What started seven years ago as a small agency with few employees and even fewer clients has grown into a competitive alternative for brand owners in their quest to get into the hearts and minds of customers. "My goal is for Pepper to be a place where people whistle as they come to work," said its founder, Dennis Ramdeen.
Traditionally, advertising agencies have not been big on paying attention to people issues and it has always been about the client. "The simple truth is," Ramdeen said, "that we cannot create great work for our clients if our people don't feel good about themselves. I believe that the majority of the responsibility in this regard rests with the individual, but companies must do their part to create the right environment including recognition, rewards and clear accountabilities," Ramdeen added.
The team leader of the creative department, Bjorn Stodart, a disciple of our annual Carnival celebrations, is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a BA in digital media. Bjorn is the senior graphic artist at Pepper with seven years in the design field. He directs his team of full-time artists, Dameon Edwards, Janelle Jacelon, Marie-Elena Joseph and Pepper's freelance pool.
Graphic designer, Dameon Edwards who is an illustrator, is a graduate of the John Donaldson Technical Institute with more than ten years' experience in advertising, having worked at other agencies before coming to the Pepper kitchen.
Marie-Elena Joseph is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. She majored in illustration and graduated magna cum laude. After college she had a stint at Nickelodeon and MTV networks in New York. Marie loves doing freehand artwork and illustrations, which is rare in today's stock image world.
She had the opportunity to show off her artistic talent recently at "Urban Heartbeat-an artistic encounter in public spaces." This was an initiative of the Goethe Institute in Mexico City that saw selected artists painting public spaces in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. Marie was one of nine winners from Trinidad and Tobago chosen to paint a mural at the east wall of the Grand Stand, together with German artist, Jim Avignon.
Janelle Jacelon is the newest addition to the Pepper team. She worked in graphic design for almost ten years before moving to Pepper. Janelle is famous for her ability to turn things around quickly and that's a key ingredient in today's reality of impossible deadlines. On a weekend, relaxing on a tranquil beach where she pens a poem or two is how Janelle recharges for the stressful agency life.
A key member of the creative team is Eric Barry, the senior copywriter. Eric began in the advertising field in 1999. A University of the West Indies (UWI) theatre arts graduate, he also writes for the stage, radio and screen. This occasional actor has seen his writing for the stage win seven Cacique Awards. He was also commissioned by UWI to pen pieces on social awareness for radio and the social media. Along with his co-workers, Eric and the team present a rich smorgasbord of talent available to Pepper's clients.
Pepper is a full service advertising agency whose mantra is that any brand should seek to "own one thing," in the hearts and minds of its customers. Ramdeen said that he is inspired by the commitment and passion of Pepper people and he is lucky to have such a talented, committed and passionate bunch of people to come to work to every day.
