Founding Principal, Head of Strategy

Cynara is an award-winning marketing leader with 20+ years of experience across private, government, nonprofit, B2B, and B2C sectors. She has partnered with brands such as Microsoft, Amazon, T-Mobile, University of Washington, Lancôme, PETsMART, the Washington Lottery, The Clorox Company, Subway, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Delta Dental to deliver high-impact campaigns and events.

Most recently, she served as Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Marketing at University of Puget Sound, where she led integrated marketing strategies that boosted enrollment, built a multimedia marketing team, and elevated the institution’s brand presence.

Results-driven and strategic, Cynarah is recognized for her strength in digital marketing, brand development, and research-based strategies that deliver measurable results and long-term growth.

A graduate of Middlebury College, Cynarah lives in Tacoma with her husband, three children, and their energetic red heeler, Finn.

Influencer Marketing Director and Strategist

Haley has nearly a decade of marketing experience across food and beverage/CPG, financial/professional services, construction, and more. She’s well-versed in all things digital (social, web, email; you name it), brand strategy, influencer marketing and content writing. Haley has a heart for helping brands level up their business by balancing creativity with analytics and strategy.

And she’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty, either. Famous for tackling DIY projects that should *probably* be done by two people, starting a new sourdough recipe at 8 pm on a Tuesday, and pounding the pavement before sunrise to hit her weekly mileage goals, Haley likes a good challenge.

She helped our restaurant and wine clients grow by building meaningful influencer partnership that resulted in an increase in wine and gift card sales, and reservation bookings.

You can often find her with her husband and their dog, Hank, somewhere on the water, in the mountains, or scoping out the newest Tacoma restaurants and breweries.

Director of Business Development

Mark brings over 20 years of experience in hospitality, sales, and marketing, most recently as Regional Marketing and Sales Director for Kaylan Hospitality, overseeing sales and marketing for several hotels, including Hilton properties. He’s known for developing practical, results-driven strategies that drive growth and create lasting partnerships.

In addition to his tourism leadership, including nearly a decade as Chair of the Tourism Promotion Area Commission for Pierce County and roles on multiple lodging tax committees, Mark has worked across industries—from hotels to assisted living—giving him a unique ability to spot connections, bring fresh ideas, and foster strong client relationships. He’s always thinking ahead and serving as a strategic partner in every engagement.

He holds a BA in Business Administration, Management, and Marketing from Washington State University and lives in Tacoma with his wife, their three children, and their dog, Finn. He’s passionate about real estate, gardening, and helping businesses grow.

SEO Specialist & Web Developer

Sadiq is a Data Specialist based out of Southern California. As an SEO specialist, he has worked with businesses small, large and everything in between to understand their unique needs. He understands the phenomenal power of a strong online presence and the credibility it brings to a brand.

Beyond analytics and problem solving, he values collaboration with clients and teams alike. He firmly believes that the needs of every business are different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach in the SEO business. Every client has specific needs and those needs must be addressed using every single tool at their disposal.

When away from his computer, he’s a foodie who loves to eat through his curated list of restaurant recommendations. He also loves all things aviation and plans to work on his pilots license in the near future.

Copywriter

With years of both communications and business operations experience, Nicole is a Jill of all trades - spending much of her professional career oscillating between Marketing and Communications work, as well as Programmatic and Operations Management for big tech in the Seattle area.

She’s been delivering travel and destination contents for Destination Marketing Organization for MCA’s client. She also support content development for our mental health and other clients.

She's well-versed in various spaces including retail, logistics, recruiting, and product development, which offers a unique perspective to her work.

In a previous role working under the director of Cynarah and Kim, she created daily content for the company’s internal employee blog which included employee recognition and appreciation stories, product launches, events and sales updates.

Nicole graduated from James Madison University with a double major in Communications and Media Arts & Design. When not hustling, you can find her hunting down the best Seattle happy hours with her partner or taking way too many photos of her two cats Henry and Miso.

Lead Strategist, Community and Stakeholder Engagement Lead

Sandra is a seasoned marketing and outreach professional with over 20 years of experience. A Cuban immigrant, first-generation college graduate, and parent advocate, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work ensuring every story reflects the authentic voices of the communities served.

Sandra facilitates focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and bilingual engagement sessions that uncover the stories behind community data and inform powerful, inclusive narratives for clients. Her work has helped organizations translate research insights into stories that move people, shape funding priorities, and inspire action.

Sandra directed bilingual national storytelling and paid media campaigns for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, including the award-winning Be Seen/Sigue campaign. She also managed research with Black and Latinx communities to shape national brand messaging, and led outreach and communications for Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, and Kentucky—driving campaigns and partnerships across six states.

Her previous work with the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Make-A-Wish of WA & AK focused on inclusive outreach and education in Latino, Haitian, and rural communities, helping organizations tell stories that improve health equity and expand access to care. Sandy serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound.

Creative Director

Richard Sanderson has over a decade of experience in design, spanning across digital, print, video and animation. He possesses an innate ability to dive deep into the creative process, ensuring that brands don't just look good but speak to the heart of their audiences. His portfolio is a testament to his versatile skills, showcasing brand narratives, digital and print campaigns, packaging design, short videos and animated projects.

His approach to design is deeply personal: he doesn't just create aesthetics, he crafts experiences, builds relationships, and ignites brand evolution. His work at MCA includes brand and logo development for our mental health clients and graphic design for our Destination Marketing Organization client.

Richard calls Kent home, where he resides with his wife, and two daughters. During his leisure time, you can catch him staying active through boxing or exploring new restaurants with his family.

Marketing Director, Senior Copywriter

Kim has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications, with a strong emphasis on copywriting, content creation, editing, and proofreading. Throughout her career, she has supported rebranding efforts, product launches, and campaign development—always ensuring the written word reflects a brand’s tone, voice, and strategic intent.

Kim’s writing expertise spans a wide range of formats, including blogs, website copy, social media posts, emails, radio spots, press releases, scripts, and formal business communications. She has created content for consumer, lifestyle, and public sector audiences, and her professional background includes work with companies such as Univera, Westfield Malls, The Olympian, SimpliFun, and Moneytree. Most recently, she has contributed editorial content for Visit Tacoma–Pierce County, supporting regional tourism through engaging travel stories and destination highlights.

With a reputation for reliability, adaptability, and voice-driven storytelling, Kim is a valued collaborator on content projects big and small. She graduated from Ithaca College with a BA in Communications and Journalism and lives in Olympia, Washington, with her rescued Formosan Mountain dog, Uno. She’s an outdoor lover, avid hiker, and dedicated fitness enthusiast.

Founding Principal, Head Content Strategist

Caitlin is a versatile content strategist who excels at capturing brand voice and crafting marketing copy that connects with audiences and drives results. With a background in hospitality and a passion for storytelling, she brings energy, creativity, and collaboration to every project.

Since 2011, she’s developed content for restaurants, fashion brands, wineries, financial services, higher ed, and nonprofits. Her work has helped clients increase engagement, build loyalty, and boost conversions. She specializes in email marketing, brand storytelling, and marketing materials, with additional experience in social media, video, and web design.

Caitlin co-founded MCA Marketing in 2023 with longtime mentor and collaborator Cynarah Alcántara. She lives in Seattle with her husband Ed and their adorable daughter Sally, and she’s always on the lookout for antiques and great chicken wings.