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Our Team

We are a team united by the diversity of our approach and our experiences

Our Team

Consultants & Creators

We are a multidisciplinary team of consultants, social scientists, creative thinkers, and artists. We think inside the box, but color outside the lines.

Name

Position

Brad Deutser

President & CEO

President & CEO

Bio

Brad works where most people feel uncomfortable and try to avoid. He is known for actively seeking out challenging and charged environments, as well as societal and politically sensitive ones. Creating spaces for belonging and initiating constructs to expand leadership in a more human, connective way has been the focus of his work for decades. 

Brad’s clients and coaching take him to amazing places -- in athletics, aviation, education, entertainment, energy, finance, healthcare, non-profit -- with incredibly thoughtful leaders around the world. He takes on the most high-level challenges forging through them with creativity and grace to design and bring to life the most original solutions. Brad has been called on to define and transition the culture at the NFL’s Houston Texans as well as supporting the transformation of the University of Arizona football program, while serving as a leadership and performance coach to the players as well as executives across the world. He serves as the architect of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at University of Houston, the three-time recognized #1 entrepreneurial program in the US. The University of Texas selected his approach to navigate complex social and cultural issues. And countless leaders have brought the Deutser team in to navigate generational transitions and conflicts within families and complex companies, to facilitate cultural integration post-merger/acquisition, and to support the health, wellbeing and safety of tens of thousands of employees across too many businesses to name. 

Brad’s first book, Leading Clarity, a national bestseller, is used by organizations to redefine their future and amplify their results. There is an indelible entrepreneurial spirit and passion for people that is evident in Brad and everything he does. One of his greatest passions is to design and create spaces for human connection, which is a hallmark of his work. 

Brad's bestselling second book Belonging Rules was released in the fall of 2023. 

Diane Pittman

Chief Creative Officer

Chief Creative Officer

Bio

Diane is a rare creative talent who is able to leverage strategic insight and cultural understanding to “humanize” her highly engaging creative work. She has been responsible for helping to create and reinvigorate some of the most high-profile brands and impact highly important cultural initiatives. Her client experience includes Coca-Cola, Sony, AT&T, M&M Mars, Pfizer, and MetLife. Her work with Ogilvy & Mather, D'Arcy and Young & Rubicam has led to effective, award-winning campaigns. A graduate of The University of Texas, she has been recognized as a national Addy finalist, Clio winner and Cannes Finalist. 

Alan Smith

Chief Strategy Officer

Chief Strategy Officer

Bio

Alan specializes in strategic planning, organizational alignment and performance improvement. His unique insight, methodical approach and engaging style have been instrumental in successful planning efforts for a diverse array of clients in industries ranging from oil and gas and aviation to healthcare and education. Publicly traded organizations, Fortune 500 companies and leading national businesses have all utilized Alan's strategic expertise to create meaningful strategies that improve overall performance. A graduate of Baylor University, Alan is a certified Balanced Scorecard Professional (BSP) from George Washington University and is certified in Lean Office and Service by the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. 

Peter Berger

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Bio

Peter enhances value through enterprise risk management, operations management, and financial analysis. By maturing risk culture and through developing risk architecture and risk appetite, Peter has steered the inclusion of risk management into decision-making. He has a strong understanding of the energy and natural-resource industries, having guided Fortune 500 and multinational companies through acquisitions, divestments, continuous improvement and business transformation initiatives. In multiple international assignments, he has led business-development activities and established new operations. Peter is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant. He graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s in Business Administration. 

Lauren Gow

Director, Experiences and Spaces

Director, Experiences and Spaces

Bio

Lauren Gow specializes in experiential design initiatives that cultivate customer and brand engagement for clients across a wide range of industries. With her expertise in brand experience, she creates unforgettable and bespoke initiatives that vary from grass roots marketing efforts to environmental design strategies to large scale events. Lauren’s keen eye for design and thoughtful intentionality ensure that the target audience’s experience is relevant and impactful from the initial touchpoint and throughout the brand journey. Lauren’s award winning work has been featured in Houston Chronicle, CultureMap, Papercity Magazine, Houstonia Magazine and Houston CityBook.

An adopted Houstonian, Lauren is proud to serve on the PX Project Board of Directors, Houston Zoo’s Community-based Conservation Committee, Houston Zoo’s Facilities Committee, and to have co-chaired the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s 2025 Winter Ball.

Dr. Isabel Bilotta

Director, People and Performance

Director, People and Performance

Bio

Izzy received her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Rice University. She researches diversity, fairness, belonging, and leadership at work. Her work is published in widely cited, peer-reviewed outlets including The Journal of Applied Psychology. She has conducted applied research for The Center for Creative Leadership, The Doerr Institute, and MD Anderson. As a selection specialist at NASA, Izzy helped identify the 2021 class of astronauts, the most demographically diverse group to date. A certified leadership coach, she emboldens clients to achieve their maximum potential using data-driven approaches. Hailing from D.C., Izzy loves the independent, entrepreneurial spirit embodied by Texans. 

Catherine Campbell Lane

Director, Communications

Director, Communications

Bio

Catherine brings extraordinary insights to leading educational institutions and national nonprofit organizations. Within these sectors, she has guided high-profile initiatives to create more aligned and engaged organizations, which has resulted in dramatically increased performance and meaningful change. Catherine has extensive experience working with complex and multifaceted education-based issues and community-engagement challenges. A graduate of Baylor University, she is passionate about giving back to the community as a member of the Junior League of Houston, as well as serving on a variety of nonprofit boards and education-based steering committees. 

Dr. Kara C. Allen

Chief Growth Officer and Head of Sports

Chief Growth Officer and Head of Sports

Bio

Kara Allen operates at the intersection of culture, performance and growth - bringing a rare combination of executive leadership, organizational strategy, and deep sports ecosystem expertise to every engagement. As the first Chief People, Impact & Belonging Officer in professional sports, she has spent her career proving that belonging is not a soft value but a performance strategy, and that the most competitive organizations are the ones that get their people strategy right. At Deutser, Kara leads growth and drives the sports vertical, partnering with franchises, athletic programs, and the leaders within them to build cultures that perform under pressure and endure beyond any single season or coach. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University and a Master of Social Work from USC and brings that research-informed lens to work that is always human first and results driven. At her core, Kara believes belonging is not a values statement - it is the most underutilized performance strategy in sports.

Jill Zaugg

Creative Director

Creative Director

Bio

Jill is a multidisciplinary designer who is passionate about developing thoughtful and relevant work. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Communications from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Texas A&M. Before coming to Deutser, Jill worked at Ogilvy & Mather, J. Walter Thompson, Shell Oil and Phillips 66. With graphic design, production and project-management experience, Jill brings a seasoned, empathetic, and fresh perspective to all projects. Her award-winning work has been achieved through a resourceful, collaborative nature and the fact that no one has ever heard Jill utter the phrase, “It can’t be done.” 

Christy Blackburn

Creative Director

Creative Director

Bio

Christy’s expertise is vast, her experience, varied. During her 25+ year career she has art directed a regional lifestyle magazine, developed and designed “Happy Meals,” worked as senior art director at a Houston advertising agency, and been a “solo-prenuer.” As creative manager at Deutser, she oversees creative and culture workshops, helps with print production, leads design teams to award-winning work, all while having a lot of fun. A graduate of the Art Institute of Houston, Christy’s print work has received much recognition including a Regional Design Award from Print Magazine, local and national ADDYs, and a Gold award from the Independent Publishing Association for cookbook design. 

Jennifer Bailey

Creative Director

Creative Director

Bio

Jennifer has been in the graphic design field for more than 15 years and has worked on many high-profile projects, winning local and national awards along the way. She supports clients in a variety of industries, from education to healthcare to energy. Jennifer brings a keen eye and a unique design expertise to every project she undertakes, whether it’s a website, an outdoor board, a brochure or a one-of-a-kind invitation. Clients appreciate her meticulous attention to detail as she addresses their most pressing and exciting opportunities. Jennifer earned her degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Houston. 

Blas Pereyra

Art Director

Art Director

Bio

Blas infuses creative strategy and art direction using cross-cultural influences and a perpetual study of design trends. He helps our clients discover more authentic ways to tell their stories by making meaningful connections with real people instead of faceless demographics. His empathic approach to creative helps Deutser craft more impactful experiences. With an insatiable curiosity, Blas continues to grow through the practice of design, connecting questions, truth and ideas to something well made. 

Brooke Bjorkman

Engagement Manager

Engagement Manager

Bio

With over 10 years of experience in the natural gas industry, Brooke brings a unique perspective to the Deutser team. Her previous background in a customer-centric environment coupled with strong project management skills provides an excellent framework for creative, results-driven solutions. She knows that there is no single approach to solving the task at hand and, through collaboration with passionate people, enjoys the process just as much as the end result. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys cooking and interior design and spends her spare time exploring both hobbies in and outside of Houston. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University. 

Trudy Chin Wing

Art Director

Art Director

Bio

Trudy brings over 15 years of design experience across the hospitality, restaurant, and real estate industries. Known for her attention to detail, she applies her expertise to brand strategy, logo and collateral design, concept development, website consulting, signage, and environmental graphics.


She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from the School of Visual Arts and a Master’s Degree in Publication Design from the University of Baltimore. Before joining Deutser, Trudy worked as an Art Director at Streetsense, a Washington, D.C.–based agency, where she played a key role in creating impactful brand experiences for clients such as Capital One, Marriott International, Autograph Collection Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Chef José Andrés, Greystar, and others.

Jill Bojaj

Senior Graphic Designer

Senior Graphic Designer

Bio

For more than 20 years, Jill has impressed her colleagues and clients with her agility, creative problem solving, collaborative spirit and communications skills. Her creativity and ability to meet pressing deadlines has enabled her to produce thousands of projects over the years, including event materials, brochures, annual reports, presentations, tradeshow graphics and digital campaigns. Her clients have been equally diverse, ranging from colleges, museums and non-profit organizations to restaurants and hotels. Jill also has extensive experience in the business-to-business sector, designing a wide variety of graphics and collateral for oil and gas, manufacturing and fluid-engineering accounts.

Haley Hart

Senior Consultant

Senior Consultant

Bio

Haley is a seasoned change management professional with a strong background spanning education, entrepreneurship, and corporate communications. She excels at turning internal culture, values, and strategy into impactful engagement and communication programs that resonate with diverse audiences.

Her experience includes leading communications efforts for prominent public and private universities and managing large-scale events and trade shows for clients across industries. She currently leads Deutser’s social media and marketing efforts to elevate the company’s digital footprint. Haley holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a master’s degree in public relations from the University of Houston.

In 2018, she earned PRSA Houston’s Gold Excalibur Award for excellence in public service and nonprofit communication for her campaign with UH’s Valenti School of Communication.

Santiago Ceballos

Senior Graphic Designer

Senior Graphic Designer

Bio

Originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, Santiago started his career in the United States as a 3D graphic designer with his family’s prominent kitchen design company. After earning an associate’s degree in graphic design from HCC, he came to Deutser as an intern and immediately won over the entire staff with his exceptional skills and big heart. With a penchant for learning innovative technologies that help propel our clients forward, Santiago has become an integral part of the creative team, working on everything from brand identities to video production, holograms to websites, helicopter design to language translations and more. 

Ashley Deutser

Senior Consultant

Senior Consultant

Bio

Ashley brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to all client engagements and a sharp level of thinking and creativity to every project. An entrepreneur in her own right, Ashley brings previous experience working and starting ventures in the food and beverage industry. She excels at brand strategy, research, writing and fostering client relationships. Her resourcefulness and can-do attitude are infectious to others. A Forty Acres Scholar from the University of Texas at Austin, Ashley graduated highest honors with degrees in Business Honors and Plan II. 

Mandy Ahr

Senior Graphic Designer

Senior Graphic Designer

Bio

Mandy is a native Texan with a “world-wild” view. As an experienced designer, she has a distinct eye for detail and a strategic approach to creative. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Advertising from The University of Texas at Austin, and a degree in Design from the Art Institute of Houston. Before joining Deutser, she worked at Savage Brands, Landry’s Inc., Axiom (BrandExtract), and Shell Oil in Houston, Texas; Girvin Strategic Branding and Design in Seattle, Washington; and Robilant Associati, a creative lab in Milan, Italy — where she also became fluent in Italian. Bravissima! And, Mandy's the wrangler of a teenager and three rescue dogs.

Jared Cole

Senior Consultant

Senior Consultant

Bio

A native Houstonian, Jared has stayed true to his Texas roots. Prior to joining Deutser, Jared worked for the Houston Texans and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Growing up and working in a family business, Jared developed an entrepreneurial spirit, fierce work ethic and a unique ability to quickly adapt to any circumstance and resolve challenges. With the Houston Texans, Jared held various roles ranging from leading community development initiatives and grassroots marketing efforts, to facilitating various football operations issues. At Deutser, Jared is working with some of our biggest clients on cultural change, safety initiatives and awareness campaigns. In his free time, Jared volunteers for the Pro Player Foundation and enjoys playing golf and exercising. 

Karen Kain

Senior Graphic Designer

Senior Graphic Designer

Bio

Karen has always had a creative eye and positive, infectious spirit. After studying Design Communications at Texas Tech University, she spent more than 22 years honing her art direction skills at some of Houston’s most prestigious advertising agencies. Her conceptual and beautifully designed work for clients like Walmart, Bank of America, Verizon Wireless and Reliant Energy has won awards and, more important, garnered results. At Deutser she applies her exceptional talents to produce intelligent and exquisite campaigns for clients like Houston Community College and Holocaust Museum Houston. When she’s not working, Karen spends her time biking, digging in her garden and playing with her beloved rescue dog, Olive Oyl. 

Caroline Hickey

Consultant

Consultant

Bio

Caroline specializes in marketing, strategy, public relations and communications with clients across a wide range of industries. She has experience in education, real estate, restaurant, and tech fields, and has a passion for building client relationships and business development. Caroline holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Public Relations and Political Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. A Kansas City native, Caroline embraces her new Texas home through volunteering at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. 

Kelsey Fritz

Consultant

Consultant

Bio

Kelsey leverages her experience in the professional sports and entertainment industries to help organizations and their leaders implement necessary change. With an inclination towards high pressure atmospheres and creative problem solving, she has had success leading large production teams to bring sporting events to screens across the country as a live sports television producer. Having also worked for professional sports organizations in both the Los Angeles and Denver markets, she has a passion for business development initiatives and bridging the gap between organizations and their surrounding communities. Kelsey graduated magna cum laude from Liberty University with a bachelor’s in Business Administration: Digital Media and Advertising. 

Raelyn Wright

Consultant

Consultant

Bio

Raelyn is an experienced consultant and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a degree in Public Relations with a minor in Business. With a strong focus on marketing and communications, Raelyn has showcased her expertise throughout her career. She's held key roles, including Business Affairs Manager at the Houston Texans and Communications Coordinator at Amegy Bank. Raelyn's skills encompass strategic marketing, effective communication, and a talent for crafting engaging narratives. Her well-rounded abilities make her a valuable asset in the consultancy field, where she continues to excel and make her mark.

Stefany Recinos

Executive Assistant

Executive Assistant

Bio

Born and raised in Houston – a city with a rich, diverse cultural landscape and a deeply creative spirit – Stefany has always recognized the importance of making space for the differences that make each of us unique. She possesses a profound passion for empowering people and unifying teams to achieve common goals. Stefany began her career in accounting, where she refined her attention to detail, analytical mindset, and developed client relationship management skills. She went on to work as an Interim Executive Assistant, and it was in this role that she quickly discovered her "home" in the professional world. As a direct right-hand to our CEO, Stefany provides independent, high-level support with a talent for seamlessly translating ideas and projects from conceptual form to reality. Her organizational, multitasking, and communication skills, along with her ability to handle diverse tasks, are instrumental in enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and success of the team. Stefany is a graduate of Andrews University.

Jon Inthavong

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer

Bio

Jon has been a student of life and the graphic design world for over a decade. Jon is known for his infectious laugh and willingness to jump in to help solve any creative challenge. His enthusiastic personality carries into his creative work and especially his passion for environmental design. Rather it be practically, metaphorically, literally, or spiritually, he embraces the importance of communication and connection. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Communications from the University of Houston.

Caroline Oster

Consultant

Consultant

Bio

Caroline thrives within Deutser’s collaborative, fast-paced environment. She embraces the opportunity to develop as a professional and a leader, as well as engage with a wide variety of industries. Caroline’s passion for effective communication shines through her writing, a skill she continues to refine and apply in her role at Deutser. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human and Organizational Development with a focus on Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness and a minor in Spanish.

 

Haley Lopez

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer

Bio

Haley’s passion for brand identity, typography, and color theory fuels her creativity and enhances the precision of her work. Her innovation brings culture and imagination to life within her environmental and experiential designs, always surpassing clients’ expectations. She is the first at a brainstorming session, leaning into Deutser’s collaborative spirit and enjoying the freedom to experiment with diverse ideas to discover what resonates best. Always seeking the next frontier of design, Haley expands her creative toolkit and pushes artistic boundaries. Her achievements include the Graphic Alumni Partnership Scholarship and the Student Project Grant from the University of Houston School of Art. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Houston and studied within its prestigious Block program.

Risto Trajanov

Analyst

Analyst

Bio

Risto Trajanov is a Data Scientist at Deutser, where he enhances operational efficiency through process automation and advanced analytics. With a strong foundation in data science, honed through his studies at Rice University under the Fulbright Program, Risto excels at developing and implementing innovative solutions that drive significant improvements in survey analytics and organizational processes. His expertise in machine learning and AI was sharpened through rigorous academic and professional experiences, including founding a start-up combating greenwashing through data-driven solutions. At Deutser, Risto has also designed an internal dashboard that provides a comprehensive overview of survey results, helping leaders make informed decisions to drive effective change. His efforts are crucial in establishing clear, streamlined processes across the organization, ensuring that Deutser remains at the forefront of people-focused change solutions.

Reagan McGinnis

Analyst

Analyst

Bio

Reagan specializes in experiential design initiatives on our Experiences and Spaces teams that cultivate connection, storytelling, and brand engagement across philanthropic, corporate, and cultural spaces. Her work blends impactful design with thoughtful intentionality, supporting strategic initiatives from concept through execution across a wide range of industries.

She began her career with Morgan Stanley’s Global Sports & Entertainment group, where she led marketing and public relations efforts and shaped high-touch client experiences while based in Austin, Texas. Reagan earned her degree from Southern Methodist University, majoring in Advertising with a focus in Strategic Brand Management, with minors in Chinese and Health Sciences.

Ramsey Robinson

Analyst

Analyst

Bio

Driven by a passion for interdisciplinary thinking, Ramsey has always been drawn to problems that require understanding complex systems from multiple angles. Her work as an architect reflects this—an industry that blends science, math, psychology, and design to shape the human experience. Now, in her work with Deutser, she applies that same holistic approach to help businesses navigate change with clarity and purpose. She earned degrees in Architecture and Plan II at The University of Texas at Austin, where she honed strong writing and analytical skills. While working at Duda|Paine Architects in North Carolina, she became a licensed architect, gaining experience in project management, business development, and marketing. This background allows her to bridge the gap between concept and execution, ensuring strategic insights drive impactful design and organizational change.

Maria Budin

Associate

Associate

Bio

Maria is an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist and former Division I student-athlete with a passion helping teams and individuals reach their full potential. As a former international tennis player for over a decade, she brings a unique perspective on the discipline and teamwork required to excel-both on the field and in organizations. Joining Deutser as an Associate Consultant, she applies her research expertise to solve organizational challenges with evidence-based approaches. She thrives in high-pressure, team environments and embraces continuous learning. Maria holds a BA in Psychology from Rice University and a Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland. Originally from Bristol, UK.

Emilia Honey

Associate

Associate

Bio

Emilia is passionate about helping organizations unlock their potential by strengthening culture, developing leaders, and creating meaningful, sustainable change. She enjoys making sense of ambiguity and translating research into actionable recommendations that drive organizational performance. Emilia holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Communication Studies from University of San Diego and a Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Rice University. Originally from London, England, she values diverse perspectives and approaches each engagement with curiosity, adaptability, and a global outlook.

Sofia Rodriguez

Design Coordinator

Design Coordinator

Bio

Sofia is a designer with a love for storytelling, science, and human connection, which shapes the approach of her work at Deutser. By combining these perspectives, she brings clarity to cultural and organizational design challenges, helping people grow and align. She thrives in highly collaborative spaces, channeling the team’s creative energy and experimenting with bold ideas. Her academic logo and packaging designs received industry recognition, taking home Gold and Silver honors in Graphis New Talent 2025. She applies this same caliber of creativity in her role across brand identity, motion graphics, production design, and more, always ready to tackle any new creative medium that comes her way.

Outside of design, she stays inspired through oil painting, yoga, and exploring her lifelong captivation with the natural world. Sofia holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design with a minor in Biology from Texas State University.

Zoe Collins

Design Coordinator

Design Coordinator

Bio

Zoe is a multifaceted and published book designer holding a BFA from the University of Houston's prestigious Block program. Starting with analog sketches, she creates with intention and drive, particularly enjoying the research, iterative ideation, and details of human touch in her design process. Always wanting to grow, she loves challenging herself with new types of design.

Zoe also adores connecting to the analog, especially in ways that she can incorporate into her life, such as sewing, yoga, baking, and more.

Our Office

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  • People Our Office Red Wall and couch
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  • People Our Office A Beautiful Mess wall
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Our Approach

We pride ourselves on creating and maintaining a healthy work culture where our people thrive.


We practice what we preach to our clients, continuously striving to develop an unparalleled work environment.

 

  • Create Collaboratively

  • Love What We Do & It Shows

  • Think Like an Entrepreneur

  • Lead and Embrace Change

  • Design for Impact

"We believe teams are most productive when fun happens."

D people

Looking to change futures?

Deutser is always evolving and on the look-out for bold, imaginative, and passionate change agents to join our team. Collaboration and creativity infuse everything we do. 

If you’re interested, please reach out here.