Agency Your Digital Marketing Partners Now & Forevermore

We’re bold thinkers
who propel the new and
next in education.

BOLD
& VITAL

Converge is a bold, indispensable partner for colleges and universities. Our thought-provoking digital strategies connect the next generation of learners with right-fit programs.

EXPERT
& ENTERPRISING

We employ sharp perception, data acumen and digital dexterity to carve a clear path to ROI while revolutionizing the marketplace with New & Next ideas.

ENERGIZED
BY DATA

Data is the roaring engine behind all of our efforts. We thrive at the forefront of every MarTech trend to help our clients translate the value from industry to EDU.

Our Team

ANN OLESON CEO & Founder

Ann is the heart and soul of Converge. Ann's true passion is education and helping individuals to realize their true potential. Her 20-plus years in education juxtaposed with her drive and desire for what’s new and next gave her the confidence to start Converge. She led the company in writing the first book on Inbound Marketing for Education and made the Inc. 5000 list the past three years. Ann has worked with more than 200 colleges and universities across North America and is eager to discuss hot topics like Blockchain and reminisce the days of CD-ROM viewbooks. When Ann’s not leading the Converge team in Cedar Rapids and Raleigh-Durham, she’s leading the cheer section of her kids’ softball and baseball games on the weekends.

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ANN OLESON CEO & Founder

JAY KELLY President & Co-Founder

Jay Kelly was a true Madman before co-founding Converge. While working on Madison Avenue, he helped develop world-renowned brands like Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motors (he fondly remembers the cutting-edge technology days of car phones). Now as a partner at Converge, Jay combines his passion for business development and the mission of higher education to help cultivate the best college brands in the world as they seek the right-fit students.

EDU
VISION
ARY

JAY KELLY President & Co-Founder

Susan Harris Vice President of Operations

Susan is the chief cat herder responsible for the day-to-day operations of Converge. Part wrangler, part process maven, part numbers geek, part fixer, Susan has been working in the digital agency realm for two fantastic decades. You may never see her, but she'll be there making sure the right team is assembled and ready to meet your business challenges.

DATA
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Susan Harris Vice President of Operations

HAYLEY WARACK Vice President of Digital Strategy

Behind Hayley’s cool demeanor and understanding tone is a wealth of knowledge of all things digital. Whether it’s creating dynamic advertising strategies or integrating engaging storytelling and content in digital strategies, Hayley keeps the pulse on all things new and next. In addition, she serves as the point person for our strategic partnerships with Google, Facebook and LinkedIn to bring the best and innovative solutions to the table for product development, training and workshops.

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HAYLEY WARACK Vice President of Digital Strategy

Jessica Gortner Vice President of Content Strategy

As an accomplished juggler, storyteller, firefighter, communicator, problem solver, and occasional miracle worker, Jessica brings nearly 20 years of marketing leadership expertise to the Converge team. She’s been in your shoes and gets it—plain and simple. In addition to a marketing agency/consulting background, her 12 years as an on-campus leader in higher ed marketing (at both large public and small private institutions) have taught her to successfully blend the worlds of academia and business to deliver meaningful results. Always pushing for excellence, effectiveness, and efficiency, she never settles for the status quo (or a mediocre margarita). With her accomplished writing and marcom background, she’s passionate about finding the most effective and relevant ways to tell your story to each audience at every opportunity. When she’s not creating killer content solutions for higher ed, Jessica’s living life to the fullest with her husband, son, and loved ones—as a foodie, music lover, and über-proud Notre Dame mom. And yes, her game day tailgates are epic.

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Jessica Gortner Vice President of Content Strategy

Scott Jeffe Senior Director of Market Insights

Scott has worked with more than 200 institutions in 40+ states to apply market data to strategic decisions. With a focus on profiling the demands and preferences of non-traditional (adult, online, etc.) students, Scott has developed a unique sensitivity to ensuring that programs align with student demand while upholding institutional mission and values. He is a regular presenter at national conferences and is the author or co-author of numerous reports, most recently a national study on the demands and preference of post-traditional graduate students.

DATA
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Scott Jeffe Senior Director of Market Insights

Stacey McGurk Senior Client Services Director

With great social media comes great responsibility. Stacey's love of staying connected and unwavering pull toward lifelong learning help her bring the best ideas to her role as Senior Client Services Director. Her uncanny ability to understand people and build relationships is clutch in her day-to-day job. Stacey is relentless in her pursuit of client success, and she has her 9+ years of experience to prove it.

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Stacey McGurk Senior Client Services Director

Jenna Bezner Client Services Director

Jenna is a marketing and account management professional with 9 years experience, with 3 of those years being in Higher Education marketing. She prides herself in working with clients to find solutions that fit their needs while being their advocate and strategic partner.

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Jenna Bezner Client Services Director

Dan Campagna Client Services Director

Dan comes to Converge after 10+ years in higher education. He has worked both in “front-facing” roles with alumni and volunteers, and “behind the scenes” with fundraisers and administration. With a background in advertising, design, social media, and content, he is uniquely positioned to help you make sense of all of the various pieces of your marketing efforts.

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Dan Campagna Client Services Director

Mel Doudna Client Services Director

Mel's number two goal in life: to connect students with their dream schools. She uses the perfect messaging and laser-focused strategy to elevate the marketing landscape. Her decade of experience in digital marketing and communications is evident through the blood, sweat and tears that go into her work. Her number one goal in life? You'll have to ask her yourself.

DATA
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Mel Doudna Client Services Director

Juliana Kogan-Viscovich Client Services Director

With over 10+ years in the Digital Advertising space working on multiple sides of the business, Juliana brings an abundance of experience. She’s great at finding areas of improvement, process streamlining, and perfecting the overall internal/external communications. Juliana finds it important to understand in-depth needs of each client ensuring the execution of all tasks is always a seamless and positive experience. When she’s not tackling client requests, she’s usually in the kitchen cooking up a storm and experimenting with new recipes.

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Juliana Kogan-Viscovich Client Services Director

Meri Pusteoska Client Services Director

Meri's considerable experience makes her a connoisseur of project management and client relationship building. She can be seen the genesis of every new partnership we form at contract signage and she remains present throughout implementation. Meri has a not-so-hidden talent for keeping us all in line and making sure projects launch on time, within scope and on budget.

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Meri Pusteoska Client Services Director

J.D. Wyborny Client Services Director

J.D. has vast experience in digital marketing strategy, data analysis, and account management in multiple different industries including; college athletics, higher education, food & beverage, and healthcare. He has a passion for creating data driven digital strategies that enhance clients lead generation efforts. His diverse background in client facing and strategy roles allows him to help achieve his customers’ digital goals and effectively communicate results.

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J.D. Wyborny Client Services Director

Chris Zagar Client Services Director

Chris is a digital marketer with 15+ years of harnessing the power of data to deliver positive outcomes for brands. He cut his teeth in the agency world at Wunderman, working on sophisticated CRM programs for healthcare and pharma clients. He discovered his passion for education at Discovery, managing college access programs connecting first generation, low income students with right-fit institutions. When not helping client partners achieve their goals, he’s an active songwriter. He may or may not have a suite of songs about data.

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Chris Zagar Client Services Director

Aaron Blau Business Development Director

Aaron has been in your shoes. He's worked as a digital and social media manager in higher education, worked with marketing and enrollment managers across the country as a consultant, and knows the challenges you face on a daily basis. From his work in both athletics and academics communications and marketing at the University of Iowa or his years of consulting experience, Aaron brings a wide variety of solutions to your challenges. If you want to talk BBQ or baseball, he's also your guy.

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Aaron Blau Business Development Director

BRIAN CONNELLY Business Development Director

Brian is the guy you want to talk to at Converge. He’s a true solutions guy, helping hundreds of universities build successful student yield campaigns. When he was 14 years old, Brian learned the value of hard work and the dollar when he was slipped an extra $2 for helping clean the deli room at his first job. This set the foundation for a career in account management and sales at LinkedIn Edu, EducationDynamics and McCann Erickson. Now at Converge, Brian ensures a perfect partnership with our clients by being there every step of the way and still to this day uses that valuable lesson that a little extra hard work will pay off for our clients.

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BRIAN CONNELLY Business Development Director

Jesse Homan Business Development Director

Jesse has over 10 years of experience in Higher Education, working in both the public and private sectors. He has extensive knowledge of the challenges facing the modern university, and enjoys finding unique solutions that foster successful strategies married to our tried and true processes.

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Jesse Homan Business Development Director

Jennifer Slaymaker Senior Director of Operations

Over the course of her career, Jen has run the gamut of traditional and digital marketing techniques. Her philosophy as a Senior Digital Strategist is to be equal parts advisor and collaborator with her clients. Outside of client relationships, Jen tackles thoughtful process improvement and knowledge transfer to empower her colleagues and build a better/faster/stronger marketing organization.

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Jennifer Slaymaker Senior Director of Operations

Jodi Hormann Director of Design

Jodi LOVES heavy lifting. Whether it’s training for competitive powerlifting in the gym or lifting the visual and emotional effectiveness of your brand—the heavier the better. Her 20-plus years of higher education and corporate branding has helped develop her design muscles and she loves pushing to the next level and chalking up PRs (personal records). Her award-winning design has hoisted Fortune 500 companies, including Rockwell Collins and Sony Music Masterwork and over 100 colleges and universities including Loyola University Chicago, McMaster University and Claremont Graduate University. When she’s not helping our clients reach their own PR’s, you can find her in the gym training with her husband or watching her sons muscle their competition on the football field as a high school running back and a NCAA D3 defensive tackle. Yep, strength runs in the family.

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Jodi Hormann Director of Design

Ben Ross Director of Talent

Given the chance, what would you @AskBenRoss? He's a Digital Strategist who's known for finding hidden value in the market. He's mastered the art of display, SEO, email marketing and sometimes even [redacted] to help companies like Microsoft and AOL see uncharted success. For him, New & Next is just the beginning. Follow Ben and see just how far he'll go.

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Ben Ross Director of Talent

Aaron Schrock Director of Digital Technology

Aaron is the synapse that connects best-fit students to their dream schools. (The nerve!) As Director of Digital Technology, he is responsible for keeping Converge’s Digital Strategy platforms and approaches ahead of the cutting edge. He has already launched hundreds of superstar campaigns for organizations and higher ed institutions for some of the top brands across the U.S. Trust Aaron to take your campaigns to the next level, then sit back and watch him work his magic.

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Aaron Schrock Director of Digital Technology

Cori Olinger Senior Digital Project Manager

Cori is a loyal and dedicated professional with proven ability to deliver projects that meet her clients' needs and business objectives. She is a strong communicator, collaborator and leader who positively drives successful plans, budgets, schedules, documentation and reporting for Converge's higher education partners. As Senior Digital Project Manager, Cori ensures that all projects launch on-time, run on budget and our teams are aligned to deliver the best-possible results.

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Cori Olinger Senior Digital Project Manager

Chris Grinnell Senior Digital Advertising Analyst

Chris is passionate about using data to find actionable insights for his clients. While he has held a variety of digital roles in different industries, he believes his time managing campaigns provides a unique viewpoint for his analysis and recommendations. When he's not digging into Google Analytics, he enjoys cheering on the Tar Heels with his family.

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Chris Grinnell Senior Digital Advertising Analyst

Cassie Hansen Digital Manager, Analytics

Technology and higher education are the two sides of the coin that represent Cassie's extensive marketing experience. She is a magician in the way she translates complex sets of data, target audience information and user behavior into data stories with meaningful insights designed to optimize client campaigns that exceed their goals.

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Cassie Hansen Digital Manager, Analytics

Valerie Anders Director of Digital Strategy

Valerie is a digital marketing veteran with over 15 years of experience. She had lead campaigns for agencies and in house brands covering verticals from automotive to jewelry and everything in between. Her fierce insights and dedication to driving results make her a force to be reckoned with. When Valerie isn't focused on all things digital she can be found snuggling with her pitbull Koko.

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Valerie Anders Director of Digital Strategy

Casey Geiger Senior Digital Strategist

Casey is certainly someZEN to talk about! As a dually talented Senior Digital Strategist and registered yoga teacher, Casey's focus and flexibility extend far beyond the mat. She works hard to bring value to the team through her ability to craft tailored strategies that align with every client's definition of success. She's ready and willing to bend over backwards to ensure flawless execution and continued growth. Having worked with a wide variety of businesses, big and small, she brings an in-depth knowledge of all things digital marketing but gets most excited when talking about Google Ads. If she's not at the office or the yoga studio, catch her volunteering at the local women's shelter, at a live concert or cheering way too loudly for the Carolina Panthers, Wofford Terriers, or NC State Wolfpack!

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Casey Geiger Senior Digital Strategist

Chike Lawrence-Mitchell Senior Digital Strategist

Chike is more than just three first names. He's a problem solver, fixer and strategist that goes well beyond marketing. With experience in digital, lead generation and content development for leading brands, he uses communication tools to make waves in mission-driven environments. Digital advertising is more than just his speciality, it's what Converge considers his gift to mankind.

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Chike Lawrence-Mitchell Senior Digital Strategist

Rebecca Murison Senior Digital Strategist

Rebecca comes to Converge with a diverse background of marketing skills, but with a passion and focus when it comes to all things digital. In the last six years, she has been actively involved in evolving the digital promotion of organizations that have worked with her. She has a keen instinct for unearthing unique promotional avenues which may not have been utilized in specific fields and bringing innovative ideas to light.

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Rebecca Murison Senior Digital Strategist

Patrick Stephenson Senior Digital Strategist

As a seasoned marketing expert, Patrick has harnessed his digital marketing experience in several industries from high school athletics/recreation, eCommerce, and higher education. He prides himself on his outside-of-the-box strategy and creative problem-solving to partner on achieving growth goals in each of your accounts. He has actively managed accounts with 6-digit budgets and has the tools and passion to provide the strategic solutions necessary for growth. Patrick is a Facebook Blueprint Buying and Planning Professional and certified in Google Analytics. When he’s not breaking account records, you can find him tailgating at NC State Wolfpack football games, taking names on the tennis court, or editing his most recent photography.

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Patrick Stephenson Senior Digital Strategist

Sarah Stanis Senior Digital Strategist

Sarah journeyed to Iowa from Michigan after graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising Management + Media. She loves designing her house, designing her closet with the latest trends, but most importantly loves designing the best strategy for our digital campaigns. As a senior digital strategist, Sarah works to create a great relationship between clients and prospective students. If in need of great recipes or design advice, Sarah is the first person you should call.

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Sarah Stanis Senior Digital Strategist

Kory Boebel Digital Strategist

Kory is more than just a soccer fanatic, outdoor enthusiast and owner of the cutest puppy in the office. He is those things, but he also optimizes, builds and manages digital campaigns for some of the best colleges and universities in the country. Kory brings energy and passion into every account and he is driven by seeing how minor campaign adjustments can make major impacts for his clients.

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Kory Boebel Digital Strategist

Maddie Cantrell Data Analyst

Maddie Cantrell is a self-described data nerd with a knack for making people laugh. When she is not analyzing campaign performance, you can find her performing comedy at ComedyWorx in Raleigh. She knows your data is no joke, and seriously takes everything into consideration when crafting the best data analytics and SEO strategies. Before Converge, she worked in various digital analytics and SEO roles for companies large and small.

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Maddie Cantrell Data Analyst

Dane Cronbaugh Digital Strategist

As a recent college graduate from the University of Iowa, Dane is ready to take what he's learned and apply it to our client's accounts as a Digital Strategist. Dane is a creative and bold thinker who has a passion for the new & next. He endeavors to provide the best strategy for your campaign by generating meaningful leads to help you reach your enrollment goals. In his free time, you can find him on the basketball court, watching re-runs of The Office or working through a large pepperoni pizza.

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Dane Cronbaugh Digital Strategist

Christina D’Adamio Digital Strategist

Christina comes to Converge from New York City with a background in the publishing industry. Her experience includes strategic planning, brand development, community management, and editorial writing. She is a hardworking team player, determined and committed to making a difference at Converge as a Digital Strategist. Outside of work, Christina brings her passion for fitness to the yoga and boxing studio. When she is not breaking a sweat, you will find this health food junkie behind the lens of her camera, looking to capture what is new and next.

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Christina D’Adamio Digital Strategist

Patrick Hagan Digital Strategist

Patrick is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a BBA in Marketing. Patrick has experience in entrepreneurship including digital marketing and branding and a background in sales. He has a passion for marketing and psychology and is looking to make a career in marketing. Patrick's work involves 360 no-scoping campaigns to help create the most efficient advertisements for the top universities in the nation.

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Patrick Hagan Digital Strategist

Elisha Manassa Digital Strategist

Elisha has been called a "digital Swiss Army Knife." She brings over 10 years of digital marketing experience including content creation, social media and email marketing to Converge. She joins the Digital Advertising Team as a Digital Strategist with an eye for detail and a passion for creative thinking and collaboration. Outside of work, Elisha gets excited about listening to podcasts, connecting with fellow digital mavens on Instagram, cooking for her family, and taking weekend trips around North Carolina.

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Elisha Manassa Digital Strategist

Nicole Taylor Digital Strategist

Nicole is a digital strategist with a passion for creative problem-solving. Energized by the ever-changing world of digital marketing, she has the insight you need to elevate your strategy. Nicole has a Bachelor's degree in marketing from Metropolitan State University. Her greatest achievement in marketing to date has been teaching her mom what a hashtag is.

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Nicole Taylor Digital Strategist

Connor Kelly Associate Director of Marketing

Connor, the young gun with cool hair, spends most of his time building and fostering important relationships throughout the higher education community. Oftentimes playing the Zen master, he’s able to understand and strategize with higher ed marketers and help them reach goals and KPIs. Don’t be fooled, Connor is not new to the game as he certified in Hubspot Inbound Marketing, Inbound Sales and Google Analytics.

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Connor Kelly Associate Director of Marketing

Blaine Phillips Associate Director of Marketing

The most important thing to know about Blaine is that he can make anything and everything look rad. As the Associate Director of Marketing, he works to create the most revolutionary designs for higher ed leaders. With a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Technology, Blaine has a great eye for detail in what's New & Next in marketing. When he's not out in nature or traveling for design inspiration, you can catch him shopping the latest fashion or defending his crown for Sneaker Head of the Office. He knows data is important, but if you give him the chance, he will prove that design is no joke.

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Blaine Phillips Associate Director of Marketing

Samtha Reddy Data Wrangler

Samtha is passionate and self-motivated to use data analytics and machine learning models to build high-quality products/process/solutions that are useful for people. Before Converge, she worked in the IT sector designing and building CRM (Customer Relationship Management) applications. She is a keen advocate for more women in tech and worked as outreach ambassador encouraging female students to take up careers in computing.

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Samtha Reddy Data Wrangler

Kaitlyn Reth Account Associate

Kaitlyn is a junior at the University of Iowa studying Business Analytics and Marketing. As a data geek, she wakes up energized in the morning excited to turn data into meaningful information to impact clients campaigns to soar above and beyond their goals. She loves helping others understand the power data can provide. When Kaitlyn isn't working, she loves to travel and wants to learn how to surf and deep sea dive in Australia.

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Kaitlyn Reth Account Associate

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