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LAW OF ATTRACTION

The term ‘LOA’ comes from the belief that positive, intentional actions and thoughts committed by individuals and groups will create and attract more of the same. This concept – the Law of Attraction (LOA) – is fundamental to our business model and the way we lead our personal lives.

How we work.

We’ve honed our approach and methodology over three decades of working for and with nonprofits, companies and government, giving us a deep toolbox from which to draw upon. This deep experience informs all of our work and our approach to making good things happen.

COMMUNITY & CHEMISTRY

Before even putting a pen to paper, we invest time on the front end communicating with your team, understanding your desires and learning what you want to see happen and what is behind those desires. Building good chemistry and great experiences with, between, and among the networks of our clients is priority.

PARTNERSHIP & CONNECTION

LOACOM is constantly building an ecosystem of relationships and contacts to cross pollinate ideas, connections and experiences to help make great things happen between our clients, their followers and allies.

ORGANIZATION & EXPECTATION

We love timelines, trackers, clear roles and expectations, regular check-ins, organized ‘to do’ lists and meeting minutes. We believe in stellar customer service, drama-free engagements, and adaptation when new realities or information presents itself.

CREATIVITY & DESIGN

When it comes time to the design of your core marketing assets, marketing plans, and campaigns, our creative and strategy teams collaborate to blend artistic design, technology, and storytelling.

MEASURABLE RESULTS

While we define success by metrics and indicators you would expect, what’s more important is the elusive but incredibly important feeling that together we have made measurable and sustainable progress toward achieving your goals.

OUR TEAM

ERIC CÁRDENAS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER

Eric Cárdenas is LOACOM’s Chief Executive Officer and co-founder. After spending years working in both the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, Eric joined long-time friend and confidant David Fortson as part of the LOA team in 2011, becoming Chief Operations Officer and partner to LoaTree, Inc. Together, Eric and Dave co-founded LOACOM in 2012, where he continued to serve as COO until 2021.

Eric’s areas of interest and special focus include food and agriculture, philanthropy for social change, campaigns/movement-building, and strategic planning and facilitation. He is currently President of  the Board for the Fund for Santa Barbara, Secretary for the Johnson Ohana Foundation, and has worked or volunteered with the Ag Innovations Network, Orfalea Foundations, Environmental Defense Center, and Roots of Change, among others. Eric is currently most passionate about addressing the climate crisis through an intersectional approach that leverages business, racial justice and equity, philanthropy, strategic communications, and organizing.  

A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies, Eric now lives in Goleta, CA and his wife Michelle and their two young children, Río and Brisa. When not chasing kids, changing diapers, or learning the ways of parenting, they can be found at the beach, listening to music, or chasing each other around local parks.

MAILE DIANA SCHOONOVER

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS LEAD

Maile Diana Schoonover (she/her) is a marketing professional working at the intersection of environmentalism and social justice. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Maile earned her BA in English and Environmental Literature before pursuing a career in cause-based marketing and liberation-centered advocacy work.

As a Mixed-race identifying woman of Hawaiian, Black, Portuguese and White heritage, Maile brings a unique, multicultural lens to her work with clients. During her time at LOACOM, she has led and supported projects in the nonprofit sector, philanthropy, local and statewide government campaigns, small businesses, environmental organizations, and LOACOM’s own Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice work.

In her free time, you can find her grooving at the roller-rink, curling up with a good book, or exploring new hiking trails with her rescue pup, Chin-Chin.

 

ELIZABETH DAVIDSON

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS LEAD

Elizabeth Davidson (she/her) has expertise in design, strategy, cause-based campaigns, website ideation and development, social media management, and more. Spanning across many industries, her work has supported environmental organizations, education programs, small businesses, state legislature, and national nonprofit organizations.

She grew up on California’s central coast and currently lives in Spain where she’s improving her Spanish and soaking up the sun. Offline, you’ll find her dancing or drumming up a conversation with just about anyone (oh, and she will never turn down a game of Pass the Pigs).

 

SHANNA BELLINGHAM

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS LEAD

Shanna Bellingham (she/her) is a strategic and data-driven communication and marketing professional with a dynamic range of expertise across industries and mediums. Her background includes media and radio broadcasting, writing and storytelling, branding and promotional marketing, social media management, public relations, and more. She holds a B.S. in Communications and a double M.S. in Environmental Policy and Sustainability.

Always passionate about environmental impact and conservation, Shanna actively volunteers in her local community for sustainability and wildlife causes. She spends her free time at the gym, reading, exploring the outdoors, spoiling her animals, and being the cool aunt to her nieces and nephews.

 

AARON ROESSLER

WEB DEVELOPER

Aaron is LOACOM’s web development guru. His constant love for graphic and web design lead him to pursue what he loves best. He combines his creativity with helping people and companies turn their ideas and visions into reality.

After exploring careers and lifestyles from San Jose to Hawaii and Illinois to Texas, he is now married with two beautiful daughters and has settled his roots into Santa Barbara’s rich soils. He will continue to do what he loves so much – building friendships and enjoying laughter and life to their fullest as he solidifies his career in anything and everything design oriented.

 

DAVE FORTSON

STRATEGIC ADVISOR & CO-FOUNDER

David Fortson is LOACOM’s Strategic Advisor and co-founder. Believing business is one of the most powerful tools for making a better world, and seeing tremendous opportunities to expand the power and influence of the nonprofit sector, David founded LoaTree and later co-founded LOACOM in hopes of mashing up the best assets of the private and nonprofit sectors.

David’s areas of interest and focus include business development, digital ecosystem development, blockchain for a better world, and movement strategy. At the end of 2021, David launched LOA Labs – a network growth company for ‘better world’ blockchains. LOA Labs is working at the heart of Regenerative Finance (#ReFi) and is working with projects around the globe at the intersection of impact and crypto.

 
Alice-CheinAlice-Chein

ALICE CHEIN

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Alice Chein is a skilled graphic designer whose work includes website design, logo and brand packages, event posters, packaging design, email newsletters, and more. She is a Santa Barbara native and self-taught graphic designer that works with a wide range of clients. Alice currently splits her time visiting far away lands while working remotely for LOACOM and a handful of others.

 

SIENA KECK

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Siena Keck (she/her) is a LOACOM Communications Associate, interning while studying Sociology and Environmental Studies as a senior at Westmont College. Siena is interested in cause-based marketing and communications and looks forward to pursuing a career in environmental and social justice. She is thrilled to share her passion for connection and creativity by currently supporting LOACOM’s “Let’s Get Changed” podcast while assisting with other communications projects. 

Offline, Siena runs track at Westmont and loves surfing, hiking, photography, and spending as much time in the ocean as possible.

 

OUR STORY

Since those first few years, LOACOM has hired a small but amazing crew who, individually, were in the right place at the right time. Timing is everything. So is having the right vibe. Today, in our small office in downtown Santa Barbara, CA, we are amazed by the partnerships we’ve grown, the impact our broader ‘collective’ has made, and the fun we’ve had along the way.

Keys to LOA’s success? Work hard, share good times, and strive to create a better world with every interaction.

Eric and Dave

As students leaders at UC Santa Barbara, David Fortson and Eric Cardenas (best friends then and now) were heavily involved in efforts aimed at resource preservation and student/community engagement. Upon entering the workforce, they immediately began working with businesses, nonprofits, and foundations focused on conservation, social responsibility, and community well-being.

Friends from Day 1 at UC Santa Barbara

The desire to bridge conservation ethics with responsible business practices and social good remained at the forefront as this tag team continued to develop and refine their individual skill sets. In 2010, sensing an opportunity, Dave created LoaTree, Inc., an eco-lifestyle collective that focused on supporting artists, nonprofits, small businesses, and entrepreneurs through storytelling and events. A community Earth Day festival was LoaTree’s first major client, which grew to a 2-day, 30,000 person event with LoaTree’s support.

The original LoaTree logo, circa 2009

After a few attempts, Dave successfully lured Eric to join him at LoaTree in 2011. Eric’s kitchen table became their office space, and the duo began to spread its offerings to new types of clients. The Loa ecosystem grew, interns provided crucial support, and in late 2012, LOACOM was born. A small Loa team spent another year or so growing LOACOM’s business footprint before the kitchen became too tight of a workspace and they ventured out into the outside world.

A bigger team: more success, more fun

In 2013, LOACOM landed it’s first internationally relevant client, 1% for the Planet (of which LoaTree/LOACOM are proud members). This nonprofit organization, founded by Patagonia, Inc.’s Yvon Chouinard, fit the exact profile of clients that LOACOM wanted to align itself with – those that cared about people and planet, in addition to but not above profit. Things began to move.

Loa’s first major client, 1% for the Planet

Since those first few years, LOACOM has hired a small but amazing crew who, individually, were in the right place at the right time. Timing is everything. So is having the right vibe. Today, in our small office in downtown Santa Barbara, CA, we are amazed by the partnerships we’ve grown, the impact our broader ‘collective’ has made, and the fun we’ve had along the way.

Keys to LOA’s success? Work hard, share good times, and strive to create a better world with every interaction.

LOA crew with our loved ones in 2019, thriving and having fun!
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OUR PROCESS

INTAKE

  • Client meets with LOA representative/s to discuss project goals
  • LOA assesses project internally
  • LOA follows up with additional questions, declines project, and/or submits project proposal

EMBARK

  • You sign contract -work begins!
  • Work flow and communication platforms enabled
  • Client ‘pitch’ to full LOA team, followed by LOA internal team ‘brain rain’ to provide maximum input to project leads (optional)

DISCOVER

  • Product/project research and benchmarking 
  • Findings/ overview/ moodboard/ feedback to client re: our research

CREATE

  • Procure content/assets from client 
  • Begin creative process of ideation and design 
  • Continuous client engagement and feedback

ACTIVATE

  • Launch product, project, campaign, or experience 
  • Ongoing campaign management 
  • 6 and 12 month client review of LOA’s engagement

CONCLUDE

  • Project wrap-up and client feedback

OUR PROCESS

INTAKE

  • Client meets with LOA representative/s to discuss project goals
  • LOA assesses project internally
  • LOA follows up with additional questions, declines project, and/or submits project proposal

EMBARK

  • You sign contract -work begins!
  • Work flow and communication platforms enabled
  • Client ‘pitch’ to full LOA team, followed by LOA internal team ‘brain rain’ to provide maximum input to project leads (optional)

DISCOVER

  • Product/project research and benchmarking 
  • Findings/overview/moodboard/feedback to client re: our research

CREATE

  • Procure content/assets from client 
  • Begin creative process of ideation and design 
  • Continuous client engagement and feedback

ACTIVATE

  • Launch product, project, campaign, or experience 
  • Ongoing campaign management 
  • 6 and 12 month client review of LOA’s engagement

DISCOVER

  • Project wrap-up and client feedback

OUR PROCESS

INTAKE

  • Client meets with LOA representative/s to discuss project goals
  • LOA assesses project internally
  • LOA follows up with additional questions, declines project, and/or submits project proposal

EMBARK

  • You sign contract -work begins!
  • Work flow and communication platforms enabled
  • Client ‘pitch’ to full LOA team, followed by LOA internal team ‘brain rain’ to provide maximum input to project leads (optional)

DISCOVER

  • Product/project research and benchmarking 
  • Findings/overview/moodboard/feedback to client re: our research

CREATE

  • Procure content/assets from client 
  • Begin creative process of ideation and design 
  • Continuous client engagement and feedback

ACTIVATE

  • Launch product, project, campaign, or experience 
  • Ongoing campaign management 
  • 6 and 12 month client review of LOA’s engagement

DISCOVER

  • Project wrap-up and client feedback

Let’s connect over a coffee or a cold craft brew.

INTERACT
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