Your Team
Craig
Trout
OWNER/PRESIDENT
With a head for strategy and an eye for creative, Craig represents a new style of agency leadership. Ask anyone who has worked with Craig and they’ll tell you his positive upbeat attitude has a way of turning the toughest situations into a well organized assault that delivers results time and time again; this can be attributed to his 25+ years of experience in communications and marketing. Craig’s laughter and wit can be heard throughout the halls and his smile can brighten just about anyone’s day.
Kathy
Trout
OWNER/CFO
When it comes to numbers and squeezing three dimes out of a quarter, Kathy does it with style. Responsible for P&L and keeping the agency running smoothly there is no one like our Kathy. Though you may not see her in the day to day business setting, she is managing the books and on the phone constantly. All this while she runs a greenhouse too!
Clayton Margerum
Content Director
Clayton started his advertising career in the third-shift trenches of America’s favorite coupon magazine. Over the years, he moved into daylight hours, ascended the corporate ladder, switched to copywriting, and supervised teams of creatives. He’s worked in B2C and B2B agencies, and now brings his experience to Alpha Dog as content director. On the side, he’s been a touring musician, a Robert Burns performer, judge of elections, and scrapple critic. His hair and his height are remarkable, as are his karaoke exploits. When not working, Clayton tries to keep up with his four sons and to remember street cleaning schedules.
Kristen
Berndt
ART DIRECTOR
Kristen brings fresh perspective and innovative ideas to Alpha Dog’s marketing strategies. During nearly a decade in Brooklyn, New York, she earned a BFA in communications design / graphic design from Pratt Institute and worked as a designer in the world of fashion and music editorial marketing and events. She then returned to her hometown of Lancaster and spent five years as creative director for a local B2B company, where she spearheaded an expansive brand and marketing overhaul. With nearly 15 years’ experience, Kristen remains a perpetual student, constantly seeking new horizons in the creative world and life itself. In the office, she crafts captivating visual experiences, but outside, you’ll find her tackling home DIY projects, immersing herself in podcasts, and keeping pace with her energetic husky-Samoyed.
Erin
Cramer
EDITORIAL SPECIALIST
Erin brings nearly two decades of agency and editing experience to Alpha Dog, where her marketing intuition combined with a pragmatic approach is a win-win for all of our clients. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Delaware, as well as a certificate in copyediting from the University of California San Diego. She is a member of ACES: The Society for Editors, a longtime student of German, and a Cicerone Certified Beer Server. Her Westie, Ollie, is a fixture of the Doghouse!
David
Jenkins
DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR
Born and raised in Lancaster County, David brings a passion for research driven digital marketing to Alpha Dog Advertising. Equipped with a History degree from York College of Pennsylvania, David is able to use his strong critical thinking and analytical skills to effectively create winning campaigns for his clients. When David isn’t creating engaging marketing campaigns, he can be found reading his favorite author, Fyodor Dostoevsky or training for his next marathon.
Kacie
Berger
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Kacie brings a passion for branding and content creation to Alpha Dog Advertising. She holds a BBA in marketing and a minor in management information systems from Temple University and brings experience in content creation and project management, enabling her to create engaging social media content for clients. When she’s not in the office, you’ll find Kacie crafting, playing with her Australian shepherd, or listening to an audiobook.
Jennifer
Arnold
BRAND MANAGER
Jen brings twenty-four years of agency experience to Alpha Dog, with more than thirteen of them specializing in project management and marketing research. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania School of Art and Design and a board member of the Philadelphia Chapter of PDMA (Product Development Management Association), where she is active on the marketing and communications committee. Jen lives in Holtwood with her husband, daughter, and cat. When she is not working, she can be found hanging out with her daughter and learning what cool kids do, running, or riding on the back of her husband’s Harley.
Chris
Norton
BRAND MANAGER
With a passion for building relationships and helping clients realize their ambitions, Chris has nearly a decade of experience within the digital marketing and customer service realms. He is originally from the Philadelphia area, but moved to downtown Lancaster after graduating from Millersville University with a BA in English (concentration in journalism) and a minor in music, which gave him not only the analytical skills required to dissect a project, but an eye for the creative as well. Outside of the office, he can frequently be found at concerts around town or devotedly cheering on any major Philly sports team.
Jasmine
Summers
BRAND MANAGER
Jasmine thrives when working at the intersection of product, people, and story. She began her career as a fashion designer in New York City, but pivoted to marketing and communications after living and working abroad in Cambodia. In her international development work, she expanded programming alongside strategizing and repositioning in-country branding and communications for a nonprofit organization that operated a fashion incubator and workforce development center in Cambodia’s capital city. It was there that Jasmine witnessed the true impact that clear communication, relevant branding, and innovative marketing can provide. Jasmine holds a BA in fashion design from Kent State University, where she specialized in knitwear design. When she’s not reading, writing, or running, she enjoys testing new recipes and expanding her meal prep repertoire.
Courtney
Whalen
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Born and raised in Minnesota, Courtney ventured to Wisconsin for college, earning a BFA in graphic design while minoring in web design and mathematics. She then took the plunge and moved across the country to Pennsylvania, bringing her 10 years of experience in both traditional and digital design. With a keen eye for detail, she is passionate about using her creativity to captivate and engage audiences through a wide range of projects. Courtney also runs her own photo studio, and when not behind the lens, she can be found cheering on the Minnesota Wild accompanied by her two adorable corgis, Penny and Luna, and her loving husband, Jason. She also indulges in puzzles, home DIY projects, crafting, skiing, and maintaining a vibrant garden, relishing anything that allows her to connect with nature and the great outdoors.
Alayna
McEvoy
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Alayna brings her passion for design and creativity to Alpha Dog. A Lancaster native, she is a graduate of Susquehanna University with a BFA in graphic design and is always seeking to continue her learning. When she is not in the office, Alayna can be found spending time with her family and friends, playing the piano or violin, and going on hikes in the great outdoors.
