Outside of the office, Michael Olguin is known to travel more than a Jet Blue flight attendant, bleed SDSU Aztec Red & Black, and enjoy taking his ’65 Chevy Malibu for a spin with the top down in San Diego. An avid runner, he has completed seven marathons, yet he knows his way around a nice bottle of scotch and Cuban cigar.

Michael founded Havas Formula in 1992 as a national public relations boutique agency. A senior strategist with more than 25 years’ PR experience, he is equally versed in driving B-to-C and B-to-B programs for clients across consumer, lifestyle, high-tech, consumer technology, sports, entertainment, and travel categories. In addition to serving as Havas Formula’s leader, Michael expanded the agency’s offering with the creation and supervision of specialty divisions Havas FORMULATIN, Havas Social and Havas Street, which offer Hispanic PR, social media and brand activation services, respectively.

Overseeing a nationwide staff of more approximately 150 employees in five offices—New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago and Miami—Michael splits his very full days across client strategy, leadership team management, and growing the agency through new business development. He is frequently featured as a PR expert in trade and business publications ranging from PRWeek, Ad Age, AdWeek, Entrepreneur and Inc., and as a speaker at industry events including PRSA International Conference and Hispanicize. Through Michael’s leadership and direction, Havas Formula has earned numerous awards and accolades for both client campaigns and agency success.

When she’s not busy working in her many Excel spreadsheets, Alexis McCance enjoys playing golf and camping with her husband and two kids. The only one at Havas Formula to have her own private mini-fridge—stocked with beverage essentials Diet Coke and wine—this D.C. transplant can be found starting her mornings with French Vanilla Coffee and occasionally raiding the Havas Formula snack bar as a substitute for lunch.

Alexis has more than 20 years’ experience in the operations field and is principally responsible for working with the president in strategic planning for Havas Formula, Havas Street and Havas FORMULATIN. Joining Havas Formula in 1999, she currently oversees the agency’s operations, accounting, human resources, and IT departments. Additionally, she plays a key role in optimizing the company’s structure.

As one of Havas Formula’s longest-standing employees, Alexis has dedicated herself to expanding the company’s business and improving the overall efficiency of operations. In her time at Havas Formula, she has grown her department from two to a 15-person team, expanding the accounting department and bringing HR and IT in-house. She also plays an integral role in sustaining a vibrant company culture and is always prepared for a last-minute BBQ or happy hour.

Though you’d never guess it by looking at her, Emily Porter is a big fan of hardcore rap (NWA anybody?), mixed martial arts fighting (she’s been to several MMA fights), and traveling the world. Pair this with a dry wit and secret desire to be a DJ and you’ve got one complex mom!

With a master’s degree in public relations, Emily has more than 15 years’ experience in PR, with a focus on creating strategic programs for B-to-B, high-tech and consumer brands. Known for her strong leadership and problem-solving abilities, Emily has grown the B-to-B and High-Tech divisions to be among the agency’s largest.

Since joining Havas Formula in 2006, Emily has helmed successful programs for signature clients spanning numerous industries, including ad tech, healthcare, professional services, semiconductor, manufacturing, professional audio, transportation, power/energy, enterprise hardware/software, film and entertainment. Situated in Havas Formula’s San Diego office, she provides her team and clients alike with strategic counsel and program oversight while playing a key role on Havas Formula’s leadership team. Equally adept at business development and launching creative programs, she has grown the Business/Technology portfolio to become one of the agency’s biggest divisions.

When he’s not strategizing, Jarrod is most likely working out, a few days into the latest cleanse, or trying to realize his dream of producing a special edition of “Dateline.”  With more than 20 years of PR and communications strategy experience, Jarrod serves as Executive Creative Director/Head of Strategy, overseeing platform and campaign development for current clients and new business prospects alike. Jarrod believes that the only love greater than a perfect beach day is his unwavering love for his pug.

A seasoned strategist and storyteller, Jarrod is research obsessed, utilizing actionable insights to develop brand positioning and program strategies that merge traditional, social and emerging media channels to help brands connect with target stakeholders. Jarrod has driven successful brand marketing programs for numerous high-profile consumer and lifestyle brands in a wide range of industries, from food and beverage, spirits and consumer packaged goods to travel/hospitality, business-to-business. On a perpetual quest for further education, he earned his master’s in Strategic Communications from Columbia University and holds APR accreditation through the Public Relations Society of America.

A University of Southern California graduate with a master’s degree in communication management, Adrienne Cadena likes to stay active by taking Pilates reformer classes, enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, and always cheers on her favorite teams – the Los Angeles Lakers and USC Trojans.

Shortly after starting at Havas Formula in 2005, Adrienne helped to launch the agency’s brand activation arm, Havas Street. Now serving as its senior vice president, Adrienne played an instrumental role in driving Street’s dramatic growth and raising its profile to become one of the foremost activation agencies in the country. In addition to her knack for business development, Adrienne has successfully created and managed programs for numerous high-profile consumer and lifestyle clients. Her work has included everything from sampling campaigns (Heineken USA, Nestlé, KeVita, popchips) and mobile marketing tours (Popcorn Indiana, BehrPro, CHI CHI’S salsa) to large scale activations (Wholly Guacamole’s Guac Stop, LA VICTORIA’s 100^th Anniversary promotion) and creative publicity stunts (Panda Express’ Takeout Box stunt, neuro’s “National Hammock Day” tie-in).

Overseeing her team out of Havas Formula’s Los Angeles office, Adrienne manages everything from concept development, strategy and program planning to execution, program analysis and financial management. Always seeking ways to make Havas Street stand apart from the competition, Adrienne developed customized online reporting systems to track and measure sampling programs, and she was instrumental in launching Havas Street’s internal recruiting department, which has vetted 20,000 qualified brand ambassadors nationwide for client programs.

In 2015, Cadena was awarded the 40 under 40 award by PRWeek. In her spare time, Adrienne also serves on the Board of Advisors for The Center for PR, a group started within USC’s Annenberg School of Communication, connecting corporations, agencies, academics and students to define the future of the industry and to develop those who will shape it.

Since uprooting from New England over a decade ago, Ditas Mauricio continues to delight in the San Diego sunshine. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, exploring new recipes, and dreaming of her next travel adventure. She also does a lot of running—along the beach and on the soccer sidelines cheering for her two daughters.

With more than two decades’ experience developing award-winning public relations programs for her clients, Ditas provides strategic leadership to Havas Formula’s consumer division, guiding her team through everything from successful product launches to brand-building integrated marketing experiences. Her work spans a wide range of respected national brands across a variety of industries, including food/beverage, consumer packaged goods, home and décor, retail, and health/wellness.

As a result of several long-standing relationships, Ditas has developed a keen understanding of the natural products industry and a penchant for healthy living. Continuously pushing herself and her team to offer new insights and creative ideas, as well as closely follow industry trends, she seeks to educate her clients on best practices for consumer and influencer engagement programs that will ultimately drive purchase intent.

Katie Lippman has the kind of energy that could fuel a city. Her engaging personality and quick wit immediately put people at ease; but they soon learn that she also has a sharp business mind that’s always one step ahead. When not busy traveling (she’s grown accustomed to working on planes, trains and automobiles!), this Midwesterner at heart enjoys spending time with her husband and three little girls,  Ellie, Maggie and Annie.

Katie has more than 15 years’ experience in public relations, with strong expertise in mom brands, CPG, food/beverage, spirits, and health and wellness. As senior vice president of the consumer and lifestyle divisions based in New York, she provides strategic counsel, creative program development and account team management for clients including Bugaboo, Schlage, Maui Jim, Justin’s, Sun Basket, and Spindrift, among others.  She also plays an integral part in new business development efforts and driving agency growth.

Prior to transitioning to her current role, Katie held various positions at Havas Formula. She joined the agency in 2007, beginning in our San Diego office. Representing high-profile brands such as Kashi, she advanced to director of the consumer division before moving east in 2009. Katie assumed the post of associate vice president in Havas Formula NY’s lifestyle division, where she led program strategy and execution for clients such as SodaStream, Wyndham Hotel Group and Tribe Hummus before helping to launch the consumer division on the East Coast.

After having lived in Boston, New York City, L.A. and San Diego, Tara Reid left coastal living for the Midwest to launch Havas Formula’s Chicago office in 2016. While she has quickly developed a love for the Cubs and (somewhat) embraced (the fashions of) winter, Tara remains a California girl at heart. A mom of two boisterous boys, she often can be found spending time with them and her husband at the baseball field, building Legos or catching up on the latest episode of Paw Patrol.

Tara has been an agency PR practitioner for more than 15 years, developing and executing successful programs for clients across consumer, lifestyle and consumer technology verticals. Additionally, she has represented brands in such diverse categories as retail, food/nutrition, health and fitness, spirits, arts and entertainment, and business technology. As vice president of the agency’s Chicago office, she develops and implements strategic public relations programs for brands like Sears, Bertolli olive oil and Mike’s Hard Lemonade—managing everything from media events and product launches to influencer programs and co-branding partnerships.

Joining Havas Formula’s San Diego office in 2008, Tara advanced as associate vice president of the Consumer West division, representing clients like Kashi and Art.com. She then became vice president of the Consumer Technology division, overseeing brands like Monoprice, Boostcase and Sound United.

Tara provides her clients and team with daily counsel and program management while driving all activity across her accounts. With a proven track record spearheading creative, integrated programs that have increased brand awareness for her clients, her industry insights and thought leadership have established her as a trusted partner. Additional responsibilities include mentoring and supporting the professional development of her team while helping to drive new business growth for the agency overall.

Affectionately known as T-Pain throughout Havas Formula, Taryn Finley survived the winters in New England to land back on the sunny shores of Southern California. She has always been fascinated by the mind and trying to understand/connect with other people. Majoring in cognitive science, she translated her love of people relations to a career in public relations. Her competitive spirit engrained from years as a long-distance swimmer and playing collegiate water polo now emerges on the bike at a SoulCycle class. She’s got a special place in her heart for carrot cake, a good glass of wine and hip hop. Recently hitched, she and her husband enjoy the local foodie scene in their neighborhood and scouting their next travel adventure.

In addition to a wealth of corporate PR experience (she spent three years in-house), Taryn honed her chops at Havas Formula by starting in San Diego’s business and technology division, where she developed strong team leadership and account management skills across a wide spectrum of B-to-B, technology and consumer brands. In 2013, Taryn was promoted to vice president and assumed the helm of Havas Formula’s Los Angeles division. In this position, she provides strategic counsel and creative program development for a range of B-to-C and B-to-B clients, while overseeing her team and aiding the agency with business development efforts.

Mexico City-native and Miami resident Maria Amor loves spending quality time with her husband and daughter, binge-watching Netflix, reading books from Latin American authors; trying out new restaurants, and any other activity that can be accompanied with wine (preferably an oaky Chardonnay).

Maria joined Havas Formula’s San Diego office in 2003, where she gained experience launching and executing PR programs for clients in business technology, consumer and travel industries. In 2008, she moved to New York City to launch FORMULATIN, the agency’s Hispanic division, which represents Fortune 500 companies looking to connect with the growing Hispanic population. Maria leverages her general market experience to develop strategic programs that are tailored to the cultural nuances of the U.S. Hispanic consumer.

As vice president of Havas FORMULATIN, Maria is responsible for program development, strategic guidance, and client communication for brands ranging from beer and spirits to food and retail. She has spearheaded programs such as Wonderful Pistachios’ Healthy Chica program, TurboTax’s #ConTurboTaxPuedes, Nestle’s La Lechera “Que Rico Es Juntarse Por Gusto” campaign.

Under Maria’s leadership, Havas FORMULATIN has become the most awarded agency by the Hispanic Public Relations Association having earned ten “Campaign of the Year” awards in Sports, Health & Nutrition, Food and Technology categories.  In 2015, Maria was recognized as a Latino Trendsetter by Latin Trends magazine. In addition to managing her team of bilingual and bicultural practitioners, she spearheads new business efforts and regularly plays a key role in growing the division.

Mia West lives and breathes adventure. A former roller derby queen, she still enjoys activities that challenge her physical prowess, making the rounds each week at Barry’s Boot Camp, Orange Theory Fitness and boxing. And when she’s not pushing her ’65 Chevy Nova to the limits, she’s likely trotting the globe and befriending the natives. While she may come across as a tough girl, she’s a big softy with a major weak spot for wayward stray dogs like her beloved Lola.

Mia has nearly two decades of experience helping both big brands and startups launch scene-stealing media relations campaigns and get the most value from their PR programs. Her client expertise runs the gamut including beauty, fashion, food and beverage, pets, home décor and travel/hospitality. As the VP of Havas Formula’s Publicity division, she manages a team dedicated to building buzz for clients including FTD/ProFlowers, Electra Bicycle Company, High Brew Cold Brew and KEVIN.MURPHY.

Getting her start in public relations at Havas Formula (2001-2004), Mia ran West PR, a boutique firm specializing in lifestyle brands such as Petco and All Across Africa. With eight years at the helm, she refined her client service and budget management skills, while drumming up coverage in high-profile outlets ranging from ELLE and Woman’s Day to Peopleand Good Housekeeping. Previously, she served as the former PR director for a division of Procter & Gamble Beauty, and managed numerous consumer accounts while working for some of the most recognizable agencies in Southern California.

Whether lap swimming in her highly chlorinated neighborhood pool or floating in Mexico’s salty Bahia de Banderas, Anita Gomes is happiest in the water. Weekends at her kids’ sporting events, puttering in the garden and all the trappings of suburbia have supplanted trips to exotic destinations in recent years, but her affinity for all things geopolitical remains intact. You can count Bravo TV, Diet Coke and a very dry Gibson among her guilty pleasures.

A veteran B-to-B marketing leader, Anita taps her extensive experience at top brands including Qualcomm, Sony and Gateway to inform strategic recommendations and program insights for high-tech clients. A trusted advisor, she offers valuable “client-side” perspective and an integrated approach based on her multifaceted corporate and nonprofit background.

A former Havas Formula client, Anita joined the agency after a decade communicating the core value proposition and solution attributes of advanced wireless asset management technology to the commercial transportation sector.

Passion – it’s one of Natasha Carroll’s most frequently used words and probably the term most used to describe her. Passionate about her family, friends, travel and work, she inspires the same drive in those around her. When she isn’t busy planning for the next occasion, she can usually be found enjoying a good cup of coffee or glass of wine – depending on the time of the day!

Joining us from the sunny shores of Sydney, Australia, Natasha has been with the Havas Group for more than eight years, attaining both corporate and consumer experience. In her current role at Havas Formula, she leads the Jaguar Land Rover account for Havas Formula across product, lifestyle and corporate PR. She is responsible for overall account deliverables, which include media relations, event management, content creation, sponsorship amplification and internal communications.

Dedicated to providing excellent client service, she has worked for a number of leading organizations, including Yahoo, Google, Moet-Hennessy, Coca-Cola, Mondelēz International, Reckitt-Benckiser, Capgemini, SAP, and United Nations Foundation. With a strong focus on delivery and results, Natasha has managed several award-winning campaigns for her clients and has been personally recognized as a PR finalist in the Campaign Asia Awards and the B&T Women in Media Awards.

Alexis prefers to run at a high speed at all times. When she’s away from her desk, you’ll likely find her doing all-out sprints at Orange Theory, on a Peloton bike, racing down the snowy slopes of Breckenridge, Colorado, or chasing after her two rambunctious young boys. Fitness, family and getting outdoors is what recharges this California beach girl turned Colorado camper.

In her nearly 15 years of PR agency experience, Alexis has led programs across a variety of industries, including business-to-business, technology, consumer electronics, natural foods, real estate, healthcare and not-for-profit. She excels at creative ideation and program execution for complex media and influencer programs, and has most recently spearheaded programs for JPMorgan Chase, RE/MAX, Acxiom, Shure and Criteo.

Alexis first joined Havas Formula as an assistant account executive and was elevated to vice president in 2018. In her current role, she heads the B-to-B division, playing a prominent role in team development and new business growth initiatives.

Donovan Roche already used up his 15 minutes of fame appearing on the ‘90s dating TV show “Love Connection” (it was not). A total music hound, he enjoys frequently going to concerts and has, since 2014, established a tradition of attending a new major music festival each year. Coachella, KAABOO, Bottlerock, Outside Lands and Austin City Limits are already checked off his bucket list. On most weekends you can find him blazing the many hiking trails throughout San Diego County – from Torrey Pines in Del Mar to Iron Mountain in Poway.

Donovan has 32 years combined experience in public relations and journalism; the past 22 years at Havas Formula, making him the agency’s longest-tenured employee. As vice president of growth, he is responsible for driving the agency’s business development efforts. Prior to taking on his current role, Donovan served as vice president of strategic services from 2007-2018. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in the proposal development process, internal/external agency communications, employee education, industry awards, and providing all offices with ongoing senior counsel and writing/editing services (he is recognized as the firm’s in-house AP style guru).

Previous to this, Donovan held various positions on the client side—including serving as the vice president and lead strategist of Havas Formula’s business and technology division. Before entering the PR field, he spent 10 years as a writer and editor for publications including San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Reader, and SLAMM (a lifestyle and music magazine he co-founded).