HOOD Marketing | Branding | Communications

Who we are

Team. While the word is often defined as a group organized to work together, perhaps the secondary meaning is more appropriate: two or more draft animals that work together to pull something. At HOOD, we believe in the strength of our team exponentially increases the contributions of an individual.

We invite you to meet some of our team members:

	Wayne Hood, CEO What I do at HOOD: Oversee the business of Hood – vision and direction, hire and fire; mostly the dull stuff. What I like doing at HOOD: Watching the company evolve into what I envisioned we could become. Life before HOOD: I started as a graphic designer in the marketing department of Hallmark Cards, became an advertising art director at a bunch of ad agencies, then a creative director, before opening Hood Marketing. My picture: I love vintage and classic automobiles and have purchased and driven many over the years. However, although beautiful and fun to drive, these jumper cables have proven to be indispensible. What you don’t know about me: I’m part American Indian. Worst job ever: When I was a kid, 11 or 12 and living in the Midwest, I worked as a chicken catcher at a chicken ranch for spending money (5 to a crate). We caught and loaded chickens onto a truck for transport then cleaned the chicken coops out... yeah, that stuff. I’m proud of: Staying in business for 20 years.		Lynn Hood, President and Chief Strategist What I do at HOOD: Preside and strategize! What I like doing at HOOD: I like helping people and making them happy. Whether it’s coming up with a novel approach to a problem, writing copy that demystifies a complex system or collaborating on how to take a new product to market, I’m constantly energized by the opportunity to contribute to our clients’ success. Life before HOOD: Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (visited 22 nuclear power plants), Oglethorpe Power, Liberty Life Insurance and several more corporate jobs after a year on the Augusta newspaper. My picture: This is my Wii controller, which relates to my guilty pleasure – playing video games. My current favorite is killing zombies in Resident Evil IV. Secret ambition: Do something to merit being on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I’m proud of: Being an Atlanta native. Thanks Mom and Dad! Hunter or gatherer? Gatherer. I like to nurture.
	Melanie Skotarski, Senior Account Executive What I do at HOOD: Serve as a client liaison and project manager between our clients and the HOOD team. What I like doing at HOOD: My days are never the same and this is a good thing. I like the variety of our clients and helping them achieve their marketing goals. Life before HOOD: Worked in the technology arena as well as the private golf club industry. My picture: My yoga mat and sneakers. Yoga keeps me balanced between work and home (and a baby). Sneakers because of my love of sports, both playing and watching. In high school, I... Was a character entertainer for children’s birthday parties. Guilty pleasure: A nice glass of red wine. If I wasn't in marketing: I'd be a radio DJ.		Rick Weissinger, Creative Director What I do at HOOD: Listen, consider, ask questions and advise. What I like doing at HOOD: I like to dig deep and find the whys and hows behind a need and create more than just a slogan and a pretty picture but a better, stronger way to communicate. Life before HOOD: A climb from making ads at a university paper, through design studios, owning my own agency and then joining a big agency up north, with diversions such as racing mountain bikes all over the US, newspaper reporting and photographing the Olympics for an international magazine. The best job was bike mechanic, though. My picture: I’m with one of my guitars. I forget how many I have now, but you can hear several of them on my latest CD. Worst job ever: Working in the warehouse of a bicycle company. In Florida. In the un-air-conditioned attic. Working a bandsaw. In July. Secret ambition: To perform a duet with Shirley Manson. I’m proud of: My daughter. Hunter or gatherer? Critic.
	Sara Fleeman, Account Executive What I do at HOOD: I’m responsible for new business development and account management. What I like doing at HOOD: I enjoy meeting new clients and helping them succeed with novel marketing ideas (I like the “wow” factor). Also, I like being involved in the creative process and having the opportunity to write, brainstorm, and then there is my favorite: naming companies and products. Life before HOOD: I worked for four years as a marketing associate for SYSCO Foodservices of Atlanta, and my sales territory covered the midtown and Buckhead areas. The job turned me into quite the foodie and eating out has never been the same! I love trying the chef’s creations. My picture: I love to travel, see new places, eat at unique restaurants, and observe. I only wish I could do it more! If I wasn’t in marketing: I am not quite sure what I would be doing. But – I do know that I would have loved to gone into architecture, and most likely working in historical preservation. I learned to appreciate beautiful structures while living in historic Charleston, SC. Guilty pleasures: Good red wine and cheese, and a juicy tabloid magazine (i.e. InTouch). Favorite food/band/activity: Mexican food with friends.		Allison Zimroth, Account Executive What I do at HOOD: Account Exec to your heart's content. No seriously….I assist with marketing strategy, manage projects through the agency, and generally keep our clients happy. What I like doing at HOOD: Creating marketing plans and proposals, copywriting and figuring out how to integrate web marketing into anything and everything we do. Life before HOOD: I’ve dabbled in non-profit and corporate marketing; I’m well-rounded like that. I began my career in public relations at Piedmont Park Conservancy, then spent a few years re-living my college days as the Marketing Director for The Princeton Review. My picture: I collect and covet shoes. I have around 30 pairs of heels. They take up most of the only closet in my Midtown loft. What you don’t know about me: I love the Planet Earth and Blue Planet series, enjoy Seinfeld re-runs on TBS, am really good at Mario Kart, and can recite almost any ad jingle. If I wasn’t in marketing, I… Would be a food critic! I love to eat, enjoy cooking (I’m getting better) and “devour” restaurant reviews. Guilty pleasure: Ben & Jerry’s Cinnamon Bun ice cream, watching The Nightmare Before Christmas (love Jack & Sally!), Yelp.com (my source for everything!) and shopping in Little 5 Points.
	Jo Ann Giaquinto, Production and Traffic Manager What I do at HOOD: Try to take what the Creative Director has managed to come up with in his head and make it happen…or at least come darn close. What I like doing at HOOD: See above. Life before HOOD: Pringle Dixon Pringle, Babbit & Reiman, Aydlotte & Cartwright, metaphor (may they all RIP). My picture: Anybody who knows me knows better than to try and get a picture! Favorite activity: Junking on the weekends with a good friend. Worst job ever: Summers during college – peeling steamed carrots and potatoes for Beechnut Baby Food. Every once in a while a small frog would come down the conveyor belt. Kept you on your toes. I’m proud of: The fact that after 20+ years in advertising I haven’t actually killed anybody (yet).