About Us

A 39-year advertising veteran, Larry started his career in advertising sales in 1970 at WLAP-AM/WLAP-FM.  In 1980, Larry was promoted to General Sales Manager of both Lexington market radio stations.  In 1988, he and Jim Jordan opened Jordan-Chiles.  In 2002, Chiles bought out Jim Jordan's interest in the company, then, in 2008, Chiles merged with Meridian Communications and Meridian-Chiles was founded; instantly becoming one of the largest and most highly-regarded agencies in the region. Larry has an extensive record of community involvement, having served on numerous charitable campaigns and non- profit organization boards.

Mary Ellen Slone founded Meridian Communications in 1975 and is widely respected for her intuitive abilities to analyze a prospective or existing client's business 'profile', and to suggest a combination of marketing disciplines (advertising, PR, web, virtual /social marketing, promotions, etc) which will not just achieve, but actually exceed client goals and expectations. She is a gifted strategic thinker, and copy writer. A Harvard- certified crisis management counselor, she is frequently called upon to assist companies and organizations with media, customer, and employee relations within a crisis situation.

Mary Ellen, named 5 separate times as Lexington's Business Woman of the Year, has been very active within civic/non-profit organizations in our community throughout her career. She has served as Board Chair for:

• The Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce
• The Lexington Humane Society (2 terms)
• The Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra
• The Philharmonic Guild's Grand Ball
• Moveable Feast, Lexington
• The University of Kentucky Woman's Health Advisory Board
• Member, Cleveland Heights High School Hall of Fame
• Member, University of Kentucky School of Journalism Hall of Fame

Mary Ellen also served a three-year term on the 4th District (Cleveland/Cincinnati/Pittsburgh) Federal Reserve Board, was instrumental in the founding the Lexington affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and currently serves on the board of Republic Bank.

Andrew Chiles co-founded eLink Design with Thomas Chase Gullett in 2001, now the largest website development firm in Lexington, KY.

With over 500 websites developed and under active management, Andrew has overseen the rapid growth of eLink Design and the positioning of it as one of the premier web development and search engine marketing companies in the U.S.  By closely integrating and locating eLink Design within Meridian-Chiles, eLink Design helps to uniquely position Meridian-Chiles as the definitive integrated advertising agency throughout the Southeast, years ahead of the competition in terms of expertise, website visibility, content management, branding, usability and functionality.

Andrew and Chase are also the owners of Intelliwire, LLC, a data center and hosting company with nearly 1,000 clients located in the Kentucky World Trade Center, as well as Don Johnson Design, LLC, a company providing Search Engine Marketing services which was acquired by eLink Design in 2007.

Andrew Chiles and Chase Gullett are also actively engaged in venture capital, providing sophisticated programming expertise in return for equity stakes in Faithimages, LLC, which operates www.visualbiblealive.com (the largest collection of religious photography in the world), and Workforce Admin, LLC (set to launch its array of call center services in Q3 2010), among others.

Jane Chiles brings over 30 years of experience to Meridian-Chiles.  Her work as a board member with over 20 nonprofit agencies positions her well for work with that sector of Meridian-Chiles clients.  Jane has extensive experience in nonprofit healthcare, particularly in government liaison work and health organization governance. Political campaigns and issue campaigns benefit from her 15 years of experience lobbying the executive and legislative branches of state government in Kentucky.  Jane serves as Secretary of the Corporation.

Marty is a native Lexingtonian, he graduated from Lexington Catholic High School in 1996, and later attended the University Of Mississippi, in Oxford, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Following graduation, Marty returned to Lexington to work as an Account Manager at WDKY-TV/Fox 56. A highly organized and dynamic leader, Marty now serves on the management team, where his experience spans many functions at the agency, including new business development, print production management, special events coordination and project management for a myriad of clients. Marty is extremely involved in numerous charitable and civic organizations in our community.

Linda has over 30 years experience in marketing, including 14 years in print production. As the former manager of printing of the Kentucky Council of State Governments, she handled a myriad of projects that demanded quality printing at the best possible cost. Prior to the merge Linda joined Meridian in 1999 as Print Production Manager and oversees production of all printed materials for agency clients and is responsible for all University of Kentucky materials printed through the existing contract.

Linda has an excellent reputation for vendor-client integrity and has built strong relationships with a wide network of printers since joining Meridian-Chiles. She was awarded the prestigious recognition as National Print Buyer of the Year in 2004.

Thomas Chase Gullett co-founded eLink Design Inc. with Andrew Chiles in 2001.  The main principle of eLink Design has been to create an excellent online presence for each client, while offering exemplary customer service.  Prior to starting eLink Design, he founded Intelliwire LLC., a hosting company, and currently manages Gullett Family Properties, LLC. 

Chase is driven by many factors in his life, but family has been and always will be the most important.  When not with his wonderful family, Chase is usually working. He specifically enjoys the latest and greatest technology, and is always looking to apply that technology at eLink Design and Intelliwire.

Don is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he earned a Bachelor’s of science degree in telecommunications.  He has been working in the web design field since 1998.  In 2002, he founded Don Johnson Design, LLC., a company that specialized in search engine optimization (SEO) web design and internet marketing.  Seeing the changing trends, he traveled to California to study under Bruce Clay, the man commonly credited with inventing SEO.  Don became one of the first “Certified SEO Analysts” to graduate from the program and the first from this region of the country.   In May 2007, Don sold his company to eLink Design and came on board as the Director of Internet Marketing.

Don is passionate in everything he does.  He is ambitious, outgoing, and dedicated to his family and friends.  Over the years, he has developed a passion for combining search engine optimization and unique web design.  He understands the client’s perspective and how a great website can add to the value of a business.

Senior Event Planner and Producer Julie G. Klier led the Meridian Communications Events team since the late 80s.  For 20 years, she's organized and supervised special events of all sizes and complexities.  Every year she assists with Toyota's “In the Interest of Women" conferences and each year she produces Toyota's Perfect Attendance celebration (a themed gala for nearly 5,000 Toyota team members) featuring superstar performers like Keith Urban, Heart, Wynonna Judd, Pat Benatar and Gretchen Wilson among many, many others.

Recently, Julie spearheaded Meridian-Chiles' efforts to plan, coordinate and compassionately execute the Flight 5191 community and private commemorative one-year anniversary events.

Susie has over 30 years experience in office management.  Her organizational skills and attention to detail are without compare.  She processes all clients billing and reconciles all media and production invoices. Susie was recently promoted to Chief Operating Officer and has taken great pride in her new responsibility.

A Lexington native, Sarah Luby attended Henry Clay High School and later graduated in 2006 from Rhodes College, a small liberal arts school in Memphis, Tennessee, with a bachelor’s degree in History.  During college, Sarah was an intern at Jordan-Chiles where she was able to dabble in all realms of the advertising world including creative services and print production.  Following graduation, she accepted the position of Marketing Specialist at the Mid-South Fair where she worked closely with their local advertising agency on creative copy and media placement.  Upon deciding to return to Lexington, Sarah was hired as an Assistant Media Planner at Jordan-Chiles, later becoming Meridian-Chiles.  Sarah is responsible in planning and buying local and regional media including television, radio and print.  Having been on both the client and agency sides of advertising, Sarah better understands the expectations in meeting clients’ individual needs for creating the best media strategies possible.

Meridian-Chiles’ resident web designer and graphic artist, prior to the merge, Ernest has been with Meridian over four years.  His in-depth knowledge of web marketing combined with his excellent web programming and design skills have provided many of Meridian-Chiles’ clients with effective, alternative marketing tools. Ernest brings a wealth of creativity to each and every print design project he touches.

Ernest is proficient in CSS, organic search engine optimization, flash animation and action script.  He is constantly updating his resume with the most up-to-date technologies in web programming and design.

Bryan graduated from Spring Hill College in 1998, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications.  Prior to the merger, he was hired at Jordan-Chiles in January of 2006, and his vast knowledge of media buying and placement makes him an exceptional addition to the team.  Bryan is a seasoned media planner and buyer with both regional and national experience.  He has planned and negotiated programs for American Airlines, Verizon DSL, JC Penney and Fazoli’s.  He specializes in creative, strategic media campaigns.  

Bryan’s responsibilities include strategic marketing communications planning and implementation, research, situation analysis, developing goals and objectives, marketing budgets and evaluation.  

Bryan enjoys an unparalleled relationship with the Kentucky media community, earning an outstanding reputation throughout the industry.

Barb broke into the advertising business as a copywriter at WFMI-FM, a Winchester-based radio station in the early 1980s. Given the opportunity to focus on the creative side of the business at Saybrook Advertising, she worked as a researcher and copywriter for eight years. At the urging of a friend, Barb showed up at the doors of Jordan-Chiles in 1996 - not knowing better, they hired her.

Barb brings keen strategic insight to the task of solving clients' marketing problems, a skill that has helped her create work for clients ranging from large corporations to small, family-run businesses. She has also been very active in working with charitable organizations. Her creative honors include numerous ADDY Awards and national recognition from Potlach, Fox River and Graphis USA in a variety of print and broadcast categories.

Aleah Strano earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University Of Mississippi College Of Business in May 2006.  Aleah has a degree in Marketing Communications, with an emphasis on creative advertising and marketing.  

Aleah’s responsibilities as Executive Assistant include working directly with clients to gather information used in developing advertising campaigns. She also works closely with the Art Department to help create all aspects of print advertising, including newspaper, magazines, newsletters and brochures.  Aleah’s attention to detail and ability to understand exactly what the client wants makes her a vital part of Meridian-Chiles.  In working with the various departments, clients and media representatives, Aleah’s communication abilities are without equal.

Kristina Mostarac earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University Of Kentucky College Of Journalism in December of 2009.  Kristina has a degree in Integrated Strategic Communications, with an emphasis on account management.

Kristina’s responsibilities as Account Coordinator include working directly with clients to gather information used in developing advertising campaigns. She also works closely with the Art Department to help create all aspects of print advertising, including newspaper, magazines, newsletters and brochures.  

With more than 15 years in commercial broadcast production, Kevin Wathen manages pre-production, shooting and post-production of all video and commercial production at InnerPost. Kevin is an award-winning editor receiving numerous ADDY awards for his commercial creativity and production. He has overseen broadcast production for a variety of clients including automotive, financial, restaurants and a number of public service and charitable organizations.

Justin Webb is an Emmy award winning graphics and animation specialist. He began video and documentary work at age 15.  Justin began work at WYMT-TV as a broadcast director and camera operator and helped build Eastern Kentucky's largest video editing and graphics production studio.  Justin went on to WKYT-TV as a motion graphics animator and Creative Services Director.  His experience and knowledge of AVID editing, graphics and animation is unparalleled in this market.

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