Jason Adam
President
Jason is an independent creative director, designer, and brand strategist who’s worked with brands big and small including Mattel, McDonald’s, Sony, Kia Motors, and Girl Scouts. Jason will be continuing his long-time service with the LA chapter for a second consecutive term as chapter President.
Amanda Hovest
Vice President/Secretary
Amanda is a proud AIGA member and a Designer at KBDA, where she’s created award-winning work for The Natural History Museum, The Music Center, and LACMA. She also serves on the Young Professionals Board for Inner City Arts and just completed a two-year term as AIGA LA Membership Director.
Kate Medlin
Events Director
With a unique background in both fine arts and business management Kate has worked as a visual manager for a variety of enterprises from local galleries and boutiques to retailers such as Anthropologie and currently, West Elm. Happiest when collaborating with other creatives, she has a passion for designing spaces and events that inspire and facilitate dialogue.
Stacy MESSERSCHMIDT
Events Co-Director
Stacy has over twenty years of industry experience in building brand strategies, designing award winning identities, leading designers, illustrators, copywriters, clients and outside resources through the concept, design and production process. She served as the Creative Director at WPS for the last five years, and she now runs her own design practice in Studio City.
FLAVIA ARSENAULT
Engagement Director
Meet Flavia: creative connector, talent developer, and croissant crusher. She started up the LA office for Mathys+Potestio and manages client relations, talent pool development, and creative job placements. She has previously served on the board of directors of the LA chapter of the American Marketing Association.
JOD KAFTAN
Content Director
Jod Kaftan has more than 15 years of extensive experience in interactive media at both agencies and start-ups. As an executive, Jod led product experiences for iconmobile and is now leading the service design practice at Fjord’s Los Angeles studio as Group Design Director.
CHRISTOPHER STRIMBU
Interactive Director
Chris is an award-winning creative and the Principal/Owner of 3 Alarm Design. As Senior Director of User Experience and Design at Tribune Publishing, he led a team digital creatives across all of Tribune Publishing’s 8 markets, including the LA Times and Chicago Tribune.
ERIKA ABRAMS
Social Media Director
Erika is a highly seasoned entertainment producer and creative manager. As a producer for Furious FX, she’s worked on numerous major motion pictures and television shows, including Ghostbusters, Deadpool, Stitchers, and Togetherness.
SEBABATSO MATSELETSELE
Social Media Co-Director
Sebabatso is a graphic designer based in Long Beach, CA. A presidential scholar at San Diego State University and Vice President of SDSU’s AIGA student chapter, she served as AIGA LA’s Social Media Manager for the past year.
ADVISORY BOARD — INCOMING
CHRIS CHANDLER
Chris is a UX Designer with 15+ years of experience in the LA creative community. He’s led digital teams at Disney and Fandango, and currently works at Philosophie. He also teaches UX design at Santa Monica College and is the co-founder of LA-UX, the nation’s largest UX design meetup. Chris has a passion for bringing world class design to software development.
SARAH FOELSKE
Sarah is a freelance Art Director and Designer with 15 years of experience. Previous employers include Wieden + Kennedy, B Reel, Laird + Partners, M•A•C Cosmetics, Deutsch, Mullen l owe, Morgans Hotel Group, Sid Lee and Bruce Mau Design.
TOMMY PESAVENTO
Tommy is an Addy-award-winning consultant whose clients have included fast-moving tech startups, established Fortune 500 companies, celebrity chefs, professional athletes, and Grammy-award-winning musicians. He serves as in-house brand strategy advisor for several education companies up and down the California coast.
ADVISORY BOARD — RETURNING
LAWRENCE AZERRAD
Lawrence founded the independent graphic design studio LADdesign in 2001, where he has created identity systems for clients such as The Clinton Foundation, The Beach Boys, Oliver Peoples Eyewear, and more.
SHEHARAZAD FLEMING
Sheharazad has 14 years of combined in-house design management and creative agency experience focusing on brands in the academic, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. In her current role as University Art Director, Sheharazad oversees design and brand strategy for USC.
MATTHEW MANOS
Matthew is a neo-philanthropist and the founder of verynice, a global design and innovation consultancy that dedicates over 50% of its efforts toward free services for non-profit organizations.
DAVID MAYES
David is a Sales Representative at Typecraft. He was named an AIGA LA Fellow in 2012. Previously, David has served AIGA LA as Treasurer, Education Director, and Development Director.
