Staff Bios
Jeff Whitcomb
President
- First joined Communicators Group right out of Ithaca College in 1984 as a copywriter, broadcast producer and account manager
- Spent seven years as Director of Customer Communications for Eastern Mountain Sports, the 70-store chain of outdoor specialty stores
- Returned to CG in 1998 as President and became sole owner in 2008
- Buffed up his management skills raising a sitcom-worthy five children
Jim Hickey
Vice President, Account Service
- Studied English at U-Mass Amherst; did an initial tour of duty at CG from 1992 to 2000 as a copywriter and account executive
- Spent three years as Vice President and Director of Marketing for Westbank, an 18-branch commercial bank in Western MA, before returning to CG in 2003
- Can quote well over half of the dialogue of the Seinfeld TV series
Cole Moore Odell
Vice President, Creative Director
- Began his advertising career as an Account Executive with Biggs-Gilmore in Kalamazoo, MI; still maintains that left brain/right brain balance
- Joined CG as a copywriter in 2001
- Studied Creative Writing and American Literature at Middlebury College
- Still likes all of the same things he did when he was four; just ask Superman
Karen Hormel
Vice President, Finance
- Has overseen the finances of CG for more than 30 years
- Can often be found with her beautiful border collies, Katrina and Chaplin
- Serves on the board of the local Humane Society, and volunteers countless hours to connect good dogs with good owners
- Still balances the checkbook to the penny every month
Peter Johnson
Senior Account Executive
- Honed his skills as an Account Executive and Media Planner at Saatchi & Saatchi, J. Walter Thompson and its subsidiary Lord, Geller Federico, Einstein, Inc. for clients including Proctor & Gamble, Fuji, Hilton and Mount Snow
- Ran summer marketing at Mount Snow before returning to agency life at CG
- Earned an M.A. in Information Technology in 2010
- Was on the wrestling team at UNH (we have pictures)
Tina Ellis
Senior Account Executive
- Worked as Marketing Director at Tamarack Service, CFX Bank and Imtec before joining CG in 2001
- Earned an associate’s degree in Marketing from Champlain College, and a B.A. in Business from Trinity College
- Is highly adept at juggling, and sees account service as the liaison between “rhyme and reason”
- Serves as the agency’s official Tchotchkes Queen
Danielle Cutler
Account Executive
- Holds a BA in Business Management from Hartwick College and specializes in project coordination, branding & identity, and marketing strategy.
- Held various brand, product, and communications management positions at FiberMark over an eleven year period and, prior to joining CG, was Brand Manager at Neenah Paper, a leading global specialty material company focused on premium printing and packaging papers.
- Loves to travel! Has visited 38 U.S. states and her favorite international destinations include Gran Canaria, Positano, Paris, Akumal, and the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa.
Cindy Zett
Office Manager,
Assistant Account Manager
- BA in Marketing from Franklin Pierce University.
- Former Administrative Assistant at Cheshire Medical Center, WYRY Radio, John J. Cronin III Law and CFX Corporation.
- Built a career as Director of Public Relations at CFX Corporation before being promoted to Stay-at-Home Mom and Paraeducator II for NH SAU #63. Excited to be back in the world of marketing and advertising!
- Spontaneously hums the theme from Raiders of The Lost Ark when the work pace demands it.
Jessica Butterfield
Senior Art Director
- Holds a B.F.A. in Art from the University of New Hampshire
- Is the agency’s go-to art director for Web design and functionality
- Worked for the Holstein Association USA, as Advertising Manager at Mount Snow, and as manager of the art department at the Boston Phoenix newspaper before joining CG in 2002
- Makes wicked awesome birthday cakes (again, we have pictures)
Nicky Dumont
Senior Art Director
- Graduated art school with a degree in illustration.
- Joined Communicators Group in the early 90’s for an 11-year first tour, as an art director and production manager.
- Spent 10 years at a leading publisher of custom healthy lifestyle magazines in the natural product category as art director and executive art director.
- Can deadlift 175 lbs. and is an enthusiastic DIY-er (restored the wavy-glass windows in her antique cape).
Falyn Arakelian
Art Director
- Got her BFA at the Art Institute of Boston
- Started her design career with a company in Southern Vermont where she stayed, for 13 years before joining the CG team
- Has a knack for replying to texts with the perfect GIF
Raven Gill
Social Media Manager
- Graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design from Keene State College and was the first student to graduate from the Morris-August Honors Program with a Graphic Design degree.
- Holds certifications in Google Search Ads, Google Display Ads, Google Mobile Ads and LinkedIn for Business.
- Has a mirror twin sister who makes everyone do a double take when she stops by the office.
Luke Stafford
Digital Media Director
- Before joining CG to accelerate digital strategy, spent 10 years building Mondo Mediaworks, a digital marketing agency specializing in digital content.
- Studied journalism and media production at Saint Michael’s College.
- Is an Eagle Scout who lives on a mountainside in Vermont, where he heats his home entirely with wood that he cuts down himself.
Samantha Marshall
Digital Media Manager
- Received a BA in Communications from Franklin Pierce University with a minor in Advertising.
- Developed Digital Marketing experience following graduation as a Media Specialist in Brattleboro, VT.
- Holds certifications in Google Search Ads, Display Ads, Video Ads, Mobile Ads, Shopping Ads, Google Analytics, and Bing Ads.
- Originally from Rhode Island, she has a deep love for all the things the Ocean State has to offer.
Roxy Rubell
Copywriter
- Sharpened her skills as a public relations and marketing account/senior account executive at Hill & Knowlton and Manning, Selvage & Lee for clients including Proctor & Gamble, Chock full ‘o nuts coffee, Haagen-Dazs, DuPont, Schering-Plough (Coppertone), Equitable Insurance, California Lottery
- Was Director of PR for California Pizza Kitchen Corporate
- Had her own pr and marketing business in Los Angeles before moving back to NH and joining CG
- Can sing like Cher while Baking Whoopie® pies
Patience Merriman
Copywriter
- Writes copy that is as efficient as it is effective, as represented by her shelf of Addys and other awards
- Worked as a newspaper reporter, ran her own agency, and toiled in the copywriting cubicles at several Philadelphia ad agencies before joining CG in 1998
- Knows the lyrics to a nearly impossible number of advertising jingles
Gracie Johnson
Crackerjack Security Officer
- Bark far worse than bite
- Always wags tail cheerfully at visiting vendors
- Helps Cindy order office supplies
- Hey wait, what’s this bill for five cases of Milk-Bones®?
Henry Hamilton
Digital Media Assitant
- The perfect coat for hugs
- Greets everyone with kisses
- Always says hello on client calls
- It was Gracie’s idea to order the Milk-Bones®