We are thrilled to welcome the newest members of the SimpsonScarborough team! It's incredibly rewarding to bring aboard such incredible talent and some of the genuinely best people from the world of higher ed marketing. Read on for a bit of background on each person, and be sure to reach out to congratulate everyone on their new positions.
We recently welcomed Marcus McLean (he/his) as Director of Engineering in early April. Marcus leads the technology strategy and execution arm of the digital team. Working in concert with developers, clients, and partners alike, he ensures that every technical implementation project is completed to the highest standards.
Most recently, Marcus ran a small digital marketing agency, Tasty Studio. Previously, he co-led the digital team as Technical Lead at 160over90. As the first person in his family to graduate from college, Marcus understands the importance of education. He credits his time at university with some of the most transformative personal moments in his life.
Marcus grew up in Upstate New York playing guitar and doing science experiments. After graduating, Marcus moved to Philadelphia, where he still lives today.
Mick Sutter (he/his) joined us in March as Executive Creative Director. In this role, Mick’s foremost job is to clear the path for great thinking. Leading our creative studios, he unpacks insights, sparks revelations, and elevates the role creative plays in all that SimpsonScarborough does.
Avoiding cliches from Day 1, Mick didn’t start in the mailroom, but as a receptionist instead. He parlayed those humble beginnings into a 20+ year career as a copywriter-turned-creative director at agencies like Arnold and Huge with his work recognized by every major award show, including Cannes, Clios, ADC, Webbys, and Shortys. His higher ed experience includes Sallie Mae, Georgetown University, the Department of Education, and Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative. Mick believes we are all products of our education and can think of no better way to honor that than to champion its role in society.
Originally a theater kid from Long Island, Mick lives in Arlington, VA. He’s got a daughter already in college and a son who is in the thick of his own college search. Know any good ones?
Vanessa Theoharis (she/her) joined SimpsonScarborough earlier this year as Associate Vice President of Accounts. She leads integrated marketing and branding projects from sales through delivery, collaborating with dynamic teams to ensure our clients’ success and help grow their reputation in a competitive marketplace. Vanessa believes that empathy is the key to effective marketing; as higher education experiences active transformation, she is passionate about helping institutions connect with and activate the audiences of today and tomorrow.
Before joining SimpsonScarborough, Vanessa recruited executive marketing and communications leaders for a variety of organizations, primarily in higher education and healthcare, with The Ward Group. She also built and led the digital marketing business line at OHO Interactive, and spent eight years at her alma mater, Babson College, in a series of progressive roles. Vanessa is active in the higher education and marketing world, retaining membership in multiple professional associations and speaking at a number of industry conferences.
A lifelong Massachusetts resident, Vanessa loves New England but her roots are in Greece, where her parents are from. She’s incredibly proud of her Greek heritage and will happily plan your Greece vacation for you. When Vanessa isn’t at her desk, she’s renovating her new home, volunteering, staying involved with her alma maters, trying out new recipes, or traveling.
Kaycee Woodford (she/her) is our newest Senior UX Designer. In her role, Kaycee is responsible for collecting and translating user insights into delightful experiences. She works cross-functionally to synthesize complex product requirements, build robust design systems, develop information architecture, and execute user testing, all ensuring that the end-to-end user experience is strong.
Previously, Kaycee has worked in roles ranging from PR to marketing to UX in various industries, including e-commerce, B2B, and higher ed. Most notably, she served as the Director of UX at mStoner (now Carnegie Higher Ed), where she built comprehensive UX strategies for colleges and universities across the country. By leveraging her strategic creativity and technical knowledge, Kaycee’s goal is to embed empathy into her work and ensure that the final product is reflective of both user and stakeholder needs.
Kaycee’s experience as a first-generation college student drives her passion for UX in higher ed. She recognizes how overwhelming the admissions journey can feel to students who don’t have support and strives to craft digital experiences that simplify and detangle the process.
Kaycee lives in Fort Worth, TX, with her husband, daughter, and dog. She enjoys cooking, taking her little one on long walks, and making beeswax candles.
