The Matchstick Group was founded in 2011 to focus solely on medical device marketing. We looked at the challenges that medical device companies were facing and decided to build a business that serviced their needs specifically. Focusing solely on the medical device market gives us great insight into our client’s business.
The breadth of our curated creative network of art directors, copywriters, editors, animators, app developers, and web developers allows us to match talent to task, bringing on board the team that our clients need precisely when they need it. It enables us to be more flexible, responsive and efficient than a traditional big agency.
Our clients have trusted us to launch more than 50 brands, spanning the US, LATAM and EMEA markets.
Vice President
Technology & AI Integration
Alex is a “Digital OG.” He began his career as a web developer, back when Netscape 3.0 reigned supreme and people “surfed the information superhighway” via CDs mailed to them from AOL.
He comes to The Matchstick Group by way of Los Angeles, where he managed a global med device account, produced a digital media campaign for an OTC pharmaceutical start-up, and led a 150-person, $30M automotive account. Alex provides Matchstick clients with digital communications and media strategy, as well as guidance on the latest in Artificial Intelligence automation for business processes.
Associate Creative
Director
Ashley enjoys bringing data to life with award-winning creative that successfully shifts audience behavior to increase brand market share.
As a seasoned creative and medical writer, Ashley brings over 25 years of industry experience working across multiple brands in over 30 therapeutic categories. With a history of experience in launching and re-launching brands, her career highlights include leading the professional DTP copy efforts for the successful re-launch of NEXIUM at Saatchi & Saatchi which resulted in the brand becoming the #1 prescribed PPI among GIs. As the Copy Director of Women’s Healthcare at PACE, she launched Seasonale, Seasonique, and Plan B.
In addition to working with pharmaceutical clients, she was a lead writer for epocrates and Doximity where she specialized in developing digital content for academic hospital networks including the Mayo Clinic, New York Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Cleveland Clinic. On the pharmaceutical side, she was the designated writer for device innovations at Boston Scientific and Medtronic.
Ashley completed her BA at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She received her MA and MFA at San Francisco State University under the direction of Francis Mayes and received awards for her poetry and fiction. When not engaged with her brands, she and her husband are busy chaperoning their active son and daughter (and chasing after their two dogs and cats).
Graphic
Designer
Chantae joined The Matchstick Group in 2022 as a Graphic Designer. A self-taught designer who loves the calm of creating, she brings over 10 years of experience working with clients in a variety of mediums, including publishing and digital design.
An award-winning designer, Chantae specializes in perfecting branding campaigns, publication design and translating print collateral into digital pieces. She supports the team with her keen eye for detail, experience designing for digital interfaces and calm demeanor under deadlines. Chantae’s career has aided her in becoming something of a chameleon in that she’s able to specialize in projects within a wide variety of industries ranging from newspaper to digital media to healthcare. She contributes to team efforts with her flexibility by accomplishing tasks as needed and planning/illustrating concepts.
When not working, you can find her at a concert or up late researching where to travel to see her favorite artists. She is passionate about music, cooking, traveling and interior design.
Chantae’s favorite quote to live by is, “I’m learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me.”
— Tracee Ellis Ross
Editor
A New York native (now residing in New Jersey), Daryl recently joined The Matchstick Group in mid-2023. An adaptable, versatile paragon of precision, he brings over two decades of dedicated experience as an editor.
From Nissan to Pfizer to Jameson to Cologuard, over the span of his career, Daryl has consistently lent his expertise to a diverse array of clients across multiple industries—including financial, traditional and pharmaceutical advertising—polishing an extensive range of content for boutique agencies and multinationals alike.
Even-keeled and steady, Daryl is able to thrive in the fast-paced, deadline-driven marketing cauldron by adhering to a personal tenet that “nothing is a crisis.”
Coloring outside the work margins, Daryl can be found focused on the next draft of one of his feature-length scripts, TV pitch ideas, or offering his keen eye for detail behind the camera as a newly minted director of photography for short film projects.
Account
Supervisor
Ethan comes from a large agency background, having previously worked at Area23, and most recently, the Grey Group.
He has worked on pharma/medical, consumer goods, OTC medications, government service, and luxury, but has found advertising in the health space to be the most personally-rewarding.
Hailing from Princeton, NJ, Ethan lives in NYC for the time being, but is considering a move to live somewhere with a bit more grass and sunlight.
He has a cat named MacMac, best known for winning the “Specialist Kitty in the World” award two years running, and who is currently being nominated for the “Very Good Boy” award.
Ethan loves to ski and spend time outdoors and enjoys finding the best local fried food or collecting records, wherever he is.
Director,
Project Management
Gloria Ariza-Greve has more than 24 years of experience in Advertising. She began her career in the Media and Account Management departments in consumer advertising at Fallon New York (formerly known as Fallon McElligot).
Digital Marketing
Director
Jessica joined the company in 2020 and works out of the Charleston office. She brings her extensive background in digital marketing, email and marketing automation to the Matchstick team.
After over a decade of working in direct and digital marketing in New York City, Jessica set out to explore Asia and discover the secrets of life. Having fulfilled her wanderlust after 6 years abroad, she returned to the States in 2020 to reconnect with her roots.
Fascinated by emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, IoT, renewable energy, 3D printing, automation and robotics, Jessica is thrilled to be contributing to the fourth industrial revolution in her humble way by helping companies educate their customers on how technology can improve their life, health, and well-being.
Creative
Director
Jim brings his years of creative direction, fresh conceptual idea generation, and eye for detail to every project. This helps ensure alignment with the overall communications strategies on every brand. Jim’s drive for excellence has helped him earn praise from his peers, winning over 200 awards in the consumer and healthcare fields. His energy, strategic thinking, and creative solutions continue to bring award-winning work into the advertising space.
When not behind the computer, Jim’s usually spending time outside with his family, running, or walking his two dogs Vinny (Rottweiler 135 pounds) and Kevin (Chihuahua 10 pounds).
Creative
Director
With over 20 years of experience as an art director, Kathy was hired in June 2019 for her stand-out talent and professionalism.
She is responsible for design and development of the advertising materials for medical device companies, including the recent launch of Avery Dennison Medical. Providing art direction and graphic design, Kathy brings clarity and beauty to the company’s advertising materials. She is precise, driving, collaborative, sociable, and really knows how to use her energy to make things happen. Graduating from the Portfolio Center in Art Direction, she is the consummate creative pro.
When not engaged in bringing her promotional materials to life, she is involved with her daughter, who is a dance major at the School of the Arts, and enjoys time with her dog and two cats as well as reading and all forms of art.
GROUP COPY
SUPERVISOR
Laura is a born storyteller who has been writing professionally for nearly 20 years. Her healthcare marketing experience has focused primarily on DTC/DTP communications. She champions the principles of health literacy, makes high science approachable for all audiences, and helps brands establish identities that feel authentic to those they are trying to reach.
Her philosophy: effective marketing is about more than delivering messages. It is about allowing audiences to feel valued, understood, and above all—empowered. This philosophy has guided her approach to projects in a wide range of therapeutic areas, including rare disease, neurology, autoimmune disorders, and pain management. It’s also what’s made her a key player in the development of award-winning creative, and it’s what motivates her every day.
Laura brought her experience and philosophy to The Matchstick Group in 2024—along with more East Coast vibes and a penchant for sending corny GIFs over Teams. When she’s not working, you can find her chauffeuring her son around to various activities, frantically rushing to Pilates, and enjoying reruns of TV shows that were canceled at least 20 years ago.
President
and Founder
Melissa leads a core team of account service personnel and an extensive team of creative talent in the service of branding, strategy, and advertising for medical-device companies.
Since the company’s inception over 10 years ago—among other leadership responsibilities—Melissa is the Chief Whiteboard Officer, creative problem solver, and data-driven leader of an amazing team doing extraordinary work on behalf of their clients. She credits a data-driven, analytical, thoughtful approach to communicating information along with a highly collaborative style as contributing to the success of The Matchstick Group, which was recognized as one of MM&M’s Ones to Watch the last two years. With an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Georgia and an MBA in marketing and strategy from New York University, she brings a strong component of business prowess to the medical device sector.
When not tending to the needs of clients and staff, Melissa is elbow deep in DIY “slime projects” with her two daughters, or in the kitchen trying to copy the projects posted in The Purple Cupcake’s Instagram feed: #epicfail.
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405 W Coleman Blvd
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Get the latest updates from The Matchstick Group! You’ll receive occasional emails from us with tips to improve your medical device marketing program.
We are thrilled to announce that the Nasaclip patient website has just been awarded Best Medical Equipment Website by the prestigious WebAwards! This recognition is not just a win for the Nasaclip team, but a testament to
Get the latest updates from The Matchstick Group! You’ll receive occasional emails from us with tips to improve your medical device marketing program.
We are thrilled to announce that the Nasaclip patient website has just been awarded Best Medical Equipment Website by the prestigious WebAwards! This recognition is not just a win for the Nasaclip team, but a testament to
