Why Choose TJA Advertising? It’s Simple . . . Our Team.

Melissa Hageman is the Accounting Manager at TJA, where she works hand in hand with John in facilitating a smooth billing process for their clients as well as manages the administrative accounting practices for the company. A graduate of Cal Poly SLO with over 16 years of finance and accounting experience, Melissa truly enjoys being focused on a company’s growth, sustainability, and financial health. “I have always loved being a part of the driving force behind a company’s success, especially if it impacts our local communities directly. It is such a privilege to be a part of the TJA team, representing some of the very best our Central Coast has to offer!”

Claudia Torkelson is the Social Media Manager for TJA. After graduating from Cal Poly SLO with a major in English and a minor in Integrated Marketing Communications, she applied her knowledge and experience from working at the Cal Poly Corporation to fast-paced agency work post-grad. Eventually, she found her niche in working with tourism bureaus up in the Napa Valley. Claudia runs the social media accounts for various local clients and enjoys being a team player. By analyzing the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing insights and trends, she continues to create inspiring content.

Eileen Morris is our Content Creator and Consultant, as well as Director of Stewardship & Educational Outreach. She worked for many years as a legal assistant in Downtown Los Angeles and Orange County, California, and enjoyed years of educating children in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Eileen has extensive business training and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. Her absolute love, curiosity, and respect for the Central Coast and its history guides her creative ideas to educate, inspire, and excite community members, visitors, educators, and students about this area, which is like no other on Earth.

Rick Turton has been designing, building, and maintaining websites for over 25 years, the vast majority of which in the travel and tourism sector. He has created websites for hotels and motels, many for Best Western Hotels, as well as tourism associations, and conference and visitors bureaus. Rick is an expert in website development, search engine optimization, and web strategy. He continually redesigns and maintains existing websites to increase sales, drive leads, and beat the competition.

Quint Stevens is a forward-thinking award-winning creative with extensive experience in strategy and full-service design with a career that led him to some of the largest agencies in the U.S. and Europe, including Saatchi & Saatchi International, BSSP, Patagonia, and others. He has demonstrated an ability to achieve client goals across multiple disciplines, including campaign strategy, branding, graphic design, account management, and new business development. Quint is a dynamic team leader with a positive and collaborative style.

Providence Gallesio Gibbons, our PR & Media Relations Coordinator, graduated Cum Laude from the University of California San Diego Revelle College completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts-Art History. Her love of California’s rich history and culture, as well as her extensive knowledge of the American West, assists her in preserving while promoting responsible exploration, visitation and tourism of our great State and California’s beautiful Central Coast region.  Providence enjoys classic California road trips, exploring historic points of interests, super blooms and obscure little towns.

Emma Rhoads is a Marketing and Stewardship Specialist at TJA with experience in digital, content, and event marketing. After obtaining a degree in Microbiology from the University of Washington, Emma travelled and worked between the Alaska and New Zealand tourism industries. She witnessed the unique conservation challenges that tourism-dependent towns face, fueling a passion for protecting their environment and communities. She believes the Central Coast has an opportunity to lead the way in finding an important balance through community partnership and education.