Our Automotive Advertising Team

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Do the right thing

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Leadership

Kirk Oleson

CEO / Partner

30+ years experience — After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1989, with a Masters of Business Administration degree in Marketing, Kirk started at Ford as District Sales Representative and worked his way through all the positions in the regional office finishing his career with Ford as Regional Marketing Manager. Kirk came to Graham Oleson in 1998 as Client Services Manager, heading up new business development and was quickly promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In 2006, Kirk was named CEO. Kirk has a unique perspective on automotive marketing working both with the manufacturers and the dealers. Kirk is a very hands on leader ensuring Graham Oleson always stays in touch with our clients.

Kirk Oleson

CEO / Partner

When did you start?: 1998
Your first car?: 68’ Camaro
How many speeding tickets do you have: More than 1
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: No, but if I would it would probably be Free Falling – Think Jerry Maguire

Rachel McCormack

President

17+ years’ experience — Rachel has spent the majority of her career developing and implementing marketing and advertising campaigns for clients of all types, including companies such as American Express, The Ritz- Carlton, Alaska Air, and numerous auto dealerships. In 2013 Rachel rejoined Graham Oleson to head up the Honda account team. She became our Vice President over account services and now serves as our President. Rachel is extremely passionate about not only managing client relationships, but making sure we serve as an extension of the client’s marketing and sales teams. She isn’t satisfied until a client’s goals are met or exceeded.

Rachel McCormack

President

What do you do at the agency?: My title is President. What I do is strive to make sure the agency runs in a way that keeps both our clients and our employees successful and happy. It’s a little bit advisor, a little bit junior high counselor, a little bit of herding cats, and a LOT of strategy and process evaluation.
When did you start?: This time? December 2013. Last time? July 2003.
Your first car?: 1986 Honda Civic SI
How many speeding tickets do you have: Now? None. Ever? 2
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: If so, what song? Absolutely! No particular song, but probably something by Snoop or Dre.

Tara Klein

V.P. of Finance

20+ years’ experience – Tara has worked her entire career in the Accounting and Banking industry. This has included performing collateral audits tied to lines of credit, monthly/annual closing of company records, development and implementation of GAAP regulated accounting policies and processes while overseeing the day to day operations of the finance, HR/PR and IT departments. Tara’s family is from the Northwest originally, and she has had the opportunity to live and work in both large cities and small communities before settling down in Colorado Springs 13 years ago. She joined Graham Oleson in 2008, was promoted to Controller in 2013 and more recently the VP of Finance. Tara brings an in-depth knowledge and continued commitment to ensure that through financial strategies and budget analysis, we have proper practices in place that allow us to be transparent in all aspects to our clients.

Tara Klein

V.P. of Finance

When did you start?: November 3, 2008
Your first car?: Mercury Tracer, White with Red pinstripping
How many speeding tickets do you have: Maybe a few more than I should have!
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Of course! Anything that is on, but Lady Antebellum or Imagine Dragon are great to sing with.

Eric Olson

Integrated Strategy Director

15+ years’ experience – With humble beginnings working across the very early stages of Google’s ad platforms, Eric has had the opportunity to drive client and campaign success across a variety of industries including auto, utilities, health, QSR, finance, travel, and hospitality. At peace within the marriage of data and intuition, he strives to maximize ROI through the latest innovations. Initially joining us as the Digital Director in 2015, Eric is now the Integrated Strategy Director and guides our team in planning, executing, monitoring, and relentlessly optimizing our clients’ paid media campaigns. A sucker for trends and a glutton for insights, Eric continuously works to maintain a proactive mindset in this reactive world.

Eric Olson

Integrated Strategy Director

When did you start?: June 15th 2015
Your first car?: 1989 Ford Probe
How many speeding tickets do you have: An existing gag order referencing any information pertaining to the above question will not be lifted until next year.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I consider it more harmonizing. And while there is no one particular song, I feel that I offer a very rousing rendition of “I Want You” by Savage Garden.

Agency Team

Alex Jessop

Project Manager

Alex Jessop

Project Manager

What do you do at the agency?: I am primarily responsible for implementing digital creative across all tactics, so our dealers are always running the correct creative. I also facilitate miscellaneous projects for account services including community sponsorships, internal agency research, and A/B testing.
When did you start?: 1/09/2017
Your first car?: 2011 Suzuki SX4 named Billie Jean, “heee heee”.
How many speeding tickets do you have: 1, and I shudder to think of it.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I don’t think I’d remember how to drive if the ride was silent. I love to rock out to Lizzo, Britney Spears, Florence + the Machine, Leikeli47, Christina Aguilera, Salt-N-Peppa, the list goes on.

Allena Nimetz

Sr. Integrated Media Strategist

Allena Nimetz

Sr. Integrated Media Strategist

What do you do at the agency?: I work hard to integrate across the agency to develop strategic and compelling media solutions for our clients. I am also a pretty terrific source of comic relief.
When did you start?: 12/16/19
Your first car?: 1988 red Ford Mercury Tracer. But that wasn’t my favorite car. My favorite car was my 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera; you wouldn’t believe how many sorority girls you can cram into one, if it is headed down to Rosarita Beach for Spring Break.
How many speeding tickets do you have: 0
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I do sing – although not terribly well. Anything by Tom Petty, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dave, Janice or Mitch King gets me going.

Anjanette Taylor

Associate Media Director

Anjanette Taylor

Associate Media Director

What do you do at the agency?: Develop specific strategies for clients, negotiate media, optimize media mix, monitor online/offline media campaigns, & report campaign results.
When did you start?: October 1993
Your first car?: Ford Mustang
How many speeding tickets do you have: Currently, none.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Sometimes. Nothing in particular.

Carly Laabs

Accounting Clerk

Carly Laabs

Accounting Clerk

What do you do at the agency?: I reconcile buys, prepare co-op and generate client billing.
When did you start?: December 2013
Your first car?: Purple Chevy Cavalier
How many speeding tickets do you have: I’ll never tell
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Yes, with fist pumping, when called for. Any song will work, whether I know the real lyrics or not.

Chris Frees

Designer

Chris Frees

Designer

What do you do at the agency?: I am responsible for creating high quality digital, web and print designs. I also lead all the front-end web development projects.
When did you start?: May 2016
Your first car?: 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
How many speeding tickets do you have: Zero!
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: That is classified.

Danielle Wanner

Accounting Clerk

Danielle Wanner

Accounting Clerk

What do you do at the agency?: I am an Accounting Clerk that reconciles client buys to ensure they ran the correct creative and process Honda supplemental. Additionally, I process Tier 3 client billing and workbook jobs for all billing.
When did you start?: 8/24/2015
Your first car?: Jeep
How many speeding tickets do you have: 0
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Sometimes and I sing whatever is playing.

Donna Welker

Executive Account Director

Donna Welker

Executive Account Director

What do you do at the agency?: My role at Graham Oleson is Executive Account Director for Honda Dealers of the Carolinas and Central Carolina Acura Dealers.
When did you start?: February 2018
Your first car?: First car… I’m a car enthusiast so I drive every car like it’s my first! Being an enthusiast and a high mileage driver, I’ve owned more than 20 cars and always looking for my next.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: There’s always a concert in my car, I’m the lead singer and everyone from Kenny Chesney to Lil Wayne sing back up for me.

Emily Brassard

Production Manager

Emily Brassard

Production Manager

What do you do at the agency?: As the production manager I work with our artists, account executives and production facility to ensure that all production is completed and delivered to its proper destination.
When did you start?: Ironically I just got paperwork from HR with this exact date on there- April 25th 2016
Your first car?: Geo Metro
How many speeding tickets do you have: Lets go with 3
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: That’s the only way to drive. Well that and listening to Johnjay and Rich. Haha. All the songs but if I had to choose these are some solid choices: Can’t Stop the Feeling- JT or Sweet Caroline- Neil Diamond

Georgia Schreiner

Integrated Media Strategist

Georgia Schreiner

Integrated Media Strategist

What do you do at the agency?: Integrated Media Specialist
When did you start?: June 2013
Your first car?: 2002 Honda Civic
How many speeding tickets do you have: Technically 2; should have gotten a 3rd but the cop kindly gave me a ticket for using the emergency lane to pull over instead of the shoulder and didn’t write the speeding portion of the ticket.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Of course! If it wasn’t for singing while I drive, I wouldn’t know the entire Hamilton soundtrack.

Hazel Reaves

Staff Accountant

Hazel Reaves

Staff Accountant

What do you do at the agency?: As a staff accountant I wear a few different hats in our accounting department, but I am primarily in an Accounts Payable role. This means a lot of my focus is on paying vendor invoices, and ensuring the correct costs are passed on to our clients.
When did you start?: 5/16/18
Your first car?: ‘04 Ford Mustang named Trixie
How many speeding tickets do you have: I’ve had 3 total in my life, but they all happened within the first few years of having my license (so none in well over a decade!)
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Most definitely. I will sing along to anything I know the words to and I am a music hound so it could be anything from Roy Orbison to Nine Inch Nails. Just depends on the day!

Jennifer Davis

Regional Vice President

Jennifer Davis

Regional Vice President

What do you do at the agency?: I enjoy working on Honda and with my dealers in the New England area. They are some of the best I’ve worked with and they motivate me and inspire me every day when I come to work.
When did you start?: I started with the agency in February 1993. Now on my third tour after having worked with other automotive agencies (and even selling cars one summer), Graham Oleson has been my home for over half my career.
Your first car?: My first car was a Mazda 626. Great college car.
How many speeding tickets do you have: I do not have any current speeding tickets and I don’t want to get into the past. Well, because, it’s the past.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I don’t really sing in the car but one song I can’t resist singing to is “Freedom” with George Michael.

Jeremy Graham

Associate Creative Director

Jeremy Graham

Associate Creative Director

What do you do at the agency?: Associate Creative Director. Basically, I try to make cool stuff.
When did you start?: August 8th, 2017
Your first car?: 1994 Green Chevy Tahoe. My brother Kenneth once drove Dave Chappelle in it.
How many speeding tickets do you have: 1, but it wasn’t my fault.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I do. I have two daughters, so Moana is on a constant loop in my car. I don’t care who you are, if a 3 three old asks you to sing with her, you’d better belt it out.

Jerry Graham

Chairman / Founder

Joel Cox

Digital Strategist

Joni Melendrez

Senior Account Manager

Joni Melendrez

Senior Account Manager

What do you do at the agency?: As a Senior Account Manager my role for the agency is to lead my Tier II and Tier III Accounts. This includes building and maintaining strong client relationships, managing day-to-day activities for my accounts, listening to and understanding my clients’ needs to help develop and execute our strategy and recommendations and creative executions.
When did you start?: November 1, 2004 (Second Tour Start Date: October 15, 2013)
Your first car?: The first car that I didn’t have to share with my twin sister was a ’98 Dodge Neon – Electric Blue. My sister also had a ’98 Dodge Neon but her car was white.
How many speeding tickets do you have: Knocking on wood…I can only recall one speeding ticket in my life, but I’ve been pulled over several other times and have been fortunate enough to not get a ticket.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I sing and dance in the car. If I’m on my own, my go-to song is “Brown-Eyed Girl”…if I have my boys in the back seat, the volume goes up for anything Disney related, “Friend Like Me, Under the Sea, Be our Guest, You’re Welcome, Kiss the Girl...”

Kaleroi Kastros

Account Coordinator

Kaleroi Kastros

Account Coordinator

What do you do at the agency?: Oversee the day-to-day tasks required for producing and broadcasting traditional and digital advertising.
When did you start?: February 1st, 2020
Your first car?: Pontiac - Grand Am
How many speeding tickets do you have: 0
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Yes / Song: Florence + The Machine - Drumming Song

Karen Neaves

Payroll/HR Administrator

Karen Neaves

Payroll/HR Administrator

What do you do at the agency?: PR/HR/Benefits Administrator
When did you start?: 6/23/2016
Your first car?: 1980 Candy Apple Red with white leather interior 4 speed Mercury Zephyr – I thought I was so stinkin’ cool !
How many speeding tickets do you have: None at the moment. At least 5 over the course of my driving history 🙂
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Sometimes – whatever song came on the radio that made me want to sing 🙂

Kim Wortley

Administrative Assistant

Kim Wortley

Administrative Assistant

What do you do at the agency?: I am the Gate Keeper and the wearer of many hats. (oh, and I laugh A LOT!)
When did you start?: May 18th, 1987 – Wow! That was a long time ago. I was 12. 🙂
Your first car?: Ford Pinto – You know, the ones with the exploding gas tanks!
How many speeding tickets do you have: Zero…I’ve just never been caught.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Yes, anything country.

Kristi Davis

Account Supervisor

Kristi Davis

Account Supervisor

What do you do at the agency?: I am an Account Supervisor working on Tier II for Honda and Tier III for Toyota.
When did you start?: November 2013
Your first car?: Toyota Celica – Loved this car and it ran forever!
How many speeding tickets do you have: 2 speeding tickets – One was when I was 16 and not paying attention when driving home from my job at Steak N Shake. The cop went clear down into a ditch to come and get me. The other one was around 10 years later and it was on Black Friday. I was trying to hurry to meet my Mom and Sister to go Christmas shopping. They actually caught me by aircraft on this one.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I have been singing since I was around 5 years old. So, I sing any chance I get and my car is no exception. If you drive by me, you will usually see me singing in my car. I often am singing popular pop songs off the radio, but I am a fan of hip hop and rap too. If I’m going old school, I love “Baby Got Back” and “We are the Champions” – my maiden name is “Champion” 🙂

Margarita McQuade

Staff Accountant

Margarita McQuade

Staff Accountant

What do you do at the agency?: With a strong accounting background, I work with co-workers throughout the agency to compile information to provide the most accurate data for our clients, from reconciling our media buys to putting together client billing. In addition, I handle the preparation and compilation of the documents required for monthly financial reporting. This includes reviewing and reconciling general ledgers, along with any additional monthly tasks to help facilitate this process.
When did you start?: 2011
Your first car?: 1994 Saturn
How many speeding tickets do you have: One
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I sing almost every song that comes on the radio, and even some of the catchy advertising jingles.

Melanie Mogey

Senior Media Account Manager

Melanie Mogey

Senior Media Account Manager

What do you do at the agency?: I am a Senior Media Account Manager that is responsible for clients’ media to include research, keeping up with trends, planning, proposals, negotiating, placing, reconciling and much more in between!
When did you start?: July 2003 and January 2017 – Collectively I have been part of the Graham Oleson team for over 12 years.
Your first car?: A bright red Saturn coupe (when Saturn was a new car company)
How many speeding tickets do you have: Only one ticket that I received 22 years ago. I blame it on the red car.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: If so, what song? Yes. A favorite is Ho Hey by the Lumineers.

Meridith Griffin

Media Project Manager

Meridith Griffin

Media Project Manager

What do you do at the agency?: I am the whip cracker and paper pusher for the integrated strategy department. I am the Radar of the team. In all seriousness I help with getting projects going or finished for our Strategists.
When did you start?: Sometime between the release of Thor and Thor: The Dark World movies.
Your first car?: The first car I drove was an American vehicle with a V8. The first car I bought was an American vehicle with a V4.
How many speeding tickets do you have: Do I have to answer this? After all, I can’t drive 55 I can only drive 80, unless it is a school zone some rules must be followed.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: If you don’t at some point than you are missing out. If it is a song playing then I am singing.

Olivia Stinett

Media Account Manager

Olivia Stinett

Media Account Manager

What do you do at the agency?: I am a media buyer and planner for TII and TIII dealer groups. I also love research, so I help out with new business pitches.
When did you start?: 5/13/2019
Your first car?: A 1998 Honda CR-V that I still drive to this day. 375K miles and still going strong.
How many speeding tickets do you have: Zero. I drive like a grandma.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: California Dreamin’ by The Mama & The Papas

Raymond Louie

Senior Graphic Designer

Raymond Louie

Senior Graphic Designer

What do you do at the agency?: Graphic Designer (swiss army knife for the art dept.)
When did you start?: After Kim
Your first car?: 1974 Ford Maverick
How many speeding tickets do you have: Depends on which state. Less than 10.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Sometimes, Raining Blood, by Slayer.

Rhonda von Luhrte

Account Coordinator

Rhonda von Luhrte

Account Coordinator

What do you do at the agency?: Assist on the Client Services team as a Account Coordinator. Support Account Executives and the team to help provide Client Advertising Satisfaction, Materials Preparation, Market Knowledge & Research, Competitive Analysis, Traffic, Production, Billing and Administration.
When did you start?: August 2016
Your first car?: 1979 Toyota SR5 Pickup
How many speeding tickets do you have: Never had a speeding ticket…..yet!
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Always! Anything on the radio.

Robert Cochran

IT Director

Robert Cochran

IT Director

What do you do at the agency?: I am the IT Director at Graham Oleson. Keep up with all the technology changes and keep the digital side of the shop running smoothly.
When did you start?: 2/12/2018
Your first car?: Chrysler Sundance
How many speeding tickets do you have: About half a dozen or so.....It's been a while.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Yes, Weezer- Island in the Sun

Samantha McClay

Integrated Digital Strategist

Samantha McClay

Integrated Digital Strategist

What do you do at the agency?: I’m one of the digital nerds hiding in a dark corner geeking out on numbers and translating them into effective strategies. Lack of efficiency is my biggest pet peeve, so I make sure the digital campaigns are structured, running and reporting in tip top shape.
When did you start?: 5/4/15
Your first car?: Chevy Cavalier
How many speeding tickets do you have: 2…I think
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: I do my best to keep my vehicle happy. I’m afraid my singing may offend it.

Sara Simon

Support Coordinator

Sara Simon

Support Coordinator

What do you do at the agency?: I am a Support Coordinator. I assist my AE’s with their media campaigns for the CHD, KHHD, and NNHD.
When did you start?: 11/18/19
Your first car?: Ford Escort
How many speeding tickets do you have: 2
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Yes. If so, what song? It varies; I like a wide variety of music (Imagine Dragons, P!NK, Halsey, Foo Fighters, Don Williams, etc.).

Sarah Becker

Tier 3 Account Director

Sarah Becker

Tier 3 Account Director

What do you do at the agency?: As the Tier III Account Director I help all our individual dealers to be successful in all that they do.
When did you start?: January 2014
Your first car?: A Mazda something or other. All I remember was that it got me from point A to B and had a terrible automatic seatbelt.
How many speeding tickets do you have: 3?
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Always! Blues Travelers, Pearl Jam and anything country are my go-tos for car concerts.

Tim Atnip

Associate Creative Director

Tim Atnip

Associate Creative Director

What do you do at the agency?: As Associate Creative director I am responsible in overseeing great design aspects in print, digital and video are being used and the quality stays high.
When did you start?: October 2012
Your first car?: 75 Chevy Nova (First cool car: 54 Ford F-100)
How many speeding tickets do you have: 20+ (and no, I am not kidding) *I would get 2 in a year. Then skip a couple of years then get 2 or 3 more. At least half were in Texas. And back then states didn’t share info apparently. Because my insurance (or rather my parent’s insurance) never went up. Plus, I only had liability insurance at the time.
Do you sing when you drive? What song?: Yes. Anything metal. Highway to Hell, Dance of Death, Whiplash.

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Exceed expectations

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