About Us
Why "XL"?
XL is our answer to a calling. It is a means to achieve creative excellence. It’s our way of ensuring the Gulf Coast community has access to big ideas and big thinkers who help our local industry excel in the creative profession, industry, and business. Don’t just think big. BE bigger, better, and do more for the community.
We recognize that when we improve the quality and output of work for our marketing, communication, and design professionals, we ultimately improve the outcome, reach and impact of a brand, a business, or an organization’s success.
Values
What XL Stands for...
Creativity
We strive to place creativity at the core of everything we do. When our artistic expression informs all of our activities, we create a more beautiful world for us all.
Community
None of us is an island unto ourselves. As we work to help our community grow, we grow along with it as individuals committed to supportive collaboration.
Inclusion
Achieving our goals successfully requires including people of every description. When we value all people for who they are, we help to uplift everyone equally.
Education
Education is central to our mission. By committing ourselves to continually learning—and teaching—we ensure our industry will continue to expand and thrive.
Growth
Above all else, we are driven by the desire to grow our professional practice, our industry and all of its people, and the communities which we call home.
Advocacy
Our efforts are focused on advancing the field of design and increasing recognition of the talented people working in the Gulf Coast’s creative industry.
The Planning Team
XL was born from a very small idea. It began as conversations among creative colleagues—and competitors—in dimly lit bars and fluorescent classrooms, between meetings, at after-work socials, and early morning coffee gatherings. What started as an idea among disconnected people, emerged as a collective hope for our community.
Namrata Advani
Senior Art Director at Lamar Graphics
Somi Choi
Senior Designer at idgroup
Mike Craney
VP of Digital Media Integration at Silvercrest
Mason Guttery
Freelance Graphic Designer
Joseph Herring
Professor at University of West Florida
Christy Highers
Multimedia Designer at Navy Federal Credit Union
Rachel Hogue
Creative Director at Dogwood Design
Mark Hopkins
Professor at Pensacola State College
Lindsay Kearley
Graphic Designer at Lamar Graphics
Shane Mapoles
Creative Director at Seek Creative
Cheyenne McMahan
Marketing & Training Specialist at Florida SBDC Network
Cheryl Murphy
CEO at Vivid Bridge Studios
Liz Painter
Senior Designer at Hatchmark Studio
Kris Poore
Executive VP at idgroup
Bri Snellgrove
CEO at Social Icon
Christine York
Creative Director at Vivid Bridge
Rachel Zampino
Lead Designer at Hail Studio
Veronique Zayas
Creative Director at Hatchmark Studio