Jason Cutinella

Partner / Chief Executive Officer

Jason Cutinella got his start in the media world back in 1998 at McCann Erickson Worldwide as a media buyer for Sony Pictures. As someone who is always looking for the next big challenge, Jason started to think of what he could do next. That challenge turned out to be working on the client side at “old” 550 Madison Avenue in New York, which many know as Sony Music International.

In 2004, Jason relocated to Hawaii, where he earned a master’s degree in communication at Hawaii Pacific University. With a passion for marketing and brand development, and a vision for changing the way media is done in Hawaii, Jason launched Nella Media Group in2009. In his capacity as CEO, Jason continues to push the boundaries of innovation in today’s media market.

Stay humble and always move forward...

Joe Vargas Bock

Partner / Chief Operating Officer

A perpetual student of marketing and communications, Joe is currently responsible for the NMG's strategic development and execution of its daily operations. Prior to joining NMG, Joe led the marketing and e-commerce efforts for Castle Resorts & Hotels, and previously for Mesa Airlines, Inc., dba go!. Before that, Joe served as in-house counsel for Mesa Air Group, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ.

Joe is currently a board member and the marketing chair for the Honolulu Chapter of Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI) and a board member and marketing committee member of Hawaii Publishers Association. Joe frequently volunteers for non-profit organizations and has recently served on boards and committees of American Heart Assocation of Hawaii and Gregory House Programs. He studied journalism at Texas A&M University (’01, whoop!) and holds a J.D. from the University of Houston.

Keely Bruns

VP Marketing & Advertising

Keely is responsible for NMG’s key marketing and advertising strategies and efforts and joined NMG following a career in advertising with KGMB/Hawaii News Now and Cox Media Group Hawaii. Experienced at recruiting consumers, product launching, and building brand awareness, Keely’s work ethic and drive to successfully complete goals have enabled her to achieve outstanding achievements. Keely grew up in Indiana and graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications.

Combining her diverse background in marketing with her love for the ocean and environment, Keely found her passion to educate and inspire people to choose brands making the least environmental impact. Keely discovered her love of nature through her father, who taught her scuba diving on many trips to the coast and certified her at the age of ten. Growing up, she looked into every opportunity to move to an island, where the ocean would surround. Her chance to move to Hawaii came in 2007. Her long-term goal is to live “off the grid” along Oahu’s North Shore where she can continue to live a balanced life: surfing, practicing yoga and helping Hawaii move closer to becoming a world leader in sustainability.

Lisa Yamada

Partner / Editorial Director

After receiving a degree in journalism from Pepperdine University, Lisa returned to the islands where she was born and raised, only to be faced with a dismal media landscape. In search of perspective, Lisa explored the overseas locales of Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Seeking to explore stories untold within her own culture and seeing the opportunity for a quality lifestyle publication within the Hawaii market, Lisa launched FLUX Hawaii in 2009.

Today, Lisa is the editorial director for Nella Media Group, where she is responsible for overseeing the company’s entire portfolio of publications, striving daily to provide new perspectives to locals, visitors and beyond.

Ara Laylo

Creative Director

With more than a decade of experience in the design industry, Ara Laylo brings a deft style as the creative director of Nella Media Group. Between deadlines, Ara serves as a lecturer at University of Hawaii, fronts the ambient three-piece band Clones of the Queen, and makes up one-half of the styling duo A+A. She has spent the last ten years promoting art and music culture in Hawaii, introducing Hawaii to such notable acts as Of Montreal, Deerhoof, Menomena, Vivian Girls and Jokers of the Scene.

Jill Miyashiro

National Account Manager

Having been lucky enough to spend her life between Chicago and Hawaii, Jill Miyashiro has the perfect mix of big city ambition and island heart. She describes herself as being blessed with many rewarding accomplishments and opportunities to work with a wide variety of amazing people, some of whom are the most talented individuals who have given her direction and inspiration. Her ability to learn from everyone and take something positive away from each challenging experience has enabled her to grow into an effective leader.

Tyler Mongan

Tyler Mongan is a social entrepreneur who brings a diverse background in business, health care and the arts to the NMG team. He attended graduate school in philosophy at the University of Tennessee and studied medicine at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. He has worked with a diverse group of government, non-profit and for profit entities throughout the Hawaiian island, most recently serving as a director of business engagement for Kanu Hawaii.

Currently he works with NMG as a jack-of-all-trades, designing, selling, ideating, and filling in where needed. In his free time, Tyler can be found surfing the windy breaks of Diamond Head or playing banjo with The Intire Project.

Valerie Sanchez

Global Brand Ambassador

For the past three years, Valerie Sanchez has helped advance the NMG dream by seeing beyond the peripheral. Working for a company that values change, self-growth and adventure – and in search of the next big thing – she has taken off to spread not only her personal wings but also those of Nella Media Group. Serving as NMG’s global brand ambassador, Valerie is currently traveling from city to city and port to port on a trip around the world. Stay connected with NMG as she periodically documents and updates the world by sharing all her experiences during this life-changing sabbatical.

Keep up with Valerie and her travel adventures by visiting feedadrifter.com.

Gary Payne

VP Business Development

As a lifelong entrepreneur Gary Payne has provided experience in all aspects of building, developing and managing corporations. His career began in running an IT department for an investment firm. Within three years, he was responsible for their nationwide print and television advertising campaigns. Gary’s first company was acquired by an international firm, which then provided capital funding in order to conduct technical and market share acquisitions. As the vice president of business development, Gary was responsible for introducing new technologies to the corporation and customer base.

Gary is passionate about creating opportunities for others. Seeing those that he mentors succeed in the business world brings great personal satisfaction.

Tyler Wolff

Web Engineer
tylerwolff.com

NMG Interns

1. "The crew at Nella Media Group rocks, the fridge is always stocked with red bull, and there isn’t a cubicle in sight!"

-Victoria Long, UH Intern

2. "I love interning at NMG because there are no cubicles, the walls aren’t white, and a pantsuit is completely unacceptable attire."

-Chanel Khursigara, HPU Intern

3. "Interning with Nella Media Group (NMG) has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career thus far. Working with NMG has provided me with the opportunity to delve into every aspect of the media world, and that has been the greatest opportunity I'm taking from this internship."

-Kelsey Longo, HPU Intern

Zebra

VP Global Business Development
zebra@nellamediagroup.com

Always looking for the next big thing, I'm currently traveling internationally. Understandably I may not be able to respond immediately to any inquiries or thoughts, but please feel free to contact my National Account Manager: Jill Miyashiro (jmiyashiro@nellamediagroup.com)