FOUNDER & CEO, RESEARCHER, STRATEGIST & PUBLICIST

Paula helps communities of all kinds recognize and use their authentic character as a basis for collaborative, sustainable communication, decision-making and action. Her social science method focuses on building business, brands and relationships by leveraging the untapped assets of human collectives−their intelligence, personality and energy.

After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Harp Performance from the University of Michigan, Paula booked and promoted concerts at Eclipse Jazz in Ann Arbor for Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, and Spyro Gyra. At several Detroit-area marketing firms, she managed accounts for Gelman Sciences, Borders Books and Crain Communications. In Michigan and California, she branded and built fan communities for musical artists Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Aerosmith, and Paula Abdul. She and her business partner at Entertainment Direct built the largest paid fan club in history for New Kids on the Block.

Paula moved to Tucson, Arizona, and joined her brother Ned Schaper to establish the Mat Bevel Institute as a popular avant-garde theatre venue. A few years later in 1997, she founded WestWordVision. In 2014, she joined her brother to help build new programs and expand audiences for the nonprofit Mat Bevel Company. She serves as Vice President and Executive Director.

Lars Marshall

ART DIRECTOR, BROADCAST-VIDEO PRODUCER & PHOTOGRAPHER

For the past 30 years, Lars has worked as a Graphic designer, an Art Director, and a TV and Radio Producer at advertising agencies in Fort Worth, Texas, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Nashville, Tennessee, and now Patagonia, Arizona. He has developed multi-media campaigns to promote everything from the Michigan State Fair, architects and developers throughout Texas, and healthcare programs and facilities across the mid-west.

In 2002, he joined his friend of 25 years, Paula, and left the big city for Patagonia to work with WestWordVision. He is passionate about working in broadcast multi-media. Lars has Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees from University of North Texas in Advertising, Psychology and Photography.

Stefanie Marlis

COPYWRITER & STRATEGIST

A well-published, award-winning literary writer, Stefanie Marlis combines a right-brained talent for lyricism and storytelling with a remarkable capacity for deep thinking and strategy. She loves paring things down, getting to the seeds and translating the core into honest, hardworking brand messages for websites, social media, print campaign and corporate communications.

Stefanie’s copywriting experience runs deep and wide, from clients engaged in Napa and Sonoma County’s wine and tourism industry to national retailers such as Ariat, Athleta and Sundance to institutions such as Texas A & M, the Ruldolf Steiner Foundation and the University of Arizona.

She’s partnered with WestWordVision since 2003. Stefanie gets behind her clients with heart and soul, creating powerful metaphors, memorable names and tag lines, and convincing copy. She especially enjoys championing organizations and businesses that are good stewards of the planet. She’s a dogged perfectionist who’s positive, quick, compassionate and energetic.

Summer Darden

COPYWRITER, CONTENT DEVELOPER, SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Summer Darden is the Social Media & Blog Writer for WestWordVision. Summer is a full-time student at the University of Arizona and pursuing her undergrad in Pre-Business with a minor in Global Business. She is currently working towards a career in International Development and Sustainability through natural resources and uses travel as a key element in her studies.

She is the Social Media advisor for Students Consulting for Non-profit Organizations (SCNO) and is responsible for using social media to spread awareness about the good work of non-profit organizations in greater Tucson. Summer is also the Communications Advisor for the Eller Global Business Association and has increased comprehension regarding international business and global topics via bi-weekly meetings as well as increased professional business literacy from guest speakers in developmental management across the globe. She is an alumni of Global Leadership Adventures (GLA), a peace corps inspired travel group that encourages young adults to find their passions abroad.