We'll start with basics. What should we call you?
Melissa, because I am a professional. Mel, if I like you. Meli, if I love you.

Where are you from?
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, but half my family is from Guatemala, and before the pandemic, I visited every year.

What brought you to advertising?
Long Answer: My love of research and motivators of people and culture. Short Answer: The Coca-Cola brand. I cry every time I visit World of Coke.

What makes advertising in DC cool?
I acknowledge that I participate in East Coast snobbery when I say I am constantly surrounded by extremely smart people. I believe it makes both the challenges presented to us and the work we present in return, better.

What's your favorite ad of all time?
This is hard, but I love the Google Year in Review spots. I loved Dove’s push for body positivity years ago. And I love Dos Equis’s Most Interesting Man campaign. I am sure there are many more, but I will go with these...for now.

What ad *still* makes you cringe?
It’s newer but will be hard to beat for me in terms of cringe-y. I have an issue with noises. The Farmer’s Dog recently released an ad of dog mouth noises and it KILLS me. Such a shame too, because that is the brand I feed my dog, Stanley.

Who's your ultimate dream client?
Coke because it was my Day 1 love. Nike for beauty and messaging. Lego for whimsy.

Earliest SG memory?
Matt’s mismatched socks.

What's the best part of your job?
The chaos, and trying to make it feel less chaotic for the team.

And, what project are you most proud of?
Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Light Up Dr. Bear Campaign. It was hard, it was emotional, and it was beautiful. Also, it was successful. #winning

What's a thing you've done on the job that you never expected to do on the job?
Army crawling underneath a wooden boat to reach a 4 ft plastic bear I then had to climb inside of to rework some cables. Also...getting electrocuted outside Chanel in the Galleria. Also...getting hit by a car. Too much?

Favorite SG perk?
The flexibility. You are encouraged to take care of yourself - whether through PTO, adjusting your hours as needed and be trusted to be an adult and get my work done.

Because we can't not talk about these unprecedented times...

Any quarantine trends?
Extreme baking and cocktails. Together and separate.

What have you been doing with all your time at home?
Baking and drinking cocktails. And reading! My goal is to read at least 2 books/month this year.

What's the weirdest Zoom gathering you've attended?
Anything including Matt Smith.

What are you most looking forward to post-COVID?
To continue not going out.

Any "new normals" you might keep?
Baking and cocktails. Oh and jogging...because of all the baking and cocktails.

Because at this point we're having too much fun...

Last thing you ate? Bought?
Chips & Queso over a Zoom call. Don’t worry, I muted. Storage containers - I am HomeEditing my house.

What are you OCD about?
This feels targeted. I am insane about noises. I have misophonia. It’s a real thing. Look it up.

Food Network or HGTV?
BOTH!

Doordash or Grubhub?
Doordash, but really, actually UberEats.

Spotify or Apple Music?
Apple Music

Amazon or Target?
BOTH!

WaPo or NYT?
Oof...sorry DC, but going NYT.