Christine Walker established The Design Guild in 2012. She saw that there was a better way than the traditional agency or freelance models to build creative teams and produce the highest quality communications. Christine has more than 25 years working with some of the biggest brands on the planet, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Pepsi, Kellogg’s, Belkin, Wal-Mart and Disney. In addition, she lead all marketing and design efforts for O'Reilly Media, an international technology publisher and conference producer. An analytical mind and background in design make her ideally suited to a holistic and strategic approach to communication design. Christine lives in Benicia, CA where she enjoys a small town life and long walks on the coast of the Carquinez Strait.

JoJo Stassel has been apart of the Design Guild for almost 2 years, she loves being able to work with other creative professionals to make a big impact. JoJo’s education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo focused on the unique process of designing for print, which gave her a strong technical background in the output of printed pieces from design on a desktop to running the printing press. After graduating with a degree in Graphic Communication in 2020, JoJo founded One Stone Design with her business partner, Morgan McKean who also works with the Guild. Together, they serve as the Design Guild’s studio managers, bookkeepers and graphic designers. Their shared love of print design, handmade goods and texture informs and inspires all of their design choices. JoJo lives in Downtown San Diego where she enjoys going to the beach, if she’s not painting or starting a new crochet project.

Kerry Rego is a social media trainer, technology consultant, author, and speaker working with individuals, businesses, government, and nonprofits since 2006. She educates people, implements tools, and trains staff on new media.

Kerry is a lecturer at Sonoma State University and adjunct faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College. She’s a recipient of the North Bay Business Journal’s 2011 “Forty Under 40 Award” and the author of The Social Media Starter Kit and What You Don’t Know About Social Media CAN Hurt You: Take Control of Your Online Reputation.

Marcia Simmons enjoys uncovering the best way to tell a brand's story. She has worked with clients of all sizes to help them develop a voice, message and communication strategy that is consistent with their brand. Her clients include creative agencies, national brands, startups, nonprofits, municipalities and small businesses. Marcia is also the author of DIY Cocktails, a book that teaches cocktail enthusiasts how to create their own ingredients and recipes.

Fox Scarlett is a web developer who works with platforms including JavaScript apps, Wordpress and Shopify. He is a dedicated proponent of accessibility and security in all web applications. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he realized he had an affinity for computer programming after inadvertently acing the one required software class in his hardware electronics degree. He has built and launched hundreds of websites and formerly did data analysis for an international digital electronics manufacturer. Fox joined The Design Guild in 2019 and enjoys the creative atmosphere and the uniqueness of each of our projects. When he’s not staring at a code editor he can be found creating electronic music for the UK-based digital record label he co-founded. He resides in Santa Rosa.

Courtney offers a mix of analytical skills and creativity with a passion for the design process. She believes that great design can only be so effective on its own, however, and sets out to create projects that are based on a clear purpose and message with a strong foundation in brand strategy. She brings a combination of collaboration and creativity to every project as she strives to develop compelling, functional designs that work in harmony with clients’ marketing goals.

Courtney has worked with Christine since 2010 and is one of the original team members of The Design Guild. In her career, she has worked with a large array of clients from small businesses and innovative start-ups to government entities and national organizations. Her project work has included both print and digital assets and has also contributed project management, copywriting and web build-outs for The Design Guild. For Courtney, design is both a career and a hobby, outside of spending time with her family and their many activities.

Marc Harris has  extensive experience in SEO, content creation, website development and internet marketing. He is a moderator at WebmasterWorld, one of the largest websites for news and discussions geared toward website professionals.

Avalon Cassard joined The Design Guild in the Spring of 2022, seeking to work with – and learn from – a group of talented, like-minded creative professionals. Avalon jumpstarted her career working with her local newspaper as a reporter and editorial assistant, before attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she pursued a degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations. Following her graduation in Spring of 2021, Avalon has aligned herself in the marketing sphere, specializing in copywriting, social media strategy, and marketing coordination. Avalon is a Southern California native, who currently lives in Alameda, CA where she can be found spending time with her family, knitting, playing video games, or doing crosswords in her free time.

Jessica Medina Charney has loved communications since she began making "commercials" for toys and household items as a child. With a background in psychology and a lifelong passion for storytelling, Jessica creates impactful communications solutions that resonate with audiences on a deeper level. Jessica specializes in writing, crisis communications, public information campaigns, product marketing, and project management.

Most recently, Jessica has supported the City of Petaluma communications program through the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple natural disasters. Channeling her experience in the private sector to support critical public health and safety campaigns has brought Jessica’s love of communications to a new level. She has completed certificate programs in public engagement and public information from Pepperdine University and the California Office of Emergency Services.

Through her career, Jessica has produced compelling copy and communications for private and public sector clients like the City of Petaluma, Santa Rosa Junior College, the City of Santa Rosa, Clover Sonoma, Lowepro, Gitzo, Manfrotto, Scandinavian Designs, and WorldCentric.