McLeod Creative Core Development Team:
Monica McLeod Sawyer . President, Creative Director
Ashley Drapal Rippke . Graphic Designer
Daniel Gaines . Business Development Manager
McLeod Creative has an extensive network of resources available with expertise in traditional design and marketing as well as new and alternative media such as grassroots messaging, social networking and developing media channels, vital in a changing world of communication. Most importantly, as a business that values partnerships with our clients, we provide exceptional service, flexibility and follow-through, resulting in enduring design that truly fits the client’s short and long-term goals.
Monica McLeod Sawyer . President, Creative Director
Mrs. Monica McLeod Sawyer began her graphic design career in Gainseville, Florida where she graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. She also completed a Graphic Design Program with The Royal College of Art in London, England.
Monica worked her way up to Senior Designer at Fitzgerald & Company Advertising based in Atlanta, Georgia. Understanding the complicated demands of national clients like Coca Cola and the Atlanta Braves Baseball Club was a key to her success. After traveling to Patagonia, Argentina and working with the Discovery Channel Eco Challenge Adventure Race, Monica continued her career in Boulder, Colorado where she worked for Leopard Communications, designing for IBM. Her work at Leopard included designing presentations given by Sr. V.P., John M. Thompson. She eventually struck out on her own, started McLeod Creative, met her husband Ryan, and then relocated her life and business to Corpus Christi, Texas in 2001.
After moving to Corpus Christi, Monica became a founding member and President of PATCH, an organization dedicated to the restoration of the Ritz Theatre. Monica believes that reviving The Ritz Theatre will stimulate the economy, inspire and support the creative class, and provide an anchor business downtown. Monica contributes to economic and creative development by serving on the City of Corpus Christi Downtown Redevelopment Committee, Edgeworks Film Festival Advisory Board, and volunteers with the Brown Bag Challenge. She is also a fine artist and painted two dolphins for the city art project "Dances with Dolphins". "Heater" can still be seen on display at Whataburger Field. Monica was selected as one of “Corpus Christi’s 40 Under 40” two years in a row for her dedication to The Ritz and Downtown redevelopment.
“Creativity + Planning, Visibility & Action = Success.”
Ashley Drapal Rippke . Graphic Designer
Ashley Drapal Rippke comes to Corpus Christi from her hometown of Ames, Iowa. A graduate with distinction, Ashley attended Iowa State University, where she earned her BFA in Graphic Design. Ashley's began her design career during her Junior year of college as an intern at iMed Studios. During her last two years at ISU she also worked as a designer for the Collegiate Methodist Church, the Iowa Special Olympics, and as a freelance photographer. She enjoys working in a closely knit firm like McLeod Creative. "The flow of communication is a lot smoother. There are less people to go through. As a designer it allows me to get my hands on a little bit of everything, and form a really close relationship with the client."
While at Iowa State, Ashley earned several awards and honors including the Pappajohn Entrepreneurship Award and both the ISU and 3M Academic Recognition Scholarships. She was also a committee member of several student organizations and enjoyed dancing as part of an Iowa State University Dance company.
In 2006 Ashley married her husband, Nathan, also a graduate of ISU. Together they enjoy spending time with their two miniature dachshunds, taking pictures, and exploring their new home in South Texas. "It's been a change, obviously, but the atmosphere in Corpus Christi and at McLeod Creative have made it easy to adjust."
Daniel Gaines . Business Development Manager
Dan Gaines joined McLeod Creative in October 2008 as Business Development Manager. Prior to his hire he had an extensive career in the sports and entertainment industry in a variety of capacities that spanned over eight years. An alumni of Purdue University, Dan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Master’s degree in Sports Management. He began his career as the Sports Editor for the New Palestine Press while also publishing and editing a weekly racing publication for an Indianapolis racing circuit called the Speedrome. Travels took him to Colorado Springs where he worked at the Olympic Training Center for USA Taekwondo as their Sports Program Manager, working with coaches, referees and gold medal winning athletes from across the country. The Indiana Pacers NBA franchise then called him back to Indiana where he served as the Community Relations Manager for the Indiana Fever and Pacers for four years. He shifted rolls and worked as Pacers Foundation Coordinator for a year where he fulfilled a variety of duties including the planning and execution of numerous major fundraising events including a Golf Outing, Bowling Tournament and Masquerade Gala. During his time in Indianapolis he also contributed to a number of projects, events, clinics and camps for the charitable foundations of a number of professional athletes including NBA players Reggie Miller and Jermaine O’Neal, NFL athletes Peyton Manning, Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt and WNBA player Tamika Catchings. He also served on the board of Catchings’ foundation (Catch The Stars Foundation) for three years. Dan was also the Promotions Chair for The Big Ten Local Organizing Committee, a committee that successfully outbid Chicago to bring the Men’s and Women’s Big Ten Basketball Tournaments to Indianapolis for the next five years.
Dan is very excited for the new challenges and opportunities ahead of him at McLeod Creative. He was drawn by the vision, passion and people that drive the company. He sees boundless potential for McLeod Creative not only as a creative enterprise, but also as a valuable contributor to the community and is very excited to be a part of it.
Dan also enjoys drawing upon his life experiences to serve in sports ministry. He loves competing in, coaching and watching sports as well as reading and writing fiction. He and his wife Stacey relocated to Corpus Christi in July 2008 when she was offered a job as Assistant Professor at Texas A&M – Kingsville in its Kinesiology Department. “We’re very excited about what is in store for us in this chapter of our lives. And we feel very blessed to both have found jobs that have great things on the horizon.”
