Krystle Williams
Senior Media Planner & Buyer aka Okie Dokie
Music
Gabbie Shafer
In the past, Gabbie has affectionately been called “the last line of defense.” And it’s true. She’s the last stop to ensure accurate and polished materials are sent to every client. With her collection of grammar references and an English degree from the University of North Texas in tow, she brings more than eight years of invaluable copy editing experience to her role at Balcom. She’s worked in digital news, for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and with Lockheed Martin's digital marketing team. She’s also volunteered with multiple nonprofits.
Wallace Cruz
Wallace knew from an early age that creating art was his calling. When he was 10, he created a pretend TV channel with fake logos for each show. When his cousin told him this was called graphic design, Wallace knew it was the career for him.
Aaron Merritt
Wanting to turn his passion into a profession, Aaron decided to “go pro” – and become a production artist. After attending the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University and earning a degree in 2D media and printmaking, he made a name for himself as someone who combines a great attention to detail with an ability to manage multiple projects as a graphic designer and production artist at Robert Half; a senior production artist at PSA Worldwide LLC; and a digital media assistant at Graham Olsen.
Nichole Ott
Nichole's time spent painting and drawing with her grandpa as a child fostered an early passion for art and creativity. She has since translated that passion into beautiful, functional advertising and web design for brands including Claire's, Kroger, Altar’d State, Jewelry Television and Nice Branding Agency. She came to Balcom bringing nine years of experience to work on Dairy MAX, Sinclair Oil and Smith+Nephew. Outside of work, Nichole admits she might have a bit of an obsession with boating: hitting Knoxville, Tennessee’s local waterways on the weekends and wakesurfing with friends.
Chase Correll
Chase went to college to become a neuroscientist but always dreamed of having a creative career. After falling fast into the world of writing during a few of his English courses, switching his field of study from the science of the nervous system to the art of communication was a no-brainer. Chase went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in creative writing with a minor in psychology from the University of North Texas and later landed copywriting roles with companies like Sleepy Cotton, Mercatalyst, Z2Data and USAA.
Lauren Papenfuss
If there’s one thing Lauren loves more than spoiling her cats, it’s using innovative marketing strategies to serve clients. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing with a focus in advertising from Texas A&M University and worked as a marketing intern for The Peterson Group and camp counselor for Shady Oaks Country Club before joining the B in 2022. Now she supports the Kubota Tractor Corporation account, serving as a liaison for a nationwide network of dealers to meet the corporation’s advertising needs at the local level.
MaLana Martinez
MaLana enjoys exploring her creative side and exercising her critical thinking skills; she joined the advertising industry as an analyst to get the best of both worlds. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Illinois State University and holds certifications in data analytics, automation and more.
Ashley Jo Mozek
Ashley’s been keeping projects on track since the sixth grade, outlining to-do lists and assigning roles to her classmates. She previously worked in education as a teacher and director of operations, but her passion for project management led her to join the B Team in 2021 to handle scheduling, resourcing and more for clients. With a specialization in international business, Ashley holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She is a native of Santo, Texas, but now lives in Haslet with her husband, Matthew, and dog, Remi.
Taylor Prince
Taylor doesn’t just strategize; she harmonizes. Originally drawn to marketing via the music business, she earned a Bachelor of Music with a minor in marketing from the University of Miami. She then worked at the Grammys and Naxos of America, where her strategic approach helped a classical album become the first of its kind to earn Amazon #1 bestseller status. Taylor soon extended her skills to ad agencies, including GS&F, Ignite Partnership and Publicis Groupe, working for major brands such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, USAA and Intel and earning multiple REGGIE awards.
Kasie Mallory
Kasie Mallory has an unassuming demeanor – but also two decades of experience making great things happen for some of the nation’s biggest brands. After earning an Associate of Applied Science in business administration from Murray State College, Kasie went into radio promotion and event management before transitioning to advertising at TraceyLocke, where she became one of the agency’s first project supervisors. She has launched products for Hasbro Inc.