Great Team
Smiles Everyone!
Mark Pettit
President & CEO
Mark Pettit
President & CEO
On more than one occasion, he’s been called a Renaissance Man. A three-time Emmy® Award-winning television newscaster and author turned marketing pro---Mark is a ball of creative and strategic energy. And did we mention competitive? He turns a mean double-play (second base), has played in the softball world series seven times and once hit two homeruns in a single game.
Mark started Creaxion in May of 1998 and has been in the captain’s chair ever since. He is responsible for long-term strategy and day-to-day management of the agency. He provides senior-level strategic and creative thinking to our clients. Prior to Creaxion, Mark held executive positions at MCI and Ketchum. Before entering marketing, Mark was a television anchorman and investigative reporter. His most recent assignments were at WXIA-TV (NBC) and CNN. He is the author of “A Need to Kill: Final Justice” (Random House) about a serial child killer in Nebraska.
Very active in the community, Mark serves on the board of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and provides pro bono services to several other non-profit organizations.
In his spare time, Mark enjoys writing country music and comedy sketches.
Mark attended the University of Nebraska Omaha and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing.
Ted Tuerk
Senior Vice President
Ted Tuerk
Senior Vice President
With hair that good, you’d never expect to see him in a hat. But at Creaxion, Ted wears a lot of them. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the agency including Finance, HR, Legal and IT. A former CPA, Ted has extensive experience in accounting and client project management.
Prior to joining Creaxion in early 1999, Ted worked for PeopleSoft and Accenture. In his spare time, Ted enjoys running road races, working out and chasing his dog “X” (the company mascot) around Piedmont Park. Ted holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Furman University.
Our accountant might have said it best when he said of Ted: “Creaxion’s books are in better shape than most major corporations.”
In this day and age, that pretty much says it all.
Sunni Hickman
Sr. Director, Marketing & Media
Sunni Hickman
Sr. Director, Marketing & Media
If ever a name fit the person, it’s this one. Sunni simply lights up life. She does it with a million dollar smile and a can do will do attitude. With an extensive background in marketing and media Sunni brings a wealth of experience to our clients. She is responsible for day-to-day planning and execution of major client projects.
Prior to joining Creaxion in 2007, Sunni held senior level marketing positions at Amerigroup Community Care and Upscale Magazine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University. Sunni is the wife of a college basketball coach and mother of two. Her spare time is filled with weekend soccer trips, basketball games and a little shoe shopping, when she can! (Sunni owns over 100 pair of shoes)
Scott Smallwood
Senior Manager, Marketing & Media
Scott Smallwood
Senior Manager, Marketing & Media
Whether hiking to the top of Yosemite Falls or tackling the marketing needs of our clients, Scott works hard to accomplish his goals.
Scott Smallwood joined the Creaxion team in 2006 after obtaining his bachelor's degree in Public Relations from the University of Georgia Grady School of Journalism. Since 2008, Scott has served as Creaxion's Senior Manager of Marketing and Media, managing and coordinating our clients' grassroots marketing programs and promotional campaigns. As head of Creaxion's Social Media Task Force, Scott also provides unique results-driven guidance for clients' promotional needs in targeted online communities. An avid urban traveler and outdoorsman, Scott brings to the table a unique sense of adventure and endurance, benefiting the firm, his team, and most importantly, Creaxion's clients and their marketing needs.
Julie Bennett
Senior Brand Strategist
Julie Bennett
Senior Brand Strategist
The epitome of style and sophistication, Julie is a marketing maven. She’s an expert in branding, integrated marketing and business development. Julie is highly experienced in developing and executing strategies for diverse industries including software & technology, healthcare, financial services, sustainable packaging, hospitality and entertainment.
And, Julie loves her dogs. She’s rescued and raised more than her fair share of them.
As a senior brand strategist at Creaxion, Julie has a proven track record in developing programs that drive consistent growth and market share via the disciplines of market research and analysis, brand and identity development, print and broadcast advertising, marketing communications, public relations, web and e-Marketing campaigns, trade shows and event marketing.
Julie graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in Communications.
Leslie Johnson
Marketing Manager
Leslie Johnson
Marketing Manager
Born and raised in Georgia, Leslie has all the charm and kind-heartedness of your typical southern belle, but her love for UGA football makes her marketing decisions and event planning only lead to touchdowns.
Leslie is responsible for facilitating and coordinating the flow of projects from inception to completion and serving as the liaison between clients and the Creaxion departments to ensure the successful execution of marketing, events and design initiatives.
Before joining the Creaxion team in 2006, Leslie was the events manager for the Leader Publishing Group where she developed and executed the events for Leader’s three publications. Leslie worked closely with the brand development manager to create promotional material, event programs and the design of websites.
Leslie holds a Journalism degree from the University of Georgia – Go Dawgs!
