Our Team

Rachel Durkan,
Founder & President

Our organization is founded upon the ideals of teamwork, collaboration and success. When I first started this company nearly a decade ago, I had firsthand knowledge of coding, design, and marketing, all of which I was able to pull from my educational background (I earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and ultimately went back to school to gain multiple certifications in web and graphic design). My diverse expertise gave me a unique understanding of how every piece of the marketing puzzle should fit together to achieve long-term success. But in those beginning stages, I wore a lot of hats – lead web developer, designer, marketing strategist, project manager, sales person, administrator, etc. – and I quickly realized that if I continued to wear all of those hats, I would be pretty good at a lot of things, but never really good at any one thing. Instead, I decided that I wanted to build a company where each role was filled by someone who was really good at that one thing. As it turns out, my teambuilding skills are greater than I initially realized. I am incredibly proud of the award-winning team we have built here at Paradigm. Each team member brings a different unique skill that supports our long-term vision and provides greater value to the team and our clients. I have always believed that I am a partner to my clients, and I take their success and obstacles very personally. As we have grown, each team member shares my deep rooted vested interest in client satisfaction. Together, we work in lockstep with our clients to achieve long term business goals.

As President of Paradigm Marketing & Design, I am responsible for the development of our long-term growth strategy. I work to identify where the organization is headed and then ensure we have the proper resources in place to get us there. I also believe in supporting my team to help them achieve their professional goals as they work to provide the highest quality to our clients. It is our company-wide goal to ensure that every client is 110% satisfied with the work we are doing; and if they’re not, we’ll find a way to make sure we fix that.

Carolyn Menz,
Chief Operating Officer

My love of math and penchant for solving equations makes me a unique asset in the marketing sphere, as I’m a critical thinker with the ability to adapt on the fly. My analytical background has given me the ability to effectively analyze data, which has proven to be a huge asset when faced with logical decision-making opportunities.

My academic background, meanwhile – I majored in mathematics and minored in economics as an undergrad at Smith College and earned my master’s degree in e-commerce at Carnegie Mellon University – has given me the skills I need to effectively translate a client’s long-term business goals into a cohesive marketing strategy. Although the two may seem unrelated, marketing draws upon both creativity and an ability to analyze metrics, and I possess both sets of skills. I can develop a plan, oversee the execution of that plan, and then measure its results and adjust accordingly.

As COO, I oversee our day-to-day operations and ensure the quality of every deliverable that crosses our desks. It is my responsibility to make certain that all promises are being met and that all goals are being achieved; in other words, everything stops at me. At Paradigm, we believe that every project has a purpose, and I make it my mission to ensure that everything we do is designed to serve as a compelling marketing tool that aligns with the client’s overall marketing and business objectives.

Kaitlyn Wilcoxson,
Account Group Supervisor

I have a real love of learning, which means I’m always on the hunt for new and interesting information – whether that’s reading a book, watching a documentary, or even taking a day trip to explore the area around me. It also means that I tend to keep my finger firmly on the pulse of the marketing industry, which allows me to get ahead of trends and spot them before they happen.

I want each of my clients to feel like we are partners – that their success is as important to me as it is to them. The greatest compliment I ever received from one of my clients was them sharing that they felt like I was truly a part of their team.

I’m a problem solver. If I can’t see the solution, I keep digging until I find it. Utilizing my strategic thinking skills and creative abilities, I make it my mission to use social media, sales, and email data to connect the dots to show my clients how marketing efforts produce ROI. And the thing I love most about my work is being able to propel B2B, professional services, and nonprofit organizations to grow their businesses and reach their goals.

I am honored to have been awarded the Gold Level Stevie® Award for Customer Service and Sales Manager of the Year in the 17th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. As Account Group Supervisor at Paradigm, I ensure both our clients and our teams are positioned for growth. I manage our resources, develop team members, monitor the quality of deliverables, and manage process and procedure planning. I proactively facilitate continued education, strategy planning, and offer guidance for our team members to support them in providing clients with a strong ROI on their marketing investment.

Michael Scorcia,
Lead Web Developer

To see success as a web developer, you’ve got to be technically minded and a people person, and luckily for me, I’m both of those things. My degree in multimedia has set me up for success in the technical side of my career – giving me an understanding and appreciation for everything from web and graphic design to photography and videography. More innate to my personality is my eagerness to be a team player and my desire to help my team flourish.

As the Lead Web Developer at Paradigm Marketing & Design, it is my responsibility to ensure that every website we create is running optimally and is updated and secure. No marketing campaign is complete without a functioning website, digital ad or graphic design so it is up to me and my expertise to ensure that our clients’ most valuable tools are operating flawlessly, always.

Kristen Hine,
Creative Manager and Web Strategist

Throughout my career, I have filled a lot of roles and been embedded in many facets of marketing, communications, and business operations, for companies large and small. That experience has empowered me to help businesses meet their marketing and operations goals – to develop and execute a brand strategy from start to finish. My creative eye and technical expertise ensure campaigns are not only visually appealing but functional and engaging for your audience and communicate in a way that reflects your brand.

I thrive on collaboration and teamwork and strive to use my innate organizational and interpersonal communication skills to develop strong working relationships with my clients. I pride myself on my ability to be honest, build respect, and bring positive energy to every project I work on. Being an athlete for most of my life, my competitive nature challenges me to be the best I can be and inspires the same in those around me.

As Creative Manager at Paradigm, I take a holistic approach to achieve client satisfaction, making sure even the most complex obstacles are addressed, resolved, and communicated efficiently. I manage our clients’ expectations throughout the entire creative development process and balance their needs with realistic, functional solutions. I also coordinate all communication between the client and our internal team to ensure each project stays on track and within deadline. I help projects run seamlessly and look beautiful, directing our team to work cross functionally with clients, vendors, designers, and web developers. I also organize workflow, build creative strategy, and provide guidance on brand visuals across print and digital categories.

Vicki Harte,
Director of Client Engagement

I love working a room—but not in the traditional sense. For me, it’s all about meeting people, learning what makes them tick and educating them. I don’t sell; I help people become astute decision makers of marketing services that solve their problems—whether it serves me or not.

I am a well-connected networker with a keen awareness of brand development and messaging. Relationship-building is in my blood; it fuels my fire. I have made a successful career helping small and mid-size businesses demystify marketing and crystallize their objectives through relationships built on trust and integrity.

In 2022 I was honored to receive a Bronze Stevie Award for Sales Director of the Year for my work at Paradigm and collaborative efforts. As Director of Client Engagement at Paradigm, I am responsible for building client relationships and identifying new business opportunities. As the external face of the Paradigm brand, I build authentic relationships with business professionals, while representing Paradigm as strategic partner that helps them achieve a more marketing-savvy approach to driving business growth.

Christa Welcome,
Bookkeeper

At first thought, you wouldn’t expect art and accounting to function harmoniously – one doesn’t seem to have much to do with the other. But then, perhaps you haven’t met me.

I have a background in Fine Art – outside of work I love printmaking and knitting at a high-level – and I have spent my career working as an administrator and financial technician in various sectors of the business industry. My experience in art gives me the capacity to see my work from different angles and take a creative approach to interpreting and presenting accounting information. I also love solving puzzles, focusing on the details, identifying gaps, and fine tuning my approach while maintaining a holistic, high-level view of the end goal. I thrive on adventure, taking yearly backpacking trips and camping every chance I get in my spare time.

At Paradigm, I serve as the Bookkeeper, maintaining and tracking the firm’s financial records, performing job and project costing, and ensuring recordkeeping compliance. I also partner with the firm’s strategic leadership team to compile the information to accurately reflect our business position and profitability, and to serve as the liaison between our firm and our clients’ financial and billing needs.

Harrison Alvarez,
Graphic Designer

I am always looking for ways to improve, both as a professional artist and as amateur golfer. In golf, you never stop learning new things or finding ways to improve your game. The same can be said for design. When I’m designing, I don’t stop until I’ve found the best creative solution. And in both scenarios, I listen to all inputs and critiques – totally open to making the necessary adjustments on the fly until the end goal is met.

My first hands-on experience in the graphic arts began with an internship at a marketing and design agency in Manhattan, where I set up mechanicals for trade publications and eventually expanded into packaging design. I learned technique and speed while not compromising on quality. Since then, I’ve worked as a design professional in both the public and private sectors, which has led me to cultivating a well-rounded appreciation for meaningful design.

As a student, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from Rutgers University; and today, I continue to expand my technical skillsets through online courses and by staying on top of new developments and trends in the industry.

Now, as a graphic designer at Paradigm, I work closely alongside our marketing leads to bring brand identities and marketing messages to life for both digital and print outputs. I believe that good design and a clean brand are critical factors for any company in properly communicating its message to its intended audience.

Stephanie Young,
Content Strategist

I have always been a good communicator. Early in my career, I attributed this strength to my chatty personality and love of the spoken word. Over time, I came to realize that the gift of gab is only part of the equation; without the ability to listen—actively listen—”communication” is nothing more than a word.

I love talking, engaging and sharing ideas. But what I love even more is hearing what others have to say and helping them say it when they can’t find the words. For more than 20 years, I’ve been offering strategic communications guidance and copywriting support to businesses of all sizes—from local start-ups to global industry giants. My sweet spot is turning complex internal jargon into real-people language that educates, informs and compels audiences to take action. I do this by asking questions. I listen, I learn, I understand my clients’ communication needs at an intrinsic level. Then I write.

As Content Strategist with Paradigm, I help clients boost their brand image, drive engagement and increase conversion rates through the development of unique and persuasive messaging that is meaningful to their audience.

Stephanie Zarecky,
Content Strategist

Helping people is my passion. Whether I’m taking an aptitude test or pursuing a professional endeavor, my deep desire to serve others always rises to the top. I knew I’d probably never make scientific discoveries or cure deadly disease, but I learned I could use my love of writing and building relationships to support others – by helping them communicate their knowledge and do their valuable work.

I thrive on learning. I want to learn about you, your work, and how I can help you do it. I have spent over 15 years working in and around communications, public policy, and nonprofit advocacy, helping organizations of all shapes and sizes share their stories and engage their target audiences. From the halls of Congress to innovative startups, I feel privileged to work behind the scenes to help incredible people and organizations change their corner of the world.

As Content Strategist at Paradigm, I help clients communicate who they are, what they do, and their unique expertise to raise brand awareness and boost engagement through exceptional and compelling communication tailored to their target audiences.

Madison Deckert,
Senior Account Coordinator

I love stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying new things. That was my mindset when I founded Love, Madi, an e-commerce women’s clothing and accessories boutique. At the time, I had no prior knowledge about how to launch or run a business; what I did have was a love of fashion—so I jumped in, learned as much as I could and built a successful brand.

In this role, I wore many hats: I navigated legal processes, partnered with wholesalers to procure inventory, designed and managed the website and developed and executed a social media marketing strategy. Over time as my business grew, a new passion began to emerge: the art of marketing—an epiphany that led me to declare my college major.

I love to think. Give me a problem, and I’ll set the cogs in motion to solve it. But I’m not all about the left brain; I am a creative soul at heart. A career in marketing allows me to blend my problem-solving strengths with my constant desire to innovate.

As a Senior Account Coordinator at Paradigm, I coordinate the execution of tailored marketing campaigns to achieve unmatched success for our clients. I examine current marketing research and competitive analyses to inform strategy, collaborate with our design and development teams to create impactful messaging, social media, and marketing plans, and support the tactical execution of initiatives to ensure purpose-driven results.

Peyton Stinnett,
Account Coordinator

I seek connection in all that I do. It was my connection to my grandfather, a World War II veteran, that activated my love of history. It continued with my connection to my boyfriend’s grandfather, who inspired in me a love of Civil War history through trips to historic battlegrounds (I have visited almost all of them!)

It was my connection to my friends and classmates that helped me discover my love of writing and building relationships working on student publications in high school and college. My love of animals and ability to connect with them led to my passion for horseback riding, also helping me to develop the skills needed to confidently guide others. When I had the opportunity to manage the outreach efforts of a local bakery, I discovered my passion for combining these talents to empower companies to meet their business goals through strategic marketing.

I strive to bring my honesty, communication skills, and love of learning to my role at Paradigm. As an Account Coordinator at Paradigm, I coordinate the execution of tailored marketing campaigns to achieve unmatched success for our clients. I examine current marketing research and competitive analyses to inform strategy, collaborate with our design and development teams to create impactful messaging, social media, and marketing plans, and support the tactical execution of initiatives to ensure purpose-driven results.

Virginia Malesiewski,
Operations and Accounting Manager

I am fueled by coffee—and mathematical problem-solving. Job costing and financial forecasting are fun to me, as I look for the stories behind the numbers and how they support business growth. I like to lean into life. When I’m not engaging in my favorite pastime (escaping into a good historical nonfiction book), I spend much of my free time learning new skills and pushing myself to take on new challenges and endeavors in pursuit of my ultimate goal: growth.

Though my professional passion lies in the numbers, I am also highly adept at driving strategic operational efficiencies that deliver measurable business results. Business-minded and detail-focused, I’ve spent the better part of my career helping businesses increase productivity and improve organizational processes that create economic and business value. With a continued finger on the pulse of the latest efficiency trends, I know how to eliminate waste, cut costs and increase profit margins to drive sustainable business success—regardless of current market conditions.

As Operations and Accounting Manager for Paradigm Marketing and Design, I maintain and track the firm’s financial records, perform job and project costing and ensure recordkeeping compliance. I also partner with the firm’s strategic leadership team to devise and institute ongoing operational efficiencies.

Callie Hemmer,
Web Project Coordinator

I am the youngest in a blended family with eight kids – seven girls and one boy. Being part of such a big family has helped hone my communication skills and confidence – I learned to never be afraid to speak up with a suggestion or ask questions and it has served me professionally as well as personally.

I have always loved the creativity involved in marketing, and that’s what inspired me to pursue my degree in public relations and advertising with a minor in marketing and graphic design. But it was through my role as a customer success representative with a tech company that I discovered my affinity for working with people and my skills in project management – tapping into my organizational prowess, focusing on details, and solving problems to ensure projects are on time and in scope. I love that my work with Paradigm combines each of those elements. I also love to learn, and I spend most of my free time reading biographies (but I find time for thrillers and fantasy reads as well) and searching for a new documentary to watch.

Anthony Duncan,
Senior Marketing Assistant

Marketing helped make my dreams come true. Driven to further my academic and basketball career, I was disappointed in my junior year when it appeared I had limited options to do both after my high school graduation. When my senior basketball season began strong, my coach surprised me by creating a highlight reel for me and posting it online. That night, I received messages from over 30 different coaches wanting to talk to me about joining their program. That’s when I fully appreciated the power communication holds to propel you to meet your goals.

The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it. That’s how my basketball career began, and how I live my life. Commitment, accountability, and determination are at the core of who I am. I love being tired and I thrive on productivity. Time management is my superpower. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to do all the things I love – working full-time for Paradigm while I attend college, play basketball for the College of Coastal Georgia, and volunteer as an orientation leader for my college Student Life. I’m also an amateur podcaster and stock trader.

I love learning new things, making connections, and building relationships. I bring that passion to my role at Paradigm Marketing and Design. As a Senior Marketing Assistant, I support the social media, marketing, and creative project teams for our marketing operations. I partner with strategists to develop content, manage social media programs, analyze metrics, and research opportunities to support my clients’ marketing efforts and strategic business goals.

Sarah Daly,
Senior Marketing Assistant

I am drawn to storytelling, both personally and professionally. I enjoy using my creativity to paint a picture with words for an audience, and love to find new ways to capture the attention of a reader. I relish the opportunity to learn new things, which is probably why I also love to read books in a myriad of genres.  

I thrive on setting goals and pushing myself to reach them – in everything from the number of books I read in a year to reaching new physical achievements. One of the most recent goals I set for myself is to turn my love of long distance running into a new accomplishment – participating in the New York City Marathon. I love to challenge myself to do new things and grow outside of my comfort zone. In a previous position, I volunteered to coach a girls’ high school field hockey team, even though I have never played the sport! I am always striving to be a team player and dedicate myself fully to each new endeavor I approach. 

As a Senior Marketing Assistant at Paradigm, I support the social media, marketing, and creative project teams for our marketing operations. I partner with strategists to develop content, manage social media programs, analyze metrics, and research opportunities to support my clients’ marketing efforts and strategic business goals.