Kevin works alongside big names in brands, advocacy, and politics to orchestrate strategies and assemble the right teams to help organizations shine. In 2015, he left agency life to pursue passion projects for causes and clients close to his heart. The plan was never to start a new agency, but here we are.

Kevin has earned a reputation for creatively making “the wonky” relevant to get people engaged around complex policies and issues. This skill was recognized by Mayor Rahm Emanuel who appointed Kevin to run digital communications across multiple agencies for the City of Chicago and serve as an official spokesperson on innovation. Over his career working both in-house and alongside Fortune 500 companies, advocacy organizations and elected officials, Kevin navigates new public opinion realities and leads cross-agency teams. He knows what it takes to establish strong brand personalities while keeping a clear eye on the big picture.

Having designed and taught college courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, Kevin continues to advise higher education leadership and is a regular guest lecturer. In 2019, Kevin was named as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’s Notable LGBTQ Executives, along with a lot of familiar faces and friends of H/Co. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Adler University and the Board of Directors for Equality Illinois. Kevin lives where his clients need him, but his mail is delivered to Chicago.

Argelia is Hauswirth/Co’s Managing Director bringing years of experience in communications planning, organizational strategy and multi-cultural engagement. At H/Co, she leads client teams, provides senior-level counsel and oversees the execution of integrated communications campaigns. She has more than a decade of agency and in-house marketing experience from some of the biggest names in the biz, like Starcomm/Rise and Kellogg Company. Argelia and team earned the 2016/17 W.K. Kellogg Values Award for an anti-bullying initiative with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Argelia is also a recipient of the 2011 IAB MIXX Gold award for her work and that of her team members in Allstate's Integrated Latin Grammy Program for adapting the Mayhem ad campaign to a Latinx audience. Argelia is a graduate of DePaul University and earned her master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern’s Medill School of Communication. Outside of the office, she serves as a mentor at the iMentor Chicago chapter, is the business development director for Latinista, a women’s professional group, and is a member of evolveHer. Argelia is a Chicago native (which she regularly reminds us suburbanites) and Mexican by heart (and, yes, she adds Tajin to everything). She aspires to be the "Frida Kahlo of cocktails" by teaching mixology classes, along with designing food and beverage pairings for her side hustle Vida Mia Cocktails!

Jack Ladd has been with Hauswirth/Co since its inception, proving himself over and over again to be the consummate "jack" of all trades. He specializes in managing creative advocacy campaigns for causes and consumer clients ranging from statewide efforts to pass historic healthcare legislation to managing real-time social media strategy on a national taco truck tour. Prior to joining H/Co, Jack worked at Purple Strategies where he got a master class in blending political-style strategy with top-notch brand expertise. While serving as the in-house digital communications specialist at Equality Illinois, Jack managed media relations and led the digital implementation of the organization's first comprehensive re-branding campaign. His background in journalism working at the Chicago Reader during the 2016 elections solidified his passion for media and storytelling. Jack graduated from DePaul University, where he studied Intercultural Communication and Journalism, helping to get DePaul’s first multimedia magazine, 14 East Magazine, off the ground. In 2019, Jack was ranked among Chicago’s annual list of LGBTQ 30 Under 30 Chicagoans, awarded by the Windy City Times, for his work passing some of the most inclusive laws the state has seen. Jack hails from the Washington, D.C. metro area and currently sits on the Advocate Board of Chicago House, a Chicago-area social services non-profit organization serving families and individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ marginalization.

Elena Saunders is a communications strategist who was trained in politics and has quickly learned to love applying political speed and agility to consumer brand management. She always has her thumb on the pulse of cultural conversations, driving successful digital engagement strategies for both Fortune 100 clients and lean non-profit organizations. Elena’s years of experience in mobilizing voters and activating donors has honed her sense of what motivates people to take action.  While working on numerous local, state, and national-level campaigns, Elena found her passion for connecting with Illinoisans face-to-face to continue conversations about injustice, progressive policy, and real-world solutions. Her background in grassroots organizing inspires her digital engagement with consumers, always aiming to spark dialogue and create community with eye-catching creative and grade A copy. Elena has degrees in both Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies from DePaul University and brings a focused, personal direction to dealing with progressive political issues and social strategy. She is a proud Ohioan and Scorpio.

Pedro Gonzalez is an H/Co Account Associate, effectively communicating day-to-day in English, Spanish, sports jargon, and memes. He was raised in Mexico City, instilling in him a global perspective and love for urban culture. Pedro’s writing skills and passions for music and sports led him to contribute frequently to national and Chicago-based publications, including Bleacher Report and TheseDays (named Chicago’s Best Blog 2017 by Chicago Reader), throughout and after college. At Do312 Media, he managed social media platforms daily with 60,000+ followers, created and executed editorial calendars, and expertly monitored fan activity for opportunities to connect online. Pedro graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. During school, he was honored with a 2017 UIC Impact Award for his work as Marketing Lead for UIC’s Spark in the Park Committee. In his spare time, you can find Pedro’s eyes glued to a TV screen playing a soccer or basketball game--or laughing through Vine compilations when the game is over. He secretly wishes his body was made of 80% horchata water, which would pair nicely with his favorite food: tacos al pastor.

Olivia Gatti supports H/Co by developing creative solutions for our consumer brands. She is both a creative mind and straight-shooter, which makes her the perfect teammate to manage multiple accounts on any given day. If you look behind the curtain at H/Co consumer engagement campaigns, you’ll likely discover Olivia as one of our wizards delivering magic for our clients. Olivia comes to H/Co from mcgarrybowen advertising where she worked on cross-agency teams for iconic brands like Hersheys and Disney Parks. Prior to agency life, Olivia worked in creative production at Trunk Club, honing her eye for unforgettable design and legendary style to build personal brands from the ground up. Throughout her career, Olivia has always had her eye on the prize: maximum, meaningful engagement to meet her client’s bottom line. A Chicagoan born and raised, Olivia stays close to her Italian roots and her life-long love affair with travel, fashion, and tortellini in brodo. She is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois where she focused her education on her love of culture in three majors: Renaissance Studies, Classical Civilization, and Italian. As part of her degree, she spent 8 months at the Università di Bologna in Bologna, Italy, studying art history and Italian language. A woman who always has her eye on the latest trends, her studies emphasized the importance of staying true to the enduring nature of what makes people tick—from Hieronymus to Hauswirth.

Khiry Van Allen is a marketing strategist, writer, and activist. At H/Co he executes flawless campaign management and co-develops strategies for clients across industries. Khiry also writes and edits stories about internet culture, covering memes, niche internet communities, and anything that happens on social platforms. "What are people talking about on the internet today?" is how he starts to think about every story. Born and raised in Chicago, Khiry studied Network Systems Administration at DeVry University before earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management at Northern Illinois University. After graduation, Khiry led planning and research for an e-commerce company, working with artists, festivals, concerts, theaters, and sports leagues like the NFL. From volunteering with non-profit organizations such as the Anti-Cruelty Society and the Birth That Book Org to research initiatives for social media, Khiry likes to keep his tabs in all areas of marketing to continue to develop unique, adaptable strategies. On the weekends, you can find him playing the guitar (poorly, in his own words) or cooking up some ramen, which he eats using chopsticks. Forks, as Khiry says, are for losers.

The Olivia Pope of brand management, Aleya Washington is a digital strategist, social media insider, and professional dancer. As a Business and Entrepreneurship student at Columbia College Chicago, Aleya developed the marketing strategy for several live events, including the Manifest Urban Arts Festival. As a consultant, she helped local businesses find their voice on social. When she’s not in the office, this Chicago native can be found helping businesses with their social strategies, dancing, and exploring her curiosity. Recently her interest in physical fitness and fashion has led her to study yoga and become an advocate for sustainable fashion.

Colleen brings to H/Co excellent perspective and lightning speed as a motion graphics designer. She joined the team in Spring 2019 with designs blazing, ready to work on accounts across the board. Colleen’s career started at a post-production company at 20 years-old, where she found her love for animation, and since has worked across industries as a designer for pharmaceutical companies, consumer brands, financial institutions, and everything in between. The large scope of her work has helped her narrow where her passions really lie and, luckily for H/Co, those passions happen to be in food/consumer brands and advocacy. Colleen taps into her experience in post-production chops whether she’s working as a one-woman-show, taking a project from concept to creative, or managing integrated teams. When Colleen isn’t flexing her design muscles at H/Co, you can find her out to eat. Her passions include her dog Lou, restaurants, food of all kinds, and Bravo’s “Top Chef.” She is currently on a mission to find the greatest diner burger in Chicago (please send recommendations!).

Stephen is a multi-disciplinary designer with focuses in branding, web design, print, and digital media. As a Multimedia Designer at H/Co, Stephen has led the creative brand development and execution across clients. Knowledge within a multitude of design programs and disciplines empowers Stephen to be flexible within a wide range of projects. His career started in 3-D modeling, and gradually evolved into contemporary graphic design. Stephen’s deep-seated interest in design has landed him prestigious spots in numerous design blogs, such as The Design Tip, and his original logos have been featured in My First Logo by LogoCore. Visual storytelling is Stephen’s passion in and out of the office. He’s constantly searching for--and practicing--the newest and coolest innovations and tricks in the world of graphic design. If it’s new and cutting-edge, chances are Stephen is already working with it. On the weekends, you can catch Stephen listening to Vampire Weekend and exploring neighborhoods of Chicago.

Spencer Hopkins applies his love of all things art and design to H/Co’s creative team as a multimedia producer. Since joining the team in 2020, Spencer has continued to find innovative ways to utilize his design talents across mediums. Before arriving at H/Co, he worked on gallery installations for companies like The Annex and WeWork, created content for Nike and Adidas, and built websites for business. His passion for art and refined technical skills continue to shape his unique approach to producing creative that moves audiences. Spencer has developed websites and visual assets that have driven engagement for Fortune 500 clients, educated constituents and residents across Illinois, and more. A southside Chicago native, Spencer was selected as part of the Chicago2020 Leadership Program, where young leaders advise public, private, and non-profit executives on a vision for the City's future. He graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Multimedia design. When he’s not in the office, you can catch him practicing his Salsa on the dance floor. He is double-jointed in both arms, which the H/Co team thinks is kind of weird/awesome.