"Bogie" is the newest member to join the GWL creative team as a Copywriter. Mary graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2005 with a Bachelor's in Marketing Management, and has since lived in Los Angeles and Houston. Now that she is back in the Natural State, she enjoys spending time outdoors, drinking wine with friends, and playing with her two Chihuahuas, Sooie and Marnie.
We are always looking for talented individuals to join our team. Email your resume here. If you are interested in a career in the creative department, be sure to include a link to your portfolio.
We also accept interns on a regular basis. If interested, send your info to the email address below.
careers@gwladvertising.com
Mark is an editor for See Spot Run Productions. He has been with See Spot Run since their doors opened in 2005. He began his career in Middleton, NY at a local cable TV station as the technical director of the evening news after graduating from Center for the Media Arts in New york City. In 1994, Mark moved to Arkansas and was an editor at two different local television stations before coming to See Spot Run. Mark, along with his wife and two children, resides in the Little Rock area.
Julie brings eight years of experience in account management and service to the table. She’s a whiz at budgets, agendas, briefs, media plans and the basic overall coordination between clients and the sometimes elusive creative department. Through a demonstrated commitment to excellence, Julie has built a solid reputation for providing personalized service and solid strategy, all with great attention to detail. Julie earned a BS in Business with emphasis in Marketing/Advertising from Missouri State University.
When Julie isn't working she spends her free time with her dog, Miller, her cat, Asher (and her husband, Daniel, too). Julie loves to travel and play tennis any day of the week.
GWL's first full-time graphic artist, Jason has been working with us since 2001. Although brought on initially as a print designer, he also contributes to and works closely with the Creative Director and the talented teams behind electronic and interactive media to help ensure a consistent creative direction across print, television and the web.
Feeling that he has entirely too much free time on his hands (and believing that anything over 3 hours of sleep a night is overkill), Jason has recently taken on a new second job: fatherhood.
Christy began working at GWL over 11 years ago when she was the "creative department." She started her career while in college at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro. Seeing a concept come to life, and the twists and turns as it develops, is by far what she enjoys the most about the industry. And, the creative team here makes it fun and interesting along the way! Outside of the office, Christy is a wife to Chris and mother to a rambunctious toddler, Caitlyn--so therefore, she doesn't have time for any hobbies!
Steve's responsibilities are to guide the marketing approach from a media and creative standpoint for our clients. He serves the accounts by negotiating rates, designing media strategy, and planning campaigns that will achieve marketing goals. Steve communicates regularly with clients to make sure we stay on target with the plan and make adjustments when needed. He has 18 years of advertising experience from both the agency and media sales side so he is well equipped to handle all media negotiations.
Steve is married with twin three year old girls who have him wrapped around their fingers. He enjoys golf, Texas Hold'em and watching sports - mostly football.
Dirk is very dedicated member of our team. By utilizing his creative skills, in coordination with the Creative Director's vision, he seamlessly provides artwork that captivates our clients' target market.
When Dirk is not sitting in front of his computer producing work for clients, he is traveling from coast to coast bowling in every amateur or professional tournament he can find.
Kara is responsible for developing new business for the agency and helping assist with our current clients. She handles all public relations for the agency and our clients from handling a grand opening or setting up a press conference to working with a non-profit. She has over 10 years of media experience working for various media outlets here in Little Rock.
Kara lives in Little Rock with her two miniature black Pomeranians Macie and Skye. She is also a certified personal trainer and a Hope Ambassador for the local American Cancer Society.
Pat is part of the administrative department and serves as assistant to Carolyn Bakalekos. She is the first person you see when you walk in the door of GWL and the first voice you hear on the other end of the phone. Her two Shih-Tzu dogs and two Persian cats keep her very busy.
Darla Yarbrough is the production manager of See Spot Run Productions, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the company. She joined GWL in 2002 after graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with two Bachelors Degrees in both Marketing and Advertising. She has been married to her husband Kevin since 2000 and they have a daughter named Anna Claire.
Gary resigned his position of Vice President and General Sales Manager at KARK-TV, an NBC affiliate located in Little Rock, to form GWL Advertising, Inc. in 1993. At the time of incorporation, he felt there was a tremendous need for a new style of agency, one that would focus more on understanding and relating to clients, versus commissions and account additions. GWL has grown from a one-man agency in its infancy to a staff of 17 and multi-millions in client billing.
To quote Gary, “I am extremely proud of my staff. They’re a close group who, without exception, cares about our clients and will do whatever it takes to help them to not only reach their goals and expectations, but to exceed them.”
Also an avid golfer and duck hunter, he lives in Little Rock with his wife Carolyn.
Georgia just celebrated her twelve year anniversary with GWL on Labor Day 2010. She supervises accounts including placing media, proofing print jobs from the graphic arts department and copywriting. Her days are never the same and therefore, never dull!
Outside of GWL Georgia's greatest joys are three blue-eyed granddaughters.
Carolyn has been with GWL since its inception in 1993. For the first nine years she worked part time outside the office keeping the books. By October 2002 the company had rapidly grown and needed a full time business manager for this position and she moved in-house. Her job entails all the things common to any accounting job: billing clients, paying vendors, filing tax reports, and most importantly to everyone here, payroll.
On a personal note, Carolyn lives in North Little Rock with her husband, John, and two golden retrievers, Scooter and Annie. She is the proud grandmother of five grandchildren (four boys and one girl). She stays busy babysitting, playing tennis, working out, biking and reading.
Mary joined GWL's production department in 2000. As the team grew over the years, she moved into the traffic manager's position. From start to finish, Mary knows every project going on at GWL. She is also over our graphic department. From print to electronic, she organizes it all. She meets deadlines and makes sure others here do too! She is always willing to lend a hand on any project-that's why we also call her the resident mother.
Mary is married to her husband of over 24 years, Rick, and has four beautiful children and 4 grandchildren. When Mary is not at the office meeting deadlines, she can be found serving at her church or with her church family.
Sean graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2006, where he double majored in Strategic Marketing and Entrepreneurial Management. He recently joined the GWL team handling New Business Development. Before he joined GWL, Sean was an Account Executive for Little Rock's Fox affiliate, KLRT.
When Sean is not on the road finding great new clients for GWL, he enjoys playing golf, traveling, and watching football. Sean has married for almost three years to his beautiful wife Kristen. He is also the 1999 Carnival Cruise Ship Ping Pong Champion.
Eric is an editor and director of photography at See Spot Run Productions. He graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2008 with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. From there, he worked his way up at KVTN Channel 25 in Little Rock from a master control operator to a producer and editor.
When Eric's not working, he's either writing, shooting, or editing a short film or hanging out with his friends and family. His award winning short film work has been showcased in local film festivals including the Little Rock Film Festival.
Amanda Lawrence has been with us since September of 2000. For the past 10 years she has focused on media planning/buying and account management. As a media planner, she negotiates, plans and places media on a local and regional level for clients. Her experience ranges from high-profile regional automotive groups to rural-market media strategies for smaller start-up clients. As a top-notch negotiator, she insures every dollar is spent efficiently and each client receives great sponsorships and added-value media with every dollar spent. She oversees budgets ranging form a few thousand to a million plus. As an account manager, she meets with her clients daily insuring all advertising plans are communicated and simply organized for the best customer service possible!
