Ethan Cohen – Chief Visionary

Ethan is a 25-year Direct Response advertising and marketing veteran. Having founded Stingray Direct in early 2014, he has led the company’s core vision since its inception.

Before launching Stingray Direct, Ethan was the founder and CEO of a successful Direct Response Television media buying agency. Ethan has earned a reputation for being one of the industry’s most well-rounded media experts, specializing in health, wellness, and beauty. Having personally guided many of the industry’s most prestigious and successful infomercial and spot campaigns, Ethan has managed over $1 Billion in Direct Response television and online media.

Ethan has also held the title of Co-Chairman of a Broadcast Council Committee for the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). As a graduate of Boston University, you can often find him rooting on weekends for the Patriots, Red Sox, and all things Boston!

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Alison Cohen – Chief Creative Officer

Alison is a 20-year veteran of the e-commerce, internet marketing, and interactive media industries. Having started in the e-commerce space in what seems like its stone age, she began her marketing career working on brands, such as Barbie Collectibles, Avery Dennison, and Proactiv Solution.

Cohen has successfully overseen the internet marketing, merchandising, and overall e-business strategy for the interactive divisions of many national and international brands and retailers. She has led the e-commerce teams at BCBG Max Azria Group (including the BCBG, Herve Leger, and Max Azria brands), athletic footwear and apparel manufacturer, K-Swiss, teen retailer, Anchor Blue, and was instrumental in the development of the marketing strategies for the Guess, Inc. arsenal of e-commerce sites, including guess.com and marciano.com.

Alison earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from UCLA, a professional degree in Merchandise Marketing from FIDM (where she was valedictorian, but don’t tell her we told you), and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

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Megan Brown – Chief Marketing Officer

Seasoned health, wellness, and beauty executive Megan Brown has over 15 years of success developing, reviving, and profitably scaling brands via digital-first, content-driven performance marketing strategies. Beginning her career on the agency side, she led top-performing campaigns for direct response leading brands, Korres, PMD Beauty, Hair Club, Bosley, and Luminess. She then transitioned to the brand side to successfully lead marketing and brand teams for some of today’s top CPG Beauty and Wellness brands, including Unilever-acquired Liquid IV, Dr. Kellyann, a visionary in gut health, SKINN, the #1 selling skincare brand on TV Shopping Network, HSN, and Cellucor, C4 Energy, the leader in performance drinks.

Megan’s passion for health, wellness, and beauty stems from years as a professional dancer. As a former collegiate and NBA Dancer for the Miami Heat, Mrs. Brown understands the significance of what you put on and in your body. Megan holds a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast News from the University of Kansas. She currently resides in Laguna Beach with her French bulldog, George.

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Melissa M. Murray – Chief of Staff

Melissa Murray is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in project management, organizational strategy, and team leadership. She has successfully contributed to various industries, including academic publishing, e-commerce, health and wellness, and tourism destination management. Melissa is known for driving organizational success through meticulous planning, strategic execution, and effective stakeholder engagement. Her consistent track record highlights her ability to deliver results and lead teams to achieve their goals.

Over the span of her career, she managed over 120 marketing initiatives as a Marketing Project Manager, where her expertise in project management systems quickly made her an invaluable asset in both internal and external efforts. Advancing to Senior Project Manager, she led 28 strategic initiatives across a broad County region, collaborating closely with C-level executives, municipal officials, and key stakeholders to ensure timely and budget-conscious project completion. Most recently, she has led high-level organizational initiatives, developing strategic roadmaps with leadership, driving efficiencies with tools like Asana, and overseeing procurement, vendor negotiations, and resource evaluations, demonstrating her adaptability and commitment to organizational success. She sees this experience as being a great herder of kittens!

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from San Diego State University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Known for her strong leadership, organizational skills, and ability to navigate complex projects, Melissa is dedicated to fostering environments where teams thrive, and organizational goals are not just met, but exceeded.

She currently resides in Santa Maria, CA, with her husband and spoiled cat, Lovies.

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Gregory Frye – Vice President of Operations

Gregory is a 23-year veteran of the e-commerce, brick-and-mortar retail, and digital marketing industries. During his first 15-year tenure, he helped develop and lead a successful men's apparel business with online and physical store locations. Gregory facilitated the transformation of the garage start-up into a powerful force in the fashion industry, delivering exceptional customer experiences, streamlining operational efficiency, and implementing cutting-edge technology solutions, leading to its market domination.

Joining Stingray Direct in July 2017, Gregory now leads the company's operations and customer experience: He leverages data, creativity, technology, and people empowerment to reach the most innovative and effective solutions of what's possible with a focus on unique content creation, innovation, operations, enhancement, and optimization of creative marketing strategies.

Authentic self-expression is essential to Gregory’s life. His pursuits include creating colorful, surrealistic, and whimsical fashion, art, and experiences. He’s on a mission to inspire others to follow their dreams and embrace their unique inner magic with his love, joy, and positivity. Gregory believes that art creation is a powerful catalyst for healing and transformation.

Gregory earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Broadcast Technology from Boise State University, where he first ignited and cultivated his communication skills, artistic talents, photography abilities, and passion for all things leadership and marketing.

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John Lyon III – Vice President of Product Development

John is a dynamic and results-driven business professional with extensive experience fostering organizational growth through exceptional product development, project management, and organizational leadership. As the VP of Product Development at Stingray Direct, John oversees the entire product lifecycle, from ideation through commercialization, ensuring products meet market demands and regulatory standards.

Before joining Stingray Direct, John led product development at Veyl Ventures, overseeing the successful launch of over 100 functional food, dietary supplement, and pet health products across several prominent brands. During his time there, he helped drive significant revenue growth and brand visibility through collaborations with high-profile celebrities such as Steve Harvey, Dr. Travis Stork, and Sherri Shepherd. John's career began at Force Factor, where his exemplary leadership and creativity earned him multiple promotions and recognition, including the Supply Side West Consumer Product Goods Editor’s Choice Award for Sports Nutrition.

John holds a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with a minor in Public Health and Health Policy from Harvard University, where he played college football. He followed that up with a master’s degree from Wake Forest University with a concentration in Food and Faith. His research on probiotics and metabolic health underscores his commitment to advancing knowledge in health and wellness.

In his personal time, John enjoys Olympic weightlifting, playing the piano, mentoring college students, spending time with his family, and volunteering at his church.

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Isaac Marin – Director Of Analytics, Media Buying

With a robust background in data analysis and a passion for delivering results, Isaac has been a vital part of the Stingray Direct family since 2018, currently serving as the Director of Analytics. Harnessing his robust background in data analysis and media buying, Isaac has both shaped our strategic direction and spearheaded our media buying team. As the mastermind of numbers and patterns, he translates complex data into actionable insights, enhancing our decision-making process.

Before joining the Stingray Direct team, Isaac amassed invaluable experience in diverse roles, providing him with a well-rounded perspective. His journey started at a non-profit where he served as a Case Manager for students in low-income neighborhoods. His dedication to making a difference was clear even then.

A proud alumnus of UCLA, Isaac holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, a strong foundation that has helped him throughout his career. When he's not crunching numbers or strategizing at Stingray Direct, Isaac enjoys unwinding with a game of Magic: The Gathering, showcasing his analytical prowess even in his hobbies.

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Nicole O’Neal – Director of Content

Nicole is a two-time Emmy Award-winning senior producer with a Master's in Nutrition Science and over 15 years of experience producing and writing health, wellness, and lifestyle content for nationally syndicated daytime talk, live morning news shows, local news, and digital platforms. Nicole produced shows, including The Today Show and The Dr. Oz Show.

Her education and experience made for a seamless transition into direct-response copywriting in the health and wellness industry.

She's a proud alumni of Seton Hall University. When Nicole isn't working, she's continuing her studies to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. (she's almost there!)

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Ali Spondello – Creative Director

Ali Spondello is a passionate Creative Director and Designer with over a decade of experience spearheading design initiatives for dynamic, fast-growing DTC brands in the fashion, beauty, and medical cosmetics industries. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Los Angeles in 2012. Throughout her career, Ali has earned a reputation for creating high-quality, impactful designs that engage audiences and elevate brands to new heights.

Collaboration has been the cornerstone of Ali’s success. She thrives in small-team environments, where her keen creative vision shines through in every project. From crafting innovative campaign strategies to producing striking packaging, captivating product photography, and comprehensive marketing collateral, Ali consistently delivers cohesive and visually compelling assets that resonate deeply with consumers.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Ali is an avid hot yoga practitioner. As a former dancer, she places a high value on physical and mental wellness, embracing conscious living to support her overall health. She draws inspiration from her travels, high fashion, music, and the stunning realms of interior and architectural design, channeling these influences into her creative work.

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Gaile Jaro – Digital Marketing Manager, Tech Lead

Gaile is a seasoned creative marketing professional with 14 years of experience, known for her dynamic and innovative approach to driving impactful campaigns. With a diverse skill set spanning Marketing, Design, eCommerce, and a solid technical foundation, Gaile consistently delivers impactful marketing strategies throughout her career, in alignment with the brand's vision.

As a versatile professional, Gaile has had the privilege of leading the design and development of numerous online platforms at UCLA. With her expertise in design and technology, Gaile's attention to detail ensured a seamless execution, resulting in outcomes that reinforced and elevated UCLA's brand. While collaborating on projects, Gaile's focus remained on enhancing UCLA's digital presence and providing intuitive user experiences for UCLA students, faculty, and staff to access valuable resources. Gaile's unwavering commitment played a pivotal role in enhancing the university's reputation in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

During her free time, Gaile indulges in her passion for PC gaming, unleashes her creativity through nail design, mastering the art of baking delicious desserts, and immerses herself in the world of 3D creation using Blender.

Additionally, she consistently seeks out new and captivating learning opportunities, exploring fresh horizons every week.

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Adrienne Grashaw – HR Manager

Adrienne is a seasoned Human Resources Manager with comprehensive experience in the HR field, specializing in talent acquisition, management, employee relations, and organizational development. With a background in the Education, non-profit, and Health and Wellness sectors, she has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that exist within each industry. Adrienne’s passion for her work is evident in her unwavering dedication to developing strategies that help organizations achieve their goals. She believes in empowering each individual within a team, which is reflected in her approach to HR management.

Adrienne’s ability to create environments that foster growth and collaboration sets her apart. Having completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and her Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling from Angelo State University, she has developed a deep understanding of organizational dynamics. Her experience in the field has allowed her to hone her skills and apply her knowledge in practical ways. Adrienne's leadership style is transformational. She empowers her teams through trust and transparency, enhancing collaboration and productivity.

In Adrienne’s free time, she enjoys running and hiking trails, which keeps her physically fit and mentally sharp. She has completed 10 marathons and is already planning the next one. She is also a fan of true crime documentaries and loves to spend time with her loved ones. Adrienne’s hobbies reflect her commitment to a well-balanced life, and she values the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

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