Wayland is the senior associate for strategic design at Manhattan Strategies. His design experience includes web and digital, print and UX/UI across corporate and public sector applications. Wayland specializes in brand identity design, digital illustrations, data visualization and animation.
Wayland’s work has included: branding an advocacy group of a successful U.S. presidential election; designing the visual ID and supporting collateral for U.S. federal, state and local political campaigns; conceptualizing and developing the design for international conferences in the U.S. and Mexico; producing dashboards that visualize dynamic data for healthcare, cybersecurity and technology applications; and designing more than a dozen websites including that of a leading U.S. healthcare company.
Serving as the lead designer and leveraging a Master’s degree in Digital Media Design for Learning from New York University, Wayland is a mentor and subject matter expert to his peers. He hosts learning sessions and engages in professional development to advance his team’s capabilities in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.
Wayland grew up in eastern China and enjoys 90s rock music, digital art, story-rich video games in his free time.
Simeon is co-founder and director of Manhattan Strategies, an independent consulting firm obsessed with telling compelling visual stories for the world’s leading and emerging brands and voices. In his role, Simeon oversees operations and strategy for the company.
Prior to establishing the company’s initial office in Amsterdam, NL and then bringing the office to New York City, Simeon served as manager of strategy and operations at Dell Medical School. There, he collaborated with medical providers to develop and implement clinical programs aimed at redesigning the way healthcare is delivered. Simeon also provided analytical decision-making support to senior executives at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Simeon began his career in finance working for Ernst & Young as valuation and business modeling associate. As a public finance investment banker at Goldman Sachs and TD Securities, Simeon executed transactions that raised over $4 billion in capital for clients.
Simeon is a small business adviser for Pacific Community Ventures, a nonprofit impact investor and community development financial institution. He earned a Bachelor of Science in finance and accounting from the University at Albany.
Max is the co-founder and principal of Manhattan Strategies, an independent consulting firm obsessed with telling compelling visual stories for the world’s leading and emerging brands and voices.
Over the past decade, Max’s work has engaged some of this decade’s most pivotal change-makers, from conceptualizing the future of work, to elevating technologies and policies that advance a clean energy future. Applying an approach to communication strategy that is grounded in strategic design, Max has tested – and proven – that stakeholder action is motivated by visual stimulation.
Prior to scaling the approach to business and advocacy organizations, Max served as worldwide executive communications lead to the current CEO of a Fortune 100 tech company. There, he successfully deployed an integrated communication strategy that included digital media visibility, main stage keynote presentations, and sales channel and analyst engagements.
Max also served the Governor of New York where he spearheaded the development of multiple State of the State and New York State Budget addresses to the New York State Legislature, the $1.6 billion Moynihan Train Hall unveiling in Manhattan, $10 billion master plan for JFK International Airport, $4 billion La Guardia Airport reconstruction, $5.6 billion transformation of the Long Island Railroad, Puerto Rico Medicaid redesign, New York City Transit Genius Competition, and policy and budget engagements with organizations including The Business Council of New York State, Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Long Island Association (LIA), Transport Workers Union (TWU), and others. Max also assisted in the publication of the 2016 and 2017 State of the State policy books, New York State Education Reform Law book, $15 Minimum Wage New York State Labor Report and Paid Family Leave New York State Labor Report.
Max is a board member of the Silicon Valley chapter for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He earned his Bachelor of Science in economics and political science from the University at Albany and Master of Public Administration concentrating in public finance from New York University.
Kumaar Ramasamy is an associate for strategic design at Manhattan Strategies. Kumaar spearheads the firm’s digital innovation implementation.
Kumaar is a practiced visual designer and web developer and specializes in combining the two to create immersive and impactful experiences.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Kumaar served as a design lead in implementing a multinational healthcare company’s brand in global touchpoints to employees, partners and customers.
Kumaar earned an Associate’s degree at Lone Star College in Houston, Texas. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and biking, and volunteering as an organizer at Sunrise Movement.
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Meghan is a senior associate for executive storytelling at Manhattan Strategies. Meghan manages storytelling strategy and the voices of Fortune 100 technology executives with a specialization in the future of work and sustainability.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Meghan served as a content manager at one of the premier interior design firms in New York, spearheading their marketing efforts and managing firmwide communications. Meghan also served as a marketing assistant for a top children’s publishing company where she drove social strategy and launched campaigns for several bestselling book series.
Meghan earned a Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross in English and history with a concentration in creative writing. She currently lives in New York City, and in her free time enjoys adding to her ever-overflowing book collection, discussing reality TV with anyone who will listen to her, and escaping the city for a beach or a mountain depending on the season.
Nicole is a senior associate for storytelling at Manhattan Strategies. Passionate about telling and amplifying stories, she specializes in creating and developing digital media strategy for Fortune 100 executive leadership with a focus on sustainability, innovative technology, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Nicole served as an engineering analyst at a pipeline inspection company, ascertaining in-line data quality and evaluating pipeline integrity for midstream and downstream oil & gas clientele. Nicole also served as a content writer for clients spanning multiple industries, from music to healthcare to moving services. At an economic development agency, she wrote articles promoting local businesses and restaurants and highlighting their culturally diverse impact on economic development across the Houston metropolitan area.
Nicole graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in petroleum engineering, as well as a certificate in creative writing with a concentration in fiction writing. In her free time, she writes poetry and short stories, goes to too many concerts, and documents her life in moments of exploring new coffee shops around the city.
Mary Martha Wiggers is an associate for dynamic visual design at Manhattan Strategies. Mary Martha drives strategic storytelling across digital applications with special focus on technology, sustainable impact and future of work.
Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Mary Martha served as a video editor and motion designer for clients across the New York Metropolitan area, including Nonviolence International New York. Mary Martha was the lead videographer and video editor for a candidate in the 2021 New York City Council race.
Mary Martha graduated from Brown University with a degree in theater arts and performance studies. While at Brown, she developed a love for storytelling. She returned to school to hone her editing skills and received her Master's in media studies from The New School.
