Profile photo of Shannon Gabor Clever Creative's founder and CEO

Shannon Gabor

CEO/Founder

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Shannon Gabor is the Founder, CCO, and entrepreneurial spirit behind Clever Creative.

With over two decades of experience, Shannon got her start in entertainment promotions for Burger King and 7-Eleven with Equity Marketing. She then went on to work at Mattel on global packaging design and licensing while living in Hong Kong for a year.

Driven by curiosity and a desire to make work that matters, Shannon oversees the new business strategy as well as the direction and growth of Clever Creative, capitalizing on her understanding of what compels a brand to hire an agency and what an agency needs to do to make that brand a success.

Shannon is utilizing her experience and strength as a female entrepreneur to mentor the next generation of creative thinkers through the Step Up Women’s Network and has served on the Advisory Board of Peace First. Currently, she’s serving on the Los Angeles Boards of Directors for AIGA as an advocate of design.

She received her BFA from the University of Southern California where she honed her passion for both sides of the creative coin by majoring in Fine Arts and minoring in Public Relations and Communications. Shannon taught Creative Brainstorming and Concepting at Otis College of Art and Design, sharing her experience and enthusiasm for left-brain versus right-brain thinking.

Justine Smith

Director of Operations

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Justine oversees and manages all factors of project health at Clever for our clients and their brands. Her extensive background in project management, digital and print production, integrated marketing partnerships, and events allows her to lead from a wealth of experience.

Her experience ranges from technology (Yahoo! Music) to nonprofit (Global Green USA) and education (SCI-Arc). Fostering clear communication and understanding the flow of each project phase are key to Justine’s natural talent for guiding the overall process and delivering exceptional client service.

Michelle Seekamp

Director of Strategy

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Michelle oversees Strategy at Clever with equal parts creativity and analytical thinking. With a background in the world of high-growth startups, Michelle has led internal marketing, digital content strategy, and content efforts across a broad range of verticals including entertainment, fintech, hospitality, home furnishings, and lifestyle brands.

A creative by training and curious by nature, clients connect with Michelle’s hands-on collaborative style and a knack for coming up with smart, strategic solutions fast. She leads a team of seasoned copywriters, researchers, content producers, and strategists ready to take on any challenge.

Emily Zarnow

Art Director / Photographer

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Emily brings high value experience in design, specifically in digital and identity systems, in addition to print and mobile app design.

Her top-rate creative leadership at Clever make her an effective client liaison as she pushes our team daily to deliver compelling work to each of our clients. Emily’s creative vision behind the camera lens has provided effective photography solutions for a host of our client’s brands. Her brand experience includes time spent in-house as well as at agencies like Steelhouse, and Lunchbox where she worked on global brands such as Kraft Foods, Walmart, Purina, and Johnson & Johnson.

Meredith Godwin-Kresge

Art Director

Meredith creatively leads ideas and designs from concept to execution. With an eye for detail and a blend of creative and technical production skills, Meredith is a communicator and problem solver who collaborates with others to deliver high value creative solutions that meet client objectives. She works closely with the Chief Creative Officer,, project managers as well as cross functional producers to design, create and maintain every client’s visual presence across marketing efforts for their products and services.

Her almost 7-year experience at Clever has supported projects of all scale for Warner Media, Metrolink, City of Pasadena, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Beverly Hilton Hotel and Downtown Glendale Central Library. Prior to Clever, she worked on a variety of CPG brand and civic projects including Pretzel Crisps, Saffron Road, ThinkThin, Kraft and UCLA.

Kristia Gonzales

Graphic Designer

Kristia works directly with the art director in designing and executing a variety of graphic design projects, from concepts to production and post-production, ensuring tight deadlines are met and work is pixel-perfect.

Kristia has contributed to projects for Metrolink, VCA Animal Hospitals, Mattel, Gennev and The Garland Hotel.

Gloria

Balboa

Gloria helps manage overall health and wellness of projects at Clever for our clients and our brands. Her extensive background in project management, digital asset production, omni-channel marketing, organic social media and website production allows her to operate from a vast point of view.
Her experience lies in lifestyle and CPG brands that range from apparel, beauty, food and automotive industries. Gloria’s attention to detail and organization combined with her creative spirit allows her to facilitate projects with a great understanding.

Small by Choice,

Human by Design

What if brands were more human?

It’s the question we get to answer for our clients everyday. As an independent female-led agency with over 15 years of experience, we use our expertise to connect real humans to honest brands. We show them warmth, ask what they believe, and actually listen to what they say.

Then we give them everything they need to thrive; from a strong foundation to beautiful assets to extended support. Because, at the end of the day we don’t create brands and send them out into the wild… we bring brands home.

Profile photo of Shannon Gabor Clever Creative's founder and CEO

SHANNON GABOR

CCO/Founder

Ana Dixon

Chief Financial Officer

Emily Palmer

Group Account Director

Emily Zarnow

Sr. Art Director / Photographer

Bella Betiato

Sr. Art Director

Meredith Godwin-Kresge

Art Director

Corinne Lee

Sr. Strategist

Kristia Gonzales

Graphic Designer

Francis Navarro

Production Designer

Gloria Balboa

Project Manager

Chelsey JOHNSTAD

Project Coordinator

Elba Henriquez

Account Supervisor

Stacie Thomas

Human Resources

Golden Rules

Stay Curious

No client archetype means we get to know consumers across verticals. We carry this deep understanding into every project, creating meaningful connections between brands and their audiences.

Dare to be Daring

Go out on a limb. Take a dive, headfirst, and come out stronger, weirder, better for it. Who knows? Your creative courage may rub off on someone else.

Always Kind

What can we say, we were raised with good manners. It’s evident in how we show up for each other and our clients, in the genuine warmth of our work, and built into the walls of our creative cabin. Are you our people?

Clever In Quotes

It’s in our people & our work; frankly we think it’s in the water.

Shannon, CCO/Founder

Clear communication and collaboration is key to our process.

Justine, Director of Operations

I am blown away on a daily basis by the talent of the people on our team.

Meredith, Art Director

Are you Clever?

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