About

A marketing consultancy with 40 years of experience.

Strong relationships and clear communication are the cornerstones of our approach. We have a knack for partnership and uncovering actionable insights because we’ve had a lot of practice. It’s how we’ve developed an award-winning culture and processes that produce results.

In a world that’s changing faster than ever, we use meaningful collaboration to bring clarity and stability to our clients, too. Amid shrinking resources and growing market demands, we become an extension of your team to bring your visions to life.

Having big, exciting goals is the first step. The next step is working with a partner who knows how to figure out the best way to achieve them.

The path from uncertainty to confidence.

Every client faces a unique challenge, so we adapt our proven processes accordingly. But, no matter what you’re up against, there are four ways to help your business — and teams — level up:

Identify roadblocks.

By pinpointing barriers to success from the start, we design an informed and detailed project plan that all parties can agree on.

Facilitate alignment.

We make it possible for your teams to rally around changes by educating on the functions of marketing and making them feel heard.

Create connections.

We use our outsider perspective to make important observations and draw a path between where you are today and where you want to go.

Drive positive results.

We apply everything we’ve learned throughout the process to deliver custom strategies, tools and creative that will make an impact.

Strong partners
grow strong brands.

Scoular logo
FNBO Logo
Creighton University Logo
Roger Logo
Agemark Senior Living Logo
Borsheims Logo
THREE Insurance by Berkshire Hathaway logo
Petfriendly Logo
Bottomline Technologies Logo
TotalWellness Logo
ACCESSbank Logo
Moody's Analytics Logo
Black and white logo of biBerk
Carson Group Logo
Live On Nebraska logo with custom geometric graphic above the name.
Nelnet Bank Logo
Diamond Hill Logo
JDH logo
RTG Medical Logo
Pink Gorilla Events Logo
Petsource by Scoular Logo
Thorn Logo
Green Plains logo

The experts behind E&S.

Leanne Prewitt

President & Chief Executive Officer​
About

Katie Herzog

Chief Client Officer
About

Ashley Bails

Chief Operating Officer
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Brittany Wozny

Chief Financial Officer​
About

Megan Jenkins

Director of Client Success
About

Alfredo Lang

Director of Client Strategy
About

Abbie Perry

Marketing Strategist
About

Kelly Heavican

Media Lead
About

Aaron Christensen

Creative Director
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Erin Gambaiana

Associate Creative Director
About

Andrea Blankenship

Senior Graphic Designer
About

Hannah Husman

Associate Creative Director
About

Kristen Kelly

Senior Art Director
About

Dillon Wheelock

Motion Designer
About

Laine Skeen

Account Supervisor
About

Layne Faust

Project & Traffic Lead
About

Paige Chambers

Senior Project Lead
About

Natalie Abendroth

Senior Project Lead
About

Abbie Chmelka

Media Lead
About

Ryan Schreurs

Paid Search Specialist
About

Allison Hillyard

Media Consultant
About

Connie Brown

Executive Assistant
About

Ryan Cruickshank

Information Technology Consultant
About

Our core values.

1.

Stay curious but confident.

What works today might not work tomorrow, and that’s ok. We stay resourceful and agile, with a dose of “never settle” in our bones. We take calculated risks and share our POV — our teammates and clients want to know.

2.

Give a damn.

About our clients, our company, our community and each other. We care passionately about the work we do and the results we achieve.

3.

Own your sh*t.

We stay accountable to ourselves and each other, celebrate our wins and — when things go wrong — we examine, acknowledge, pick up and move on.

4.

Be real.

We are open, honest and show respect for each other. It’s not just about the work we do but how we do it. We are connectors at our core; our relationships matter.

5.

Be really good.

We are each experts in our own roles, high performers with high capacity. We use our experience to make the best decision at every turn. And the work we present is work that only our team could produce.

6.

Make it fun.

Our work lives are actually a pretty big part of our lives as whole people. So we show up here as our authentic selves — ready to have a little fun.

Founded in 1983 by Doug Smith.

“You can learn something very important about running an ad agency if you just pay attention along the way.”

As a young copywriter with a few years of experience under his belt, Doug Smith co-founded an agency built on doing great work with integrity. Throughout his tenure as CEO and Chairman of the Board, he led with compassion, innovation and a firm belief in the importance of investing in people. That philosophy continues to influence our culture today.

Leanne Prewitt

President & Chief Executive Officer

Shaped by her background in creative direction, Leanne leads the agency’s culture and creative vision and also oversees the operations that allow a team of marketing, design and media specialists to create powerful and effective work for their client partners.

Leanne began her professional career in New York City working for some of the nation’s leading agencies. In 2016, after a five-month sabbatical around the world, she returned to her hometown and joined Ervin & Smith. Her global perspective and expanded professional experience influence the work she does today.

Katie Herzog

Chief Client Officer

Katie leans into her passion for business every day by leading the agency’s growth team, which is focused on consultation and marketing strategy development that actively advances our clients’ goals.

With fifteen years of experience across industries and organization types, Katie and her team connect the dots between objectives, research and marketing activation to help organizations get clarity and alignment on the path forward. Her competitive nature means she’s always up for finding new ways to solve client challenges.

Ashley Bails

Chief Operating Officer

Ashley is an experienced, analytical and hands-on marketer with 15+ years of leading, developing and executing multichannel marketing programs that get results. She’s a well-balanced strategic leader who can translate data insights into marketing and business strategy.

In her role as COO, Ashley ensures the delivery of all client activations and oversees the collaboration of our creative, media and client success teams. In addition, she helps lead the agency and drives growth and innovation for our client partners.

Brittany Wozny

Chief Financial Officer

As chief financial officer at Ervin & Smith, Brittany is responsible for the oversight of agency financial statements and financial planning. In addition to providing accurate and transparent information to employees and clients, she leads human resources initiatives such as recruitment, hiring and employee relations.

Driven by a desire for efficiency, Brittany takes pride in improving processes and removing barriers to success for all employees.

Megan Jenkins

Director of Client Success

With over 20 years of experience, Megan has developed a clear problem-solving approach to marketing and great relationship-building skills that enable her to create meaningful partnerships and help clients achieve their goals. She has in-house and agency experience in various industries including healthcare, business insurance, wealth management, software and more. 

In her current role, Megan is responsible for developing and implementing client success standards and philosophies. While remaining active on many accounts, Megan also mentors all account supervisors and project leads. She is passionate about delivering really good results and coaching team members to do the same.

Alfredo Lang

Director of Client Strategy

As a director of client strategy, Alfredo acts as a consultant working to understand every aspect of each client’s business and help set the overall marketing vision and strategy. He works closely with the E&S’s client success, creative and media teams to deliver solutions that positively impact our clients.

With over a decade of experience across a wide range of industries, Alfredo has led the development of effective campaigns of all scales for internationally and nationally known brands such as Bosch, S.C. Johnson, United Healthcare, Cargill, LG Mobile, P&G, PETA and Visa.

Abbie Perry

Marketing Strategist

Abbie is a marketing strategist who loves turning complex challenges into creative solutions. After five years of agency experience spanning industries like finance, technology, and healthcare, she’s learned to blend strategic thinking with collaboration to drive impactful results for clients.

At Ervin & Smith, Abbie crafts marketing strategies that seamlessly connect digital, content, and media efforts, all rooted in insights from thorough research and analysis. Her background in account management has shaped her approach, which is built on strong relationships, teamwork and a genuine passion for making work fun.

Kelly Heavican

Media Lead

Kelly has worked for over 15 years in digital marketing. Her experience includes B2B and B2C companies and spans both display and paid search—with expertise in text and product listing ads.

Kelly’s knack for storytelling helps her bring a fresh perspective to data analysis, strategy and the execution of marketing campaigns. Helping clients understand the impact of their marketing investments is one of Kelly’s favorite parts of working at E&S.

Aaron Christensen

Creative Director

As creative director at Ervin & Smith, Aaron develops unified and intentional brand experiences for our clients. His background in strategic, multidisciplinary design drives our team to create brands and campaigns that captivate audiences and bolster results.

With nearly two decades of experience as a creative leader, Aaron uses his consumer-focused skills to provide award-winning creative strategy and design. His work spans B2C and B2B companies such as Buildertrend, TD Ameritrade and First National Bank.

Erin Gambaiana

Associate Creative Director

Erin is an award-winning designer with over 20 years of experience in advertising. In addition to her expertise in brand development and creative strategy, Erin specializes in environmental branding and integration — combining her skills to bring brands to life in captivating and engaging new ways.

As an associate creative director at Ervin & Smith, Erin has helped lead branding initiatives and campaigns for clients including Scoular, Borsheims, JDH, biBerk and Roger.

Andrea Blankenship

Senior Art Director

Andrea is a brand designer with nearly 15 years of experience creating and refining notable brands throughout the region. As senior art director at Ervin & Smith, she oversees all visual work and seeks to elevate each project through cross-team collaboration.

Andrea has used her dynamic branding and experiential design skills to craft packaging for Scooter’s coffee, unique restaurant experiences at Flagship Commons—Omaha’s first food hall—and countless special event and residential spaces. No matter the industry or client she’s working with, Andrea searches for new ways to help brands build meaningful connections with their audiences.

Hannah Husman

Associate Creative Director

Hannah is an experienced storyteller who has crafted multichannel creative campaigns for brands like TD Ameritrade, Rotary Lift, United Healthcare and Panda Express. She has a knack for using strategic insights to create dynamic, original concepts that move brands forward. Beyond campaigns, she’s helped develop unique brand platforms and identities for companies of all sizes.

In 2017, Hannah was named to a national list of 50 Under 30 women excelling in creative roles by international creative publication The Drum.

Kristen Kelly

Associate Creative Director

After more than 15 years working in agency and in-house settings, Kristen is a pro at marrying strategy and creative to deliver the most impactful solution. Her award-winning design work has supported brands across industries from healthcare to manufacturing and has even appeared in ads in Times Square.

As an associate creative director at Ervin & Smith, Kristen takes a holistic approach to client work to ensure unique, on-brief visuals that elevate the current brand guide. She looks for the unexpected on every project and brings a passion for responsive design, UX, UI, and web accessibility.

Dillon Wheelock

Motion Designer

Dillon has spent over a decade honing his graphic and motion design skills. Through education, experimentation and agency experience, he has learned to blend the mechanics of movement with human emotions to create scroll-stopping and meaningful visuals.
 
At Ervin & Smith, Dillon will add magic to creative projects through illustration and animation. He is passionate about expanding his skillset to stay ahead of social and digital motion trends.

Laine Skeen

Account Supervisor

Laine excels at creating meaningful relationships, managing complex projects and cultivating joy in the workplace. As an account supervisor at E&S, Laine uses her strong organizational and problem-solving skills to help our clients execute results-driven, multichannel brand and marketing campaigns.

Over her career, Laine has developed a passion for staying ahead of trends and anticipating client needs. She brings a holistic perspective to every brand strategy, employer branding, media, video production and digital project she works on.

Layne Faust

Project & Traffic Lead

After almost a decade of project management, Layne is a pro at clearing roadblocks for clients and internal teams alike. Her experience working in-house has helped her develop the empathy and strategic thinking needed to implement new ideas across an entire company.

Layne is passionate about serving others, strengthening relationships, creating efficient processes and predicting what her clients will need in the future. Throughout her career, she has overseen a variety of marketing initiatives, including product development and launches, sales enablement, web development and more.

Paige Chambers

Senior Project Lead

Paige is passionate about entrepreneurship and solving clients’ business challenges through brand strategy, creative and digital marketing. Her professional experience includes managing client relationships, as well as executing digital marketing campaigns, program communications (print and digital) and websites.

Her past and current roles have required proactive thinking, exceptional organizational skills, collaboration and professionalism. As a senior project lead at E&S, Paige supports and guides the creative, digital media and strategy teams in order to exceed client expectations.

Natalie Abendroth

Senior Project Lead

Natalie has a knack for communication and details. As a senior project lead at E&S, she fosters partnerships between clients and our internal teams to help execute projects efficiently, find strategic solutions and create meaningful impact. Agile and adaptable, Natalie is always ready to pivot when plans need adjusting.

With a background in operations and project management, Natalie is no stranger to navigating the intricate landscapes of brand strategy, development, and expansion. From website design to print and everything in between, she thrives on orchestrating all the moving parts of projects, ensuring every detail supports the client’s vision and objectives.

Abbie Chmelka

Media Lead

Abbie is an experienced digital media strategist specializing in the planning, execution and optimization of multi-channel paid campaigns. She has in-depth knowledge of several advertising platforms including Meta, Google ads, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Abbie enjoys working closely with her clients to help them achieve their business goals through paid media. Beyond paid media, she’s helped brands develop their organic social strategy, content calendars and influencer marketing plans. Abbie is certified in Google Ads and Meta media buying.

Ryan Schreurs

Paid Search Specialist

Ryan is a digital marketer and certified Google Ads Specialist. He has experience managing campaigns on Meta and TikTok across varied industries including finance, commercial real estate and roofing.

With a passion for data, Ryan loves to analyze search queries and trends to help clients find opportunities to run more efficient SEM campaigns. As a paid search specialist, he brings unique expertise and a search-minded approach to every E&S marketing project.

Allison Hillyard

Traditional Media Buyer

With over two decades of marketing experience, Allison is passionate about finding new opportunities that add value for clients. During her 15 years focused on media, she’s negotiated buys across print and digital channels including out-of-home, television, streaming, radio, sponsorships, social media, email and more.
 
Allison enjoys developing strong relationships with vendors and creating a media mix that optimizes results for clients. From researching and placing buys to invoicing and reporting, Allison’s attention to detail keeps the entire process running smoothly.

Connie Brown

Executive Assistant

As a former teacher and a current executive assistant, Connie has over 25 years of experience helping others stay organized and reach success. After a decade of assisting leadership at Ervin & Smith, she is an expert on our clients and provides account support to ensure we’re meeting (and exceeding) their needs. 

Connie is passionate about company culture and is always implementing new ideas to foster fun and connection. Whether she’s planning a company party, team building event or volunteer outing, Connie ensures every detail of what we do and how we do it supports our company vision.

Ryan Cruickshank

Information Technology Consultant

Ryan has close to 20 years of experience in the field of information technology, with a diverse background in both agency and corporate settings. His specialties include information security, network and systems administration, technical relationship management and project management.

As the director of IT, Ryan is responsible for the overall planning, organizing and execution of all IT functions for Ervin & Smith. This includes everything from desktop support and server management to information security and network infrastructure, as well as policy management and disaster recovery planning.