Federal Civilian

Taylor Wood is an experienced communication and change management strategist dedicated to building and leading proactive teams that go above and beyond for her clients. She oversees a portfolio of more than 18 teams across several government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Science Foundation. In this role, Taylor focuses on growing and expanding Human Experience’s event management capability and enhancing Aptive’s recruitment marketing services through the implementation of technical solutions.

Throughout her career, she has focused on learning various leadership styles and techniques to help others achieve success. Taylor is passionate about training others to lead with empathy and foster positive working relationships, enabling teams to provide exceptional service to clients. In previous roles, Taylor has led numerous communication teams and enterprise-wide transformation initiatives for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Department of the Navy, VA, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Energy.

• Secret Security Clearance

• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)

• Certified Change Management Practitioner, Prosci

• M.A., Strategic Communications, American University

• B.A., Communication Studies, West Virginia University

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Seth Niman leads Aptive’s media team, delivering marketing solutions and strategies to our federal and commercial clients. Seth and his team have extensive expertise in planning, negotiating and optimizing advertising campaigns designed to achieve their customers’ goals with specific, measurable results.

Seth applies a holistic approach to planning and buying across the media landscape, including digital programmatic, paid search, paid social, digital video/audio, connected television, out of home, print, television and radio. He utilizes a research-oriented process to develop the ideal media and advertising strategy, selecting the channels that align with the client’s overarching strategy and advancing their marketing objectives.

With more than 20 years of experience as an advertising, media and marketing professional, Seth has supported the branding, recruitment and product marketing efforts for Fannie Mae, McDonald’s, Cava, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Homeland Security.

• B.A., English, University of Virginia

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Kaveh is a creative visual storyteller with extensive video production experience, both in studios and on location. His role is to direct, manage and oversee video production and visual storytelling strategy at Aptive and to help enhance and elevate visual direction for creative campaigns nationwide. Over the past 15 years, Kaveh has been a part of teams and organizations that tell effective stories, conceptualizing creative ideas while thinking outside the box to showcase the most innovative stories, brands and campaigns. At Voice of America, he co-created the ‘People in America’ series, which became one of the most popular and widely watched visual series for TV and online platforms. At USA TODAY, Kaveh helped build and create the foundation for digital video franchise storytelling. At Moko Social Media, he helped build the video department from the ground up and created visual franchise series for all of its verticals.

Kaveh’s core passion is to create a safe, collaborative space for storytellers and creatives that helps foster vision, inspiration and creativity. “As creatives, we do our best work when we come together and that’s exactly what we’re building at Aptive and what sets us apart.”

• Award Winner, Platinum and Gold Hermes Creative Awards

• Award Winner, Platinum and Gold MarCom Awards

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, 508 Compliance

• M.A., Film and Video, American University

• B.S., Finance, George Mason University

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Karen is a distinguished leader with a strategic mindset who brings a wealth of expertise from her years in the events industry. She plays a pivotal role in establishing and enhancing Aptive’s events capability through training, knowledge management, adaptation of new technologies and refining best practices. Karen takes a collaborative approach to cultivating efficient and effective teamwork. Her commitment to fostering trusted partnerships extends beyond her dedication to client service, driving her curiosity for innovation and new ideas.

Prior to Aptive, Karen oversaw the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s flagship public-facing events, leading cross-functional teams and managing event budgets exceeding $1 million. She spearheaded the Chamber’s transition from in-person to virtual events during the pandemic, producing a range of revenue-driving digital experiences, from the first episodic series attracting 18,000 registrants a week after the shutdown to regular broadcast productions to the Chamber’s first immersive digital event experience. Karen managed a diverse portfolio of over 600 annual events for the Council on Foreign Relations, including high-profile gatherings hosting distinguished speakers, including Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and David Petraeus. Karen remains actively engaged as a Professional Convention Management Association and Society of Government Meeting Professionals member.

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
• Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP)
• Event Management Certificate Program, The George Washington University
• B.A., Business Economics and Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara

Taylor Grant is a creative leader and experienced designer who applies human-centered design to produce innovative and impactful visual communication materials. Through strategic oversight, she ensures the creative team develops engaging brands and campaigns that achieve client goals while informing, inspiring and encouraging action. She creates thoughtful brand identities, paid media, social, events, out-of-home advertising, websites and outside-the-box creative executions that connect with target audiences and leave a lasting impression.

Taylor has more than 12 years of experience in visual communications and her eye for design and prior work with federal agencies provides Taylor with the ability to lead, support and serve Aptive’s creative team.

• Telly Award Winner for Art Direction in Social Impact

• M.S., Communications Design, Pratt Institute

• B.A., Psychology, Dartmouth College

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