OUR TEAM
Chris Bates
CEO
THINKS: Our purpose as an agency is to be of service. We are here to use our God-given talents to serve our team members, those we work with, and most importantly our clients and the lives they impact.
BACKGROUND: I attended the University of Alabama, completing my B.A.in Psychology with a minor in Business at Belhaven University in 1994. I was a nonprofit executive for 10 years and then owned the Mean Mallard, a large outdoor sporting goods store, for nearly a decade. In 2009, I decided to use my career experiences to guide other business operators toward achieving their goals by founding Agora Company. The future is exciting with Agora Company and The Eversole Group having now merged to become AgoraEversole. I serve in several volunteer leadership roles and board of director positions, and present marketing seminars, webinars and training workshops frequently for banking associations and other trade groups.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: It’s about the strategy! We strive for real partnership, and when we discover their goals and then implement marketing for them via multiple marketing platforms, it works!
ALSO: My wife, Stacy, and I have four young adult children between us. We are all about family, and we also love time with friends and time spent traveling. Some published Columns: MS Christian Living Magazine – Outside In; Podcasts: Digital Agency Show: Find Success by Niching with Chris Bates; YouTube/Podcast Interviews: Operation Agency Freedom: Chris Bates: Advice on Systems, Hiring, and Scaling from the CEO of Agora Eversole and Digital Agency Insider: Developing Strategies & Striving for Real Partnerships with Clients
Laura Beth Bond
GETSocial Manager / Graphic Designer
THINKS: Any day at the beach is a good day.
BACKGROUND: I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Graphic Design from Delta State University, home of the Fighting Okra. (yes, you read that right!) Since the early days of The Eversole Group, I have been combining my love for design with the knowledge I gained from working in Customer Service at my hometown bank. In 2017, I expanded my role to include social media.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: I have enjoyed getting to know our clients and helping them discover the “look and feel” that best works for their bank. Meeting them in person is always the best treat!
ALSO: My husband, Harris, and I are two Mississippians who recently found ourselves living west of the Mississippi after 11 years in Sylacauga, Alabama. We, along with our three children, are church planting with the Presbyterian Church in America in Monroe, Louisiana.
JULIA BRYANT
Graphic Designer / Account Manager
THINKS: We are all a little weird…embrace it.
BACKGROUND: Originally from Fancy Farm, Kentucky, I have been living in Mississippi for almost 20 years. I started with a local magazine in Oxford before moving on to The Clarion-Ledger, and finally found the best of all worlds with agency work for the past 13 years.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: I pride myself in excellent customer service and quick turnaround. There’s no better feeling than taking a client’s idea and exceeding their expectations. I’m always up for the challenge.
ALSO: My creativeness doesn’t stop when I leave the office. I also own a children’s boutique named after my two daughters. If I’m not sewing, I’m probably watching SEC football, and come October you’ll find me glued to the TV watching UK basketball. You can take the girl out of KY, but I still bleed blue come March.
Jeff Childress
Digital Services Manager - Reztech
THINKS: “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” I love working in Digital Marketing because there’s always something new to learn & opportunities to try new things for our clients.
BACKGROUND: I graduated from ITT Tech with a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and have worked in Sales & Marketing since 2005. The marketing agency world has been a great fit because I enjoy staying on top of the latest Digital Marketing trends and helping our clients reach their goals.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: As the Director of Digital Services, I get to be involved with many aspects of our clients campaigns and marketing strategies from SEO to Digital Advertising and everything in between. At the end of the day, what matters most is the RESULTS.
ALSO: I enjoy being outdoors and traveling with my family, coaching my kids sports and spending an afternoon at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville watching MSU baseball.
MISTY DUNN
Director of Operations
THINKS: I’ve never been on a vacation I didn’t like.
BACKGROUND: I graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with an emphasis in graphic design. I’ve been part of our team since 2006.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: One of my favorite parts of the job is getting to know my clients on a personal level. It’s fun to hear stories and see pictures of their families, flower gardens, vacations, etc. I also love getting to see what my clients actually look like, because 99% of the time what I’ve envisioned is totally wrong!
ALSO: I value faith, family, and friends. I’m a lover of the outdoors, music, and travel. Put me on a cruise ship and I’m a happy girl. You just can’t beat seeing so many places in one trip and being pampered along the way! I’m equally as happy to sit outside amongst family or friends and enjoy great conversation and a cup of coffee.
CHERI MAGEE
Graphic Designer / Account Manager
THINKS: Life is a journey…enjoy the ride! Be kind. Do art. Listen to Dave Ramsey.
BACKGROUND: I graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BFA in Graphic Design. I worked in Dallas for Levenson & Hill and Neiman Marcus Group; in Vicksburg for Hayes Marketing, Inc.; and in Jackson for Godwin., Imaginary Company, and most recently The Eversole Group before merging to AgoraEversole.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: I love when a client says, “You get us,” and feel it’s a big compliment meaning we’ve listened and are getting the job done.
ALSO: “There is such a variety of community banks we serve — you never know when you sit down at your computer in the morning what projects the day will bring. It’s a new world every day.”
SARA SULLIVAN
Senior Marketing Manager
THINKS: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” – Dolly Parton
BACKGROUND: I graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BA in Communications and a MA in English. My career in marketing began in commercial radio, where, for over a decade, I was an on-air DJ, voice artist, copywriter, and producer. I have since worked in various industries including higher education, hospitality, and most recently, non-profit victim services. I am an instinctively creative person and spend most of my free time making art and music. On weekends, you will likely find me at an estate sale or at the park with my husband and our fur-babies.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: My goal is to become an extension of our client’s vision for their business. I love helping clients utilize Social Media platforms to accomplish their business goals in a way that is intentional and authentic.
ALSO: I have a not-so-secret personal goal of becoming a backup singer for Trisha Yearwood. If you know someone, hit me up!
MAKENZIE MILEY
Senior Marketing Strategist
THINKS: “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana
BACKGROUND: Born and raised in Madison, MS, I graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s in Integrated Marketing Communications with a minor in Business Administration. With full intentions of leaving Mississippi after graduating, I moved right back home when I met my now husband. I have spent the past two years in the agency world, which I believe is the sweet spot of marketing. In my free time, you’ll likely find me cheering on the Jackson Academy Raiders, where my husband coaches, trying to keep up with our Great Dane, Molli, running my flower business, Making Miley, or jetting off on a new weekend adventure.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: Who, Why, What, and How are the most important questions you can ask in marketing. How can one truly market someone and their company without knowing their passions, driving force, and motivations?
ALSO: I spent every college summer abroad in some capacity and fully believe it’s never too late to book a plane ticket & plan a trip!
CRAIG EVERSOLE, SR
Chairman Emeritus
THINKS: In all aspects of life, glorifying God is why we’re here. Do we always succeed? No…but let’s keep trying.
BACKGROUND: A native of Louisville, Kentucky, I have resided in Mississippi since 1979. I worked for a local agency for 11 years developing a program for community banks and, in 2000, founded The Eversole Group. I have taught at the Graduate School of Banking, conducted at LSU as well as marketing courses for the CBA of Georgia, held at Kennesaw State University. In addition, I have taught numerous seminars for the CBA of Georgia and the Alabama Bankers Association. Over the last 20 years, we have worked with more than 100 independent banks across the nation, now greatly enhancing our capabilities to provide comprehensive marketing solutions through our merger with Agora Company, now forming AgoraEversole.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: Results. There is great satisfaction in knowing our work and our understanding of community banking produces results. I also enjoy winding up a work day knowing we have given every client our very best effort, provided exceptional value and enhanced our working relationship with them. I always appreciate hearing from those clients that I understand their goals.
ALSO: There’s a lot of joy in watching grandchildren grow, and to enjoying a great fall Saturday at Ole Miss watching the Rebels play. Faith. Family. Football.
