Marni Burns
Creative Strategist, Founder
Marni led her branding agency, SEED, with the simple insight that humans seek a feeling of connection to the people, places, and systems surrounding them — an approach that has proven vital to successful value creation. Before founding SEED, Marni created national advertising campaigns for hospitality, health and wellness, and consumer packaged goods clients such as Peninsula Hotels, Kaiser Permanente, Nestle, Whole Foods Market, and DirecTV.
She continues to support Art Center 100, a community-based group that raises scholarship funds for undergraduate and graduate students in all departments of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
Phil Glist
Creative Director/Copy
Over a long career Phil has worked at some of the advertising world’s most creative agencies (Saatchi, Ogilvy, BBDO, among others). Most recently, he was a Creative Director at Team One, working primarily on luxury brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Lexus and HSBC. At other times in his career, he worked on automotive accounts from Jaguar to Mazda, tech accounts from Apple to IBM, and many more. Back when awards were a thing, Phil’s work was recognized by the One Show, Communication Arts, Adweek’s Best Pro Bono Ads of the Year and the Beldings.
When not working, Phil enjoys writing and telling stories. He’s a frequent Moth storyteller and Moth Story Slam winner, and has taken Storytelling Workshops at Upright Citizens Brigade. Phil also does improv every week at Improv for the People in West LA. Despite these activities, Phil considers himself an introvert at heart.
Melanie Monteiro
Copywriter
Melanie Monteiro has been part of the Los Angeles ad scene for nearly 20 years. A freelance copywriter for top agencies such as DDB, TBWA/Chiat Day, David and Goliath, Grey Worldwide and Dailey & Associates, she’s created national television, radio and print campaigns for Mitsubishi, BMW, Kia Motors, California State Lottery, Activision, Atari, PetsMart and Epson. She’s also a voiceover artist, lending her voice to national TV and radio spots for Panda Express, Westfield Shoppingtowns, even a top-ten rated Superbowl spot for Ameriquest. In addition to working on exciting projects for Seed, Melanie might be found raiding a pot farm in Angola, swimming with whale sharks in Western Australia or hiking through Papua New Guinea with a local wearing nothing but a gourd and a big smile.
In addition to advertising and traveling, Melanie also has a passion for dogs. Her first book, The Safe Dog Handbook, was released in 2009 and has received raves from the likes of Ellen DeGeneres and Dean Koontz as well as respected animal professionals such as VPI Pet Insurance, PetsMart Charities and the Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission.
Damjan Krajacic
Digital Development + UX
Damjan has the unique ability to bring a sense of logic and balance to the seemingly ephemeral world of design concepts and thinking. He can clearly see functionality as it relates to design and put the two together seamlessly in a neatly packaged structure. With an agile, acrobatic approach he orchestrates not only beautiful but highly intuitive and customer friendly digital experiences by leveraging consumer profiles and SEO expertise.
