ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Marc Lyncheski is a visionary creative leader with 30+ years of experience shaping marketing, communications, and brand storytelling across music, live entertainment, fashion, higher education, retail, government, and nonprofit sectors. Expert in designing and executing culture-defining campaigns that engage audiences, elevate brands, and deliver measurable impact. Demonstrated expertise in building and mentoring high-performing creative teams, leading multi-channel content production, and transforming brand narratives into experiences that resonate, inspire, and drive results. Passionate about crafting immersive, audience-centric storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.

 

CREATIVE EXPERTISE

• Creative Strategy and Brand Development: Brand Positioning, Campaign Strategy, Audience Insights, Cultural Trends, Concept Development, and Content Strategy

• Fashion and Media Production: Editorial Direction, Photoshoot Management, Video Production, On-Set Styling, Influencer Collaboration, and Print and Digital Production

• Marketing and Digital: Social Media Strategy, SEO, Paid Media, Email Campaigns, and Analytics and Performance Tracking

• Client and Stakeholder Management: Deck Building, Pitching, Talent & Vendor Management, Cross-Functional Collaboration, and Partnership Development

• Creative and Digital Tools: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Office 365, Brandfolder, Workfront, Basecamp, Asana, Slack, Emma, Constant Contact, Hootsuite, ChatGPT, Grammarly, WordPress, HTML, Salesforce, Microsoft Office, and Project Management Tools

• Performance and Entertainment Skills: Professional Emcee, Actor, Voiceover Artist, Stand-Up Comedian, and Musician

 

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

OWNER AND CEO                                                                                                       01/2017 to Current

Running Gecko Communications, LLC                                                                     Foothill Ranch, CA

• Launched and scaled a full-service marketing and communications agency, driving end-to-end strategy, creative direction, and operational execution for B2B, B2C, nonprofit, and entertainment clients.

• Produced and activated integrated branding, social, video, and product launch campaigns that amplified visibility, deepened audience engagement, and drove revenue across competitive markets.

• Acted as hands-on Creative Director, transforming brand strategy into culturally resonant visual and narrative storytelling across digital, social, and experiential platforms.

• Curated, mentored, and led multidisciplinary creative teams (designers, writers, videographers, strategists), cultivating high-performance cultures grounded in craft, collaboration, and creative accountability.

 

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER                                                                       06/2023 to Current

City of Moreno Valley                                                                                                   Moreno Valley, CA

• Orchestrated citywide communications strategy spanning organic social, digital campaigns, media relations, executive messaging, and crisis communications for a municipality serving more than 200,000 residents.

• Architected the city’s first centralized content calendar, social governance policies, and messaging frameworks, significantly elevating consistency, efficiency, and audience engagement.

• Performed as primary media spokesperson and Crisis Communications Officer, navigating high-stakes issues and shaping complex policies into clear, audience-ready narratives.

• Scripted and produced speeches, press releases, and multi-channel campaigns that strengthened civic trust, expanded public awareness, and elevated the City’s brand voice.

 

DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES                                                                 05/2022 to 06/2023

University of Massachusetts Global                                                                                           Irvine, CA

• Reengineered and streamlined creative operations, eliminating bottlenecks and accelerating turnaround times across broadcast, digital, and social channels.

• Directed all creative output, ensuring brand consistency and elevated production standards across paid and organic campaigns.

• Stewarded a $2M annual budget, agency relationships, and vendor partnerships while launching new branding and enrollment initiatives.

• Coached and elevated designers and content creators, fostering a culture of creative excellence, ownership, and continuous improvement.

 

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS                               03/2019 to 04/2022

Laguna College of Art and Design                                                                               Laguna Beach, CA

• Built and led an in-house marketing and creative team delivering integrated, audience-driven campaigns for recruitment, fundraising, and brand awareness.

• Shaped and executed a long-term strategic marketing roadmap that elevated institutional visibility and fueled enrollment.

• Produced and directed multimedia assets across social, digital, video, and experiential platforms, aligning storytelling with audience behavior and cultural insight.

• Managed budgets, agencies, and vendors to ensure high-quality output while maintaining fiscal discipline.

 

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS      11/2016 to 02/2019

OC Music & Dance                                                                                                                       Irvine, CA

• Launched and scaled the marketing and communications function for a performing arts nonprofit rooted in music and live entertainment culture.

• Drove 100% overachievement of enrollment goals, building a 500+ student base within six months through targeted storytelling and community activation.

• Activated donor-facing campaigns supporting a $10M scholarship endowment, strengthening long-term funding and patron engagement.

• Served as Creative Director and Producer for a 32-member orchestra featured on America’s Got Talent, shaping branding, promotion, and live performance storytelling.

 

SENIOR DIRECTOR, BRAND MARKETING AND CREATIVE SERVICES     2015 to 05/2016

Preferred Hotels & Resorts                                                                                         Newport Beach, CA

• Commanded global brand repositioning initiatives across digital, print, experiential, and content platforms for a worldwide hospitality portfolio.

• Conducted cross-regional creative teams and external agencies, ensuring alignment with brand standards and market-specific cultural nuances.

• Streamlined creative operations and workflows to increase speed-to-market, elevate output quality, and enable scalable, high-performing creative teams.

• Led oversight of multi-million-dollar budgets, ensuring strong financial governance while delivering high-impact, experience-led brand initiatives that maximized ROI and strengthened brand equity.

 

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING                                                                                   01/2003 to 12/2005

Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.                                                                                                  Pittsburgh, PA

• Led national creative strategy for in-store signage, décor, and seasonal campaigns across hundreds of retail locations.

• Launched the company’s first corporate branding style guide and signage intranet, unifying brand execution nationwide.

• Recognized with multiple ADDY Awards for excellence in retail, brand, and culture-driven creative campaigns.

 

DIRECTOR OF SERVICES MARKETING AND ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR              06/1999 to 01/2003

PetSmart, Inc.                                                                                                                             Phoenix, AZ

• Spearheaded national rebranding and CRM launch of the PETPERKS loyalty program, driving customer retention and service adoption.

• Led the end-to-end redesign of in-store signage and décor across a nationwide retail footprint, enhancing brand consistency, customer experience, and visual appeal.

• Produced a Telly Award–winning fundraising television campaign, guiding concept, production, and on-air execution.

• Oversaw creative development and production for a multi-national monthly print circular program reaching approximately 55 million households per month.

 

ADJUNCT AND LEAD FACULTY                                                                            01/2001 to 01/2023

Adtalem Education Group and Affiliates

• Delivered collegiate instruction in marketing, communications, leadership, storytelling, and critical thinking across undergraduate and graduate programs.

• Designed curriculum and served on enrollment and retention committees, contributing to student success initiatives.

• Delivered corporate and executive training in leadership development, public speaking, and strategic communications.

 

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration (MBA) - University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ

Master of Arts in Business Communications and Advertising - Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

Bachelor of Science in Neuropsychology (Spanish Minor) - Allegheny College, Meadville, PA

 

CLASSES TAUGHT​

Graduate

Marketing and Advertising

• Advertising Foundations, Davenport University

• Advertising in the21st Century, St. Mary’s University

• Buyer Behavior and Advertising Research, St. Mary’s University

• Marketing, Davenport University, St. Mary’s University, Walden University

• Marketing Management, Davenport University, St. Mary’s University

 

Undergraduate

Marketing/Advertising

• Building Customer Sales and Loyalty, Kaplan University

• Consumer Behavior, Corinthian Colleges

• Customer Loyalty and Relationships, Kaplan University

• Customer Relationship Management, Colorado Technical University, Corinthian Colleges

• Integrated Marketing Communications, University of Phoenix

• International Marketing, Corinthian Colleges, Universidad de Valle de Mexico, Walden University

• Marketing, Baker College Online, Colorado Technical University, Corinthian Colleges, Kaplan University,  National American University, Universidad de Valle de Mexico, University of Phoenix, Walden University, Western International University

• Marketing and the Virtual Marketplace, Colorado Technical University

• Marketing Management, Colorado Technical University, Kaplan University, National American University, Universidad de Valle de Mexico, Walden University.

• Services Marketing, Walden University

• Small Business Marketing Strategies, Walden University

 

Communications

• Business Communication, Corinthian Colleges

• Creative Thinking, Axia College

• Critical Thinking, Axia College

• Interpersonal Communications, National American University

• Introduction to Film Studies, University of Phoenix

• Mass Communications, National American University

• Media Influences on American Culture, University of Phoenix

• Oral Communications, Paradise Valley Community College

• Public Relations, University of Phoenix

• Public Speaking, Baker College Online

• Technical Communications, National American University

 

Management and Leadership

• Business Ethics, Corinthian Colleges

• Corporate Entrepreneurship, Walden University

• Ethical Leadership, Walden University

• Intro to Human Resources, Corinthian Colleges

• Introduction to Business, Kaplan University

• Introduction to Business Enterprise, Corinthian Colleges, Kaplan University

• International Business, Axia College

• Management and Leadership, Walden University

• Organizational Behavior, Axia College

• Principles of Management, Corinthian Colleges, Kaplan University

• Principles of Retailing, Kaplan University

• Skills for Learning in an Information Age, Axia College

• Strategic Planning for Business, Corinthian Colleges

• Supervision and Leadership, Axia College

• Workplace Continuity and Contingency Planning, Corinthian Colleges

 

English/Writing

• Collegiate Composition and Grammar, Axia College

• Effective Essay Writing, Axia College

• Elements of University Composition, University of Phoenix

• Research Writing, University of Phoenix, Axia College

• Utilizing Information in College Writing, Axia College

 

COURSES + CURRICULA DESIGNED

 

Marketing/Advertising

• Advertising in the21st Century, St. Mary’s University

• Buyer Behavior and Advertising Research, St. Mary’s University Hispanic Marketing in a Multicultural Context, Universidad de Valle de Mexico

• Global Marketing, Walden University

• Marketing, St. Mary’s University, Universidad de Valle de Mexico, Walden University

• Marketing Management, St. Mary’s University, Universidad de Valle de Mexico, Walden University.

• Multicultural Marketing Communications, Walden University

• Strategic Marketing: Product vs Services Marketing, Walden University

• Small Business Marketing Strategies, Walden University

 

Communications

• Mass Communications, National American University

• Oral Communications, Paradise Valley Community College

• Technical Communications, National American University

 

Management and Leadership

• Corporate Entrepreneurship, Walden University

• Ethical Leadership, Walden University