Leading experts in creating brand love for more than 25 years.
Welcome to CMA. We create strategically driven packaging and creative branding for some of the most iconic brands in America.
Whether you’re interested in building a new brand from the ground up, or renewing and extending a classic, we can take you all the way from strategy to finished packaging that resonates with consumers.
We are: straightforward, creative, strategic, pragmatic, good humored, and on time.
We like to maintain long-term relationships, both with our clients and with the people we work with every day. That’s why our clients, their consumers, and our employees stick around for decades. That’s what we call Brand Love.
What can you expect when you work with CMA?
Clarity.
No unpleasant budget surprises. In our initial proposal you’ll get a perfectly clear description of the work we will deliver and what it will cost at each stage of a multi-stage design process.
Bandwidth.
We have enough design horsepower to manage large projects without overstraining our people or missing your target dates.
Completion.
We’re oriented toward getting you from strategic marketing document to finished production packaging that works from packing line all the way to the consumer’s home. We know a beautiful design that tests well is just the beginning of the process.
Our attention.
You have it. We’re only as good as our last project with any of the brands we work with. No resting on laurels, or leaning on a long-term contract.
Leon Alvarado
Creative Director
Our resident Venezuelan, Leon has been with CMA since its inception. He has an artistic passion that goes beyond the world of graphics and finds design and creative execution for the packaged goods industry a unique opportunity to showcase his expertise. Leon had previously worked at Grey and did the occasional work for Atlantic records as well as other record labels.
Away from the office, he is equally creative. Musically, Leon has released five albums and played a role in three Hollywood movies. When he’s not being a genuine rock star or “wannabe celebrity A lister,” he can be found searching for the world’s best Bolognese sauce.
Dave Campbell
Senior Designer
Dave has a wealth of experience in the creative world, having branded publications, corporate identities and packaging with his talented designs. He has more than 20 years’ experience working with many of America’s leading brand names and consistently produces engaging and timeless designs.
Dave is the unassuming lead guitarist for the CMA house band - he still thinks he’s a beginner, but we assure you he plays like a pro. The CMA team is regularly astounded by his ability to talk in-depth about science and philosophy whilst also speaking Russian - there are no limits to his talents!
Kathrin Schaefer
Production Artist
Skilled in the art of traditional print processes and graphics, Kathrin’s talent for design has seen her produce work for many of America’s household names. Whether translating designs into printable files or manipulating package design files, we are delighted to have her talents on our team.
Kathrin’s next project will be in commissioning brand label designs for her family’s winery of 300 Norton vines - the only true American grape! When she’s not enjoying a glass of wine, Kathrin can be found nurturing and trading plumerias or whale watching in exotic locations.
Michael McGlothlin
Senior Designer
When armed with his magical Wacom tablet, Mike cannot fail to produce iconic branding and award winning designs. His brand resume reads like a CPG Top 100, and it shows. Whatever your ‘brew du jour’ we know that Mike has inspiration assigned for you and your brand.
Away from CMA, Mike has an affection for BBQ food and Pilsners. He once broke his humerus bone when arm wrestling in a college bar…. too many Pilsners!! He owns more shorts than pants and hasn’t tucked in a shirt for over 7 years. Mike and his wife have also been able to rewrite genetics, having 3 red haired children with both parents having dark brown hair. He refers to his kids as the Weasleys.
Tom Stazer
Imaging and Retouch Artist
Tom specializes in image retouching, providing optimized product shots, sumptuous retouched food photography and product concept renderings. He actively engages in both design and production departments, expanding on Senior Designer concepts and converting them to final production files.
Previously employed by Fantagraphics and Eclipse Comics, Tom has a penchant for drawing cartoons and illustrating his own comic books. When relaxing at home, Tom enjoys classic black and white movies and a fine Scotch. He’s also CMA’s resident culinary genius and specializes in crab cakes, fudge and bread, although not all at once.
Bryan Sawyer
Executive Managing Partner
Bryan founded CMA in 1985 and has been practicing his formula for success ever since. He has utilized his entrepreneurial skills to define CMA’s position within the marketplace, cementing business relationships with multi-national organizations such as Coca-Cola, NatureSweet and Minute Maid. A deep understanding of strategic and technical requirements, combined with precise client communications, has ensured a path of continuous growth.
An avid sailor, Bryan has logged more than 60,000 nautical miles and has visited more than 50 islands. He assures us there will be more! When he’s ashore, he likes nothing more than relaxing with his wife, three sons and five grandchildren (soon to be six).
Rob Sawyer
President
Rob’s background is built upon a foundation of classical business training and a strong passion for creativity. Rob leverages these capabilities daily to oversee all aspects from the operational and financial management of CMA, to incubating and strengthening client relationships. Working alongside the creative team to translate creative briefs into executable design direction, he enjoys working with clients of all sizes to help build brand presence.
Away from CMA, Rob surfs classic longboards or vintage boards from the ‘50s & ‘60s. Out of the water, he can be found working on his Sprinter van, ensuring it’s loaded up with board shorts and towels for those impromptu surf trips. And don’t be fooled if you think you’re seeing double, Rob has a mirror image identical twin named Rick. Rob is left handed - Rick is right handed. Rob and Rick had opposite contact lens prescriptions. Rob loves blues. Rick loves reds. We could go on - but we won’t!
Georgia Monk
Account Director
As an account specialist with a wealth of experience, Georgia will invest herself as deeply in your brand as you do. She currently services HP, analyzing data, managing projects and aiding our clients in strategic growth areas.
Georgia is active. Pure and simple. When she isn’t at her spinning class, she can be found adding to her SCUBA diving log of 125+ dives. Out of the water, she is proud to have ridden the MS150 bike ride on three occasions, raising money for Multiple Sclerosis. She also shoots skeet and is on the hunt for her first trophy.
Irene Potashner
Design Project Manager
From New York to Houston, Irene has a deep knowledge of the graphic arts industry, having worked for a multitude of clients such as The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, Kroger and Coca-Cola. Irene’s innate OCD, combined with CMA’s stylish brand designs, ensures clients return project after project.
When she’s not working on your latest design projects, Irene can be found practicing yoga and watching “film noir”. Amongst her favorites are “The Petrified Forest,” “Double Indemnity” and “The Two Mrs. Carrolls.” As a true New Yorker, she also appreciates the value of great pizza!
Dennis DeSilva
Senior Designer
Dennis designs. Understanding your brief and unlocking the door to the creative possibilities is just one of his many talents. He also moonlights as CMA’s official photographer, regularly producing stunning shots of your brand designs on sets made up from a whole host of random materials. Dennis has the ability to capture a moment that others cannot even imagine, and for this, we’re eternally grateful.
When not gainfully employed as a designer or a photographer, Dennis is our 1980s rock music loving resident aquarist. He takes great pride in the CMA saltwater aquarium where he keeps an array of fish and coral and can regularly be found humming ‘80s classics to his fish.
Theresa Keefe
Production Artist
When it comes to brand packaging production, Theresa can be described from knowledgeable to worldly and everything inbetween. Skilled in the traditional arts of typography and design, she specializes in image retouching, providing optimized product shots and product concept renderings for many of America’s most iconic brands.
Theresa is self-taught in all areas of her education thanks to her love for books and online articles. She also insists that chickens make the best pets; she has 3. But if you want to know which came first, you’ll just have to come work with us at CMA!
Patty Jones
Design Project Manager
Patty uses her wealth of experience to organize and communicate information, not only to our clients, but also to our internal teams too. She will immerse herself in your project to ensure CMA delivers the best results on time, every time.
If CMA ever did “Dancing with the Stars,” Patty would be the one holding the glitter-ball trophy. She loves to dance and has experienced dance events as far afield as France and Argentina. When she’s not dancing, she loves to combine her two other passions, travel and cooking, regularly taking classes abroad. She’s a self-confessed Judge Judy-aholic, and we try not to judge her for that!
Delia Hernandez
Accounts Administrator
Delia has a Swiss army skill set, and it’s sharp. She is the accounting glue behind the creative genius that flows freely from the walls of CMA. She is responsible for making sure we get paid, amongst so many other things.
In her spare time, Delia can be found enjoying time with her grandchildren and taking cruises with friends and family to the Caribbean. She also likes to visit Las Vegas, but hopefully not with the company check book!
Leslie Lakes
Copy Editor
We would all love to have Leslie’s powers of concentration! Her diligence and fanatical attention to detail ensure that no copy goes unchecked or unedited. Her ability to focus on the fine print that details the stringent legal guidelines we all take for granted is truly a blessing to the CMA team.
When she’s not looking for our mistakes, Leslie can be found traveling to Costa Rica and engaging in adventure sports such as zip lining, white water rafting and waterfall rappelling. Some of her photographs have even been published in Fodor’s travel guidebooks!
Vronne Hoh
Production Artist
Vronne produces kick-ass designs for our CMA clients. Born in Malaysia, Vronne arrived in Houston in 2002 via Brunei and Singapore. He can speak English, Chinese, Cantonese and Malay, he is rich in life experiences and brings culturally diverse ideas to our clients’ projects.
Vronne is a former state championship Judo finalist and is now proudly instructing his three children in martial arts. Aside from chopping wood with his bare hands, Vronne could be found chopping fish as a sushi chef during his days as a student.
Jimmy Griggers
Comp Department Manager
Jimmy is a born craftsman. He manages the physical realization of package design and structural concepts, turning our clients’ ideas into reality. Jimmy’s experience in design, illustration and fine arts, combined with his fanatical attention to detail, ensures that our comps are comparable to the finished product.
He has a passion for music and is a founding member of the CMA house band. Jimmy is in possession of a music stand of a famous country singer – although he won’t divulge who, as they may want it back someday! He is also the best employee at telling awful jokes!
Ben Denbigh
VP Sales & Marketing
CMA’s resident Englishman wants to take you on a first date and then perhaps a second date. He enjoys positively engaging new clients, identifying strategic opportunities and turning concepts into reality. Ben has experience working alongside Conde Nast, Harrods and British Airways and has recently introduced Bob’s Red Mill, Texas Tamale Company & Sysco Foods to CMA. He would be delighted to bring his considered, pragmatic and creative character to your project.
Away from the office, Ben still believes he will one day play professional soccer. We have it on good authority that he won’t. He has worked at the Althorp Estate, home of Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, and will politely educate you on how to make a proper cup of tea.
Please note that exercise with Ben is not advisable – he once broke his collar bone running the 100 meters in school.
Bob Milz
Creative Managing Partner
Bob joined CMA as Creative Director in 1990 following fifteen years in advertising with Y&R, Bozell & Jacobs and Benton & Bowles. Bob cites the work of designer Paula Scher, art director Steven Heller and sculptor James Surls among his inspirations. A man of considered words, Bob prefers to let his out of the box creativity speak for itself.
When not in the office, Bob can be found relaxing on his ranch in the company of his wife, his adopted son and daughters or making chips and sawdust with an array of typographic woodcarving instruments.
Brian Shever
Production Artist & IT Guru
Brian has a plethora of knowledge in the pre-press, print and design markets. He is also forging a new career in technology and is our “go-to-man” for all I.T. related queries.
When he’s not translating designs into printable files, manipulating package design files or resolving our own I.T. user errors, he can be found coaching baseball and his son towards MLB fame, or shooting hoops on the basketball court.
Tony Hernandez
Customer Service Representative
Tony uses his knowledge and organizational abilities to ensure smooth project management and timely internal communication all for our clients’ benefit. These skills are integral as one of the key members of the HP account team.
When not in the office, Tony enjoys quiet weekends with the family particularly movies with his 4 grandkids. Tony’s wish - to win the Lotto. Hey Tony, get in line behind the rest of us!
Stacy White
Production Artist
A skilled production artist with a fastidious eye for detail, our resident Texan can be relied upon to guarantee the integrity of files before they are sent to print. Stacy specializes in image retouching, providing optimized product shots and product concept renderings for many of America’s most iconic brands.
When he’s not producing files or samples for live projects, Stacy loves to hunt. He has experience with leading Scout groups as a BB rangemaster and enjoys the serenity of the Texas country.
He also once got locked in a bar overnight, which we understand wasn’t all that disagreeable with Stacy!
Haley Booker
Designer
Claudine Navarro
Design Project Manager
Claudine incorporates her extensive experience into every project she's involved with. In her position she's able to manage an extraordinary amount of individual projects while keeping the flow and communication between the client and CMA's art department at its optimum.
When not busy at work Claudine likes spending time with her son, cooking, relaxing with her two dogs and playing video games.
Lacey Cunill
Production Artist
Lacey is another important piece of the puzzle that is the creative department. She works closely with the designers to execute their vision into what the manufacturer's will use to create the final product. As the former comp department artist, she also helps in making sure that department runs smoothly. When she's not preparing files for complex printing, or helping with the comp department, she's most likely playing catch with one of her beloved dogs.
Peter Ha
Studio Comp Artist
Whether you are building comps for television, photography or just to pitch a concept, you need someone who is patient, detail oriented and somewhat mechanically inclined to build them. Lucky for us Peter possesses all those qualities with some leftovers to boot. When he's not heat-sealing, hot glueing, die-cutting, folding cardboard into boxes, applying labels into bottles, forming bags or preparing files for complex printing, he's most likely following his true passion, photography.
Sean Raynor
Designer
CMA's newest kid on the block has a love for storytelling and problem solving for a wide array of brands. Utilizing his digital & analog skills he always strives to think outside the box to deliver you engaging and distinct designs that solve your business challenges.
Outside of the workplace, Sean can be found antiquing with his fiancé, shooting some hoops on the basketball court or sharing stories with his pet snake on his time as the lead vocalist in a metal core band.
We are always interested to hear from motivated self-starters who are passionate about design? Please send your information to [email protected] and if we like what we see, we’ll be in touch.