who we are.
THESE PEOPLE
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES.
about us
Our talented people combine proven expertise with fresh thinking, bringing new ideas, creative energy, and forward-looking solutions to every project. We are a collaborative, transparent, and results-driven team helping brands grow through meaningful connections and innovative marketing that stands out.
President
CFO
Creative Director
Production Manager
Financial Operations Manager
Account Executive
Account Manager & Social Media Lead
Designer/Production Artist
Digital Marketing Specialist
Marketing & Business Development Specialist
Strategy Consultant
Web Director
john vardeman
President
Prior to his involvement in the advertising business, John was a reporter and editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His newspaper career in Atlanta included work as an editor on the National Desk, where he was part of the special Atlanta Journal-Constitution team covering the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta.
Since returning to his hometown of Gainesville in 1989, John has authored a book, “On Eagles Wings,” which chronicles a true story of child abuse, courage and perseverance in the inspirational founding of Eagle Ranch, a boys’ home in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia. John also worked personally with former U.S. President Gerald Ford and an editorial team with Reader’s Digest magazine in 1978 and 1979 on the writing of Ford’s memoirs, “A Time to Heal.”
In part due to John’s work with Eagle Ranch as well as other volunteer activities, John was named Hall County’s Young Man of the Year for 1995.
John has served as a trustee with the Leadership Georgia organization, which trains and builds a network of emerging young leaders from across the state for future leadership roles. John and his wife, Tracy, have been involved with Leadership Georgia since 1996 when they were part of the organization’s 25th anniversary year. They also have served together as program chairs.
In another state level position, John was appointed in 2000 to serve on the Georgia Workforce Development Board. John has been involved with the Gainesville Rotary Club as president as well as chairman of the Greater Hall County Chamber of Commerce. More recently, John has served as president of the Arts Council Board of Directors. He also is a senior adviser on the Greater Hall Chamber Executive Committee.
kris nordholz
CFO
He is also the co-founder and current CEO of MVC’s sister company, Full Media, a digital marketing firm specializing in helping healthcare organizations better use search engine optimization and paid search marketing as a means for driving patient volume.
With an extensive background in investment banking, corporate finance, sales, marketing and operations, Kris is focused on helping both companies utilize effective business practices to deliver real results for their clients. Kris holds a BBA in finance and an MBA in marketing from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.
michael richards
Production Manager
Michael estimates, schedules and coordinates projects designed by the agency’s creative department. He manages printing and other work conducted by outside sources.
With more than 35 years of experience working for advertising agencies and printing companies, including Turner Broadcasting, his technical expertise and understanding of all types of production are invaluable to our clients. He has served as a vice president of production, production director, production manager and print sales executive.
Michael holds a fine arts degree from the Atlanta College of Art.
jim balke
Creative Director
His strengths in brand identity and strategic adaptation add great value and benefit to our clients. His passion for creating, refining or using existing client brands to develop campaigns with relatable content guides prospective customers to a call to action.
Over the years, Jim has had the great fortune of working with many brands including Chick-fil-A, Home Depot, Coca-Cola and UNICEF as well as the hometown Hall County company, MyGeorgia.
A Wisconsin transplant, Jim moved to Georgia to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta. He is married, has two grown children, dog and two tuxedo cats.
cindy smith
Financial Operations Manager
Cindy serves as our Financial Operations Manager, bringing more than 25 years of experience in administrative leadership and operational strategy. She is known for optimizing workflows, streamlining daily operations, and overseeing all financial administration with precision and care. With a degree in Business Administration, Cindy is passionate about creating a productive, organized, and positive environment for both staff and clients.
A Florida native, Cindy moved to Gainesville in 1991 and began her career in the mortgage industry, where she spent 10 years before joining the Morton Vardeman & Carlson team in 2001.
Outside the office, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family and pets, taking nature walks, reading a good book, and savoring a quiet cup of coffee on the porch.
clara holt
Account Manager & Social Media Lead
She is from Cumming, Georgia, and attended the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Marketing. After graduating from college, she started her marketing career in Austin, Texas, and lived there for several years before moving back to Georgia. She has a wide range of marketing experience, both in-house and in an agency setting, for a number of different industries, including real estate, home remodeling, commercial and residential roofing, HVAC, and other home services. Her marketing expertise includes graphic design, social media, paid ads, account management, SEO, photography/videography, event planning, and more.
Photography and other creative outlets have always been a major part of her life, and it has helped her have an artistic eye in her marketing career. In this role, she said, “I am most passionate about projects that allow me to be creative through graphic design. It’s incredibly rewarding to help clients develop their brand and advertise through various platforms. It’s even more rewarding when our team’s strategic and visually compelling marketing efforts contribute to a client’s success.”
sidney cochran
Account Executive
Sidney is a Gainesville native and a graduate of Gainesville High School. She earned her degree from the University of Georgia in 2021, where she studied Digital Marketing and Music Business. Now an Account Executive at Morton Vardeman & Carlson, Sidney bridges the gap between creative design and data-driven results. Over the past two years, she has become a strategist for the agency, specializing in comprehensive marketing plans that support client goals across a variety of industries.
Prior to joining the Morton Vardeman & Carlson team, Sidney spent three summers working at a dude ranch in Colorado, serving as their full-time Office Manager and part-time campfire guitar player. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in the nearby mountains, attending local concerts, and relaxing on the lake.
karyme ramirez
Designer/Production Artist
In December of 2023, she graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design. Throughout her time there she was secretary of the Graphic Design Club and painted a mural for Avita Community Partners’ mental health facility. She enjoys the hands-on aspect of creating just as much as that of design and is always looking for new opportunities to expand her skills.
Karyme has been a designer and production artist at Morton Vardeman & Carlson since May of 2024. She creates digital and print designs and keeps artwork moving throughout the production process. Prior to joining MVC, she worked at JGeyer Advertising for over 4 years, where she began by learning how to heat press designs onto apparel and later worked her way up to designer.
In her free time, she enjoys working out, attending concerts & comedy shows, working at her local bartending job, creating artwork for small local creators & small business owners, and is always searching for new creative outlets.
abby wall
Digital Marketing Specialist
Abby joined Morton Vardeman & Carlson in Spring 2025 and serves as the firm’s Digital Marketing Specialist, leading SEO and paid advertising initiatives. As the team’s digital marketer, she takes a comprehensive, hands-on approach to growing visibility, traffic, and conversions through both organic and paid channels.
She brings a strong background in search engine optimization and marketing, with a focus on improving website content, structure, and user experience. Abby also manages Google Search and Display advertising campaigns and is Google Ads certified.
A Georgia native, Abby graduated from the University of North Georgia in Fall 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, concentrating in Writing & Publication, and a minor in Public Relations. She is passionate about using data, strategy, and thoughtfully crafted content to help clients grow sustainably, increase marketing ROI, and strengthen their online presence.
stacy louis
Marketing & Business Development Specialist
Born and raised in Hall County, Stacy Louis is a proud lifelong resident of Gainesville, Georgia, with deep roots in the North Hall community. Her family’s legacy in the area spans generations, including her great-great-grandfather being one of the founders of Downey Hospital, which later became known as Northeast Georgia Medical Center. A graduate of North Hall High School and a member of Lakewood Baptist Church, Stacy has built both her personal and professional life around strong relationships, community involvement, and a passion for helping others succeed.
Stacy earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Management from the University of North Georgia, creating a strong foundation for a career centered on sales, business development, branding, and client relations. With more than 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, she has worked with a variety of companies throughout Gainesville and the surrounding North Georgia area, helping businesses grow through strategic marketing, relationship-building, and innovative business solutions.
Throughout her career, Stacy has consistently demonstrated leadership and performance excellence. One of her most notable achievements was earning the distinction of being ranked #3 nationwide in sales production with Kansas City Life Insurance Company. Her professional background spans multiple industries, where she has become known for her strong communication skills, professionalism, creativity, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
Throughout her career, Stacy has consistently demonstrated leadership and performance excellence. One of her most notable achievements was earning the distinction of being ranked #3 nationwide in sales production with Kansas City Life Insurance Company. Her professional background spans multiple industries, where she has become known for her strong communication skills, professionalism, creativity, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
In addition to her business career, Stacy is certified in aerobics, kickboxing, and Pilates, reflecting her lifelong passion for health, wellness, and motivation. She is also an active member of Toastmasters International and the Life Underwriters Association, organizations that reflect her dedication to leadership, personal growth, and professional excellence.
Family and community remain at the center of Stacy’s life. She is married to Alan Louis, a lifelong Hall County resident, and together they have built a life rooted in faith, family, and service. Stacy is the proud mother of two daughters, Ansley Holman and Ryleigh Louis.
Outside of work, Stacy enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, meeting new people, riding, and creating new business ventures and opportunities. Her passion for connecting with others, combined with her extensive marketing and sales background, continues to make her a trusted and respected professional throughout Hall County and beyond.
tina carlson
Strategy Consultant
Under her direction, the agency has won numerous ADDYS, as well as other national design, print and communications awards.
Tina is a former writer and feature editor with The Times newspaper, and she also worked with the Gainesville/Hall County Chamber of Commerce and as a freelance writer. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia. Active in the community, she is past president of The Gateway Domestic Violence Center’s board of directors and The Quinlan Visual Arts Center board of trustees. She continues to serve on the Quinlan board and is a member of the advisory board of Gateway. In addition, Tina serves on the Greater Hall Chamber’s Vision 2030 Public Art committee.
rodney lewallen
Web Director
Joining Morton Vardeman & Carlson in 2016 as an artist and designer, Rodney is now the Web Director for the agency.
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art & Design specializing in visual effects, Rodney has always been comfortable combining cutting edge tech with telling a visual story. Working with a talented design team and digital specialists, he enjoys turning strategy into high-performing digital experiences that attract, engage, and convert customers.
Rodney also has a background in writing and was the editor for the Big Horn County News in east Montana. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, restoring classic cars, playing retro video games, and braiding and tying fancy knotwork.
Our Vision
Always serving our clients, collaborators and community better.
Always serving our clients, collaborators and community better.
To tell our clients’ stories in a way that engages and energizes their audience to take notice and take action. To create a branding and marketing experience clients want to be part of… and that brings success, both internally and externally.
To tell our clients’ stories in a way that engages and energizes their audience to take notice and take action. To create a branding and marketing experience clients want to be part of… and that brings success, both internally and externally.
Our Mission
like what you see?
Morton, Vardeman & Carlson is a 50-year-old agency with a start-up attitude. Our goal is to be a destination agency for our clients, team members, and partners by cultivating authentic relationships and adding long-term value to everyone we work with.