Creative

Creative is our core competency. Unless our marketing is among the best in the world it is impossible to believe that we can truly build leadership brands. As a critical part of the team our creative members are unique in the industry. In addition to overseeing the writers/art directors they are responsible for originating innovative creative on limited budgets. Our creative team members all have strong conceptual abilities and are able to originate creative ideas quickly. These ideas must be relevant and interesting and smartly executed. Frankly, the entire team comes to work to do exactly that every day. Not just the art directors and copywriters. Everyone.

Rick Mytych
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CONSUMER
Rick Mytych has two passions in life, advertising and auto racing. To be successful in either one requires the unique drive that Rick brings to The Meridian Group. He joined our team of professionals after several years in the advertising department of one of the nation's most successful retailers, where he rose through the ranks to finally earn the position of Director.

Highly creative and conscientious, he is particularly adept at the high-tech side of art direction, where his computer is his canvas. Rick has become an undisputed expert in developing practical, productive retail advertising that gets immediate results, and his hard driving spirit and "What-ever-it-takes" attitude make him a winner both on and off the track.

Shane Webb
CREATIVE TEAM LEADER, TRAVEL & LUXURY
Shane Webb has spent the last four years dedicated to the hospitality and tourism industry. He comes to The Meridian Group by way of Yesawich, Pepperdine and Brown Advertising St. Petersburg. He also has over 10 years experience on the business-to-business side of things, which brings a whole different perspective to his sometimes-slanted way of thinking. His award-winning work for such global brands as NCR, AT&T and Standard Register is what he likes to call his foundation. The creativity in his work for Derby Lane Greyhound Racing, St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB and The Florida International Museum is the dwelling where he chooses to live. All of the work has been judged as the very best in its category-locally, regionally, nationally and even internationally..

Mike Tanner
SENIOR COPYWRITER
Before Mike Tanner got a real job at The Meridian Group, he was a disk jockey, tugboat deckhand, restaurant manager, bartender and real estate agent. So naturally, he brings varied experience to bear for The Meridian Group's clients. Mike gathers information quickly, analyzes it thoroughly and conveys it to a target audience with clarity and precision. He's worked on accounts that run the gamut from business-to-business to hospitality, banking to health care, and tourism to economic development.
A long-time member of the Tidewater Society of Communicating Arts, Mike has served the group in several leadership positions, including a term as president. Mike is an avid golfer and wine enthusiast, but has learned not to indulge both interests simultaneously.

Dave Watson
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
Dave fills the role of "go ask Dave." His diverse work experience allows him to bring a unique and knowledgeable view for such clients as STIHL Inc., Wounded Warrior Project, Canon Virginia and APM Terminals Virginia. From concept to production, Dave immerses himself in all stages to ensure quality work, with no idea too large or detail too small to handle. Before arriving at Meridian he spent his time designing and producing games, magazines and marketing collateral for The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and other licensed products at Decipher Inc.