Our Creator + Owner + Magic Maker
Constellation Creative was dreamt of in 2009, born in 2017, and went full-time (rather unexpectedly, thanks to COVID) in May of 2020.
Maresa Thompson
Maresa is a Capricorn/Sagittarius Rising award-winning creative strategic leader with 25+ years of experience. She collaborates with some of the top national and New Mexico hospitality brands, nonprofits, and small businesses to drive significant revenue growth and enhance customer engagement.
Maresa has won many awards, including the HSMAI Adrian Awards Best in Show. Still, she considers sneaking a cat-bearding meme into her 40 Under Forty awards video among her greatest career achievements.
In 2020, after getting and losing her dream job as VP of Marketing for an international hospitality consulting firm, thanks to COVID, she transformed her side gig into her only gig and is now helping small businesses and nonprofits develop data-informed websites, marketing, and advertising.
She is currently known as the Mistress of Mischief, as the supplier of props for Headphone Dance Party. She is formerly known as the Corporate Cowgirl and, in some circles, as the Social Tornado. Maresa’s passions include reenergizing creativity through alternative healing and self-exploration, utilizing art, acupuncture, and ecstatic dance. Her artistic pursuits include sculptural welding, land art, slam poetry, and Magic Wish Cards – Order Yours Today!
Jewelry by ACL Jewelry
Educating + Entertaining
Speaking Engagements
Since 2007, Maresa has presented at marketing, advertising, and tourism conferences, luncheons, conventions, and events … and before that, she was in Poetry Slam.
Honors & Awards
Maresa has won local, regional and national awards working for incredible organizations with amazing teams and vendors.
HSMAI Adrian Awards
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International produces the largest and most prestigious hospitality competition, and recognizes outstanding advertising and public relations campaigns.
• 2016 Silver Adrian Award – Public Relations Innovation – Nativo Lodge Artist Rooms
• 2009 Best in Show Adrian Award – Web Marketing – Holiday Video “Life of a Brown Paper Bag”
• 2009 Platinum and Gold Adrian Awards – Holiday Video “Life of a Brown Paper Bag”
• 2009 Bronze Adrian Award – Summer Affordability Campaign
• 2007 Gold Adrian Award – Albuquerque Website www.itsatrip.org
NMHA Top HAT Awards
New Mexico Hospitality Association won for “Most Innovative Promotion” two years in a row.
2016 – Won for Nativo Lodge Artist Rooms, which has a 37% higher ADR than other rooms and resulted in $1.3 Million News Ad value in media stories
2015 – Won for Eldorado Hotel & Spa Lobby Lounge Naming Contest promotion which generated 670+ entries and 10,300+ website votes over a 9 week timeframe and resulted in 250+ people attending the open house and name reveal.
40 Under Forty
Issued by Albuquerque Business First
Honored to be among the 40 of the most outstanding young professionals in New Mexico selected out of the most competitive applicant pool to date of over 400 applications in May 2013.
(Maresa still considers getting cat-bearding into this award video among her greatest career achievements).
Many More Awards
See LinkedIn for a comprehensive list of Maresa’s career awards. These days she is more focused on the proven ROI she can provide to clients and doesn’t have as much time to enter awards shows.
Nice Things People Have Said
(In Writing)
(Some with exclamation points!)
Here are some quotes from LinkedIn and recommendation letters from people willing to go on the record about our Creator + Owner, Maresa Thompson.
“Maresa’s professional demeanor, strategic mindset and high level organization and communication skills are matched by a fun, friendly and creative personality. I have always enjoyed working with and for Maresa because she always has her eye on the ball and elevates those around her.”
Jennifer Hobson Hinsley
Public Relations Consultant, JLH Media
“Maresa is one of those rare people who can be vastly creative and handle complexity at the same time. As long as I’ve known Maresa, she has championed New Mexican creativity and has worked with brands to bring more awareness to the artists, cultures and places that make this an enchanted land. She brings energy, thoughtfulness and dedication to any project fortunate enough to collaborate with her.”
Dave Ortega
Creative Director, McKee Wallwork & Company
“I have had the pleasure of working with Maresa for over a year (with Heritage Hotels). During this time, Maresa has done an amazing job with her creative talent, which has elevated the quality of the company’s “look and feel.” She is someone who always follows through and is an absolute pleasure to work with. I am lucky to have Maresa as part of my team!”
Senior Vice President, PTG Consulting
“Maresa is truly a marketing genius. She is creative, detailed, passionate, and has an eye for artistic expression that is truly impressive. She is also a lot of fun to have on a dynamic team. Maresa is also very willing to speak her mind and fight for what she believes is right. She is loyal, energetic, and delivers excellence. I am so thankful she is part of my team!”
Caryl Helsel
Founder/CEO, Dragonfly Strategists
“Maresa is a wonderful fusion of traditional marketing skills blended with savvy in the new technologies and advertising vehicles for the modern marketing director. She combines enthusiasm with extraordinary talent to achieve amazing results and produce award-winning art and content. She is a genuine mover and shaker who has a unique ability to provide a comfortable space for fellow creatives to excel.”
Jeff Caven
Photographer, Resorthotelphotographer.com
“Maresa’s enthusiasm and talent have contributed greatly to the innovative and successful marketing of Heritage Hotels & Resorts, Inc. She takes pride in the day-to-day tasks; she has a tenacious attitude about all projects assigned to her. Her professionalism and integrity earn her the respect of all those who have the opportunity to work with or for her.”
Jim Long
Founder/CEO, Heritage Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
“Maresa is a masterful media relations professional. We always know journalists are in terrific hands with Maresa and she leaves no stone unturned to help them get their stories while delivering great results for Heritage. She is also one of the hardest working, goal-oriented executives I have encountered in my career.”
Lori Tucker
Owner, Tucker & Associates PR
“I have had the pleasure to work with Maresa in both an indirect and direct capacity. She is extraordinarily talented, high-energy, enthusiastic, team-oriented, and self-motivated. We are lucky to have her on our marketing team at Heritage Hotels & Resorts.”
Former VP, Heritage Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
Maresa’s Experience
Scroll to explore a constellation of Maresa’s career. To see a more linear version with details, visit her LinkedIn Profile.
See Maresa’s pro-bono work for the labors of love and organizations she supports by volunteering.
Today - 2017
Creator / Owner
Constellation Creative
2024 - 2019
Executive Marketing Consultant
Dragonfly Strategists
Business Type: Hospitality Consulting Firm
Industry: Hospitality & Hotels
Functions: Marketing, Websites, Audits, Evaluations, Content, Social Media (Pre-COVID was Vice President of Marketing)
2020 - 2017
Outreach Supervisor / Creative Director
New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation
Business Type: Non-profit
Industry: Education & Finance
Functions: Website Design & Development, SEO, SEM, Marketing, Advertising, Graphic Design, Public Relations
2017 - 2011
Senior Communications & Creative Director (aka Corporate Cowgirl)
Heritage Hotels & Resorts
Business Type: Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Nightclubs, Spas
Industry: Hospitality & Tourism
Functions: Strategic Integrated Marketing Plans and Campaigns, Experience Design, Digital & Interactive Marketing, Creative, Branding & Advertising , Public Relations, Community Relations
2016 - 2010
District 12 Governor, NM Board of Directors President + More
American Advertising Federation
Business Type: Non-profit Industry Organization
Industry: Advertising
Functions: Volunteer leadership for the local New Mexico club and the District 12. Board development, event coordination and promotion
2011 - 1997
Interactive & Design Manager
Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit Albuquerque)
Business Type: Non-profit Destination Marketing Organization
Industry: Tourism
Functions: Developed, designed, managed, and produced collateral, interactive advertising, websites, video, and e-mail marketing.
Competencies
Maresa is passionate about learning new things. She also loves lists. So here are some lists of applications she uses and new things she learning… this list is outdated instantly because she’s already learning new things.
Web + Email
Active Campaign
AddEvent
Constant Contact
Divi
Drupal
Eventbrite
GoDaddy
HTML
Hubspot
MailChimp
Proprietary Systems
Squarespace
Wix
WordPress
Zapier
Zoho
Zoom
Google + Social Media
Google Ads
Google Analytics
Google Maps
Google My Business
Google Search Console
Google Tag Manager
Expedia
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
TripAdvisor
Twitter
Yelp
YouTube
Design & Editing
Adobe Creative Suite:
Photoshop
Illustrator
InDesign
Acrobat
Premiere Pro
Lightroom
Adobe Express
Microsoft Office:
Word
Powerpoint
Excel