Meet the Team

Hello, I’m Melissa, a California native, audience development pro and CEO of Twenty-First Digital operating in Washington. I’ve been described as ambitious, infectiously passionate, characteristically curious, a smidge nerdy. The reality is that I'm just passionate about journalism, local news, and the valuable role that it plays in our lives and democracy.

I studied communications at the University of North Texas, and have since made my mark as an audience development leader for prominent brands, including Portland Monthly, Seattle Met, D Magazine.

I love to take a deep dive into digital strategies and audience development efforts to help publishers find no-nonsense ways to drive traffic and supercharge interactions with their audiences. I’m always on the lookout to build relationships with talented industry professionals. If you want to chat, please reach out. I’d love to hear from you.

Read Melissa's Posts on the TFD Blog.

Hi there! I’m Lauren. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 2013, I got my start at D Magazine in Dallas, where I managed the publication’s signature professional services lists—Best Doctors, Lawyers, Dentists, Realtors. 

I also served as an associate editor for D CEO, D Magazine’s award-winning business publication. I was part of the founding editorial team behind the Dallas 500, a standout annual issue featuring in-depth profiles of North Texas’s most powerful business leaders. In 2016, I returned to Oklahoma and joined the public affairs team at OU. There, I shaped the university’s external communications strategy, writing press releases, official statements, and speeches for the university president and senior leadership.

These days, I’m a mom to two young daughters—ages 2 and 4—so you might catch me replying to emails after bedtime or logging in early to make time for school pick-up. At TFD, work-life balance isn’t just a perk—it’s part of the culture.

Read Lauren's Posts on the TFD Blog.

Hi! I’m Natalie. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a wide range of advertising agencies—both large and boutique—which gave me a front-row seat to the fast-paced world of digital marketing. This variety of experience has shaped my approach to strategy and execution, and allowed me to work closely on every aspect of a campaign, from high-level planning to day-to-day optimization.

In smaller agency settings, I’ve worn many hats—developing and managing paid media campaigns, leading content marketing initiatives, overseeing social media strategy, and building out robust technical and content SEO plans. One of the areas I’m especially passionate about is reporting and analytics. I’ve built custom reporting solutions across multiple teams and clients, helping businesses turn data into clear, actionable insights.

Read Natalie's Posts on the TFD Blog.

Hi! I'm Dallas, a Senior Strategist at Twenty First Digital with a passion for language, culture, and understanding how people tick. I graduated from Radford University in Virginia with degrees in Foreign Language and Communications, and I've been hooked on the power of words ever since.

My journey has taken me from the non-profit world, where I helped cultural organizations build their online presence, to in-house roles at PR agencies and luxury publishing houses. At Twenty First Digital, I help businesses like yours understand the steps needed to boost their organic traffic through content and technical SEO strategies. When I'm not reading Google documentation, you can find me in the kitchen, at a show, or hitting the gym.

Read Dallas's Posts on the TFD Blog.

Hi there! I’m Frankie. I graduated from Arizona State in 2020 with a degree in Digital Audiences—basically, I studied how people behave online and how to reach them effectively. Paid media has been my passion from day one, and I’ve run campaigns across industries like insurance, healthcare, restaurants, and real estate.

Originally from Hoboken, New Jersey, I’ve called Phoenix home for the past seven years. My house is full of personality—three cats, a three-legged dog named Murphy, and Bruce the bearded dragon. Outside of work, I’m usually at a concert, traveling, or trying out new restaurants (once a Jersey foodie, always a Jersey foodie).

I’m excited to bring my strategy-first mindset and creative energy to the TFD team, helping brands connect with audiences in meaningful, measurable ways.