We are adventurers
and truth seekers.

Daniel Kehn
(he/him/his) President

In his over 20 years at CCA, Dan has worn many hats. Beginning in client service, Dan next assumed the role of lead brand strategist. Outside of his current role as president of the agency, in which he oversees agency operations and business development, Dan continues to lead CCA’s strategy team, responsible for ensuring that our partners’ authentic brand stories are crafted and then shared in compelling, differentiating, and memorable ways. Dan also directs our qualitative and quantitative discovery and research, shapes the strategic approach, and collaborates in the development of brand architecture and messaging.

Dan has led projects for many colleges and universities during his tenure at CCA, including Alfred University, American University, Bryn Mawr, Columbia University, Culinary Institute of America, Howard University, Moore College of Art & Design, Siena College, St. John’s School of Law, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the United States Naval Academy, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Richmond, Ursinus College, Wheaton College, and more. He has been a guest presenter to admissions and marketing teams and at the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education.

Before joining CCA, Dan served as Executive Director of International Student Advisors and the American School of International Training in Seattle, WA, where he was responsible for creating, marketing, and overseeing short- and long-term international education programs with schools overseas and throughout the United States. Prior to that, he served as an Education Specialist at the New York State Education Department’s Center for Multinational and Comparative Education. Dan earned his BA in English from Siena College and an MA in International Policy Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Darcy Sokolewicz Executive Vice President

As Executive Vice President, Darcy works closely with our president to manage agency operations, new business development efforts, and marketing initiatives for the agency. In addition to her EVP role, Darcy leads our media planning and buying team in developing media strategies that deliver successful results. Here at CCA, she has built record-breaking media plans for the New York School of Interior Design, Alfred University, Siena College, Thomas Jefferson University, Wheaton College, and many more. In 2015, she was invited to present at AMA’s Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education on her work for Boston College, and has since won countless HEMR and ADDY Awards for multiple other clients.

Prior to joining CCA, Darcy spent close to a decade managing media teams at both Mullen and Arnold, the top two advertising agencies in Boston. While there, she developed comprehensive media strategies and executions for Volkswagen, Swiss Army Brands, Sesame Street Workshop, L.L.Bean, and Goodyear, among many others. She also worked with new business teams to explore advertising opportunities for prospective clients across industries. 

Darcy holds a BA in Communication and Media Studies from the State University of New York at New Paltz. When she’s not working, she can often be found on the road—hiking, skiing, traveling, or visiting family and friends with her husband, John and daughters Eva, Kate, and Madelyn.

Lauren Herrington Vice President of Client Services

As VP of Client Services, Lauren manages and mentors CCA’s account team, is responsible for fostering our client relationships, and collaborates with every team member to keep projects on strategy, on time, and on budget. In addition, Lauren oversees the agency’s contracted forecast and projections, and she is a key player in our new business development efforts. In 2019, she presented alongside Siena College at AMA’s Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education.

Some of the accounts Lauren has managed at CCA include Adelphi University, Iona College, University of Richmond, Thomas Jefferson University, and Alfred University. Since joining CCA in 2008, she has overseen the production and execution of countless award-winning viewbooks, travel pieces, media flights, brand platforms, digital and content marketing strategies, and much more—and is beloved by clients for being extremely responsive, organized, strategic, and budget-conscious.

A graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego with a Master’s in Communications from SUNY Albany, Lauren lives with her husband and two sons on their family farm in upstate New York. You can usually find her cooking, reading, or making cameos in the videos posted to the Herringtons Pumpkins Facebook page.

Melissa Fiorenza Assoc. Vice President, Content Strategy

In her role as the agency’s lead content strategist and copywriter, Melissa is responsible for helping our clients connect with their audiences across all mediums through the power of words, experiences, and content marketing. Since her start at CCA in 2014, Melissa has managed over a dozen client blogs, written award-winning print and digital pieces, collaborated with the media team on record-breaking campaigns, and helped clients reimagine their campus visits. She has also presented at HubSpot’s INBOUND conference and AMA’s Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education.

Before joining CCA, Melissa was a full-time magazine editor at both Time Inc. and Hearst Corp., as well as a freelance writer in New York City. Her work has appeared in publications and on networks such as Health, The Today Show, Prevention, The Daily Beast, Green Business Quarterly, Energy International Quarterly, CBS, and Cosmopolitan. After returning upstate in 2010, Melissa worked at Media Logic for clients including The Ritz-Carlton and Visa. She also took on freelance clients ranging from winemakers to law enforcement technology. In 2013, Skyhorse Publishing published her first book, Twentysomething Girl.

A Tufts University graduate with a BA in English and a minor in Mass Communications & Media Studies, Melissa lives in Latham, New York with her husband and two kids. In the mornings you can find her at Orangetheory Fitness, and at night she’s marathoning Netflix shows or surfing TikTok when she should be sleeping.

David A. Moore Creative Director

A graduate of Yale University, David earned his stripes with more than two decades of experience working as an art director, designer, illustrator, and copywriter in large advertising agencies, small digital design boutiques, and as an independent contractor.

His work has won multiple awards from the Print Magazine Regional Design Annual, the Communication Arts Design Annual, the Communication Arts Illustration Annual, Pharma Marketers 360 Magazine Greatest Creators, as well as numerous ADDY, CASE, and HEMR awards and Best of Shows. His industry experience includes clients as diverse as international banking and pharmaceutical corporations, local punk bands and dive bars, national retail brands, regional theatre companies, and of course, a multitude of colleges and universities.

The son of a sociology professor and a hospice chaplain, David was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Detroit, Michigan. A father of three, he and his wife currently make their home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. In his spare time, he’s an avid bagpiper, having shared stages with groups as diverse as the Dropkick Murphys, the Buffalo Bandits professional lacrosse team, and the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department. It’s that combination of Midwestern work ethic, Ivy League education, and Celtic pride that make him one in a million.

Clare Hall
(she/her/hers) Director of Business Development

As Director of Business Development, Clare’s primary role is to identify, build, and manage long-term relationships with CCA’s prospective clients. In addition, she oversees CCA’s marketing efforts, leads pitch development, and coordinates CCA’s team presence and participation at events and conferences.

Clare brings more than fifteen years of agency experience in marketing and brand development. Before joining the CCA team in 2021, she spent seven years as the account manager at an education marketing agency, where she fell in love with the unique landscape of higher education marketing. There she led branding projects for many colleges and universities, including the University of Iowa, Louisiana State University, University of British Columbia, St. Edward’s University, and many more, along with independent schools, non-profits, cultural institutions, and other education-related organizations. Prior to that, Clare spent eight years at an advertising agency in New Orleans, supervising accounts in the education, telecommunications, hospitality, business-to-business, and economic development industries.

Clare holds a BA in English and Psychology from Tulane University. She lives in New Orleans with her husband and two sons, and spends her non-working hours running, exploring the city with her family, and discovering new restaurants.

Jay Feit
(he/him/his) Director of Operations & Print Services

A consummate professional with a vast store of production knowledge, Jay brings to CCA extensive experience in all aspects of print procurement and production, as well as mailing and fulfillment. He has over 30 years of experience in these areas, working with large financial accounts, numerous retail and B2B businesses, and of course many colleges and universities. Additionally, Jay manages CCA’s IT needs and also works closely with the Finance and Project Management teams.

Jay began his career as a graphic artist with the Albany-based marketing firm Media Logic. Over two decades with Media Logic, Jay played a significant role in helping the firm grow from just three people into a booming business employing more than 70. Jay held a variety of senior-level positions with the firm, ultimately as vice president of print services. He also has served as vice president of procurement and quality assurance at Benchemark Printing in Schenectady, NY.

Jay earned a BFA in Graphic Design at the State University of New York at Buffalo.  A die-hard baseball fan, Jay roots for two teams: the Mets, and whoever’s playing against the Yankees. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Clifton Park, NY.  And when he is not spending time at home with them, you can find him wandering the golf courses throughout the Capital District.

Heidi Basso
(she/her/hers) Managing Director, Project Management

The skillful architect of CCA’s processes, Heidi efficiently keeps the creative, account, media, and digital teams on track with impeccable organization and scheduling skills. She runs a tight ship at all internal meetings and never lets anyone miss a deadline or go over budget.

Her almost 20 years of experience in project management include similar roles at Overit and Media Logic in Albany, where she managed workflows for major financial service accounts, including Visa, Chase, and Wells Fargo. She also handled projects for health insurance providers like MVP Health Care; service companies like Appolo Heating, H&V Collision, and CDTA; and schools such as Maria College and Doane Stuart. 

A State University of New York at Oswego graduate, Heidi is passionate about collaboration and implementing new web-based tools that make everyone’s lives easier. Outside of CCA, she and her husband like traveling with their three kids—and you can bet their itineraries are airtight.

Allen Shapard
(he/him/his) Managing Director, PR

Allen Shapard is an internationally recognized expert on marketing, communications, and branding. He has spent the past twenty years working with institutions and corporations such as the Nobel (Prize) Foundation, PepsiCo, Cisco Systems, Samsung, Honeywell, KPMG, the Mayo Clinic, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the UN, to increase awareness, influence and revenue. He also has helped senior executives and royalty to strengthen their profile and thought leadership.

Allen assists clients in effectively engaging key stakeholders, especially to enhance reputation and influence based on strategies using online and offline tactics. Recent relationships have included Columbia University, Tulane University, the University of Tennessee, Case Western Reserve University, the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum and Dubai Expo 2021. Previously, Allen was Senior Vice President and Co-leader of the Corporate Responsibility/Purpose practice at APCO Worldwide, an international communications and public affairs firm, where he worked with high-profile private and public sector entities on international communications and marketing issues.

Prior to joining APCO, Allen served as Senior Vice President at IMG, the global media, marketing, entertainment and lifestyle conglomerate. At IMG, he led an international practice, working with clients to strategically increase their global awareness and strengthen their reputation through marketing, communications, events, partnerships, CSR/philanthropy and social/digital media. Clients included many global companies such as Anheuser Busch, Tata, AT&T, Saudi Aramco and Philips, notable institutions such as the Nobel Foundation, the Mayo Clinic, the Ford Foundation, and the UN, as well as senior leaders such as HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Jack Welch, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Dr. Sally Ride.

Allen serves on several non-profit boards including the Mark Foundation and the Genesis Prize Foundation. He is a Senior Fellow at the US Council on Competitiveness. His work has been the subject of coverage in The New York Times, Financial Times and The Economist. Allen has also spoken frequently on branding, marketing and communications.

A former corporate lawyer, Allen holds a B.A. from Yale University, a Masters in international relations from the University of Cambridge, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Kayla Germain
(she/her/hers) Account Director

In her role at CCA, Kayla brings a blended background of higher education, agency experience, and strategic marketing. Kayla’s enthusiasm and upbeat attitude, coupled with her knack for coordinating and organizing multiple projects, makes her a great client advocate and CCA team member.

Kicking off her career at The College of Saint Rose as a digital marketer, Kayla dove headfirst into the fast-paced world of higher education. Realizing quickly that success came from cross-campus collaboration, she worked to make connections from admissions to campus dining and everywhere in-between. Broadening her experience, Kayla entered the client services field at healthcare marketing agency Smith & Jones. After spending time in healthcare/health tech, Kayla returned to her higher ed marketing roots.

For her own bachelor’s degree, Kayla ventured to Western New York to attend the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she studied the art of communications—when not cheering for the Buffalo Bills. After graduation, she returned to the Capital Region for a master’s from The College of Saint Rose.

In her spare time, Kayla, her husband Chris, and their two kiddos can often be found exploring the rail trail near her home in Delmar, NY or spending time at home mastering the art of hide-and-go-seek.

Caroline Murray
(she/her/hers) Senior Account Executive

Higher education has played an important role in Caroline’s life, which is why she was thrilled to join the CCA team and support clients in their mission to create better futures for their students and communities. She brings to the table nine years of experience in marketing and communications.

Before joining the CCA team, Caroline returned to her alma mater, The College of Saint Rose, where she worked in the marketing department for four years and served as senior assistant director of marketing and communications. At the College, Caroline assisted the admissions team in meeting recruitment and enrollment goals by spearheading student search efforts and developing award-winning marketing campaigns. She enjoyed the relationship-building aspect of her job and was constantly inspired by the dedication and ingenuity of the campus community.

Prior to her career in higher education, Caroline worked as an inbound marketing specialist for a healthcare marketing agency, where she helped bring in new business by developing targeted marketing campaigns.

Caroline received a bachelor’s in communications from Saint Rose, where she fell in love with the Capital Region’s food and entertainment scene. She also received her master’s degree from Arizona State University. In her spare time, she likes to go for long runs outside, explore the Adirondacks with her partner Michael, and curl up with a good book and her two cats, Mitzi and Bella (if they allow it).

Raven Daley Senior Account Executive

Between her can-do attitude, superhuman organizational skills, and extensive background working in higher education, Raven is an invaluable member of our client services team at CCA.

Before joining CCA, Raven worked as an advancement officer for the Alumni Relations office at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. There, she wore many hats—managing volunteers in countless cities across the U.S., scheduling and coordinating events, and so much more. Prior to that, Raven maintained two important roles. She was a student coordinator for the Capital District YMCA Black and Latino Achievers program, and she also served as an academic advisor for Excelsior College—the same school where she earned her Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership after earning her undergraduate degree from The College of Saint Rose.

Today, Raven lives in Albany with her husband and son. In her spare time, she loves cooking, shopping, and creating new adventures with her family.

Meghan Kiely
(she/her/hers) Account Executive

From creating unique fundraising campaigns, to building engagement strategies from scratch, crafting the perfect social media campaigns, and executing black tie events, Meghan has a wealth of higher education and marketing experience. Add to that an incredible work ethic and positive energy, and you have the ideal account executive.

Meghan earned her B.A. in Communications at The College of Saint Rose. After graduation, she moved back to her hometown of Rochester, NY where she worked at the University of Rochester for nearly six years in various roles within the Alumni Relations, Advancement Communications and Special Events, and Annual Giving departments—all while earning her M.S. in Integrated Marketing and Communications from Nazareth College. Prior to joining the CCA team, she was the Director of Alumnae Relations at her high school alma mater, Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women.

When she’s not at home in Rochester binge watching the latest reality show on Bravo, you can find Meghan racing sailboats around Lake Ontario in the summer or hitting the local ski slopes in the winter.

Ruth Sadinsky
(she/her/hers) Associate Creative Director

Ruth has enjoyed more than three decades as a creative director, art director, and designer in agencies and studios, including her boutique studio, Ruth&Co.

Her client experience includes work for higher and secondary education, as well as for clients in a wide range of industries, including world-renowned performing arts organizations, fine art museums and boutique galleries, agricultural land trusts and nature preservation advocacy organizations, civic and state governments, public education labor unions, national cancer care providers, mission-critical database engineering firms, and port authorities.

Ruth has received awards from The One Show, The Education Advertising Awards, The Healthcare Advertising Awards, and The Addys, with work appearing in Communication Arts, Print, and How magazines. She is a member of the Type Directors Club and the University & College Designers Club.

Raised in Elmira, New York, surrounded by a family of seven, she is the product of a dairy farmer turned chemical engineer, and a housewife turned radio personality, art historian, and lifelong champion of equal educational opportunities for girls and women.

Ruth and her husband live in Albany, New York. They enjoy long-haul bike tours, renovating and restoring their century-old bungalow, and frequent dinner drop-ins from their four college-age and adult children.

In her spare time, she enjoys deep dives into images and footage of vintage and contemporary haute couture. She draws inspiration from the deep commitment to detail and expert craftsmanship that, combined with the couturiers’ creative vision, result in creations that are both feats of engineering and exquisite high art.

Ruth graduated summa cum laude from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where she studied design, applied commercial arts, and illustration.

Colleen Hukey Senior Digital Art Director

With years of professional experience designing for digital and print mediums, Colleen brings to CCA what every client demands: creative versatility in an interconnected world—and a designer who thinks like a digital strategist. During her time at CCA, Colleen has produced award-winning collateral and executed highly successful media campaigns for clients such as Alfred University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Wheaton College.

Prior to CCA, Colleen held impressive roles at a publishing agency and most recently a marketing agency, where her experience in digital design really took off. She produced countless animated banner ads, social graphics, video ads, emails, websites, landing pages, and beyond for clients like BMW, Clarkson University, and Fort Ticonderoga.

A SUNY Oneonta graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Art, Colleen also spent a semester at sea with the University of Virginia, visiting 12 countries via cruise ship to acquire global economic, leadership, and cultural awareness skills—while at the same time enhancing her knowledge of the art world. She currently lives in Clifton Park, New York with her husband, where their lives revolve around their dog and cat.

Kelly Trowbridge
(she/her/hers) Senior Art Director

A well-versed creative in advertising and marketing, Kelly comes to CCA with impressive professional experience and formal training. She holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in advertising, graphic design, and strategic communications from Florida International University, Miami Ad School, and the University of Miami.

Kelly has worked for the likes of Royal Caribbean International, on their in-house studio team; Ogilvy and Mather Paris, ideating and creating fully integrated campaigns for top brands like Nestle, Dove, and Netflix; and several other boutique agencies, where she was able to dive into both the traditional and digital worlds, enhancing her craft, leadership, strategic skills, and versatility. In fact, Kelly has built a strong portfolio across a wide range of industry verticals, including lifestyle, hospitality, food and beverage, B2B SaaS, packaging and logistics, education, and healthcare.

As a native Floridian, Kelly enjoys spending time outdoors soaking up the sun. She loves to travel the world, try new foods, and learn about different cultures. She has a fascination for all things visual: fashion, art, photography, magazines, and interior design, which inspires her everyday life, professional and personal, alike. Design is her passion and the world is her canvas.

When Kelly is not geeking out watching history documentaries about ancient Egypt and ancient Rome, she is spending time with her husband, Matt, and 12-year-old pug, Stuffy.

Jennifer Hoffman
(she/her/hers) Digital Marketing & Production Coordinator

No higher education agency is complete without a detail-oriented Slate specialist and production coordinator who has the eyes of a creative and the mind of a strategist. For CCA, that’s Jennifer, one of the most reliable and easy-going colleagues you’ll ever work with.

Prior to joining the CCA team, Jennifer worked as the Communication Specialist for the Robert Morris University enrollment management division. There, she learned to manage a complex communication flow, create original content, and maintain a large library of assets within a Slate instance. Before moving to higher education, she held marketing roles in real estate, retail, and hospitality, where she sharpened her customer service and content creation skills.

Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts and Advertising from Robert Morris University, and in that time she found her home in the City of Bridges (Pittsburgh, PA). She enjoys spending her free time trying new coffee shops, attending as many concerts as possible, and taking her dog, Duchess, on hikes.

Karen Dolge Director of Media Planning & Buying

Karen joined CCA in 2012 with more than 20 years of advertising, media planning, and buying experience. She works closely with CCA clients to develop comprehensive media campaigns in an effort to help achieve their goals and objectives. Most recently, she helped build successful media plans and implemented strong, negotiated media buys for Siena College, Cabrini University, Alfred University, the New York School of Interior Design, and Thomas Jefferson University.

Prior to joining CCA, Karen worked at Initiative Media (an IPG company) and Eric Mower & Associates, where she developed strategic media plans and negotiated and implemented media buys for AT&T, Applebee’s, First Niagara Bank, New York Tourism (the I Love New York campaign), Sprint, and regional Honda dealers, to name a few. 

Karen holds a BA in Broadcasting/Mass Communications from the State University of New York at Oswego. In addition to raising two incredible kids with her husband Brian, she’s also CCA’s fitness inspiration, having run 32 marathons and counting.

Lauren “L” Wetherell
(she/her/hers) Media Planner

Lauren joined CCA as Media Planner in 2021, with a decade of marketing experience and a love for creative solutions. A graduate of Union College, Lauren is particularly passionate about the higher education industry and designing effective and strategic media campaigns that guide prospective students to their ideal schools.

Before CCA, Lauren worked extensively in live entertainment, retail, and tourism marketing, leading media campaigns for nationally touring artists like the New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra, and actors like John Cleese, Christopher Lloyd, and John Cusack. She’s led advertising campaigns for local clients like the New York Racing Association, Hannaford Supermarkets, Siena College Basketball, and the Times Union.

Originally from the picturesque Berkshires of Massachusetts, Lauren now lives in upstate NY with her husband Matt and their dog Henry. Outside of work, Lauren can be found outdoors immersed in landscaping projects or scouring local plant stores for new flora.

Leah Rosa
(she/her/hers) Graphic Designer

A graphic designer at CCA, Leah brings immense creativity and joyous energy to the team. Not to mention, refreshing ideas and up-to-the-minute skills in animation and illustration.

Leah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from the University at Buffalo, where she developed a specific passion for 5-second animations and digital design. Initially a computer science major, Leah realized her need to express her creativity and discovered how to pair her love of STEM with art that is just as vibrant as her hair. During her time at UB, she worked for the Department of Education in New York City, assisting NYC high school senior students with their post-secondary plans. She also worked as a social media manager and designer at Aequitas Tax where she redesigned their online presence.

A daughter of Dominican immigrants, Leah enjoys creating work that is representative of her culture and others. She is also a digital artist who loves illustrating women of color. Outside of work, Leah can be found with her three cats—Kiki, Manchy, and Leo—and reading her vast collection of unread novels.

Maureen Finn Senior Digital Marketing Strategist

In her role as Senior Digital Marketing Strategist, Maureen serves as the go-to person for our clients when it comes to campaign performance, analytics, and recommendations for digital optimization. Her main priority is ensuring that our clients receive the best and most relevant services in the constantly changing realm of digital marketing.

Before joining CCA, Maureen oversaw digital marketing efforts and worked as a managing content editor at the Association of National Advertisers. Prior to that, while a student at Northeastern University, she interned in the Development office at Wentworth Institute of Technology—her first introduction to the professional world of higher education. After graduating with a BA in journalism, she went on to work in the nonprofit sector in the New England area, before moving to New Jersey to be closer to her family.

Today, Maureen lives in Newark with her husband and two high-maintenance elderly dogs. In her spare time, she loves traveling, exercising, reading, crafting, and running her online secondhand clothing store on platforms including Poshmark and eBay.