After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor's degree in English, Mariesa began a two-year post graduate degree program at The Portfolio Center. Quickly, her writing earned several school accolades, including a full-ride academic scholarship and, upon graduation, the Best Copywriter award.

While still finishing her last semester at The Portfolio Center, Mariesa was hired to start writing for McCann Erickson, Atlanta. Immediate responsibilities led to a debut agency spread for Coca-Cola in Rolling Stone as well as rebranding of the Whatizit icon for the Atlanta Olympics. After a year of contributions, Ogilvy & Mather NY called and asked Mariesa to take on new creative challenges within Ross Sutherland’s group as a writer for Jaguar, Hershey Chocolate, and Maxwell House Coffee. In New York, Mariesa developed the launch TV spot for Hershey Nugget as well as print, outdoor, and sales materials for Jaguar Cars. After a successful run of two years, her work caught the attention of creatives on the west coast, and Mariesa left the big apple with an invitation to join Hal Riney, SF.

At Riney, Mariesa contributed work on Mirage Casinos and Calistoga Waters. A year later, she was again hired away by Foote Cone and Belding, SF to work on Levi’s and Coors Beer campaigns. Subsequently, Mariesa was wooed by Ketchum Advertising to handle creative for Bank of America and Knotts Berry Farm. Additional freelance clients between posts included project assignments for Goldberg Moser O’Neill and Anderson Lembke.

After an exciting run on both coasts, Mariesa’s husband led the couple south to Nashville, where they settled to build a family and Mariesa launched a successful freelance business.  Shared time at local agencies soon followed as her creative contributions became known, including creative campaigns for Chiat Day’s Infinity Cars, the Nashville Electric Service, the cities’ 911 hotline, Kipp Academy, The Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Style Blueprint.  Soon Mariesa’s work expanded to include writing for Coca-Cola Atlanta as well as for Ameresco Engineering and the AAUW in Washington D.C.

After serving large and small freelance clients, Mariesa then built an impressive log of health care experience.  As the Senior Creative Director for Brookdale Senior Living, Mariesa managed a New York-based crew of 30 and a full-time employee staff of 15 to supply 1100 communities across the nation with two new volumes of the Optimum Life magazine as well as breakthrough sales and promotional materials.   Her leadership included the development of a digital storefront and the accomplishment of a 400% growth rate in project assignments to her department. Most notably, Mariesa’s writing and creative leadership reshaped Brookdale’s Entry Fee business, empowering the highest grossing department to exceed their financial goals.

Since this time, Mariesa has maintained an active freelance schedule with successful TV contributions to The Wallace Agency of Roanoke, Virginia for LifeWorks Health Care and the city’s own HomeTown Bank. 

When Mariesa’s not writing, you might find her enjoying family, friends, exercise, or a new favorite book.