Daren Bascome is Proverb’s founder and the creative vision behind its unique approach to brand building. Under Daren’s leadership, Proverb has become a sought-after partner for brands seeking to apply design thinking to their businesses, products and communications. A native Bermudian who cut his teeth in exhibit design, Daren set out to create the type of agency that the industry tends to lack—dynamic, international and culturally relevant. Daren’s work has won numerous awards and drawn the attention of international media outlets, including Fortune, Fast Company, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe. He has served in various capacities on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and Youth Design, among others.

Chris Needham is Proverb’s Director of Client Services, resident yoga instructor and the fabric that holds the firm together. With her holistic, hands-on leadership style, Chris has cultivated some of Proverb’s most productive and long-term client relationships. Prior to coming onboard as Managing Partner in 2008, Chris ran her own independent design shop whose work on over sixty accounts was featured in Graphis, Print, and Communication Arts. Since joining Proverb, she has been instrumental in transforming the agency’s operations, landing dozens of high-profile accounts, and helping win the recognition of BostInno’s 50 on Fire, Fortune’s 100 Fastest-Growing Inner City Businesses, and the IVY Innovator Awards. Chris is a graduate of Boston University, the Austro-American Institute of Vienna, and Parsons School of Design.

As a Senior Strategist, John guides Proverb’s brand strategy practice and serves as a trusted advisor to many of the agency’s clients, helping them find new ways to connect with customers and stand out from competitors. Since joining Proverb in 2014, John has led assignments across a variety of verticals including real estate, nonprofit, entertainment and healthcare, and has pioneered Proverb’s Brand Truth methodology in the process. A skilled storyteller and problem solver, he began his career as a copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather in New York. John’s penchant for adventure has brought him to the Chilean Patagonia, the Indian Himalayas, and New Zealand’s 2,000-mile Te Araroa Trail. John is a graduate of Trinity College and a resident of Boston’s South End.

Nadir is an accomplished growth consultant, business strategist, data analyst, organizational designer, and urban planner with more than 20 years of experience. Born in Algeria, raised in Switzerland, and educated in the United States, Nadir has roots all over the world. In addition to helping Proverb and our clients grow faster and smarter, Nadir serves as an advisor to three startups that focus on improving the quality of life in urban areas across the globe by taking advantage of readily available technologies and deploying them in innovative ways. When he isn’t actively getting lost in cities around the world with his wife and lab-mastiff, Nadir is an amateur chocolatier (you can take the Swiss out of the… never mind). Nadir is a graduate of University of Michigan and Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Design is in Alisa’s blood—literally. The daughter of a graphic designer and an engineer, she has spent over a decade working on everything from advertising and branding to publishing and product development. Early on, Alisa worked under the tutelage of Proverb founder Daren Bascome while studying graphic design at MassArt. After graduating, she moved to New York City and began a design career that would eventually lead her to Nickelodeon, where she oversaw work for Nick Jr. properties like Dora the Explorer and Peter Rabbit. In 2016, we won her back (this time as our senior art director), and she happily returned to the Hub. Take that, New York. When Alisa isn’t hammering out type studies or decisively guiding our design team, she spends most of her time trying to wrestle her toddler into her New England winter coat.

Molly has been developing engaging content for clients for over 20 years. Her clients include corporations (PxC, Boston Stock Exchange), nonprofit organizations (Massachusetts Audubon, Greenrock.org), museums (National Constitution Center, Louisiana State Museum, New England Aquarium), and academic institutions (Boston College). Molly comes from a background in exhibit design and media production, so her focus has always been on marrying words and images to create a memorable experience for the audience. She has developed both web-based and kiosk-based interactives, and understands the importance of clearly organizing information, making it interesting, and crystallizing the key ideas.

Karen is a strategist from Taiwan who uses her bottomless fascination with human culture to draw deep brand insights. A quick study in the marketing world, Karen has worked for a number of Boston agencies, dipping her toes into PR, copywriting, and social media before discovering her passion for strategy. When she’s not whipping up presentation decks and uncovering eye-opening research, Karen can usually be found halfway across the world, exploring some amazing new culture. Sometimes, though, you’ll find her curled up in her Cambridge apartment, watching an obscure art-house film while slurping up soba. Karen has a bachelor’s degree from the National Taiwan University and a master’s in integrated marketing from Emerson College.

JB is our trusted account manager hailing from cosmopolitan North Canton, Ohio. A devoted account man who believes that determination and tenacity are the keys to successful client relationships, Justin has managed a diverse range of accounts including Atrius Health and Bozzuto Management. After studying business administration at Ohio State, Justin honed his people skills at an assortment of agencies around Northeast Ohio. A self-described “nerd-jock,” he’s almost as passionate about the Cleveland Indians as he is about comic books. Justin’s a newcomer to Boston, so say hi if you see him at a Dorchester bar, practicing for his weekly pool league. And don’t even ask—he’s Marvel over DC, any day.

Christina is the organizing force that reigns in our creative chaos. An experienced project administrator, Christina helps keep the Proverb train running on time. Before joining our account team, she spent four years at DigitasLBi, handling financials for two crucially important clients: Bank of America and American Express. She got her degree in marketing from Wagner College in Staten Island. When she’s not fishing for bass, clamming, or sunbathing on a Wellfleet beach, you can find her at virtually any screening of a Julia Roberts movie.

Meet Joyce. As Proverb’s New Business and Marketing Coordinator, Joyce keeps the work flowing by strategically analyzing our markets and helping to identify and contact new business leads. Joyce grew up in Beijing, where she spent her free time wandering around the Forbidden City. She came to Boston to study Integrated Marketing Communications at Emerson College, and quickly fell in love with the Hub. A woman of many interests, Joyce has worked for marketing agencies, NPOs, tech startups, and even a public television station. Joyce is a shameless foodie and self-admitted “make-up addict,” who spends much of her waking hours scouring the streets of Boston for delicious Italian eateries or the hottest new lipstick.

Ryan is a designer from way down South (Fall River, MA). A design junky from early childhood, Ryan was a freelance designer before joining our dynamic creative team. Despite his easygoing personality and infectious laugh, he is meticulously demanding when it comes to designing a great logo, website, or any other visual experience. Ryan is a drummer in his downtime, and can often be found with his head wrapped in headphones, bobbing up and down while screamo metal leaks out of his ears. When he emerges, he’s a pretty darn friendly dude. Ryan has a graphic design degree from Columbia College in Chicago.

Shoki is a copywriter from Tokyo and Boston. Before discovering that people will pay good money for good ideas, he sold designer boots and custom window blinds in Boston. He’s written advertising, social media, web content, and collateral for clients like the Society of Grownups, McAlister’s Deli, and a bunch of national real estate developers. Shoki studied English at UMass Amherst and advertising at Boston University. He’s a Patriots admirer and a die-hard Herman Melville fanatic. Or maybe it’s the other way around.