About us
Launch is much more than our name. It’s what we do for brands big and small, new and old. Through creative marketing and branding services, we give them the boost they need to connect to the right audience at the right time in all the right places. Ready to come aboard one of the top ad agencies in Dallas? Let’s Launch.
Experience
We are a fiercely independent, full-service ad agency with over 60 years of combined experience launching and relaunching brands.
Launch Sequence
Intelligence:
Customer Journey, Brand Audit, Competitive Review, War Room, Market Research, Customer Profile
Insights:
Key Document, Marketing Plan, Brand Affinity, Naming, Brand Story, Brand Architecture, Content Strategy, Brand Expression
Ideas:
Brand Identity, Graphic Standards, Customer Experience, Packaging, Advertising Campaign, Web Development, Mobile, SEO/SEM, Social Media, Email Marketing, Content Creation, 360-degree Media Planning
Impact:
Data Visualization/Analytics, CRM, Reputation Management/Local SEO
Culture
Here, culture is a priority. And we’re not talking Hawaiian shirt Fridays. Browse the gallery to see how hard we work at having fun at work.
Crew
LAUNCHERS ARE HARD WORKERS, BIG THINKERS, STORYTELLERS, SEASONED PROBLEM SOLVERS AND PRACTICAL JOKESTERS. LAUNCHERS DEFINE US AS AN AGENCY. AND WE BELIEVE WHEN YOU TREAT THEM WELL, THEY TURN AROUND AND DO THE SAME FOR EVERY CLIENT THAT WALKS IN OUR DOOR.
Meet the Main Three: Back in the day an art director named David Wilgus met a copywriter named Diane Seimetz at a place called TracyLocke, where they rose the ranks and became a creative directing duo. Up next was Temerlin McClain (now TM) where they crossed paths with a media planner turned account guy named Michael Boone. The chemistry was instant. The creation of Launch would soon follow. Over 15 years later, these three are still having a blast with many of the same clients and crew that have been on this crazy ride with them right from the start.
Diane Seimetz
Principal
Diane Seimetz
Principal
A founding Launcher and award-winning copywriter by trade, Diane Seimetz is constantly making something. Be it ads, soaps, lotions or the latest gluten-free Instant Pot recipe. Her never-ending desire to create makes her our go-to gal when it comes to developing smart, clever strategic platforms that deliver results-driven ideas for our clients.
Throughout her years at TracyLocke, Temerlin McClain and Launch, Diane has worked on many local and national brands, such as Frito-Lay, American Airlines, Match.com, Sam’s Club, Promised Land Dairy and many others. And that work hasn’t gone unnoticed, with nods from The One Show, New York and International Festivals, the national ADDYs, Effies, and she was even named a Woman of Excellence by the National Association of Executive Women. But perhaps Diane’s most surprising accolade is her late-in-life culinary arts degree from the El Centro College of Food & Hospitality.
In her spare time (ahem, when most of us are sleeping), Diane serves on the board of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, is a sponsor of the North Texas chapter of the Network of Executive Women and spearheads Informed Instinct, a brand consultancy that serves growing companies.
She’s married, with one husband, four children, five dogs and cats, and a partridge in a pear tree.
David Wilgus
Principal
David Wilgus
Principal
Dave is part creative director, part dad and part grandpa. This might surprise you, as Dave still has a righteous and enviable full head of hair. But even more impressive than that are all of the accounts and accolades Dave has racked up during his fruitful career at places like Temerlin McClain, TracyLocke and now Launch.
Dave’s lent his talents to such brands as American Airlines, Subaru of America, Pace Picante sauce, JCPenney, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, KinderCare, Bank of America, Paris Las Vegas Hotel and many more. For his efforts, he’s received many creative industry awards from the Clios, the New York Art Directors Show, International Festivals, and the national ADDY and Effie competitions. He is also past recipient of the Dallas Ad League’s Eagle Award for “Best Creative Director.”
A rare species known as a Dallas native married to a Dallas native, Dave and his wife are proud parents of four and grandparents of two. Dave currently serves on the board of the College of Visual Arts & Design at the University of North Texas, where Launch sponsors a merit-based scholarship for rising seniors: Launch-UNT Scholarship.
Michael Boone
Principal
Michael Boone
Principal
Michael Boone is married to Debbie Boone (not Debby Boone). Although she does light up his life and has done so for over 25 years. But that’s just a fun fact to start Michael’s bio.
Michael heads the account service arm at the agency. He actually started life as an assistant media planner at TracyLocke on the Taco Bell account. While flowcharts and long nights making endless last-minute revisions had their charms, an early career move to The Bloom Agency—now Publicis Hawkeye — would change his trajectory into account service. There and in subsequent roles at Dallas ad agencies Puskar Gibbon Chapin and The Maxfield Group as vice president and management supervisor, Michael collected a depth of experience in consumer packaged goods, retail, restaurant, telecommunications and hospitality industries.
Michael is the current chair of the 4A‘s Dallas Council Board of Governors. A ring-bearing Aggie and Jesuit High School grad, he and wife Debbie (an agency print producer and yoga instructor) have three children, none of whom are threatening to go into the ad biz. The couple is undecided on whether this is a fail or victory on their part.
Alexa Pérez
Project Manager
Alexa Pérez
Project Manager
Alexa is a San Antonio native and self-proclaimed taco aficionado. In addition to tacos, she’s also a pro at keeping our projects in line and on time. Before Launch, she wrangled accounts at Giles-Parscale and Euclid Media Group. Originally from San Antonio, Alexa is bilingual and tricultural. Other talents include spoiling her Doxie-Corgi mix, Dr. Watson, and snapping pics for the ‘Gram.
April Steinbach
Creative Director
April Steinbach
Creative Director
April is a writer, creative director and semi-pro baker. She’s spent the last two decades creating and guiding campaigns for American Airlines, AT&T, Bank of America, Bausch + Lomb, Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen, Community Coffee, Discover Network, Japan Airlines, Match.com, Perot Museum of Nature and Science and Pier 1 Imports. She’s received high fives from Communication Arts, the New York Times, Ad Age Creativity, Webbys, DFWIMA and the AAF Addys. Her kids and hubby like her words, but probably love her cookies more.
Dean Oram
Creative Director
Dean Oram
Creative Director
Dean is an art director, closet copywriter and former youth footballer from across the pond. Throughout his career, he’s worked on major brands like Fiat, Amstel Light, the National Pork Board, GameStop, Baylor Scott & White Health and more. Most of which have earned him lots of gold stars from Ad Age, Adweek, the Graphis Award Annual, Print Magazine and the ADDY Awards. Dean is currently married with three kids and a mutt named Crosby. None of which share his British accent, which begs the question: Is Dean really from England or is that a bunch of malarkey?
Richard Wezensky
Creative Services Director
Richard Wezensky
Creative Services Director
Richard is an art director, photographer, vintage toy car collector, die-hard bike rider and lead office prankster. So watch your backs. You never know when a fake cockroach will make an appearance. As an original Launcher, Richard has always been the creative anchor for many of our clients, from Park Place Dealerships to Sam’s Club. Earning him many ADDY awards, including Best of Show, as well as recognition from the Dallas Society of Visual Communications. Richard is main man to wife Wendy and proud papa to two kiddos.
Alex Slotkin
Associate Creative Director
Alex Slotkin
Associate Creative Director
Alex is a copywriter, songwriter, composer, short story writer and single-malt Scotch sipper. In his 20+ years in the biz, he’s worked on everything from luxury cars to upscale resort/casinos to restaurant chains. And he’s gotten lots of high fives along the way from the ADDY Awards, the Graphis Award Annual, the London International Awards and Adweek’s Best Spots of the Year. Alex currently enjoys being the afternoon Spotify DJ here at Launch and is close to snagging the morning gig as well. He is known as super dad to wife Holly and his two boys.
Jason Giles
Account Director
Jason Giles
Account Director
Jason is an original Launcher. He’s a former car dealership dude turned account dude who is technically still a car dude since he owns three. When not dreaming about his next ride, Jason is looking for ways to improve business for key accounts like Baylor Scott & White Health and Park Place Dealerships. The results are always happy clients and impressive KPIs. Clients love Jason, coworkers too. In fact, he charmed one of our art directors into marrying him back in the day. They are still married and have an adorable little dude together.
Megan Lucy Neal
Account Supervisor
Megan Lucy Neal
Account Supervisor
Megan Lucy has two first names, two little girls and one hubby. She leads the Baylor Scott & White Health account by day and crochets, bee keeps, and cans fruits and veggies by night. Before Launch, this busy little bee spent time at TracyLocke and the corporate headquarters of WalMart.
Amy Nortman
Senior Designer
Amy Nortman
Senior Designer
This multi-talented gal hails from the University of North Texas where she graduated with a BFA from the prestigious Communication Design School. Before Launch, Amy worked at Switch, BrandCory and Culture Farm where she designed for brands like Corner Bakery Cafe, Dallas Society of Visual Communications, Gladney Center for Adoption, Mooyah Burgers & Fries, One Arts Plaza, River East Fort Worth, Velvet Taco and more. As a designer, Amy’s racked up many awards from the Dallas Addys and the DSVC, but it’s hard to top her earlier achievements: 4-H Club’s Grand Champion Cake Baker and State Finalist for her mad free throw skillz. Obviously, Amy’s got game and we’re stoked to have her on our team.
Macy Barbee
Account Supervisor
Macy Barbee
Account Supervisor
When the Baylor Scott & White Health team has a new project, Macy’s on it, stat. Before joining us, she spent several years at Global Prairie working on Bayer HealthCare, Galderma, Alcon, Waste Management and the City of Kansas. When not account supervising, this Kansas City girl loves watching her beloved Jayhawks, eating croutons (not the yucky brown ones) by the bag, Instagramming her two cats (Winnie and Dill), and seeing live music and trying new restaurants with her husband, Michael.
Zach Deutsch
Account Executive
Zach Deutsch
Account Executive
Zach is one of the main driving forces behind the Park Place account. From revving up their social media presence to developing their luxury vehicle events, Zach is always on the move. In fact, he’s been all over the world, with stops at all seven continents. You might call him the Where’s Waldo of Launch. When not traveling the four corners of the Earth, Zach can be found exploring new restaurants, working out or watching his favorite reality TV shows.
Ray Ives
Controller
Ray Ives
Controller
Ray’s career in advertising started when media unbundling was still a concept, digital advertising wasn’t even on a sticky note yet, and the car phone was still cool. Throughout all this industry transformation, he has kept the business side of the business in order. After work, Ray lets his hair down on more than one type of green: He’s a former competitive tennis player and now an avid golfer. He and his wife have two children who have their own careers, one of which is in advertising.
Brittany Frazier
Digital Production
Brittany Frazier
Digital Production
Brittany came down with the plant bug — and now her home has blossomed into a small jungle of 60+ plants! This mother to Mother Nature also lovingly parents two small monsters (politely referred to as Yorkies). When not nursing her green and/or fuzzy family members, Brittany can be found feeding her love for digital production, planning Launch’s culture events or telling — and laughing at — her own puns.
Alicia Douglas
Office Manager
Alicia Douglas
Office Manager
Alicia was a musical theater major at Missouri State, so she doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to wrangling an office full of Launchers. In addition to keeping our office in check, she co-owns a production company with her sister specializing in photography and film. This multi-talented gal makes an awesome addition to our cast of characters.
Megan Robertson
Assistant Account Executive
Megan Robertson
Assistant Account Executive
Megan impressed us right away after coming aboard our Launch Summer Internship program. (In the middle of a pandemic, we might add!) Her flexibility and dedication paid off earning her a full-time spot as an Assistant Account Executive on the Baylor Scott & White Health account. This Kansas native is a natural multi-tasker. Juggling varsity tennis and music theater in high school, then double majoring in Marketing and Advertising with a concentration in Strategic Brand Management at Southern Methodist University. As long she has her Diet Coke from McDonald’s every day, Megan is ready for anything advertising throws her way!