Leave it to Kat. With nearly a decade of experience under her belt, she tackles every project with confidence. Her design philosophy: Always on brand.
Kat's creative energy extends beyond the digital realm. When she’s not wowing our clients, Kat delights in gardening, illustrating children’s books, and baking. Her go-to comfort food is garlic bread—if she could only eat garlic bread for the rest of her life, she'd be just fine with that.
Fun fact: Kat’s parents wanted her to become a pediatrician, but she followed her passion and pursued design instead. She’s thrilled with her choice, and so are we!
In addition to our core team, Creative Noggin works with an extensive stable of talent all over the country with a range of expertise. When asked, “How many people do you have on staff?” our answer is very fluid. Depending upon the needs of our business, we may have anywhere from ten to thirty+ people on payroll from month to month. Our unique business model allows us to tailor the perfect creative team for your business, rather than just using whoever is on staff and has the bandwidth at the time. Also, since we have very low overhead, we are able to employ senior-level talent with an average of 15+ years of experience. We work with the best in the business—which means you can, too!
