Meet the Team
Jessika Phillips
President
Selected as One of the Top 12 Global Rising Stars on Social Media to Watch and Woman-Owned Business of the Year in 2018: Jessika is on a mission to make relationships the forefront of business marketing. She’s known for this outspoken dedication to Relationship Marketing. Jessika lives by her statement that “Relationships will always be more powerful than marketing,” and she believes in being a magnet vs a Bullhorn to truly connect with your tribe.
As a social media strategist, Jessika founded NOW Marketing Group in 2010 with only a laptop and a vision. The company is now a Forbes recognized Agency Partner and a certified inbound partner with Hubspot. NOW Marketing Group works with more than 100 clients across the United States and beyond, choosing to serve – not sell.
As a relationship marketing evangelist, Jessika also founded Magnet Marketers and The Relationship Marketing System, membership sites that provide curriculum to help businesses grow. Jessika also teaches comprehensive Relationship Marketing, presents in a weekly videocast “Magnet Marketers” and hosts one of the largest social media Midwest conferences, Social Media Week Lima.
Jenelle Acheson
Lead Project Manager
Jenelle is a multi-tasking machine that enjoys taking notes, making timelines and checking things off her piles of to-do lists. Assisting with website strategies, communicating with clients and maintaining our project work flow are just a few of the many tasks she takes on as project manager. She is also a bit of a chameleon, with a design degree and passion for organization! When she’s not working on planning and managing NOW Marketing website projects she enjoys designing, planning and hosting fun and creative activities for her church, family and friends.
George Whitcher
Lead Web Developer
George has been professionally developing websites and software for companies worldwide since 2006. With that many years of experience, he has become known for his proficiency, attention to detail, and his smile! He gives every project he works on his all and is learning the latest technologies and furthering his education to be the best developer he can be . He is a Web Developer, Web Designer, Graphic Artist, Mobile Application Developer, Windows Application Developer, IT Administrator (Linux & Windows), Database Administrator, 3D Designer, Indie Game Developer, and more.
No matter how big or small your project is George is ready to see any aspect of it through! When George isn’t working or furthering his education he is spending time with his family. He also has many hobbies like snowboarding, playing music, cooking, and football. Go, Patriots!
Angela Saternus
Web Experience Developer
I was born south-side of Chicago but grew up in Florida. Then I met my husband in San Diego, had my kids in Atlanta, and now live in Denver. I have lots of sports loyalties, to say the least! My passion for web development started in a computer lab at the University of Florida where I earned my B.F.A. I love to code and provide creative, efficient web solutions. To me, happy clients are the highest priority. When I’m not working I’m out walking my two Siberian huskies or planning camping/boating trips with my family.
Brian Williams
Lead Account Manager
Brian “The Truth” Williams: Beneath a sly smile and cool-as-ice exterior, our “Mr. No Gimmicks Needed” is a genuine and devoted soul who smoothly drops a creative beat for the NOW MG. Dedicated to his roots, his family and his church, this young Marketing Maven is a Lima-born, Lima-bred, Lima-dedicated professional with a steadfast heart, a nose for discovery and an eye for creativity. This “Instagram Icon” first felt the marketing tug as a student at the University of Northwestern Ohio, where he learned his trade as part of the American Marketing Association before capturing his Bachelor’s Degree. That became the launching point for a young man with vibrant ideas and a rock-solid work ethic that delivers vision and consistency for NOW Marketing Group’s clients. Indeed, there is nothing bland about this Brand Manager, whose knowledge of social media is only outweighed by his drive for discovering the newest trends and best ways to drop an audience’s jaw. And when he’s not lighting up social media, you can find Brian inside a weight room, grooving to smooth R&B jams or discussing the Good Word.
Olivia Smith
Social Strategist
Why does Olivia love to stand outside? Because if anyone asks, she’s outstanding!
Olivia is a native of Elida, Ohio who continued her love of the Buckeyes and knowledge in Columbus, Ohio at The Ohio State University. As a graduate of Bachelor of Arts-Communication in 2019. What Olivia enjoys most in her role with NOW Marketing Group is becoming a hub of information to her clients and helping them build meaningful, human relationships through all forms of communication. Overall, she is driven by an eagerness to bring bubbly and creative energy to the business world.
When she isn’t working, you’ll find Olivia visiting new camping venues, traveling to the beach, attending concerts, and spending time with family and friends.
Andrés Medina
Social Strategist
Andrés has been a champion since he was a little tyke. Born and raised in Puerto Rico he hails from Caguas, PR. As a tiny kiddo he was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma – Bone Cancer, and at 1.5 half he went through chemo and is now a proud cancer survivor! Andrés has been swinging for the fences since age 4 – his love for baseball carried through high school and was offered a scholarship to the play as a Racer at the University of Northwest Ohio bringing him to Lima, OH. His life goal is to show others – kids or adults – that regardless of the challenge, you are strong enough to overcome those hurdles and can fulfill your dreams.
Focusing his studies on digital and multimedia marketing, Andrés earning his place on the Dean’s List and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. He’s taking that knowledge and is now creating killer content for our clients. When he’s not on a ballfield or behind a laptop, Andrés loves to cook, play golf, watch YouTube videos and teach his friends Spanish terms.
Joanna Toronto
Advertising Manager
Skilled in the fine art of analysis, Joanna’s superpower is dissecting data in a meaningful way to drive results- both inside and outside of the advertising world. With a degree in applied linguistics and certifications in data science and ancient languages, she considers herself a non-prescriptive grammar geek, and is particularly passionate about evolving language trends and machine learning in the marketing space. She has over 10+ years in the industry, working for edtech developers, decentralized finance, and world-renowned speakers.
Cara Venturella
Account Manager
Cara has been mixing marketing, relationship building, and community together for 15+ years. Born from a love and devotion to her hometown of Lima, Ohio she made it her mission to serve her community by promoting it through destination marketing. Building a social media & online presence from the ground up has been one of the biggest and most rewarding challenges in her career.
She’s devoted her time to various local service organizations and events always with an agenda to help move the community forward.
To move into a position with the NOW team she is excited to extend that enthusiasm for community and relationship building into each client.
When she’s not building relationships and loving on her community she’ll most likely be seen devoting her time to her family and friends and daydreaming of where to go on her next travel adventure. And that will typically happen around the table of her family’s locally owned restaurant. Local business, community, and relationships are ingrained in her DNA.
Amber Stoll
Office Manager
Amber “The Oracle” Stoll: In the nerve center of NOW Marketing Group sits our all-seeing, all-knowing eye: Amber Stoll. Our “Podio Princess” is part traffic cop, part communications conductor and part operations overseer with a dash of financial coordination. This “Diva of Drive” is a mother of three and has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, which serves her well in her untitled role as the NOW “Office Mom.” Our Oracle of Operations keeps the NOW team on track, in the know and in touch with the vast reaches of our clientele. In her free time, Amber enjoys family life with her husband and children, dominating dirt bikes and breathing deeply from the fresh air Mother Nature has provided.
John Flanagan II
Video Creative Director
John is a creative media connoisseur. He pulls inspiration from different sources and styles to create something with his own cinematic flavor. Technical knowledge and training, an artistic eye, and ability to think on his feet are what set John apart in the video production world.
Nate W.
Creative Director
We “WOW WITH DESIGN” and our graphic designer and Creative Director Nate is largely responsible for all aspects of branding and layout. The Creative Director’s responsibilities include designing and directing all aspects of our clients’ design and branding for web and print. He oversees all aspects of NOW Marketing Group’s website designs from product workflow to custom UI/UE design and coding. His focus is on managing the Web department as well as creating client branding and website design with modern coding and layout in mind.
Sadea Canty
Account Manager
Hi there!
My name is Sadea! I was born and raised in Albany, NY but now reside in North Carolina. I have two dogs Malachi & Luna and am married to my husband Eli! I come from a pretty big family that loves to have a good time. We love to celebrate so there’s always some sorry of family function, game night, or special event happening. I love to travel – I have been to many different areas of the world, but truly anywhere that there is a beach and it’s warm would be my favorite place to be. When I am not working I like to spend time exploring and doing new activities as I live in a very lively city and there’s always plenty to do.
My professional background: My degree is in communications with a concentration in public relations. I have been a social media manager for about 5 years working with small business owners, non-profits, and creative business owners. This is my first official year doing this full time, prior to this I spent my time as a director of operations working within other companies. What I love most about my job is building relationships with others and helping other business owners build their brands through social media.