They say it takes a village to create change, but for us, it takes a team. Our core personnel are comprised of passionate and talented people, committed to creating the best solutions possible to solve the clients needs.
Joanna
Newbold
President / CEO
Client Relations & Operations
Joanna’s 20 plus years in the sales/marketing arena has helped lead up to her opening and owning her own Advertising and Marketing Agency. It’s safe to say that within that span of time, she has curated a diverse arsenal of expertise.
As the head of the company and account relations, Joanna has learned which hat to wear in just about any personal or professional situation, always equipped with a cheerful “get-it-done” attitude.
Her interpersonal and leadership skills give her the ability to build trusting relationships with clients and team members alike. From managing and developing marketing campaigns, the utilization of co-op dollars, minimizing waste, analyzing data, closing ratios, to creating coordinating and implementing marketing budgets, results are definitely part of her wheelhouse.
She’s also known as “Nana” to two super awesome 3-year-olds that love her dearly.
Jovi
Radtke
Studio Manager / Sr. Web Designer
Client Relations & Operations & Safety Officer
Jovi is an experienced writer (publication + performance + technical), web designer, WordPress geek, graphic design nerd, and just generally a pretty Jovial human. Jovi also has extensive experience in Project Management and is an email connoisseur, your inbox is where you'll see them shine.
Jovi's outside-of-work passions include reading any memoir they can get their hands on and trying to finish writing their first book... stay tuned for that one. Jovi a self-proclaimed space + math nerd, and loves trying to solve any complicated problem you put in front of them.
Their Heroes include Neil deGrasse Tyson + David Bowie + Morgan Freeman
Best Watch: Se7en + Taxi Driver + Goodfellas
Best Read: On the Road, Jack Kerouac
Best Listen: John Lee Hooker + Van Morrison + Otis Redding
Drew
Newbold
Creative Director
Chief Creative Visionary
Drew has been there and done that in every area of this crazy industry we call visual communication. You name it: Graphic Design, Art Direction, Radio, TV... hell, he’s even designed the bottom of a swimming pool!
For over 20 years, he’s honed his craft in the Sacramento ad community, working for some of the biggest creative agencies in town, either as an employee or as a white labeled mercenary. He also did a stint as the Creative Director for Entercom Radio, overseeing a creative team responsible for the visual branding needs for 6 of the largest radio stations in Sacramento, as well as event branding and marketing, and client campaign needs. Drew is definitely a creatives’ creative.
He’s worked on regional, state, and national clients, with awards to boot. Being creative, and using that ability to solve problems for clients, is his passion and pretty much the only thing he is truly good at.
Maybe it’s time for him to get a hobby?
Naaaaaaah!
Alaura
Myers
Sr. Graphic Designer
Graphic Design Production
Alaura is a Creative Designer, Digital Illustrator, and avid Burrito Enthusiast. Coming from a studio art background, her process into digital art usually begins with a pencil. A bit of a jack-of-all-trades, Alaura came to Mercenary after four years of flashy, heavily-embellished marketing design for a casino in Northern California. Her specialties are branding identity, illustration, and print production. She can eat a Pizookie in under five minutes and is anxiously awaiting the release of the video game, Fallout 76.
Ashley
Broker
Key Accounts Manager
Key Accounts Manager & Social Media
Ashley has over 15 years customer service experience and her passion is connecting with individuals and helping them feel welcome in any environment. As the head of Social Media Management, she is able to work with clients to help them translate their vision and connect with their target markets on all social media platforms. As the team's Executive Assistant, she shines in keeping everybody on track and fully hydrated.
When Ashley isn’t at work, she is busy hanging out with her epic family, planting and growing an angelic floral garden, loving on her very own urban farm (dogs, cats, fish), and binge watching just about anything Netflix (or Hulu or Amazon Prime or Apple TV) has in stock.
Riley
Lopez
Creative Production Designer
Graphic Design Production
A designer, illustrator, creator, and proud-Sacramentan.
Riley has always liked using what he can to create. It just so happens his favorite tool is his computer. With experience in graphic design and sales, Riley’s goal is to create quality for our team, clients, and town.
Outside of work, you might find Riley grabbing some coffee or mimicking Rocky on a jog when “Eye of the Tiger” hits on Shuffle!
Bear
Ahumada
Junior Web Designer
Web Design Specialist
Time after time, this back-pocket mercenary has been relentless when it comes to executing projects for some of our client’s biggest events.
Bear was born and raised around all aspects of audio/visual communication and design. Some of their earliest memories were of shaking their head disapprovingly at billboards and writing toilet paper commercials with friends. To put it simply, knowing what the people want, is in Bear’s blood.
When they are not printing shirts or flexing some serious muscle at events, Bear likes to be immersed in language learning, playing music, Dungeons & Dragons, and unraveling yet another knitting project. They are also a huge advocate for sustainability and the circular economy. Above all, Bear believes in the profound power of human connection and that no one’s story is too small to make an impact.
Mike
Baddley
Account Manager
Media Director & Planner
Mike is a Principal and Senior Level Media, Marketing and Account Strategist with over 30 years of traditional media and 20+ years of digital media experience. Working for DDB Needham (1987) on the account team for Paramount Pictures and Safeway Grocery Stores accounts, Mike really developed a taste and desire for media strategy and buying.
As an integral part of the Mercenary team, Mike is responsible for developing a bigger book of regional and national business. He helps us on consulting and partnering with clients who want to get more for their media dollars and those needing to develop an integrated strategy between creative and their media budgets/buys.