We are Guru, a collaborative crew of experienced big ad agency expats, impact, purpose and brand strategists, design and systems thinkers, connection-creators, artists, writers and designers with an insatiable appetite for constant learning, growth and innovation.
Our work is oriented around your purpose, serving your evolution from darkness toward light in order to achieve a legacy that outlives your time on ‘spaceship earth.’
Our ecosystem is intentionally inclusive of our clients, their stakeholders and customers, their suppliers and vendors, and the world, because we’re all in this together.
What We Do
Public Relations Director
Calling | To give voice to groundbreaking thinkers, doers, and creators through a good (and strategically told) story.
Extracurriculars | Curling up with a good book, pondering a gallery exhibition, applauding a live theatre performance, singing a cappella music, biking along Lake Champlain, sipping specialty oat milk lattes, and exploring the world with her husband, daughter, and son.
Path | Born in NYC and grew up in Vermont. Came back to the Green Mountains after graduating from Cornell University (go Big Red!). Got her start at a Vermont marketing agency growing a PR group and building a social media practice. Went in-house at an academic medical center, then pursued a freelance life and got the chance to work for brands in arts and culture (National History Museum: LA), food and beverage (Barr Hill Gin), clean energy (SunCommon), and technology and innovation (OVR Technology). Now supporting clients at Guru to shape, share, and spread their incredible stories with the world. Teaching at a local college and always learning.
AKA | Tursita, Tall One (She’s 5′ 11″!)
using the power of story to change hearts, minds, and the world
Rosa Lee
Amanda HerreraMedia Buyer and Planner
Calling | To help connect brands and audiences who are looking to make the world a better place with their everyday choices. “One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world” -Malala Yousafzai
Extracurriculars | Time with Family and friends, dancing, swimming, theme parks!
Path | Born and raised in Miami FL to cuban-immigrant parents. I fell in love with communications at a young age and went to the University of Central Florida to deepen that love. Since graduating, I have moved to Boston, Miami and Orlando each time with the intention of furthering my love of communications.
AKA | Manda
working to make an impact on as much as I can for as long as I can.
Alexandra Tursi
Amanda KauffmanSenior Brand Manager
Calling | To bring joy to everyday life. To inspire and create new ideas for passionate people and businesses looking to make this world a better place.
Extracurriculars | All things family. Running, yoga, hiking, crystal therapy with a dash of essential oils, a good Netflix binge, long walks on the beach and short drives to the city.
Path | Born and raised Bostonian, so naturally, a sports fan (especially Patriots and Red Sox). Went to college to play soccer and broadcast baseball games. Tucked away in the woods of New Hampshire, earned a BA in Communications and an MBA in Leadership at Franklin Pierce University. After graduating, Amanda worked at her alma mater, most recently serving as their Director of Marketing. She still lives in Massachusetts with her husband Cody and free-spirited daughter Makenna.
AKA | AK, Mand, Mama
working to create a world filled with happy, healthy people
Amanda Herrera
Brooke Welsh Project Manager
Calling | To be driven by curiosity, connect with others, and approach every challenge with positivity and creative solutions.
Extracurriculars | Exploring the outdoors through camping, hiking, and long walks with borrowed pups (I don’t have my own… yet). I enjoy both film and digital photography and love catching live music.
Path | Originally from Wisconsin and now calling Denver home, Brooke’s journey began at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she studied Journalism and Art—igniting her natural curiosity and creative drive. A proud Leo, she brings a confident, bold energy to everything she does, leading with passion and always seeking ways to inspire and connect with others. As a true extrovert, she thrives in collaborative environments, turning big ideas into reality with creativity and flair. Outside of work, Brooke can be found behind a camera, hiking Colorado’s scenic trails, or catching live music—constantly chasing her next adventure and making the most of every moment.
AKA | Cookie, Lil B
Am bringing ideas to life through collaboration, creativity, and thoughtful direction.
Amanda Kauffman
Catherine NybergWeb Director
Calling | To solve challenges and create visual stories through meaningful designs and solutions.
Extracurriculars | Playing on the beach with family. Traveling, hiking + eating good food. Dancing hula + making lei. Occasional dragon actor.
Path | From the Philippines and raised internationally in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Korea, and Mexico. Attended boarding school in Connecticut. Followed by college at the University of Colorado in Boulder where she earned a B.A. in Business Management. Moved to Kaua’i after graduation and made it home with her husband and their daughters, Emmalani and Coco. Originally pursued a career in hospitality then pivoted into web design, marketing, and branding.
AKA | Mama Beary, Kaye, Jelly Bean,Thay
Designing to inspire purpose and connections
Brooke Welsh
Cheryl EatonManaging director
Calling | To help make the world a better place by stirring up the passion and purpose of people and organizations.
Extracurriculars | Moving and being in nature, hiking, paddling, riding motorcycles and old trucks, wrangling two boys and an aussie, writing, photography, and the occasional adventure race.
Path | Deep pondering and vagabonding; accidental side trip into the film industry; escape into brand strategy and marketing; existential angst leading to an MBA in Sustainable Business and the commitment to use the powerful tools of business for all those who are trying to make the world a better place; teaching the next generation of inspired and ethical graduate students; raising two boys in the hills of Vermont outside the mecca of Burlington.
AKA | Red, CK, CK the Red
Supporting others to thrive
Catherine Nyberg
Connor Bouchard Senior Designer
Calling | To make. To make things better. To make more memories. To make more fun.
Extracurriculars | Snapping pictures, working on my car, trying delicious food, playing trading card games, and probably watching more movies than you.
Path | A Florida man through and through. Connor was raised in South Florida, studied Fine Arts and Graphic Design at Flagler College in North Florida, and currently resides with his partner, Annie, in Central Florida. Most recently, Connor worked in-house with Orlando brands, such as The Orlando Museum of Art and Hawkers Asian Street Food. In his work, Connor embraces the everyday challenge of trying to make the design world a better place.
AKA | CB, Bouche (with as many “u”s as you want)
Am Making a difference with impactful things for special people and exceptional brands
Cheryl Eaton
Dan Young Creative Director
Calling | To use creativity as a force for good
Extracurriculars | Making, fixing, playing, exploring and always learning
Path | After spending his youngest years traveling the world as an Army brat and his teenage years tending to the family’s Christmas Tree farm Dan decided to eschew both for a career as “a creative.” After meeting his creative counterpart (see Kimb’s bio) in their college advertising club they set off on a journey around the world and advertising landscape working with incredible people and organizations to help brands find and establish their voice.
Am excited to help good companies spread the word with great work
Connor Bouchard
Emma TinloyBrand Manager
Calling | Amplifying the love and loyalty for purpose-driven brands through aspirational creativity, genuine curiosity, and the desire to make a change and propel important voices forward.
Extracurriculars | Traveling by foot, wondering, exploring. Fueled by veggies, humor, creativity, and sunshine. Most likely not sitting still, on the soccer field coaching or coffee-shop-hopping.
Path | A NorCal girl through and through – born and raised in the Bay Area, she attended UC Davis to study Communication (and soccer) and later found home in Sacramento, California where she entered the world of (the original) “social marketing” and advertising, working on statewide public health behavior change campaigns. She ventured into creative project management working on ad campaigns and website designs for clients in the tech industry. Her passion for health, communication, and working alongside curious and creative people has propelled her into the Guruverse!
AKA | TinTin, Emita
confident that there is always a creative solution
Dan Young
Gagan (Jared Levy)Founder
Calling | To combine visionary creativity with practical solutions that empower movements for the greater good.
Extracurriculars | Gagan sits on the board of directors for the prestigious Social Venture Circle, a premier socially responsible business community, as well as the board of the Love Serve Remember (Ram Dass’) Foundation. He is also an adjunct professor for the University of Colorado advertising program, and frequent speaker/contributor for many universities, conferences and corporate events.
Path | Born in DC; raised near Baltimore; schooled at University of Colorado; lived in Australia, Costa Rica, Venice Beach and other assorted beachy destinations; now located in Marin county with wife Jocelyn, baby girl Jaya Grace and ever present dog Beans.
AKA | Gagan Baba (Infinite Sky); Baba Duder; Dude Who Nurtures
commited to empowering social movements & organizations to contribute to a thriving people and planet!
Emma Tinloy
Jacie WoodardDigital Media Associate
Calling | To be bold, or italic, but never regular.
Extracurriculars | Books, books, & more books. Advocating for the revival of snail mail, performing lengthy skin care regimens, catching flights & subsequently posting about it, having an existential crisis about whether I’m a Millennial or Gen Z – and doing it all with a cat on my lap.
Path | Raised in Annapolis, but studied in Savannah & Chicago. Spent time in 7 different creative majors before landing in social media (for right now). Started a stationery company. Currently piloting several social presences. Dreaming of writing a book, making the world a better place through kindness, and moving to a remote island. My path is only just beginning and in the wise words of Natasha Bedingfield, “the rest is still unwritten…”
AKA | Jac(e) or J, but never Jackie.
a creator of connections and community
Gagan (Jared Levy)
Kimb LuisiCreative Director
Calling | To find the good in every project
Extracurriculars | Reading. If there is a written word near Kimb she will read it – books, newspapers front to back, every plaque in a museum. It. Will. Be. Read. As a Vermonter she is also contractually obligated to enjoy time on lake Champlain, hiking, and snow – a contract she is thrilled to fulfill.
Path | Born & raised in VT. College in Philadelphia. Her advertising career has taken her from mad-men era NYC agencies like DDB & JWT, to working on VW in Berlin, to Content houses like Courageous Studios, to startups in Los Angeles like Sawhorse Productions and full circle back to VT.
Am a Hufflepuff and proud of it, and a believer in the power of collaboration
Jacie Woodard
Kevin VanValkenburghDirector of Media
Calling | I am called by Les Paul and Bourbon to find inner peace through music and the deliciously firey burn of great bourbon for the betterment of all mankind.
Extracurriculars | I am a musician, ex comic, and adjunct instructor teaching digital marketing and media at two major universities who also loves to cook, eat what I cook and then work it off at an Orangetheory Fitness location wherever I may be in the world. Then I play guitar and sing to soothe the masses with my dulcet tones in 90s classics.
Path | I have strolled both sides of the path. I have worked for giant holding company agencies and top 100 brands. My success comes from my curiosity and hunger to be on the cutting edge of the industry with a fierce test and learn mentality. My mantra is the right time, right place, right message, to the right person equals business results are the series of words that drive my strategy and execution.
AKA | Nutznorm. If you meet me in person you will know why.
am the guy who creates solutions to business problems and does it accountably
Kimb Luisi
Lauren RosenquistProduction Designer
Calling | To use visual storytelling and design to help the world become a better place.
Extracurriculars | Hiking, Camping, Snowboarding, Mountain biking, and Boating. Absolutely loves dogs and fosters as many as she can!
Path | Raised on the beaches of Scituate, Massachusetts. Graduated from Bridgewater State University with a BFA. Then bounced around New England, spending time in Maine and New Hampshire while designing for a wide variety of industries such as candy companies and Igloo coolers. Runs a small business designing for local businesses in her spare time.
AKA | Lo
designing to inspire people to make the world a better place.
Kevin VanValkenburgh
Sam LowyCopywriter
Calling | To entertain, excite, and inform.
Extracurriculars | Writing and performing with my sketch/improv comedy group, Pizza Party Comedy, going on walks with my two dogs (Barkley and Diego) and my wife, cooking new recipes, holding my cats (Dusty and Panda) like little babies, working on my garden, DJing, and cheering on the Phoenix Suns.
Path | A Phoenician to the core, I’ve spent the majority of my life living in The Valley of the Sun (with a brief stint living in South Kona, HI). I studied English Literature at Arizona State University where I was the director of Barren Mind improv. My career in advertising began when I worked as a Content & Social Media writer at a small shop in Downtown Phoenix. From there, I transitioned into a Production Manager role at one of the fastest-growing agencies in the southwest. Though, it wasn’t long before I got back into writing. With more than 10 years of industry experience, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with brands small and large, local and national, ranging in industries from consumer goods to automotive, from gaming to food & beverage, gaining plenty of notable nominations and winning a few awards along the way.
AKA | Sammy J Killa, Slammin’ Salmon, Steve the Banker
an animated/fierce/zealous/dynamic go-getter that's always looking to push the envelope.
Lauren Rosenquist
Renee BrownDirector of Client Services
Calling | Be an advocate for good causes, good people, and good ideas.
Extracurriculars | Parenting, lagree method pilates, any beach-related activities, any water sports, volunteering at non-profits, reading, and binging Netflix and/or HBO.
Path | Growing up in Honolulu, it never crossed Renee’s mind that she would build a career in advertising – her first job was selling boards at a surf shop. After moving to the “mainland” to major in Political Science at the University of California, Irvine, going to law school seemed like the logical next step. After an internship at CP+B in Venice, CA, the rest was history. Renee went on to work at TBWA\Chiat\Day LA on accounts such as Nissan and Gatorade, and Team One on Lexus. She most recently embarked on a journey in the nonprofit world, as the Marketing + Social Media Director at Miry’s List. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two boys.
AKA | RB, Rae, R-Dub
A champion for good causes, good people and good ideas.
Sam Lowy
Rosa LeeBookkeeping
Calling | Believe family comes first and constantly inspired by the kindness and honesty in others.
Extracurriculars | Rosa loves to travel, enjoy the tropical ocean and the outdoors. Self-Employed for many years, gives her time to spend it with the family as Grand Mama Rosa. She is trustworthy and a caretaker for family, friends and team workers.
Path | Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico; schooled in California, getting several certifications; Medical Assistant, Notary Public and Signing Agent and finally a degree in Business Administration with emphasis in accounting. She was able to stay home and raise four talented children and is now a very proud grandma of four, especially with a new addition and a blessing Jaya Grace Levy. She has been working for Guru for four years, learning and experiencing the growth of the company.
AKA | Mama Rosa, Cuchy, Rosita
A believer in family coming first and want to inspire kindness and honesty in others.
Renee Brown
Alexandra Tursi 