The GDC Marketing & Ideation Story
The Origins
Our journey began on November 14, 1995 when Frank Guerra founded our company and was quickly thereafter joined by Trish DeBerry and Tess Coody (the G, D and C). The three partners envisioned an agency that would produce results-driven, research-backed work for clients and allow employees to prioritize family and personal time.
They did this by championing employees and creating a vibrant culture, which propelled us toward success. We began as a corporate communications company with Citibank and H-E-B and soon after expanded to full-service advertising, marketing, and public relations work with additional clients in health care, telecom, and government.
In February 2012, two of the original partners decided to pursue other professional interests while Frank Guerra remained at the helm of GDC and we changed our name to what it is today: GDC Marketing & Ideation. Frank promoted Beth Ochoa to chief operating officer in 2007 and to partner in 2013. Carey Quackenbush, who had been contributing his strategic creativity to the agency since 2007, was named a partner in 2017. As part of GDC’s established succession plan, Beth — who had been with the company since 1999 — was promoted to CEO in January 2020. Roughly two months later, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic.
While a lot of businesses hunkered down and went into survival mode, Beth worked to expand GDC’s operational reach and led the agency’s launch of new spinoff companies, including Recon Digital Media in February 2020 and GDC Studios in July 2022. Recon filled a gap in the industry by offering an agency fully dedicated to digital media while leveraging traditional marketing platforms through GDC, and GDC Studios met our clients’ needs for turnkey video and radio production work. Under Beth’s leadership, GDC also expanded its experiential department during the pandemic, purchasing digital trucks in 2021 that provide remote branding and video services.
Today, GDC Marketing & Ideation continues to be a trailblazer and innovator. We invest in our people, our effervescent culture continues to set us apart, and our comprehensive, sometimes unorthodox, multi-faceted solutions help our clients conquer challenges. Almost three decades into our history, GDC remains at the cutting edge of marketing and as our CEO likes to say, we have plans for world domination.
Beth's ability to build and lead teams is matched only by her vast knowledge and experience in the marketing and advertising industry. She is an entrepreneur at heart, has a keen sense for numbers, is an excellent and captivating storyteller, and is a leader in every sense of the word.
Beth graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in radio, TV and film. She has been a proud member of GDC Marketing & Ideation since 1999. Her abilities as a communicator and a leader, sense of humor, and superior work ethic have singled her out as a subject matter expert and person to watch in her field. Beth was responsible for acquiring Sprint/Nextel to GDC’s roster of clients and leading the account’s national field marketing efforts for more than four years. She also has an impressive background in health care marketing, spearheading GDC’s strategic development for Baptist Health System and Resolute Health.
She led GDC’s launch of spinoff companies, including Recon Digital Media in February 2020 and GDC Studios. in July 2022. Recon filled a gap in the industry by offering an agency fully dedicated to digital media while leveraging traditional marketing platforms through GDC Marketing & Ideation. GDC Studios met our clients’ need for turnkey video and radio production work. Under Beth’s leadership, GDC also expanded its experiential department during the pandemic, purchasing digital trucks in 2021 that provide remote branding and video services.
One of Beth’s personal passions is helping families coping with drug addiction. As such, she sits on the board of trustees of Rise Recovery, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving, supporting, educating and inspiring teens, young adults and families challenged with the effects of substance use disorder.
When she’s not fearlessly leading GDC, Beth enjoys spending time on South Padre Island and San Miguel de Allende with her husband, their blended family, and five (count ‘em, five) dogs.
Carey Quackenbush
Carey’s strategic thinking, creative experience and diversified marketing background are at the heart of GDC’s “Ideation” and identity. He has a rare combination of high intelligence and emotional quotients, quick wit, and a presence that commands attention.
Before joining the GDC Marketing & Ideation team, Carey gained creative experience as a copywriter at BBDO Houston working across all media for national clients including Pizza Hut and Havoline. He entered GDC as an associate creative director and quickly worked his way up the ranks. At GDC, he developed award-winning campaigns for clients such as Procter & Gamble, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the San Antonio Spurs and many more.
As GDC’s chief ideation officer, Carey leads the charge to translate client objectives into cognitive and emotional connections with target audiences. The result is a creative product that is meaningful to the audience, actionable to the client, and beneficial to all. This is often done through a proprietary process created and implemented by Carey known as MirrorBranding™. This agile approach allows GDC to deliver highly executable brand articulations to our clients in weeks instead of months. Brands like Whataburger and Trinity University have benefitted from this process which seeks to translate a company’s goals and values in a way that connects with target audiences.
In addition to his vast experience working on the creative side of marketing and advertising, Carey’s drive to immerse himself in all aspects of his clients’ business led him to seek out an M.B.A. with a focus on marketing management. Carey also holds a B.S. in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, where he successfully completed the highly competitive Texas Creative sequence. Carey also serves as board chair for Project MEND, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life for individuals in Texas living with disabilities and illness through the refurbishment, reuse and distribution of medical equipment and other assistive technology.
When not coming up with bold, strategic and creative campaigns, Carey enjoys spending time with his wife, son, dog and bearded dragon.
Michele uses her strong strategic and organizational skills to lead and manage the day-to-day operations of GDC. Her experience in marketing, advertising, PR, and broadcast journalism allow her to respond to client and agency needs in multi-faceted and creative ways.
Michele first joined GDC close to 25 years ago, in the earliest days of the agency after working on the national PR team for Builders Square with Anderson Advertising. She used her experience in public relations and broadcast journalism to help GDC clients like Citibank and H-E-B create internal communication campaigns to engage their teams across the country. Michele quickly moved up the ranks and was named group account director for all agency retail and consumer packaged goods clients, including the shopper marketing team at Procter & Gamble with a focus on over 300 H-E-B stores in Texas and 3,500 Albertsons stores across the U.S.
While at GDC, using insights from her CPG and retail experience, she became a founding partner in CartStart™, an in-aisle sales application for retail employees. Funded in part by Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Revlon, L’Oreal and others, the app was leveraged by over 80 H-E-B beauty departments in Texas to help store beauty advisors position the right hair, skin, or cosmetic brand based on customers’ needs.
After leaving GDC in 2015, Michele focused on her two passions — children’s mental health and education — and worked in leadership roles for Clarity Child Guidance Center and KIPP Texas Public Schools. Michele accepted the opportunity to re-join GDC as the chief operating officer in 2020.
Michele is an alumna of Leadership San Antonio and sits on the LSA Alumni Association board of directors. She is married and has two children in college.
With over 25 years in finance, MaryLou works her magic to keep GDC on track and on budget. That means a strong future for the agency and a better experience for clients.
Since 1996, MaryLou has worked in accounting and financial planning for large and small businesses alike. She put her financial expertise to work mostly for contracting and construction companies until 2007 when she accepted her first position in advertising, marketing, and broadcasting with Taylor West.
At Taylor West, she not only managed day-to-day office administration and accounting, but also coordinated client activities with account service and managed relationships between account service, traffic and media. In 2014, she became staff accountant at The PM Group overseeing accounting and managed relationships between account service, traffic and media. After a couple of years, she was promoted to accounting manager and moved to The PM Group’s sister companies, Quarter Moon Productions and CSAV where she managed all accounting activities and helped coordinated and managed relationships between studios, live and on location productions.
In September 2021, MaryLou joined the accounting and finance team at GDC. She is a proud sixth generation native San Antonian and member of a large military family. She is also a proud mother of two and grandmother of one. When she’s not expertly handling budgets for GDC and our clients, MaryLou enjoys listening to podcasts, meditating, spending time in nature, playing with her two dogs, traveling, and visiting family.
Ana-María’s vast experience in both the general and Hispanic markets, along with her unique bicultural background, ideally position her to help GDC clients connect with their audiences.
Ana-María has a degree in radio, TV and film with a minor in journalism and an emphasis in broadcasting from the University of Southern Mississippi. She started her career as a news anchor, reporter, and producer then moved to San Antonio, where her bilingual skills were an asset in the advertising agency world. Her account experience covers a diverse range of clients and brands including IBC Bank, Christus Santa Rosa Health Care, Luby’s, Procter & Gamble, and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
In addition to working with brands and clients, Ana-María has also worked extensively in corporate communications, with a focus on seeking inclusivity for employees of diverse backgrounds, countries of origin, and native languages. She has conducted national media tours for corporate executives, helped plan significant events at a statewide level with dignitaries, developed strategic public relations communications plans and helped clients address crisis situations. At GDC, she leads quantitative and qualitative research initiatives and helps guide strategy for all our clients. (Need research solutions? Let's talk!)
When she’s not helping GDC clients connect with diverse audiences, Ana-María enjoys traveling, gardening, home improvement projects, and spending time with her daughter and four-legged family members. Together, they foster cats and dogs of all ages, get them ready for adoptive homes, and educate people on the importance of spaying and neutering pets.
Tita views life through her unique bicultural and bilingual lens. She leverages that vast experience, creative mind, and strong ability to foster respectful relationships between co-workers and departments to spark distinctive ideas and deliver amazing products for clients.
Tita hails from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Her experience creating in both Spanish and English makes her an invaluable asset to GDC, and her nurturing work style makes her the ideal leader for the creative team. After earning a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University, Tita worked as a bilingual copywriter and broadcast producer for a number of agencies including Garcia 360, Cartel Creativo, Shooters Films, and MarketVision. At these agencies, she gained experience by writing for major brand names including Coca-Cola, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fisher-Price, and The Hershey Company.
After joining GDC as a bilingual copywriter in 2014, Tita set herself apart through her work on campaigns for clients such as Mi Pueblo Food Center and Baptist Health System. After five years with the agency, Tita was promoted to associate creative director. In 2022, she was named creative director. Since then, she has led the creative team on work for Texas CASA, the iconic Don’t mess with Texas® campaign, the Office of the Texas Secretary of State’s voter education campaign, and TxDOT’s award-winning statewide impaired driving campaign.
Tita spends her free time enjoying her family, sketching, watching movies and listening to live music. She, her husband, and their three boys all love the outdoors. They go on camping trips to Colorado and the grill is always lit over the weekends.
With a career spanning two decades, Yesenia brings a wealth of experience and a track record of excellence to the GDC family. Armed with a BBA in international business and a minor in Spanish, her academic foundation has been instrumental in navigating the dynamic landscape of media and marketing.
Her career started as a media coordinator at Bromley Communications. From there, she climbed the professional ladder, contributing her expertise to reputable organizations such as Sinclair Broadcast Group, City of San Antonio Metro Health, Benson Auto Group, Univision Communications, and more. Noteworthy positions include marketing director at Uvalle Law Firm and Benson Auto Group, senior media planner/buyer at The Atkins Group, and senior media buyer at Bromley Communications.
Yesenia's professional journey is a testament to her versatility. Her portfolio includes media planning and buying for Coors Brewing Company, Jumex, and Master Foods in the consumer packaged goods/beverage sector. She has also worked with Burger King in the QSR/restaurant industry and engaged in health care marketing with the Metro Health District.
Yesenia's extensive involvement in franchise and service industries is evident through her work with Southern Air, handling brands like Champion Home Services, KCA Services, Blanco AC, Electrical, and Plumbing.
Yesenia's commitment to excellence is reflected in the numerous awards she has received throughout her career. At Sinclair Broadcast Group, she achieved MVP and Top Digital Marketing Consultant awards consistently. She was also recognized nationally for her performance as a Top New Business Consultant. Team awards, including the 2022 Big Give Campaign Second Place from The Nonprofit Council and first-place awards from HA Comedy Festival and PRSA San Antonio further highlight Yesenia's ability to lead and collaborate.
A San Antonio native and only child, Yesenia Gonzalez is more than a media director; she is a dynamic professional, a loving mother, and an adventurous spirit who continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of media and marketing. As a mother, she embraces the joys of a blended family with a 26-year-old daughter, Clarissa, and a 10-year-old stepson, Connor. Soon to be married in April 2024, her family also includes two cherished dogs, Oscar and Major. In her leisure, Yesenia's love for cooking takes center stage, with a penchant for trying new recipes. Her adventurous spirit also finds expression in hiking, traveling, and scuba diving, where she recently earned certification after completing dives at five different sites.
While earning her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Texas San Antonio, Marcie accepted a position as a GDC intern in 1998. She’s been helping GDC maintain its enthusiasm, integrity, and dedication to client experiences ever since.
As our experiential director, Marcie brings her extensive background in public relations to lead the experiential marketing team in planning and presenting interactive brand experiences that excite audiences and produce measurable results.
With her organizational skills and focus on creating activations that are unique and memorable, she has helped to produce unforgettable experiences for brands like Amazon, P&G, Citi, H-E-B, Baptist Health System, Don’t mess with Texas and the Texas Department of Transportation.
An alumna of Leadership San Antonio Class 35, Marcie involves herself in the community as a board member of the Hispanic Women's Network and 100 Women of SA. Outside of this all, she is an avid reader, baker and ballet folklorico dancer.
Like Marcie, Yolanda is a native of San Antonio who got her start as a GDC intern. She returned to GDC in 2021 with over a decade of experience from experiential to client support and proceeded to climb the GDC ranks from account supervisor to associate account director and, most recently, account director. Her dedication and wide knowledge make her a true GDC all-star and success story.
Yolanda received a bachelor’s degree in public relations as well as a Business Foundations certificate from the University of Texas at Austin in May of 2011. After graduating, she began her marketing career as a brand ambassador for Kraft Foods where she worked as a driver and spokesperson for the famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
After cutting her teeth with Kraft, she went on to manage public relations and social media for the Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort in San Antonio. She has also worked with Food Management Partners where she helped to market six restaurant brands including the largest Buffalo Wild Wings franchise in the country. Her healthcare experience includes five years as the marketing and communications manager for AllergySA. This three-location practice gave Yolanda a wealth of experience promoting health care options and specialty care.
In her spare time, Yolanda gives back to the community by serving as the treasurer of the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists. As treasurer, she oversees fundraising profits that go to scholarships for students pursuing careers in journalism and communications. She and her husband, a meat market manager at H-E-B, can often be found barbecuing and spending time with their two yorkies. Yolanda also enjoys dancing, watching Texas football and camping with her family.
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