In his tenure as president & CEO of Level Agency, Patrick Patterson oversaw its transformation from a pioneering, fast-growing higher education shop into the performance-marketing powerhouse it is today. Under his leadership, the agency's revenue grew 30% or more annually; its profit margin increased 4X; its marketing spend now tops $50M annually, and its capabilities have broadened to offer more complementary services for more industries.

Great marketing starts with asking great questions. From the outset of his career, Patterson applied his background in computer science and math to the challenge of reaching and engaging audiences (and carefully measuring every result). In an industry increasingly driven by automation and machine learning, he excelled, ultimately managing a $30+ million budget for Education Management Corporation. Patrick then took his passion for creating value to product development, implementing lean methodology at a technology startup that focused on using data to drive efficient sales enablement.

His drive for efficiency, performance, and continuous improvement led him to join agency founder Thomas Donohoe in 2012 to oversee Level's operations and strategic direction - eventually purchasing the company in 2021 with his partner, Patrick Van Gorder.

Patterson's vision for Level Agency is to be the go-to performance marketing agency when clients want real, measurable results. Reaching this goal requires an uncompromising commitment to performance: platform excellence, compelling creative, client partnership, growth mindset, and constant innovation. By surrounding himself with talented, adaptable colleagues, he knows he's set the agency up for success. Patterson’s vision for Level Agency is to be the go-to performance marketing agency when clients want real, measurable results. Reaching this goal requires an uncompromising commitment to performance: platform excellence, compelling creative, client partnership, growth mindset, and constant innovation. By surrounding himself with talented, adaptable colleagues, he knows that he’s set the agency up for success.

Patrick X.W. Van Gorder has been part of the leadership team of Level Agency since the company’s founding in 2010. Starting as Lead Copywriter, Van Gorder has made measurable, significant contributions in each subsequent role he has held; as Director of Campaigns and Platforms, as AVP of Client Services, as VP of Operations, as Senior Vice President and Head of Accounts, EVP, and in his current role as President and COO.

Van Gorder's responsibilities as President and COO include the day-to-day operations of the agency and the strategic performance marketing success of the agency's clients. That encompasses fostering healthy, trust-rooted partner relationships, developing increasingly ROI-effective ways to digitally reach target audiences, and consistently delivering attention-grabbing and relevant advertising creative.

Van Gorder attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated with a B.A. dual major in Journalism and Political Science. A son of missionary parents, Van Gorder grew up in five different countries across three continents, before coming to the University of Pittsburgh to study Journalism and Political Science. He lives in Pittsburgh’s East End with his wife Sophia, daughter Pearl, golden retriever Lily, and cat Basil.

Dave is responsible for the Level Agency go-to-market strategy to acquire new customers in established industry verticals, enter new industry segments and capabilities, and develop strategic partnerships. Prior to joining Level Agency full-time, Dave had been an advisor and consultant to high growth businesses, including Level Agency, where he served as both Advisor and Chair of its Strategic Advisory Board and Consultant.

Throughout his 20+ year career, Dave’s career experience has been connected to helping organizations accelerate business growth. He has held leadership responsibilities across key functional areas, including Sales, Business Development, Marketing, Operations, and Customer Success. He has relevant agency experience from his time at Performics, a leading performance marketing agency, including spearheading the agency’s strategic planning process, leading a new client segmentation strategy, and serving as its VP of Business Development. More recently, he worked on the brand side as VP of Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success at Othot, a predictive analytics software built for higher education institutions, that was acquired by Liaison International. Dave’s early career was spent in financial services where he worked in sales at Goldman Sachs and corporate development/mergers and acquisitions at National City Corporation.

Dave has a JD and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, a BA in Business from the University of Richmond, and an Executive certification from the Institute of Design at Stanford University. He has multiple certifications and designations including certificates in Gainsight Customer Success Management, Google Analytics Fundamentals, HubSpot Content Marketing, and Hootsuite Social Media. Dave and his wife, Amanda, and their 3 kids reside in Pittsburgh, where he serves as Board Chair for the Communities in Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County (CISPAC) and as a board member and coach with the Mt. Lebanon Soccer Association.

Myles received is BA in Corporate Communications from Lycoming College and is a graduate of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders Program. He has nearly a decade of experience on the client-side of marketing, working as Marketing Director and General Manager for companies in a variety of verticals including construction, transportation, aviation, and craft beer. Prior to joining Level, Myles was the Director of Digital Marketing for an agency specializing in Ecommerce and B2B Lead Generation. Myles’ diverse marketing background and general business operations experience enable him to act as a value injector for clients and champion special projects.

Outside of the office, Myles enjoys podcasting and livestreaming. He is also a TEDx Speaker and published author.

Jenna earned her MA in International Business from Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, United Kingdom and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate studying social media implications on general communication theory and human connection.

With a passion for problem-solving, she is a data-driven, solutions-oriented marketer. From starting her career as a digital strategist to leading Business Development for the agency, Jenna's experience positions her as a trusted strategist for Level's higher education partners. Currently completing her Ph.D. in Media & Communication Studies, Jenna's research focuses on emerging social media and its impact on branding and advertising.

Outside of work, Jenna is an avid yoga practitioner, world traveler, and loves exploring new trails with her dog, Chadwick.

As the B2B Team Lead, TJ brings with him over a decade of marketing experience. With a focus on driving demand and revenue for his clients through a variety of marketing tactics. TJ has established a track record of success in the marketing industry and is constantly pushing the envelope with his clients to test new strategies and platforms.  A graduate of West Virginia University, TJ's education and experience has equipped him with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in today’s B2B marketing landscape.

Tim Fitzgerald graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with degrees in both Economics and Music. He specializes in Social and Display advertising while maintaining a passion for large analytics projects. For Tim, effective marketing lies at the confluence of art and science.

His major analytics projects include customer lifetime value analyses and Level Agency's cross-channel attribution tool, which allows Level to get more for our client media dollars. Passionate and resourceful, Tim believes in the words of the founder of his alma mater “My Heart is in the Work”.

In his spare time Tim continues to explore his love of music as a multi-instrumentalist and producer.

Jordan studied web and multimedia management at Pittsburgh Technical College and brings nearly a decade of experience in web development and data management to Level Agency. A specialist in back-end development, he spearheaded Level’s API and data warehouse restructuring. This major undertaking allows for improved tracking and integrations with all aspects of our ad data, from client CRM, to reporting and analytics dashboards. He continues to optimize datasets for Level, aiming to automate “everything he can.”

Jordan is a hiker, gamer, and a traveler aiming to see all 50 states by age 30.

Laura received her MBA from Point Park University and her BA in Theatre & French from Penn State. With over a decade of marketing experience in theater and the arts, Laura understands the challenges of keeping highly complex projects moving in sync, the importance of clearly communicating across departments. At Level Agency, she leads a team focused on delivering results for several clients. Tell Laura what success looks like, and she’ll help chart an engaging path to reach it.

Laura coordinates a project called Fun A Day Pittsburgh every January, culminating in a group art exhibition.

Jenna is a finance and accounting professional with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University. She has over 10 years’ experience in the finance and accounting industry and a strong understanding of financial reporting, analysis and accounting principles.

Outside of Level, Jenna enjoys raising two wonderful daughters and shopping for treasures. She is also an avid baker, with long term goals of opening a bakery with her husband.

Keefer Kopco graduated from Gannon University’s Theatre and Communication Arts department. He specializes in social media and display marketing, working with clients and Level’s creative team on targeting, testing, and ad design strategy.

During his time in undergrad, he served as Editor-In-Chief of the student-run blog Gannon Edge. Has served as social media production and strategy roles for NYC indie comic publisher Drumfish Productions, and Erie-based digital marketing agency Epic Web Studios. During his time at Epic he helped get the Socialism: The Game Kickstarter-funded through securing spots on Fox’s After the Bell and Vice. He promoted undefeated boxer Gennady “GGG” Golovkin on behalf of Golden Boy Productions for his Monroe, Lemieux, and Wade fights and managed paid media for several notable stand-up comedians including Eddie Griffin and Tom Green.

In his spare time, Keefer’s a huge comic book collector and board game enthusiast.

With skills sets in overall strategy, client partnership, media management, and creative, Jess has experience in ecommerce, higher-ed, and non-profit marketing among other industries. She received her Master of Science in Digital Journalism from Syracuse University and joins Level after living in Erie, Pa for undergrad and beyond. As a client services team member, Jess has a passion for problem-solving through data-driven marketing and finding the most efficient way to accomplish client goals.

Outside of work, you can find Jess at a Pittsburgh Penguins game, boating on the Three Rivers with her husband and dog, or finding the next best brunch spot.

Dale is a marketing and business development expert with a passion for helping clients achieve their goals. With over 10 years of experience in digital marketing strategy and execution, Dale is known for his creative problem-solving skills and his ability to build strong client partnerships.

When he's not working, Dale can be found rooting for Pittsburgh's sports teams, getting creative with at-home projects, enjoying live music, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Geoff leads a team of performance marketing professionals charged with the successful generation and retention of students for higher education clients. He brings a decade of omni-channel performance marketing success for Level Agency’s Education, B2B, and high-value B2C clients and ensures data is driving every student growth and marketing decision we’re making.

Before Level, Geoff studied psychology at the University of Maryland and spent five years of academic research experience developing statistical analyses, efficient processes, marketing surveys, and using data to solve puzzles in human experiences.

In his downtime, he enjoys spending time with his young family, woodworking, and if he can find time, snowboarding.

Mike Rubino studied graphic design and creative writing (BFA) at Seton Hill University, and has over a decade of experience in design, illustration, filmmaking and marketing. He believes in drawing every day and using visual storytelling to communicate and inspire action. Most recently, he served as a visual design manager and a certified human-centered design instructor at LUMA Institute. Mike uses empathy-driven design thinking methods alongside skills in digital illustration and storytelling to help clients make meaningful connections with customers. Mike serves as a Director of Programming at Arcade Comedy Theater, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit theater, and can be often seen on stage as an improviser and actor. He loves living in Pittsburgh’s Northside with his wife and son, playing board games, and cooking breakfast.

JT brings 17+ years of digital marketing and eCommerce experience to the Level team. After starting his career managing digital marketing for an eCommerce startup, he focused his energy towards online marketing and lead generation in the higher education vertical. JT joins Level after spending nine years leading eCommerce operations at GNC, driving a variety of digital initiatives.

Since 2020, Chrissy has been part of the Level team where she’s leveraged her 15+ years of digital marketing and eCommerce specialization to drive performance success for Level’s client portfolio. In her role as SVP Products & Services, Chrissy is responsible for the development and execution of the agency’s performance marketing services.

Chrissy is based in her hometown of Philadelphia where she earned her MBA from Temple University and graduated with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her agency work, she’s an active board member for the Southeast PA Area Health Education Centers and a fundraiser for the Gift of Life. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, trail running, amd cheering on her hometown teams (Go Birds!).

Brad Stephenson is a digital marketing leader with a unique blend of creative and analytical skills. With a data-focused Master's degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a background in acting, stand-up comedy, and journalism, he brings a strong storytelling foundation to his work. With more than 20 years of digital marketing experience, including leading a global team for Philips Home Healthcare Solutions and increasing annual attendance at Carnegie Museum of Art by more than 25 percent, Brad has a proven track record of success.

At Level Agency, he combines his creative and data-driven strategic background to help clients understand audiences and deliver compelling digital ads that produce results.

In his free time, Brad spends time skiing and playing board games with his wife, Kelly, and daughter, Sadie. He also produces and performs in the award-winning monthly comedy show "Knights of the Arcade" in Pittsburgh.

Amy Stettler studied Journalism & Communications at Point Park College before embarking on a career in Advertising. She brings over 25 years of blue-chip marketing and media experience to Level.Agency on such brands as Apple, Intel, IBM, Amex, Chevrolet and Microsoft. Along with performance marketing experience at Smile Direct Club and StitchFix. She has held senior leadership positions at global agencies including Ogilvy, Havas, and Omnicom and ran her own independent digital marketing consulting firm prior to joining Level.

Amy is known for driving strategy in communications planning that produces results. Her approach is audience lead - channel relevant. She builds efficient and effective integrated communications strategies that are grounded in consumer insights discovered via research & testing. Just ask her to develop a strategic roadmap for your brand and then hold on!

When she’s not building out road maps or driving campaign development, she can be found running around Pittsburgh with her 2 dogs, paddle boarding on the rivers or teaching yoga at her home studio.

Kyle comes to Level as a data scientist after finishing a math Ph.D. at Case Western Reserve University. Prior to that he worked for 6 years in biomedical engineering research using specialized MRI techniques to look at the connections in the brain. Kyle possesses the full range of data science skills from data cleaning and EDA to modeling and communication of results. He most enjoys translating cutting-edge machine learning techniques to (messy) real-world applications. He helps clients understand the value of their own data, draw insightful conclusions, and make data-driven decisions on how to proceed in the future. Much of his free time is (joyfully) taken up with his wife and 4 young children. He enjoys ongoing math research (especially into geometric/Clifford algebras), chess, and soccer when he gets time outside of family and work.

Seth studied law at Duquesne University School of Law, and English writing at the University of Pittsburgh. As Level Agency legal counsel, Seth manages contracts and agreements, as well as ensuring that data privacy protections are in place on behalf of our client partners. His legal expertise includes contracts, employment, regulatory & compliance, privacy, corporate governance, and litigation. He feels fortunate that learning has never felt like work.

Seth enjoys hockey, playing guitar, reading, and film & photography