The Matchstick Group medical device marketing agency 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, as a medical device marketing agency, 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 medical device marketing agency 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).
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.
Digital Marketing
Director
Jessica joined the company in 2020 and works remotely from her home office in Lisbon, Portugal. 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.
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.
C-Suite Brief
Transforming Brands into Industry Leaders with Strategic Marketing Innovation
Read the full article >>
Executive Statement
The Art of Balancing Lead Generation Strategy and Tactics
Read the full article >>
Randlesham
Building a Medtech Marketing Engine That Delivers Results
Read the full article >>
CXO Dispatch
Melissa Wildstein’s Insights on Effective Medical Device Marketing
Read the full article >>
PM360
Four Biggest Challenges Facing Medical Device Marketers
Read the full article >>
MM&M Magazine
Reimagining medical marketing:
how generative AI fits into strategy and creativity
Read the full article >>
MM&M Magazine
9 up-and-coming agencies to watch in 2020
Read the full article >>
MM&M Magazine
8 up-and-coming agencies to keep an eye on in 2019
Read the full article >>
CNBC
Women Take Control of Work and Life in Entrepreneurial Way
Read the full article >>
Inc.
How to Start the Next IDEO
Read the full article >>
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.
Marketing a medical device isn’t the same as marketing a consumer product—or even a pharmaceutical drug. It’s a complex, high-stakes process that requires a deep understanding of regulatory hurdles, long sales cycles, and highly specialized audiences. At
Get the latest updates from The Matchstick Group! You’ll receive occasional emails from us with tips to improve your medical device marketing program.
Marketing a medical device isn’t the same as marketing a consumer product—or even a pharmaceutical drug. It’s a complex, high-stakes process that requires a deep understanding of regulatory hurdles, long sales cycles, and highly specialized audiences. At
