Are you a Challenger Brand? If you aren’t number one in your market, you are. Which is why you need an agency partner that understands how to go up against the industry giants and not just compete, but WIN in a crowded marketplace. One skilled at designing customer experiences––informed by well-defined brands––to create moments worth remembering and sharing. Extraordinary moments that get, keep and grow more brand lovers for our clients. A partner that will keep their eye on how every marketing dollar is being spent, as well as what your ROI is, via cutting-edge and transparent reporting customized to your business goals.
That is, of course, if you want a marketing partner that lets you see everything we do. (And we mean EVERYTHING.)
Sounds pretty good, right? Oh, it gets better. We also continuously provide recommendations and ideas to help grow your business. No resting on our laurels here. In fact, our results-centric, forward-thinking approach has amped up our clients’ revenue significantly for more than 25 years, and we’ll be 100% committed to your success, too––because when you win, we win.
We’re your Challenger Brand Marketing® agency.
Rebels Welcome
Are you looking to work with a team of renegades? Marketing revolutionaries whose intense passion and drive to amplify influence through exceptional brand experiences is ingrained in the DNA of every team member?
Why?
Well, we believe in thinking differently when it comes to nurturing our brain trust, so we use the CliftonStrengths® methodology to help us become dynamic masterminds at-the-ready in everything from brand strategy, service design, social media and marketing services to advertising, brand positioning and digital strategy/implementation. Go ahead and take a peek at what makes each of us exceptional below.
We're Your Challenger Brand Marketing Team.
David Ralls
CEO & Co-Founder
David Ralls
CEO & Co-Founder
Top Strength: Maximizer
Welcome to Commit Agency! We appreciate your visit. It is hard to believe that we started the agency 28 years ago already and there is no question that every day has been filled with a different adventure (or ten). “Evolve or die” is the mantra that drives us. And it is a good thing because when we started our agency email was new, social media didn’t exist and Google was just a word babies said while slurring.
I am a numbers guy that has strategic vision to see opportunity for our clients. Opportunity that grows their business. It is the thing that drives me…finding the why for our clients to make a meaningful difference in their business makes me proud of our work, our team and our agency. We don’t settle for just ok and we constantly watch our client’s back. This philosophy has allowed me to build many friends in this business that were clients first. It really is those relationships built on trust with great people that make this business rewarding and fulfilling.
When not running the agency, I am spending time with my wife Deborah and two sons and a significant amount of my spare time is spent supporting charity boards including the Chandler Compadres and Phoenix Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix. I have been recognized by the ASU Spirit of Enterprise Center with the Monster Entrepreneurial Award and was named one of America’s top 25 Most Influential Minds in the Hospitality Industry by HSMAI, the Hospitality, Sales and Marketing Association International and was recognized by Phoenix Business Journal 40 under 40. I am blessed to have been afforded the opportunity to get my MBA from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.
My client industry experience includes healthcare, hospitality, home building, retail, government, and nonprofit. Brands I have worked on include Destination, CIGNA, The Phoenician, Canyon Suites, Luxury Collection, Maracay Homes, Health Net, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Camelot Homes, Harrah’s Ak-Chin, Paddy O’ Furniture, Shasta Pools, Magnolia Hotels, NextCare Urgent Care, Santé, State of Arizona Department of Health Services, Aetna, Forever Resorts and many others.
John Gumas
President
John Gumas
President
Top Strength: Achiever
John is recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on Challenger Brand Marketing®. He is the author of the popular books “Marketing Smart” and “Challenger Brand Marketing”. In addition, John is an adjunct professor of branding, advertising and interactive marketing, a sought-after speaker and a regular columnist for several publications and blogs.
John currently sits on many boards, including the San Francisco Giants Community Fund, The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco State University, The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, and The Elios Society / Elios Charitable Foundation.
John was recently inducted into the San Francisco State University Hall of Fame, recognized for his community service and leadership by the U.S. Senate and the S.F. Giants, and was selected as the “Man of the Year” by The Elios Society.
Marcus Kent
Senior Vice President of Agency Services
Marcus Kent
Senior Vice President of Agency Services
Top Strength: Empathy
Marcus Kent, who has been instrumental as the President of Organizational Development, brings over 20 years of experience launching and advising over 50 growing and established businesses globally. His impressive career includes executive roles in startups, large international brands, and various other sectors, balancing these parallel pursuits with remarkable success. Marcus’s strategic vision, honed through his diverse experiences, has consistently delivered measurable results across industries such as packaging, consumer products, sports apparel, licensed brands, and food service, inspiring confidence in Board Developer’s future under his leadership.
Elaine E. Ralls, Ph.D.
Co-Founder
Elaine E. Ralls, Ph.D.
Co-Founder
Top Strength: Positivity
“Everything will be alright in the end so if it is not alright it is not the end” — The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel….. favorite quote of mine from the movie. As a co-founder, I get to support our team and work with leadership development plans that allow them to stretch and grow and be their best for each other and for our clients. I love how forward-thinking Commit’s team is, and that we have built so many long term and meaningful relationships with our team members, our clients and in our community.
My dissertation research was on measuring the effectiveness of marketing and advertising. At Commit, clients are committed to their own growth, actively involved, and crave results. Just like us.
Personally, I serve on the Pacific Southwest BBB and Bank 34 boards, support leadership development in the community, and enjoy living my “One Big Life” with friends and family.
Stephanie Pentelute
Vice President Client Services
Stephanie Pentelute
Vice President Client Services
Top Strength: Consistency
If you ask anyone in my circle what they’d say about me, I think they’d say I like to think big.
Big ideas are what come naturally to me after more than 20 years of account management experience, primarily in the casino, hospitality, automotive and quick-service / fast-casual restaurant industries.
Over the years, I’ve been proud of my ability to create and cultivate high-performance teams with a personal focus on developing long-lasting client relationships and loyalty.
When I’m able to turn off the switch for a bit and focus on non-work fun, I enjoy wine tasting (especially in central California), traveling, golfing (but not during the Arizona summers) and spending time with my husband and two children.
Lanny Ward
Creative Director
Lanny Ward
Creative Director
Top Strength: Empathy
After having studied photography and graphic design in college, I began my career as a designer and illustrator for a local newspaper. I went on to work for/with some of the top ad agencies in the Southwest—building and leading various teams of writers, designers, developers, photographers and others toward the best work possible. What I love most is working with clients to discover or rediscover the heartbeat of their brand. Even as a child, I remember being compelled to take my toys apart to see how they worked. I believe this innate curiosity has shaped who I am today. I love getting to the bottom of things to better understand how it works (or not). This ultimately ends up showing us what direction to point the ship. When not in the office, I love spending my time with my wife and kids, writing/playing music, or riding my motorcycle—all the while trying to learn how to live in the moment.
Janelle Brannock
Vice President Marketing & Communications
Janelle Brannock
Vice President Marketing & Communications
Top Strength: Input
As someone who wrote her first “book” at age 8 and dreamt up a fictional superhero called Banana Man who went on wild escapades every Christmas Eve (honestly, I don’t even know), I get to tell stories for a living. Real stories that matter…and aren’t about weird banana-yielding superheroes. How cool is that?!
With stints as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor and PR gal, my 25-year career has taken lots of twists and turns. Just like a good book, one might say. From covering grisly crime scenes as a police reporter to attending a presidential inaugural ball in our nation’s capital, my career path of finding and telling stories has taken me from Phoenix to Washington, D.C., and back again.
Today, I guide brand strategy at Commit—alongside an uber-talented group of creative geniuses. Along the way, I’ve been able to work on some amazing brands including McDonald’s, Pfizer, Make-A-Wish America, UnitedHealthcare, Nationwide Insurance and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
In my downtime, you can find me curled up with a good book (shocking, I know), hanging out with my kids or enjoying a leisurely brunch with my better half.
Carrie Kapp
Director of Media and Production
Carrie Kapp
Director of Media and Production
Top Strength: Analytical
With more than 15 years of marketing and advertising experience, mama bear-in-residence, mercenary contract negotiator and client advocate, I oversee Commit’s account services team to keep projects on track, on budget and moving through the system to ensure client satisfaction. I also work with the media team to ensure analytics are always utilized to provide maximum return on investments. My hospitality expertise has been utilized for clients such as Two Roads Hospitality, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Bedford Springs Resort and Costa d’Este. An avid DIYer, I have been known to spend my off-time remodeling bathrooms and even building a swimming pool when not running my daughter to dance class or off-roading with my husband.
Meredith Schrom
Digital Director
Meredith Schrom
Digital Director
Top Strength: Empathy
Starting my career in account management, I’ve always lived and breathed client support, putting people and their goals at the center of every campaign. Over the past 10 years, I’ve transitioned to the dark side digital department, where I now guide Commit’s digital strategy across social, programmatic, organic and paid search, and more. I’m involved in every stage of digital projects and campaigns from market research and competitive analysis to execution, testing, optimization and (my personal favorite) reporting!
Call me a nerd, but I love numbers as much as Count von Count from Sesame Street, AH! AH! AH! Whether it’s analyzing performance data, uncovering trends, or teasing out insights, I’m all about telling stories through data. Basically my job is one-third psychology, one-third analysis, and one-third storytelling. Told you I loved numbers!
When I’m not buried in dashboards, I’m usually chasing after my two young boys, who just might be my toughest job yet.
Frosene Phillips
Vice President Client Services, California Division
Frosene Phillips
Vice President Client Services, California Division
Top Strength: Arranger
Frosene is a seasoned media executive, having worked with major and national accounts throughout the country.
She cut her teeth in the media business when she worked for her father, who penned his entertainment/restaurant column for the Oakland Tribune for 29 years. She later penned her own column, “Frosene on the Scene,” which ran in the Oakland Tribune for more than 20 years.
Frosene is actively involved with her Greek community and her three grandkids.
Shannon Aldrich
Lead Developer
Shannon Aldrich
Lead Developer
Top Strength: Achiever
Additional Strengths:
- Strategic
- Learner
- Ideation
- Analytical
Heidi Anderson
Senior Copywriter
Heidi Anderson
Senior Copywriter
Top Strength: Achiever
Additional Strengths:
- Strategic
- Learner
- Intellection
- Relator
Danielle Baquerizo
Account Supervisor
Danielle Baquerizo
Account Supervisor
Top Strength: Woo
Additional Strengths:
- Discipline
- Context
- Communication
- Developer
Alexis Bennett
Social Media Content Specialist
Alexis Bennett
Social Media Content Specialist
Top Strength: Empathy
Additional Strengths:
- Positivity
- Activator
- Woo
- Communication
Alyssa Clayton
Production Designer
Alyssa Clayton
Production Designer
Top Strength: Consistency
Additional Strengths:
- Consistency
- Relator
- Intellection
- Empathy
Alayna Dalgleish
PR Account Manager
Alayna Dalgleish
PR Account Manager
Top Strength: Restorative
Additional Strengths:
- Strategic
- Ideation
- Developer
- Futuristic
Jade Frazier
Social Media Manager
Jade Frazier
Social Media Manager
Top Strength: Positivity
Additional Strengths:
- Futuritic
- Achiever
- Developer
- Input
Sarah Jayne Gipson
Vice President Digital Marketing, California Division
Sarah Jayne Gipson
Vice President Digital Marketing, California Division
Top Strength: Learner
Additional Strengths:
- Responsibility
- Developer
- Strategic
- Arranger
Sophie Hansen
Associate Account Manager
Sophie Hansen
Associate Account Manager
Top Strength: Consistency
Additional Strengths:
- Relator
- Discipline
- Strategic
- Harmony
Logan Huff
Copywriter
Logan Huff
Copywriter
Top Strength: Developer
Additional Strengths:
- Woo
- Positivity
- Belief
- Connectedness
Ray Kinzie
Office Manager
Ray Kinzie
Office Manager
Top Strength: Analytical
Additional Strengths:
- Harmony
- Achiever
- Responsibility
- Consistency
Alexis Lagios
Account Supervisor, California Division
Alexis Lagios
Account Supervisor, California Division
Top Strength: Positivity
Additional Strengths:
- Developer
- Arranger
- Restorative
- Achiever
Stephanie Leal
Creative Designer, California Division
Stephanie Leal
Creative Designer, California Division
Top Strength: Relator
Additional Strengths:
- Achiever
- Learner
- Responsibility
- Harmony
Julie Lorenz
Senior Copywriter & Content Creator, California Division
Julie Lorenz
Senior Copywriter & Content Creator, California Division
Top Strength: Developer
Additional Strengths:
- Harmony
- Empathy
- Positivity
- Consistency
Janeah Lucero
Group Account Director, California Division
Janeah Lucero
Group Account Director, California Division
Top Strength: Achiever
Additional Strengths:
- Positivity
- Learner
- Relator
- Self-Assurance
Mandy Ma
Digital Marketing Content Manager, California Division
Mandy Ma
Digital Marketing Content Manager, California Division
Top Strength: Relator
Additional Strengths:
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Ideation
- Input
Erin Patterson
Digital Marketing Manager
Erin Patterson
Digital Marketing Manager
Top Strength: Competition
Additional Strengths:
- Input
- Positivity
- Intellection
- Empathy
Kenzie Pavlack
Digital Marketing Supervisor
Kenzie Pavlack
Digital Marketing Supervisor
Top Strength: Arranger
Additional Strengths:
- Achiever
- Learner
- Input
- Strategic
Lauren Pendergast
Senior Account Manager
Lauren Pendergast
Senior Account Manager
Top Strength: Developer
Additional Strengths:
- Relator
- Empathy
- Deliberative
- Achiever
Amy Perez
Account Supervisor
Amy Perez
Account Supervisor
Top Strength: Empathy
Additional Strengths:
- Harmony
- Relator
- Maximizer
- Arranger
Rochelle Perez
Social Media Content Specialist
Rochelle Perez
Social Media Content Specialist
Top Strength: Positivity
Additional Strengths:
- Adaptability
- Developer
- Empathy
- Input
Catherine Ralls
Associate Director of Operations
Catherine Ralls
Associate Director of Operations
Top Strength: Relator
Additional Strengths:
- Strategic
- Arranger
- Responsibility
- Maximizer
Jackson Ralls
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Jackson Ralls
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Top Strength: Competition
Additional Strengths:
- Restorative
- Achiever
- Responsibility
- Arranger
Jorge Ruiz
Digital Marketing Manager
Jorge Ruiz
Digital Marketing Manager
Top Strength: Analytical
Additional Strengths:
- Competition
- Input
- Arranger
- Woo
Caitlyn Trainor
Senior Art Director
Caitlyn Trainor
Senior Art Director
Top Strength: Developer
Additional Strengths:
- Strategic
- Relator
- Empathy
- Positivity
Kaitlyn Walker
Creative Designer, California Division
Kaitlyn Walker
Creative Designer, California Division
Top Strength: Responsibility
Additional Strengths:
- Achiever
- Learner
- Relator
- Strategic
Matt Walker
Senior Art Director
Matt Walker
Senior Art Director
Top Strength: Analytical
Additional Strengths:
- Strategic
- Learner
- Input
- Relator
Connie Waters
Media Planner, Buyer
Connie Waters
Media Planner, Buyer
Top Strength: Achiever
Gene Watson
Director of Social Media
Gene Watson
Director of Social Media
Top Strength: Arranger
Additional Strengths:
- Positivity
- Adaptability
- Maximizer
- Relator
Where Serious Results Look Seriously Cool
You need your Challenger Brand to stand out in a crowded marketplace. We can help. Brand definition? Experience design? Amplifying your marketing efforts exponentially? Yes.