meet the team.

No Alaska firm offers the mix of services that Spawn does – seasoned staff with a history of cohesively working together – from the expert community engagement and strategic insight needed to perform distinctive brand identity work to the depth, breadth and brand experience of multitalented creative and media teams.

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Karen King

president & ceo

Account Lead

Karen King

President & CEO

Account Lead

Karen mentors the Spawn team with a never settle mentality that assures the agency is a modern partner with the talent, resources and capabilities necessary for today—and what’s next. Karen has worked on ATIA for five years and is presently the account lead. She galvanizes the entire team from research and strategy to creative asset development, media outreach and results. Karen has more than 30 years of advertising experience in account leadership and brand strategy. Her tourism and attraction experience includes ATIA, The Alaska Railroad, Visit Anchorage, Alterra Mountain Company, Mountain Hardwear, ICON Water Trails (IA), and branding for Anchorage, Valdez and Cordova.

Favorite thing about Alaska: Its abundance: we really can do in a weekend what others simply dream about in their lifetime. I know I often have.

Jen Nettinga

project supervisor

Day-to-Day Execution Lead

Jen Nettinga

Project Supervisor

Day-to-Day Execution Lead

Jen has a keen eye for detail and skill for keeping projects running on time and on budget. She brings a well-rounded background of digital and branding to this position, as well as critical thinking and strategy. Jen partners daily with Karen, the creative, media, and production teams, to ensure all ATIA work is delivered as promised.

Favorite thing about Alaska: There are too many to list, but fresh air, even fresher seafood and the silence that comes with freshly fallen snow all come to mind first.

Kaylee Devine

director of strategy

Account Planner

Kaylee Devine

Director of Strategy

Account Planner

Kaylee is the Director of Strategy at Spawn Ideas and leads the Hooligan team. With over a decade of experience, she harnesses the power of research and genuine consumer understanding to uncover insights that inspire and compel results-driven creative strategy. Kaylee has been the lead strategist for Travel Alaska brand leading the current brand identity, persona development of “Donna” and “Jessica”, the recent cultural brand enrichment, and numerous consumer research and campaign strategies. Additional brand work includes The Alaska Railroad, Icy Strait Point, GCI, and Alaskan Brewing.

Favorite thing about Alaska: Hands down, her parents’ fishing and hunting lodge on the Alaska Peninsula. It’s so remote it’s only accessible by small plane. She spent the summers learning the ropes of running a lodge and showing travelers the real Alaska.

Leslie Stocker

associate media director

Media Lead

Leslie Stocker

Associate Media Director

Media Lead

Leslie has extensive experience in the tourism vertical, planning for Alaska brands including Alaska Railroad, Major Marine Tours, Alyeska Resort, City of Cordova and, for the past five years, Travel Alaska. Her focus for ATIA has always been on the results, and she spearheaded the evolution of the media from an incentivized lead strategy to the current digital-first quality leads plan. She plans and manages all aspects of media strategy, planning and placement for ATIA, including the day-to-day management of our programmatic partner, FiveFifty. She is a certified media-generalist with over 25 years of experience in both legacy and digital media, providing expertise in multimedia, cross-platform strategies for ATIA.

Favorite thing about Alaska: Alaska is a very unique place, and my love for the state has grown over the past 10 years working at Spawn Ideas. It’s not only an unbelievably beautiful place to visit, but the people who I have the privilege to work with are unparalleled when it comes to walking the walk as independent thinkers and adventure-seekers. I love that, and it inspires me to get out there and experience more.

Amy Adams

associate creative director

Creative Lead

Amy Adams

Associate Creative Director

Creative Lead

Amy provides clean sophisticated design solutions that accomplish client goals and exceed expectations. She was the creative lead on Wrangell’s 2020 rebranding work, as well as Travel Alaska’s rebrand in 2018. Amy was also the lead on many of ATIA’s recent campaigns as well as the redesigned Official State of Alaska Vacation Planner. She moved to Alaska in 2012 and spends as much time as possible in the great outdoors. When she’s not working on fresh designs and concepts for Spawn’s clients, you can find her hiking, camping and exploring Alaska. Amy loves approaching life with a creative eye, whether it’s navigating new places outdoors or exploring fresh concepts for clients, she enjoys keeping her every day new and exciting.

Favorite thing about Alaska: I love that Alaska has intrinsically changed who I am. It’s been an exciting source of creative inspiration, it’s been a respite when I need to slow down, and Alaska’s beauty and charm never ceases to amaze me. Every day can be an adventure up here and I love it.

Charles Leshan

director of production / collateral

Print and Promotional Materials Lead

Charles Leshan

Director of Production / Collateral

Print & Promotional Materials Lead

Charles has been with Spawn Ideas for almost ten years. In 2017, he founded Bore Tide One Source, which is an independent collateral production subsidiary of Spawn Ideas. It is his goal to be the ultimate expert of creative possibilities, and to deliver on the promise of a creative vision. Charles partners with Mike and Amy on all printed creative to bring their vision to life (and often helping them take it to a new level) and works side-by-side with Jen to ensure all ATIA execution is on time and on budget.

Favorite thing about Alaska: As a baseball fan, I enjoy catching any Alaska League baseball game during the summer. Oh, and fishing is great, too.

Steve Moran

account director

Strategic Partnership and 1:1 Expert

Steve Moran

Account Director

1:1 Marketing and Strategic Integration

Steve is one of the newest members of the Spawn Ideas team. After 30 years working to identify and solve client challenges, Steve is bringing a fresh perspective to all our work. For the past ten years, Steve built the relationship marketing practice for one of the largest global shopper marketing firms. From day one, he has seen the opportunity to better leverage data and expand Travel Alaska’s marketing efforts to engage and motivate potential visitors from their initial dreaming to planning, booking, visiting and sharing their experience. Spawn Ideas will leverage Steve’s expertise and his ability to integrate our partners Strategic America and B2E to help extend ATIA’s digital transformation beyond the paid media into all of ATIA’s marketing, member services and visitor experience efforts.

Favorite thing about Alaska: For now, it is definitely the people and the fact that his first visit to Alaska completed his mission to visit all 50 states. He looks forward to relocating to Anchorage in the near future to add to the list of things he loves about this great state.

Siobhan Johansen

project manager

Newsletter Lead

Siobhan Johansen

Project Manager

Newsletter Lead

Since starting at Spawn Ideas as an intern in 2018, Siobhan has touched almost all the clients on Spawn’s roster. Her eye for detail is key to keeping projects running on time and on budget. She played an integral role on the schedule & budget management for both the Wrangell Convention & Visitor Bureau rebranding effort and Travel Alaska’s redesigned Official State of Alaska Vacation Planner, as well as helped execute their nationwide advertising plan.

Siobhan is a born and raised Alaskan, growing up in Palmer and moving to Anchorage to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage. She has a long list of Alaska bucket list adventures and loves getting out and exploring the state, rain or shine. Through her work with Travel Alaska, she understands the importance of tourism in the state. Siobhan is passionate about showcasing Alaska’s splendor and encouraging travelers to discover the beauty of the state for themselves.

Favorite thing about Alaska: That you’re always surrounded by Alaska. Even when you’re in “the city”, the water, the mountains and the trails are right there next to you ready for an adventure. The seemingly never ending daylight in the summer can’t be beat either.

Andy Zanto

director of broadcast production

Broadcast Production Lead

Andy Zanto

Director of Broadcast Production

Broadcast Production Lead

Figuring out the “how” is Andy’s passion. Taking an idea from concept to execution brings him to work every day. He is truly the MacGyver of Spawn Ideas with a knack for the details—an accomplished jack-of-all-trades when it comes to broadcast media production. His talents have been put to use on nearly every TV, video and radio project developed over his 20+years at Spawn. He has shot, animated and edited TV and radio spots for ATIA, GCI, Northrim Bank, BPAlaska, The Alaska Club, UAA and UAF, and is among Spawn’s most tireless and resourceful players.

Favorite thing about Alaska: Andy gets a kick out of playing tour guide for family, friends and even film crew members as they take in the grandeur of Alaska, from scenic drives to remote hikes, flightseeing tours to fishing in the middle of nowhere. Whether it’s their first time in Alaska or their tenth, experiencing this majestic place with someone outside never gets old.

Ryan Wilson

founder/CEO, FiveFifty by Booyah

Programmatic/ Lead Generation Digital Lead

Ryan Wilson

Founder / CEO, FiveFifty by Booyah

Programmatic / Lead Generation Digital Lead

Ryan has been in the data driven digital advertising business for over 20 years. His expertise spans from destination travel and tourism, attractions and resorts, to events and e-commerce. Ryan enjoys finding niche audiences and advertising to reach them in a measurable way. With a passion for technology and driving results, solving problems and giving flight to creative ideas that inspire efficient action are his sweet spots. Ryan has worked on the ATIA account for the past four years and the brand itself is a dream for him.

Favorite thing about Alaska: Alaska was on Ryan’s bucket list since he was a child. He finally made it to visit in 2009 and felt an immediate connection. On subsequent visits and through his experience working with Spawn, Ryan has grown to not only respect the land but also admire the people of Alaska, whose pioneering attitude of grit, independence and desire to make a mark are demonstrated in their approach to work and life.

meet the team.

Karen King

Karen King

Account Lead

Jen Nettinga

Jen Nettinga

Day-to-Day Execution Lead

Kaylee Devine

Kaylee Devine

Account Planner

Leslie Stocker

Leslie Stocker

Media Lead

Amy Adams

Amy Adams

Creative Lead

Charles Leshan

Charles Leshan

Print & Promotional Materials Lead

Steve Moran

Steve Moran

1:1 Marketing and Strategic Integration

Siobhan Johansen

Siobhan Johansen

Newsletter Lead

Andy Zanto

Andy Zanto

Broadcast Production Lead

Ryan Wilson

Ryan Wilson

Programmatic / Lead Generation Digital Lead

a little bragging