John Vardeman
john@vardeman.com

John Vardeman is president and primary owner of Morton, Vardeman & Carlson.

Prior to his involvement in the advertising business, John was a reporter and editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His newspaper career in Atlanta included work as an editor on the National Desk, where he was part of the special Atlanta Journal-Constitution team covering the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta.

Since returning to his hometown of Gainesville in 1989, John has authored a book, “On Eagles Wings”, which chronicles a true story of child abuse, courage and perseverance in the inspirational founding of Eagle Ranch, a boys’ home in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia. John also worked personally with former U.S. President Gerald Ford and an editorial team with Reader’s Digest magazine in 1978 and 1979 on the writing of Ford’s memoirs, “A Time to Heal.”

In part due to John’s work with Eagle Ranch as well as other volunteer activities, John was named Hall County’s Young Man of the Year for 1995.

John has served as a trustee with the Leadership Georgia organization, which trains and builds a network of emerging young leaders from across the state for future leadership roles. John and his wife, Tracy, have been involved with Leadership Georgia since 1996 when they were part of the organization’s 25th anniversary year. They also have served together as program chairs.

In another state level position, John was appointed in 2000 to serve on the Georgia Workforce Development Board.

In Gainesville, John has served as president of the Gainesville Rotary Club for 2002-03 as well as chairman of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce for 2005-06. He also has served on the boards of Eagle Ranch, the Family Relations Program, and Elachee Nature-Science Center.

A native of Gainesville, John is a graduate of Gainesville High School and the University of Georgia. John and Tracy have two children, Ella and Grady.
 

Tina Carlson
tina@vardeman.com

Long-time creative director and vice president, Tina’s role at Morton, Vardeman & Carlson expanded to executive vice president in 1999. As the driving force behind the creative direction, graphic design and copywriting for the agency’s clients, Tina understands how to position and brand clients strategically within their particular business environment.

Tina first joined Morton & Associates in 1980 as production manager, where she quickly put her writing and concepting expertise to work and became creative director within a year. She has helped shape and grow the agency from three employees with a primarily business-to business focus, to 10+ with a broad, full-service strategic marketing mission. Under her direction, the agency has won numerous ADDYS, as well as other national design, print and communications awards.

Tina is a former writer and feature editor with The Times newspaper, and she also worked with the Gainesville/Hall County Chamber of Commerce and as a freelance writer. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia. Active in the community, she is past president of The Gateway House board of directors and 2006 president of The Quinlan Visual Arts Center board of trustees.

Geri Naylor
geri@vardeman.com

With 18+ years of experience in public relations and business-to-business and consumer marketing, Geri joined the MV&C pr team in 2002. Previously a marketing consultant for several regional and national companies in the financial services, healthcare, technology and manufacturing arenas, Geri brings a broad spectrum of experience to the agency.

Naylor is a graduate of Auburn University and earned her master’s degree in mass communications with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Georgia.
 

Patrick Ceska
ceska@vardeman.com

As senior account executive and shareholder, Patrick counsels a wide range of companies stretching from Maine to Florida and overseas as well.

With his broad business-to-business, consumer marketing and sales background, Patrick works with clients in developing comprehensive strategic marketing and implementation programs.

His language skills have solidified and secured several international clients. Patrick is bilingual in English and German and has basic knowledge of French.

Patrick formerly worked as a marketing assistant at Budget and then regional sales manager for Poultry and Egg News. Prior to joining MVC, he was the regional sales manager for Watt Publishing.

Patrick is currently serving as Vice Chair of Marketing and Communications at Challenged Child and the North Georgia Community Foundation. He also served with the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, on the board of Friends of the Parks 1997 -2001 and Gateway House from 2000-2002. He is also a graduate of the 2000 Leadership Hall organization.

Patrick is a graduate of Florida Sate University and earned his degree in marketing and advertising.

 

Pat McWhorter
pat@vardeman.com

A marketing strategist with a career covering more than twenty years, Pat is senior account executive with the agency.

McWhorter came to MV&C from Sarasota, Fla., where he was a department head for J.M. Stewart Industries, a national graphics sign company. His advertising career began in 1973 for the former Sawyer Advertising agency (now Sawyer Riley Compton) and later as an advertising specialist for Georgia Power in Atlanta.

In the early 1990s, Pat served as advertising officer for the former First National Bank of Gainesville (now Regions Bank). Pat is a graduate of BMA’s School of Bank Marketing and has
more than two decades of experience in advertising and marketing.

As senior AE, Pat participates in the development and implementation of strategic marketing plans on behalf of our clients.

Jim Chapman — Staff Writer and Illustrator
jim@vardeman.com

Jim Chapman brings 20 years experience in communications as a writer and artist. He is a former newspaper columnist whose “Back Porch” writings appeared weekly in newspapers throughout Georgia. In 2003, he released a book, “The Call of the Wild Wasn’t Long Distance” (Franklin Publishing), featuring a collection of his columns. He also has served as a Contributing Editor for The Artist’s Magazine in Cincinnati.

Prior to joining MVC, Jim was Presentation Editor for The Times in Gainesville, Ga., leading the 2002 redesign of the newspaper. He had moved back to his Northeast Georgia hometown after working as a staff artist at The Tennessean in Nashville, Tenn., where he researched and developed large-scale informational graphics as well as breaking-news graphics for the newspaper.

His extensive experience as an artist also included work at The Sudekum Planetarium at the Cumberland Science Museum (now known as the Adventure Science Center) in Nashville, where he helped write, illustrate and produce educational shows that have been sold to more than 100 museums and universities worldwide.

A former Peace Corps volunteer, Jim’s adventurous spirit has led him to many corners of the world, including West Africa, Europe, and Mexico.

An avid watercolor artist and teacher, he has exhibited with the National Watercolor Society and occasionally teaches painting workshops. His creative efforts have been featured in The Artist’s Magazine as well as the Poynter Institute among other places. Jim has earned more than 50 professional awards in his career.

Active in the community, he is on the board of the Northeast Georgia History Center as well as the Quinlan Visual Arts Center.

 

Diane Speight
diane@vardeman.com

Diane oversees the graphic arts department of Morton Vardeman & Carlson. Formerly an artist and studio manager with the Sawyer Riley Compton agency of Atlanta, she also has worked for Merial Select, Inc. in Gainesville as the company’s senior marketing communications specialist, providing her with an excellent background and marketing experience with an international corporation.

With more than a decade of graphic arts experience, Diane’s work in graphic arts ranges from a top national advertising agency to a worldwide corporation, providing the perfect balance in experience to our client partners.

In addition to her professional work, Diane has exhibited her artwork regionally in North Georgia, in numerous galleries, shows and collections.

Lisa Aldridge
lisa@vardeman.com

As production manager, Lisa Aldridge handles the scheduling, coordination and completion of projects designed by the agency's creative department. She is also responsible for managing printing and other work conducted by outside sources.

Prior to joining Morton Vardeman & Carlson, Aldridge was an account manager with ProGraphics Communications in Atlanta. With over 20 years experience, she also has held positions involving print production planning, estimating, customer service and sales. Aldridge attended West Georgia College.

 

Sybil Hall
sybil@vardeman.com

As account coordinator, Hall will provide support and assistance for Morton Vardeman and Carlson’s regional and national advertising accounts. In addition to conducting media research and planning, Hall will coordinate clients’ advertising schedules and placements with various media outlets.
Prior to joining Morton Vardeman & Carlson, Hall worked with Fricks/Firestone Advertising in Atlanta. As traffic manager, she coordinated the schedule and workflow for the agency’s creative projects.

Elaine Greene
elaine@vardeman.com

Elaine works as an executive assistant and receptionist at Morton Vardeman & Carlson. She is the friendly voice who answers your call on the phone and the behind-the-scenes coordinator who makes sure our office runs efficiently and effectively.