meet our team

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Larry Preslar

Official title: creative director
Fun title: humor coach

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Our own creative and technical genius, Larry oversees creative and production elements for all graphic and digital design projects. He serves as our research and technology development expert and brings a daily dose of humor and creativity. Prior to joining the firm, he spent 24 years in McClatchy’s custom publishing division where he managed design and production for more than 30 magazine titles.

Five Fun Facts

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Favorite color: burgundy – the color of love :-)

Favorite treat: Peanut M&Ms (the pound bag please!)

Celebrity doppelganger: Nathan Fillion (according to my wife)

Passion project: I love 3D rendering and animation. That’s why we launched SPARK Digital Designs.

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Melisa Graham

Official title: communications director
Fun title: word nerd

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Melisa (Mel for short) knows the difference between less than and fewer than, so you don’t have to worry about it. She serves as in-house editor and account manager for book projects, edits b2bTRIBE magazine, provides editorial support to several other magazines, assists with new client orientation, and handles marketing communications for the firm and its clients. Prior to joining the firm, she was a client as the communications director at the Charlotte Chamber, which published a quarterly business magazine and an annual newcomer guide during her tenure. She began her career at Epley Associates, one of the first public relations firms in North Carolina. And she earned her bachelor’s degree in English and religion from Duke University.

Interested in inviting Melisa to speak at your organization’s meeting? Download her speaker sheet and contact us.

Five Fun Facts

Hometown: Charlotte, NC, the Queen City

Favorite color: any jewel tone

Favorite treat: gluten covered in sugar

Celebrity doppelganger: Mary-Louise Parker

Passion project: I greatly admire entrepreneurs, and helping them tell their stories gives me warm fuzzy feelings. I get to do that through b2bTRIBE magazine and by helping our authors publish their books.

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Christine Montes

Official title: business development
Fun title: rainmakin' mama

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Christine brings the rain as she goes out and forges new relationships with potential clients. She brings not only a sparkling personality but also an entrepreneurial background to the role, which helps her understand our potential clients’ goals and how we can best serve them. Prior to joining the firm, she owned and operated Blue Eagle Global Development where she advised companies on a variety of business matters with a specialty in sales channel development in foreign markets. She and her husband also founded and operated Caromex International prior to selling it in 2010. The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Christine was born and raised in Washington, DC, and is fluent in English and Spanish. She holds a bachelor’s in political science from Tufts University.

If you want to have your company publications and marketing created by the SPARKlers, Christine has several options of how we can help you share your brand’s story.

Five Fun Facts

Hometown: Washington, DC

Favorite color: hot pink

Favorite treat: ice cream

Celebrity doppelganger: that girl who looks like a friend of yours

Passion project: Finding the perfect solution to fulfill a client’s need. It’s a feeling of pure bliss when it all comes together – being able to say, “We can make it happen for you,” and seeing the look of satisfaction on the customer’s face when they see the end result. Magic!