Meet our leadership team

Christine Slocumb

My short story

I thrive when helping companies succeed and grow with effective marketing. I’m happiest when I get to combine left-brain data and analytics with right-brain “peel your eyelids back” creativity.

When I led marketing at tech companies, I found it virtually impossible to find agencies fluent in tech and healthcare. In 2001, I started Clarity Quest to grow biotech, technology, and healthcare companies and would not trade this experience for anything.

Before founding Clarity Quest, I was an engineer and product manager at Motorola. Then, I earned an MBA and led tech marketing teams at several Seattle-area tech startups. I’ve marketed medical devices, healthcare IT, biotechnology, software, wireless infrastructure, displays, and semiconductor technology.

Fun facts: I’m the author of Stop Starvation Marketing: 23 Power Moves for Health Tech and Life Sciences. I hold 8 U.S. patents in semiconductor device design and processing. Also, when I’m not working, you can find me swearing at a golf ball or watching Villanova basketball.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• help our clients and their companies reach their fullest potential.
• enjoy a front-row seat to our clients reaching business and life goals…starting an early retirement from a well-executed exit, securing funding to start a new venture, or getting that well-deserved promotion.
• enjoy the look on a leader’s face when he or she finally sees and really GETS the power of marketing.
• experience a different challenge every day.
• work with fun, creative, kind, and all-around amazing people who bring it every day and always deliver.

Brian Shilling

My short story

I’m the person who can jump from creative writing to crunching numbers in Excel spreadsheets and back without missing a beat — and I’m stronger in both areas because of it. Clarity Quest gives me the opportunity to flex my creative and analytical brains on a daily basis.

I came to Clarity Quest in 2011 working primarily in SEO and PPC, but soon found a knack for messaging and project management. I love working with our tight-knit, diverse team to do amazing work for our clients. Nothing is more satisfying than giving a company its first visual identity, bringing their wildest ideas to life, or helping them exceed a revenue target they thought was a stretch.

Fun facts: I’m a big fan of University of Michigan sports (Go Blue!) and my adorable Double Doodle, Lloyd.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• share in our clients’ successes — celebrating when they shatter a revenue goal or get acquired.
• see coworkers grow and crush major milestones.
• work as a team using our collective strengths to deliver amazing results for our clients.
• do something different every single day. This is the ultimate “no two days are the same” job. One day I’m working on a marketing budget for a mid-sized biotech company, the next I’m leading digital advertising campaigns for a public med device company, and the next I’m flexing my creative skills with messaging, naming, and branding for a startup health IT company.
• work with a tight-knit group who are all fiercely independent, yet thrive on team success. Strong personalities challenge one another to produce exceptional results.

Josephine Zohny

My short story

I like to say that my career in healthcare PR began at the tender age of eight when my mother, who worked in public affairs and development for a hospital, tasked me with assembling press kits so I would stop annoying her.

I graduated from New York University with a degree in music business, writing (with an emphasis on creative nonfiction), and race/ethnic studies. During my career, I’ve represented an eclectic range of clients, from national retail chains to reality TV stars, nonprofit organizations, think tanks, and more.

In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, falling down a Google rabbit hole whenever a new subject piques my interest and spending time with those dear to me.

Fun fact: My great-great-grandfather is credited with introducing the fez hat to Sri Lanka while living there in exile.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• learn about new medical developments, advancements, and treatments
• collaborate with industry leaders, helping their organizations and products reach their full potential
• attend meetings while my angry but handsome chihuahua, Diego, snoozes in my lap

Casey Frushour

My short story

I have always loved problem-solving and logic puzzles, but math and science never really excited me long term. Luckily, I was able to focus my interests and creativity into graphic design and web development…careers I didn’t even know existed when I was in high school (the internet was a baby at that time). Distilling a client’s message down to beautiful imagery and a logical layout are the design challenges I love to tackle every day!

As a father of two young boys, I am physically put to the test on a daily basis, but it’s Clarity Quest that allows me to flex my brain muscles (that’s a thing, right?). I crave learning about and designing for new products, services, and industries. It’s this physical and mental balance that I believe will keep me alive well into my early 110s.

Fun fact: Marla is an Ohio State graduate. She thinks her love of the Buckeyes football team is no big deal given that our headquarters is in Ann Arbor, but it bothers us Michigan grads very, very much….shhhhh, don’t tell her!

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• work with so many unique and amazing companies.
• deep dive into different corporate “worlds” providing them with the best visual communication solutions.
• watch our creative design work come to life.
• have fun with amazing software like the Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.). It really feels like playing sometimes when I am using the thousands of tools the software has to offer.
• say “no” to suits and ties!

Marla Sokolowski

My short story

I love when marketing and technology combine to bring a company to a higher level of success. While marketing helps to tell the story, technology disseminates the story.

Tech has evolved greatly from my early days in government and automotive where FoxPro and Lotus Notes were email clients of choice. Could you imagine email marketing with those beasts? Or managing website metrics with the original WebTrends?

Through this evolution, I’ve lived marketing from all angles and successfully became the tech lead at Clarity Quest. I manage our marketing automation, digital advertising, and research projects.

I completed my undergrad at The Ohio State University studying Chinese and Economics. During that time, I refined my analytical skills which now fuel our client’s growth based on research and data-based decisions.

Fun fact: I am an avid Ohio State football fan, and the Wolverine fans that work at CQ don’t give me too difficult a time. Go Bucks!

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• watch a client’s business grow as a new-to-them marketing channel or strategy surpasses their goals and expectations.
• learn new technologies to market clients, increase lead gen, and promote business growth.
• develop campaigns with folks who are willing to face marketing challenges, experiment, and take risks.
• work with a widely supportive, creative, and engaged team.

Bonnie Aufmuth Quintanilla

My short story

I was the kid who never stopped asking why? And today, I do the same with my clients. It’s the only way to truly get to the heart of the story that I can take, form, and amplify to help them stand out in a crowded world. Over the years, three words marked the cornerstone of my work: Think. Create. Innovate. I think across boundaries, innovate to solve problems and create marketing communications strategies that uniquely deliver value for every client.

I’ve worked at corporations and agencies for the majority of my career. I’ve been an advocate for startups and Fortune 500 clients making everything from silicon, semiconductors, and systems, to healthcare IT, consumer tech, and consumer products/services. Before marketing, I taught public relations at UCLA and worked as an art instructor and 3rd-grade teacher in Southern California.

Fun fact: I’ve ghostwritten nearly 2,000 articles and five books! My superpower is melting glass. I am an award-winning glass artist and spend most of my free time in the studio creating, experimenting, and finding new ways to manipulate glass into fine art.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• constantly challenge the status quo to create new ways of communicating and bringing our clients’ work to life.
• live and work on the cutting edge of technology and healthcare innovations that improve people’s lives.
• learn and contribute something new every day.
• work with some of the smartest, most creative minds in business, healthcare, and tech.

Melanie Hilliard, M.A.

My short story

Nothing makes my heart sing like great marketing. I’m the person who notices, and archives, witty email subject lines and gets excited when a company re-brands. I pride myself on my ability to deal with the minute-by-minute demands of a hyper-connected world without losing sight of my organization’s long-term goals.

For the past 20 years, I have worked in marketing departments big and small, most recently in the healthcare IT industry with CHIME, HL7 and NextGate. From refreshing logos and sales presentations to launching new websites and SEO strategy, I love the challenge of getting the right message in front of the right audience at the right time, even as the technology at our fingertips continues to evolve.

Since 2014, I have also had the pleasure of teaching courses on content development, the use of imagery for social media success, email marketing and blogging at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor.

When I’m not talking your ear off about marketing, my husband and I are traveling the world, visiting museums and reading books.

Fun fact: My cat has more Instagram followers than I do and receives more holiday cards from his cat furriends.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• watch new ideas come to life.
• put marketing theory into practice.
• use the power of communication to help people understand complex products and solutions.
• stay current in the health tech space.

Rayna Southart

My short story

While growing up there was nothing I loved more than wandering around my local library, dragging my mom to bookstores and going to see movies with my dad. These activities sparked my passion for storytelling; it only seemed natural that I would create a career for myself in writing.

As I got older, I realized how interested I was in marketing and public relations. I was fascinated by what brands were saying and how they were saying it. I loved seeing brands who truly understood their audience and hit the nail on the head.

After graduating from Central Michigan University (fire up Chips!) with my degree in integrative public relations, I started my career in all things content: digital, print, social media, long-form and short-form. I love finding the perfect way to say something, as well as the strategy and day-to-day management that come with creating content. I’m truly a project manager at heart and enjoy finding the perfect processes to streamline efforts.

When I’m not working, you’ll most likely find me listening to a podcast (seriously I am obsessed), exercising, reading, trying out a new recipe or going to concerts and music festivals with my friends. I am a sucker for a good period drama and enjoy binge watching shows and movies across all genres—I’m not picky!

Fun fact: I am a War of the Roses and Tudor era history buff. The early to mid 1400s through the early 1600s in England interests me immensely! I spend a lot of my free time listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos, and reading blogs and books about this time period.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• transform our clients’ ideas and goals into content that resonates with their audience.
• learn about and gain insight into complex industries.
• work with a group of smart, kind, and creative individuals.
• keep a pulse on the latest marketing trends.

Aaron Ogg

My short story

Storytelling is my passion. Professionally, I geek out over learning new concepts and crafting informative content that resonates with discerning readers. Personally, I love creating spooky tales around a campfire and correcting plot holes as I go. I’m a bit quirky about word economy as well, always on a quest to discover one word that will do the job of three or more.

My thrill for tight prose began as a beat reporter and features writer for print news media. In this role, I gained appreciation of an array of topics including business tech, lifestyle trends, politics, travel, and outdoor recreation. Once wanderlust took hold, I dove headfirst into domestic and international travel marketing, an industry rarely short on embellishment and, occasionally, exaggeration. My M.O. remained clear: always tell the truth, and always inspire.

I expanded my knowledge of digital marketing and its key metrics, engagement principles, and best practices as a content specialist and coordinator for five healthcare brands. These targeted anesthesia, imaging, home healthcare, general practice, and B2C segments, respectively. This experience reinforced my belief that effective communication always begins with deep audience understanding.

In my spare time, I enjoy travel with my wife and child; chasing our twin cats, Colby and Jack (we love cheese); and playing chess with strangers.

Fun fact: My wife and I played tennis in high school and like to hit the courts with each other – less competitively… sometimes.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• distill complex subject matter for key decisionmakers.
• share the excitement of client success.
• continue to learn from a team of experts.
• know that I make a difference in the delivery of effective patient care.

Andrew Thompson-Young

My short story

Ever since I was a child, I have loved telling stories and playing with words. When it came time to select my career, I initially thought I would follow in my mother and grandmother’s footsteps as an accountant. While I loved the accounting structure, I longed for a profession that would allow me to be creative. The only creative accountants I’ve ever heard of end up in jail, and that wasn’t the path for me. Thus began my journey to public relations, which led me to major in journalism with a concentration in public relations from Middle Tennessee State University.

From the start of my career, I’ve specialized in healthcare public relations, representing companies from startups to Fortune 500. What I love most about working in healthcare is the human connection and the impact my clients have worldwide.

During my personal time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two dogs. You can usually find me reading a book, talking about the news of the day, spending time with friends and watching reality TV.

Fun Fact: I’m a huge fan of the Golden Girls and have around two hundred pieces of memorabilia.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• write for a living.
• craft compelling stories that matter.
• work collaboratively with my teammates and clients.

Courtnay Huber

My short story

For most of my career, I wore the hat of an entrepreneur, founding, growing, and operating a successful commercial dog walking company hiking the beautiful North Shore mountains of Vancouver daily. After marketing and selling the business in 2020 I decided to take on a more versatile and behind-the-scenes role in project management, I somehow (mid-pandemic), landed a job at a fast-paced, growing direct response digital marketing agency. I LOVED it! The learning curve was steep but every day was different and exciting.

The greatest takeaway from my very different career paths is I have a passion for helping people. I love diving into the details with clients, internal teams, and vendors. Nothing makes me happier than delivering a high-quality project to a client on time, under budget with a satisfied and fulfilled team to boot. I thrive on open, honest communication and bringing teams together to get things done.

Fun Facts: I went to cooking school straight out of high school, dreaming of being the next big thing. My path diverted but I’m still a huge foodie, always ready to swap recipes and try new things. I still dog walk daily, it’s in my bones now!

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• Be a part of clients reaching their goals and smashing through milestones, sharing in their successes.
• Think outside the box to solve complex issues with innovative solutions through collaboration with my team.
• Constantly learn and hone my skills as a marketer in this ever-changing industry.
• Communicate, work as a team and get things done.

Melissa Syvrais

My Short Story

In my extensive career, I’ve focused on sales and marketing roles, gaining crucial insights from diverse experiences—spanning high-end car dealerships, EHR medical software, and non-destructive testing. I’ve become proficient at marketing to both B2B and B2C clients, often seen as a versatile jack-of-all-trades.

Over the last five years, I’ve gained strong expertise in HubSpot and Salesforce CRMs, excelling in crafting efficient marketing campaigns. With a tech-driven passion, I’m a positive, forward-thinking go-getter, consistently seeking ways to enhance efficiency and contribute valuable insights to my team.

Analytical and logical, I’m committed to pushing boundaries and fostering growth. I prioritize building strong relationships through networking, collaboration, and going the extra mile for my team’s success.

Fun Fact: We love collecting snowboards and coffee cups! I am a huge foodie,
love wine in the winter and beer in the summer, I love anything to do with being in the mountains or on the water, and am a part of multiple fantasy football leagues. One of which, I am the returning champion.

Why I love what I do

• I love a good challenge and bringing projects to life.
• Bringing efficiency to operations with positive gainful results.
• Connecting with other like-minded good energy and positive people.
• A strong desire for personal growth and learning.

Pamela Li

My short story

I enjoy planning, creating timelines, and organizing information into spreadsheets so Project Management caught my heart. It’s a great feeling to pull teams together, build relationships, and share in the success not only of goals but also of the process. I have been in the Marketing industry for over 13 years and continue to enjoy the fast-paced and ever-changing environment. There’s always something new to learn or improve, a new target audience to reach, or a new channel to learn about.When I’m not working, I like to curl up and get lost in knitting and crochet projects. I also enjoy the beautiful outdoors with my husband, my son and our dog. We like to travel and explore the Pacific Northwest, chasing waterfalls and majestic forest views.

Fun fact: I have an Instagram account for my dog and enjoy creating content for it. I’ve made a lot of dog and human friends through it and am part of a fun and supportive dog community.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• help clients define their goals, plan and coordinate a smooth project workflow, and celebrate successes with them.
• work with a variety of clients and projects, alongside a supportive and inspiring team. It’s exciting and it challenges me everyday.
• have lots of learning opportunities in an industry that constantly grows and evolves.

Linda Kelley Healan

My short story

I am a hardcore news junkie, especially when it comes to business, politics, and international news. I was a journalism major and initially wanted to be a foreign correspondent until I realized what a dangerous job that is. So, instead of dodging bombs and bullets, I chose to drive the news through public relations. I come from a B2B tech background and fell in love with healthcare tech many years ago, launching leading companies in EMR, Telehealth, RPM, AI, and digital therapeutics. Working with clients whose innovation and technology genuinely help improve people’s lives is rewarding.

I have 20+ years of experience with strategic planning and driving external communications programs, advising senior leadership and the C-suite, and developing content and press materials to leverage SMEs and Thought Leaders.

Fun facts: I’m a lifelong Southerner and love beaches, especially Florida beaches. Travel is my passion, and I recently took my adult kids to Italy and Greece for a couple of weeks. I also love dogs. Arya, my black lab mix is my furry baby. If I had the resources and space, I would adopt as many rescues as possible.

Why I love what I do

I get to:

• learn about groundbreaking digital health and biotech solutions before most people.
• stretch my communication muscles in various creative ways.
• delight my clients with meaningful media coverage and exceptional client service.
• work with some of the most intelligent people in the industry, whom I learn from daily.