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Monica Davis

FOUNDER Monica is a legend in the Texas media industry, founding The Davis Group (Austin’s first media planning and placement firm) some 40 years ago. She served hundreds of clients, from small, Austin-based businesses to large, international companies as well as State of Texas agencies and numerous political campaigns. Her experience covers virtually every category and she is well-known for her unyielding integrity, professionalism and dedication to all things media. Monica’s guidance has allowed The Davis Group to provide expert media advice and service in all types of media.  After almost 42 years of running The Davis Group, Monica handed over the reins to Sarah at the end of 2019.  She now happily tends to her grandchildren and her ranch with its many inhabitants.

Sarah Figueroa

PRESIDENT sfigueroa@thedavisgrouptx.com Sarah took over at the helm of The Davis Group at the end of 2019.  She joined the agency in 2013 with a broad background in Media Strategy and Ethnic Marketing.  She has managed clients across a wide variety of industries and has led the successful implementation of multi-channel plans on both the national and local levels.  Her deep understanding of how to employ media to solve marketing challenges has continuously delivered high-impact campaigns that drive bottom-line results and increase business performance.  Sarah leads several pieces of business in both the consumer and political realms at The Davis Group. She also handles business development tasks and is always eager to find new ways to put clients at the forefront of their category.

Meenakshi Gautam

DIRECTOR, MEDIA STRATEGY mgautam@thedavisgrouptx.com Meenakshi brings wide-ranging experience in Account Management, Consumer Research and Media Strategy to The Davis Group. She has managed clients in the QSR, retail, financial services, healthcare and telecommunication categories. She has designed and implemented successful multi-media plans on both the national and local levels. Meenakshi also has expertise in Hispanic media and targeting niche populations. Her research-based approach and deep understanding of traditional and non-traditional media lead to campaigns that maximize media dollars. She focuses on clearly defining campaign and media metrics to ensure post-campaign accountability. Meenakshi is a graduate of the Master’s Program in Advertising at the University of Texas at Austin.

Eric Merrill

SENIOR MEDIA PLANNER / BUYER emerrill@thedavisgrouptx.com Eric came to The Davis Group with extensive media experience in the telecommunications, financial, restaurant and major retail industries, as well as a background in armed forces, higher education, and charity organizations. He plays a key role in the planning and purchasing for all media outlets and actively contributes strategy insight on many Davis Group accounts. He translates plans to impactful placements in all Texas and national spot markets. Eric works to ensure that each media placement is efficient and valuable to achieve the overall goals set during the strategic planning process.

Jamie Baker

SENIOR BUYER jbaker@thedavisgrouptx.com Jamie came to The Davis Group with extensive media experience in the telecommunications, financial, restaurant, ride sharing, local government and state government Public Service Campaigns, as well as a background in the quick service restaurant category. He plays a key role in the purchasing for all media outlets and actively contributes strategy insight on many Davis Group accounts. Jamie works to ensure that each media placement is efficient and valuable to achieve the overall goals set during the strategic planning process.

Yolanda R. Gonzales

MEDIA PLANNER / BUYING SUPERVISOR ygonzales@thedavisgrouptx.com Yolanda’s career in media covers a very diverse background in the advertising industry that includes several years on the sales side.  She has gained solid experience with large national consumer goods, retail, OSR, telecommunications, and financial accounts, including a handful of local accounts. Her strengths include negotiations in both the national and local broadcast and cable space. She enjoys the research side of the business and has never met a report or posting request that has stumped her. She enjoys mentoring her buying team and honing their negotiating tactics with every new account that hits her desk.

Taylor Rial

ASSISTANT MEDIA BUYER / PLANNER trial@thedavisgrouptx.com Taylor’s career in the advertising and media buying industry includes experience working and assisting in a wide range of roles, from traffic to media placement. She has a particularly strong background in print buying, with success in effectively researching, evaluating and negotiating with publications based upon the client’s target demographic. She enjoys supporting a range of functions in the broadcast and digital realms as well.