Team Tigermoth

Lyda Carpen

Creative Director

Sure, her work is beautiful, but Lyda’s design isn’t about making things pretty, it’s about weaving meaning into the final piece. It is the underpinning, what brings our words and images to life.

As Tigermoth’s creative director, Lyda Carpen is a visual weaver of stories, a connector of dots, a breaker down of big ideas into smaller, more manageable parts. She has a knack for interpreting a client’s vision to make sure the written and visual content of every project comes together in a consistent and compelling way. Several mantras guide her work. One: Everything — always — should have a reason for why it’s on the page. Two: Listen to the client, ask the right questions, and discover their “why.” Three: Let their “why” guide the development of a long-term narrative that ties together all communications across all mediums. Especially with a group that values relationships the way Tigermoth does, it’s never just about one piece. Lyda gets this as well as anyone. She’s also very in touch with enduring styles. After all, trendy is easy, but knowing what will be relevant for a shelf life and for a brand is what really matters. One more thing: Don’t let Lyda’s generous and caring spirit mislead you. Photoshop filters, anything implemented in a Microsoft product, and before-coffee conversations will put you on her Most Wanted list.

Lyda is always the voice of reason | doubles as a business therapy coach to the team | used to travel, even met her husband in Finland…then she had kids. | a pixel pusher — if a web layout is off by one space, she’ll catch it | carries a strong sense of self that makes you believe in everything she says (and with good reason) | she is her own yin to her yang: a polished professional and businesswoman with a yogi state of mind| eyes glaze over with too much accounting or nerd talk | we’re pretty sure she doesn’t even know how to think inside the box.

Chris English

Director of Photography

This man doesn’t just capture images; he captures moments — authentic, documentary-style, take-you-right-there moments.

Chris English has more than an eye for the craft; he sees what others don’t see, what they can’t see. Those moments he captures…they’re exactly what pulls audiences in and makes them want to be a part of your story. They’ve also helped him garner awards along the way. Just like his counterpart, Dave Wilson, Chris doesn’t just photograph the obvious; he notices the small details that add depth and emotion. He always brings home the excitement of the main action plus all the little details that others often overlook. This approach allows him to convey the story arc and bring to life the full narrative for which he is known. He’s honed this skill since he was 11 and working assignments for the local newspaper. They knew he had a unique ability, and so do we. His passion for visual storytelling is rare in the marketing communication world — and yet it pairs perfectly with the kind of creative that Tigermoth is all about.

if color correcting and color grading is the difference between a specialist and an amateur, chris is among the best | his dyslexic brain lends well to a profession in which he can express himself in images rather than words (that’s correct, he did not write this bio) | views a long lens as a tool, not a necessity | scoffs at instant satisfaction — creative problem solving deserves proper thought and ideation | recovering butt dialer | teddy bear in a poker player’s body | will take Asana over Filemaker every time

Rebecca LaPlante

Director of Client Services

When it comes to client services and project management, Rebecca LaPlante is like a world-class chess champion. Focused, decisive, always able to anticipate the next move.

Rebecca is going to need a bigger office. Between the job jackets and all of the hats she wears, space is getting a tad crowded. It’s no exaggeration to say that Tigermoth thrives because of the many roles Rebecca fulfills. Client services. Project manager. Traffic manager. Social director. Purveyor of refreshing, just-in-time, Friday night gin & tonics. She wrangles all of the critical details that can make or break a team, and she does it with love and care while holding the rest of us to a higher standard of organization and follow-through. In many ways, she’s our “Tigermother.” Rebecca takes care of our clients and their businesses in much the same way. When she says she’s got it, she’s got it. Just cross it off of your list; it’s done, taken care of. Rebecca takes the lead, and that’s important in project management. When happy hour transitions from the office to Rebecca’s house, she empties out her fridge and whips up delicious apps with the same caring and efficiency in which she turns a client’s project. She’s just that good. She takes professional and personal attention to a whole new level — and that makes you grateful to have her on your side.

uber organized and the ultimate multi-tasker | an ambivert — acts like an extrovert, but “center of attention” is not her thing | she keeps a tin of high-quality chocolates on her desk, and it never empties despite the team’s best efforts | an events planner and food services director in a past life, rebecca is a foodie to the core

Shelley Ibarra

Project Manager

Meet our always-there-for-you-in-a-pinch girl — beaming smile, bright mind, big future.

Tigermoth snagged Shelley as an intern through the Action Greensboro Fellows program, and right away, we could tell how incredibly talented and reliable Shelley is. Shelley is now a full-fledged member of the team, and has a made a significant impact in our day-to-day. She’s always ready for a new challenge, and turns assignments so quickly she’ll give you whiplash!

So, what lies beneath the sweet, shy exterior and that Keira Knightley smile? Getting to know Shelley has been like peeling an onion — she surprises us every day. She’s quiet and unassuming, and chances are her quiet and coy disposition may have you fooled.

But then you realize what a careful observer she is, always watching, taking everything in, and offering up astute observations at just the right moment — which means we get to learn from her as much as she learns from us.

Shelley also has a wicked sense of humor; she's that person who drops the perfect, well-timed line when you’re least expecting it. That works well for us because being a part of the Tigermoth family is about razzing one another like brothers and sisters. Shelley’s our sassy and sarcastic, witty and bright little sis. She’s amazingly patient (not a whole lot of that around the office), uber talented and she beams with positivity.

When Shelley realizes her full potential, watch out. Until then, we’re thrilled that she calls Tigermoth home, right down to the Bluetooth playlists she’s come to embrace. Tigermoth is a fun and special place to work, and Shelley only makes it more so.

Recovering peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich addict | A worrier and a warrior in one | Loves to hum and sing along to whatever song is playing | Her first blog post was about a big ass burrito — check it out! | An aspiring author, she’s currently working on a book about a Mexican immigrant | A great listener | Fluent in sarcasm | Her skill set is as broad as her future is bright

Andrea Spencer

Director of Creative Writing

Andrea crafts the language that speaks directly to your audiences and makes them want to be a part of your story.

When you work with Andrea Spencer, you soon realize that she has the ability to read your mind. Parsing everything you tell her with a storyteller’s ear, Andrea has an uncanny ability to find the words that are on the tip of your tongue and weave them together with equal parts strategy and emotion. When she presents the finished copy, you see all of the critical message points in their greater glory. A fluent translator of jibber jabber, Andrea crafts authentically rendered, beautifully polished language that reflects the essence of your brand while inspiring an emotional connection. Understanding target audiences is a must, and your people will always feel that you “get” them. After all, she’s adept at stepping into other people’s shoes. Maybe it’s because she’s worn a few different pairs herself — high heels, soccer cleats, ballroom dance (and the slippers she tucks away in her desk drawer). When not melding words into eye-catching headlines and compelling calls to action, Andrea writes fiction. She even has a fancy New York agent who represents her novel. Plus, we love that she is out in the community, sharing her passion with young writers in after-school writing workshops.

EXPECTS HER CHAMPAGNE TO BE CRISP, LIKE HER WRITING | WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT “COPYWRITING” IS THE ACT OF CREATING A WRITTEN WORK; “COPYRIGHTING” IS WHAT PROTECTS IT | TRIMS COPY WITH THE SKILL OF A HIBACHI CHEF (EXCEPT MAYBE WHEN IT COMES TO TEXTING) | COULD BE THE SOCCER PLAYER IN HER, BUT SHE LOVES TO RALLY THE TEAM | BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE AND EVERY BRAND HAS A GREAT STORY — YOU JUST NEED A GREAT TEAM TO BRING IT OUT

Dave Wilson

Director of Video Production

While other 80’s kids were watching The Smurfs and G.I. Joe on Saturday mornings, Dave Wilson was waking up early to Wild Kingdom and Jacques Cousteau.

It wasn’t the study of living creatures that captured Dave’s imagination; it was the storytelling and the cinematography. Now, he’s the storyteller. Take one look at his work, and you’ll see an entire novel come together in a mere snapshot or video edit. There’s a good and simple reason Dave gets storytelling: He gets people. And not just because he’s one of them. He’s just got this covetable, down-to-earth combo of charisma and caring that makes him so likable. Even the camera-shy pronounce, “Ready for my close-up” because they know he’ll capture them authentically, in their truest light. “That’s me,” they say. “Only better.” It’s a little-known fact that Dave was once an airborne combat photographer and videographer in the Army Reserves. That’s right, he used to jump out of planes with his camera in hand and at the ready. If that’s not great training for becoming versatile and always on the lookout for the action that surrounds the story, we don’t know what is. In fact, because Dave’s first passion was photography, he was taught to constantly change perspective, whether shooting stills or motion; he refuses to make the tri-pod do all of the work. That’s one reason why, when our video production arm got its start, Dave and Chris made sure to invest in a MoVI — an impressive piece of equipment that allows them to capture all of the different angles for the documentary approach our clients love.

wields a movi with more ease than you can say, “what’s a movi?” | has shot everything from adventure to documentary to lifestyle | award winning, though he’ll never admit it | a shameless foodie, he seeks out restaurant shoots just to be close to a good osso buco every once in a while | quickly becomes an expert in the latest software | no, he doesn’t put his feet up on the desk, thank you very much