creative Team

The first thing Kristy Martino wanted to be when she grew up was a garbage man. The second thing was a writer. Her path to the word, however, was winding. Spanning over two decades, she was a former textile designer, marketing director, lobbyist, and lead singer of an (objectively incredible) 80s New Wave cover band in NYC.

She’s owned a screen-printing business, and a successful design studio, but her greatest asset has always been the pen. Kristy has told stories on stages, on Capitol Hill, and in countless dimly lit cafes around the world. Words are her love language. Followed shortly thereafter by applause.

She has an insatiable curiosity, strong opinions on fruit, baseball, and Lyndon Baines Johnson, and an unwavering belief in the goodness of others. Kristy lives on the Seacoast of Maine with her husband and daughter.

Joining the Strategic Media team in early 2024, Jeremy plays an integral role in the Creative team by writing high-quality, memorable audio ads that motivate listeners to act.

A writer, editor, and creative strategist with more than 15 years of professional writing experience under his belt, Jeremy’s byline has appeared on thousands of stories across a multitude of digital publications, wrappers, and platforms.

His past clients run the gamut from large corporations along the likes of Anheuser-Busch, Dollar Shave Club, DoorDash, and Uber to such reputable editorial sites as Men’s Health, Thrillist, and GQ.

A tried-and-true New Englander, Jeremy recently moved to Maine after a decade-long stint in New York City. Off hours, you can find him exploring the midcoast with his wife, dog, and two children.

A prolific and talented copywriter, playwright, world traveler, and father, Payne Ratner is responsible for some of the most successful audio advertisements in the country.

A fixture of the SMI office since the early 2000s, Payne has personally written thousands of ads for hundreds of brands under the Strategic Media Inc. umbrella.

With more than thirty years of experience writing for radio and television, Payne is a wealth of knowledge and insight. In the summertime, you can find Payne living it up with his loved ones in Maine. Come winter, he calls the remote, Puerto Rican island of Vieques home.

Lewis Gillies is an experienced audio engineer and producer with over ten years of live audio, studio recording, and production experience. Lewis has been working for SMI since 2022, producing effective audio ads for hundreds of brands under the company’s roster.

An audio expert and artist by nature, Lewis has a keen eye for producing everything from ambitious spoken word projects and live shows to the programmatic podcast and terrestrial radio ads heard by tens of thousands of listeners daily.

With Lewis on your team, you can rest assured knowing your brand’s voice is amplified and elevated.