About us
Connecting people to the world’s most celebrated products and ideas.
- 1 Build relationships before things
- 2 Bring your best
- 3 Get to useful quickly
- 4 There’s always more to learn
- 5 These are a guide
Meet our team
Andrew Kessler
Founder
Andrew Kessler
Founder
A little about me …
I’m a creative director, entrepreneur, and marketing enthusiast. I’ve written a non-fiction book on a NASA Mars mission, designed a best-selling mask, produced a tech-focused TV show, and created strategic messaging and creative campaigns for powerhouses like Google, Amazon, and Simons Foundation. I've got a soft spot for taking on oddly-shaped projects for tech startups, ad agencies, and even Fortune 100 giants. This drove me to start Article Group, where I could work with brands with intricate value propositions, elusive audiences, and intricate user paths.
My personal motto …
“ Patiently and persistently. ”
What makes me happy …
Figs. Jumping in waves. The Sunday crossword. Getting lost in thought. Having an idea. And talking about the day with my kid, Sacha.
Erika Dale
Head of Strategy
Erika Dale
Head of Strategy
A little about me …
I've launched or repositioned over 40 brands globally, winning Webby & Effie awards for both creativity and effectiveness. My work has spanned product categories from beauty to pharma, and packaged goods to financial services, at different budget levels, to different segments. I love solving problems, making things, and getting results.
My personal motto …
“ Anything can be interesting; it's all in the framing. I lead with optimism and empathy, that's my style. ”
What makes me happy …
I have two daughters who are my joy. I am restoring an old farmhouse in an NYC 'burb, and I love working out and doing yoga. Intentional presence and connection is an undercurrent where I find happiness and fulfillment both inside and outside of work.
Gabrielle Campagnano
Content Strategy Director
Gabrielle Campagnano
Content Strategy Director
A little about me …
With a background that's equal parts teaching, writing, editorial management, and content production, I bring each with me to AG. At any given time in the work day, I’m thinking about how to make something stick, something last, something make sense, something make you laugh, something make you do something. The content my team makes ranges from longform thought pieces to social video series, and I appreciate nothing more than a COTD (content of the day) share.
My personal motto …
“ You're not hardcore unless you live hardcore. ”
What makes me happy …
Reading terrible books at the beach; listening to terrible podcasts at the gym; talking to strangers; bringing full meals to the movie theater; the fact that so many Margaritavilles exist.
James Townsend
Chief Executive Officer
James Townsend
Chief Executive Officer
A little about me …
I spent most of my career working for creative advertising and marketing companies, with a few interesting curveball adventures thrown in, like screenwriting and running a music company. Through all of it, I’ve learned that being real, avoiding bullsh*t, having fun, and treating people as you'd like to be treated is where it's at.
My personal motto …
“ Be interested in everything and everyone, and don't be an a**hole. ”
What makes me happy …
Anything that floats (preferably in salt water). Sailing, fishing, clamming, and other such adventures.
Joe Lazar
Founder
Joe Lazar
Founder
A little about me …
The only agency at which I have worked is the one I founded. I think that helps keep our work and our POV very client focused, because I know what it's like to be the client. It's where I spent the first half of my career, after all!
My personal motto …
“ I would have written a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time. ”
What makes me happy …
My family, playing music, cooking, and woodworking.
Joe Moore
Group Creative Director
Joe Moore
Group Creative Director
A little about me …
I came up in the industry as a brand strategist, copywriter, and namer. I spent some decades in NYC and Seattle before moving my independent writing company to Rochester, working with and for some of the best Western New York agencies.
My personal motto …
“ You have to know the rules before you break them. ”
What makes me happy …
I play a little music, cook a little food, and hang out with my not-so-little kids.
Laura Nespoli
Group Strategy Director
Laura Nespoli
Group Strategy Director
A little about me …
Strategic storytelling is my passion. For more than 15 years, I've been using this passion to assist various brands and teams in uncovering business opportunities and advantages across sales and marketing. I've worked with Fortune 100 companies, global non-profits, startups, and community organizations, touching a wide range of industries and roles, both as a client and within agencies. From research and consulting to creative work, my focus has been on crafting stories that inspire change in thinking and behavior. Today, it all comes together in my approach to synthesizing and articulating brand stories and strategies.
My personal motto …
“ Meaning is my medium. ”
What makes me happy …
My heart is moved by dancing, music, cooking, meditation, writing, nature, fitness, family time, friends who are family, love overall, and looking at the moon. I'm passionate about fulfilling my purpose — to rally people and inspire movement through shared meaning. Working in strategy helps me do that, along with speaking about the power of story to develop people and teams, and also using my strategic storytelling skills for social good. I love when the borders between strategy, story and social impact dissolve.
Matthew Duffy
Group Engagement Director
Matthew Duffy
Group Engagement Director
A little about me …
I am a results-driven business leader with a strong background in marketing, strategy, operations, and innovation. Collaborative teamwork is my cornerstone, having led branding for top brands like IMAX, Amazon, Google, and Meta. I help drive strategic planning and hands-on leadership across AG, guiding our teams to craft solutions that enhance collaboration, efficiency, and impact. My goal is to create engaging experiences that move ideas forward.
My personal motto …
“ 1: Keep a learner’s mindset. 2: Be direct and nice, always. 3: Provide solutions (even if you don’t know one will stick). ”
What makes me happy …
My amazing partner, figuring out this wonderful and wacky new world known as #lakelife, championing LGBTQIA+ people. Music and dancing — I am eternally grateful for their friendship throughout my entire life.
Megan Jaffarian
Group Engagement Director
Megan Jaffarian
Group Engagement Director
A little about me …
I'm a strategic account management leader with almost two decades of experience in advertising and creative agencies. I have a passion for leading teams and solving challenges. My work involves collaborating with brands to engage both their internal and external audiences. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with renowned brands like Google, LinkedIn, and Xerox. My fascination with understanding human motivations drives me to create impactful work that generates results. I excel in navigating complex marketing challenges, using a strategic and creative approach that combines analytical thinking with innovative ideas. This unique blend of skills allows me to elevate concepts and achieve outstanding outcomes for clients.
My personal motto …
“ Work hard; be kind. ”
What makes me happy …
I enjoy cooking, hosting friends & family and spending quality time with my husband and daughter (and our dog and cat). I give back by serving on the board for Causewave Community Partners, and previously the American Advertising Federation (AAF) – Rochester. I also am involved on a volunteer basis with the Golisano Children's Hospital.
Melzetta Moody
Head of People & Culture
Melzetta Moody
Head of People & Culture
A little about me …
Every day I work to build a world-class experience for the people at Article Group and ArticleGroup.Org. With extensive leadership experience in industries like financial services, telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals, I bring that perspective to elevating the AG journey: from making virtual meetings feel a lot more personal, to managing all the essential background infrastructure that fuels our organizational development and strategic growth.
My personal motto …
“ My personal Motto, courtesy of Maya Angelou: “People may not remember what you say, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” My goal is to make people feel better after having interacted with me, as an individual and as a people leader. ”
What makes me happy …
I enjoy serving as a trustee for my Alma Mater, Kenyon College, traveling the world with my husband and 4-year-old son, and having a good spa day.
Ryan Miller
Video Production Director
Ryan Miller
Video Production Director
A little about me …
I’ve spent my career managing video production teams, mostly (but not exclusively) in documentary-style branded content. I’ve produced and directed videos in 27 states and three countries. Creating an environment where creative people can do great work, and have fun doing it, is my top priority in every project I produce.
My personal motto …
“ Kindness, creativity, and whimsy ”
What makes me happy …
When I'm not creating content, I thrive on traveling to new cities, hiking through National Parks, and playing with every dog I meet, especially my magnificent maltipoo, Luna.
Yvonne Cheng
Chief Creative Officer
Yvonne Cheng
Chief Creative Officer
A little about me …
I’m a business and growth-focused creative leader with a diverse background in advertising, design, tech, media & sales.
My personal motto …
“ Keep it simple, stupid. ”
What makes me happy …
Watching tv, organizing and decluttering, picking up trash with my trash grabber, hunting for vintage treasures, stoop finds, working out when my lower back isn't in pain, making popcorn, aimless walks with my family and friends, and watching my kids grow up.