Barefoot’s story starts like many Cincinnati stories: With a job at Procter & Gamble. But that’s where it stops.
Barefoot founder Doug Worple first found his footing at P&G, where he started out as a financial analyst and then made the switch to brand management to tap into the right side of his brain. But that didn’t quite scratch the itch. It was time to remove his dress shoes and take the leap into creative entrepreneurship.
Doug Worple and his dog, Addy, with a Cincinnati ADDYs Judge’s Choice Award that Barefoot won in 2000.
In 1994, Doug founded an unconventional marketing and advertising agency with an unconventional name inspired by a poem:
I have had my moments.
If I had to live my life over again,
I would have more of them.
Just moments, one after another,
instead of living years ahead of each day.
I would start going barefoot earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall.
At the dawn of the digital age, Doug saw the potential in the power of a moment — in using both art and science to reach people with the right message in the right place at the right time. Barefoot’s data-driven, cutting-edge creative garnered international attention and accolades and led to its acquisition by Proximity Worldwide, where Doug served as global CEO and later chairman.
Today, the spirit on which Barefoot was founded lives on. As a brand experience agency within the Omnicom holding company, we’re still activating the power of a moment to solve business problems through a deep knowledge of audiences, a thorough understanding of data and world-class creative ideas.
As for Doug? He’s still defying conventions as the Chief Growth Officer (pun intended) of a farm in the Green Mountains of Vermont that produces organic maple syrup, honey, fruit and more. And you can bet he’s still not wearing dress shoes.
PRESIDENT
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
CHIEF CLIENT OFFICER
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
VP, PEOPLE & CULTURE
President
Kristen’s client-side and agency-side background have given her a unique and integrated view of brand-building across industry sectors. Her focus is on uniting data, media, strategy, experience design and technology practices to create unmissable and meaningful brand experiences. She has worked on brands including Procter & Gamble, ExxonMobil, Raytheon Technologies, Bayer, Mars, AT&T, Visa, Gallup and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Chief Operations Officer
Amy is a highly innovative executive leader and adviser with 20+ years of experience in strategic business operations, client operations, financial management, program management and commercial production. As Barefoot’s operations leader, she is responsible for transforming the agency’s operating model and optimizing existing business processes for client success, sustained growth and financial performance. Having partnered with Fortune 500 clients including Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, The J.M. Smucker Co., Mars, Bayer, Ford and Conagra Brands, Amy ensures Barefoot’s operations are laser–focused on delivering value through business solutions that drive the best outcomes for both Barefoot and its clients.
Chief Strategy Officer
Danielle has spent the past 26 years helping iconic brands achieve meteoric success. She has had the pleasure of working on some of marketing’s most famous success stories, including Burger King, Old Navy, Fruit of the Loom, American Airlines, Hotels.com, Domino’s Pizza and Mini Cooper. As an account leader, she has helped her clients win over 265 creative awards, including the coveted Cannes Lion Grand Prix and the Grand Effie. Danielle lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and rambunctious toddler son.
Chief Client Officer
Margarita is a global marketing leader with over 25 years of experience in advertising, consultancy, data and analytics, and CRM. She is passionate about customer-centricity and using data to create relevant experiences that nurture long-term customer value. Her capabilities include CRM, data and analytics, multicultural marketing, digital marketing and more working with Fortune 500 clients including Humana, Honda, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Procter & Gamble, Mars, Bayer and Nestlé.
VP, Finance
Heather brings more than a decade of agency finance experience to her role, including a blend of independent and holding–company agency experience. Heather leads all finance operations and has a team of three finance, accounting, accounts payable and accounts receivable staff to support her. Heather has also played an instrumental role in quickly adapting financial operations to new protocols and in evolving operations and vendor management solutions in response to new capability development and rapid expansion (including media and media vendor operations). Outside of Barefoot, Heather works as a nutritional/wellness coach.
Chief Creative Officer
VP, People & Culture
Erin leads all aspects of people and culture at Barefoot, providing effective and relevant support for each element of an employee’s work journey to help create meaningful experiences at work. A Cincinnati native and graduate of Spelman College, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) in Atlanta, Erin brings over 20 years of experience in multiple HR disciplines to Barefoot. Before joining the agency in 2022, Erin spent 17 years at the Cintas Corporation leading multiple HR teams at the corporate and national levels. Erin, her husband and their two sons enjoy go-kart racing, whitewater rafting, ziplining and attending sporting events.
