People.

With Aaron Carpenter (formerly of Levi’s and The North Face) heading our Brand Development work and Christopher Peak (formerly of Universal Studios and Apple) heading our Retail Innovation team — we can take any brand or project from ideation to operation, in digital or 3D.

Leadership

Aaron Carpenter

Founder + CEO

/ Brand Development Lead
/ Interim CMO + Interim CEO
/ E-commerce Strategist

As former VP of Marketing at Levi Strauss and a transformative CMO at The North Face, Aaron has guided some of the world’s most dynamic brands into the digital era while helping to shape their unique brand identities to meet the evolving global marketing environment. Today, Aaron lends his expertise to a wide range of brands through powerful interim and fractional work while maintaining his position as an influential figure in global lifestyle marketing.

  • Aaron has spent over two decades at the heart of the digital revolution. Starting as an intern at Levi's, he helped launch their first eCommerce site in 1998, learning firsthand during the .com boom and bust what works and what doesn't when it comes to driving e-commerce growth.

    After 10 years at Levi's, he became a VP of marketing, overseeing their digital marketing transformation and leading the massive shift from reliance on TV advertising to the development of integrated digital display, SEM, and social media campaigns. He oversaw the launch of levistrausssignature.com globally and grew the business from zero to $200M in three years.

    After Levi's, he was hired as the CMO of the North Face to oversee the launch of thenorthface.com and lead the digital transformation of the brand as it grew from $1B to $2B in sales. He developed the brand's first digital content marketing engine and was recognized with the L2 Digital Marketing rating of "genius" in 2013-2015. He led the development of the brand's first loyalty program, driving an incremental $60M in sales annually through digital and DTC channels. (See Linkedin for specifics.)

    Since then, he has helped many other global brands drive innovation and growth through e-commerce platform migrations (Responsys/Oracle, Salesforce, Hybris, and Websphere) as well as targeted social media campaigns, personalized email campaigns, and retargeting. His wealth of digital knowledge can be applied to startups, high-growth brands, and established global lifestyle brands.

Christopher Peak

Principal + SVP of Retail Development

/ Retail Development Lead
/ Interim Retail Development SVP
/ Interim CEO


Christopher’s career spans from his start in retailtainment at Universal Studios Citywalk to Global Head of Apple Retail Design, where he brought updated store, flagship, and global flagship programs to the world. Christopher has provided transformational leadership in the retail development space for decades. Now, that experience and leadership are available to brands at all stages of development through ACV Consulting, through interim and fractional roles that help brands transform at key inflection points.

  • From imagining a retail concept to the creation of the 3D space to turning over to operations, Christopher has successfully navigated every step of the retail store development process.

    Starting his career at Universal Studios, Christopher rapidly moved up within the company becoming Real Estate Management in the Business and Legal Affairs Department. CityWalk had a footfall of over 15 million people a year with over a hundred million dollars in revenue. Christopher, with a background in design, construction, and real estate, and with two degrees in the arts, began developing concepts for the City Walk’s over-the-top experience. Including helping to broker joint ventures and develop heightened concepts with Brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Billabong, Cinnabon, and the Raiders. In addition, helping young brands like Popcornopolis, Saddle Ranch Chop House, and Red Balls to find their voice with the new concept.

    Moving to Northern California, Christopher left Universal Studios and began working as a retail development consultant for Chestnut Company where he worked bringing retail stores to the market for Williams-Sonoma’s brands including Pottery Barn, West Elm, and PB Kids, as well as The North Face, Peet’s Coffee.

    In 2007 he took a leadership role at the award-winning Michelle Kaufman Design Co., assisting in bringing beautifully designed modular homes to market, leading a team taking on everything from program development and concept modeling to project management and legal affairs.

    In 2009 Christopher began working for Apple retail. Starting as a consultant and then moving in-house, he started on the development side, building classic Apple stores and overseeing large systemic programs across the fleet. Soon he was asked to build out “Preservation”, a still operational global retail repairs, maintenance, and facilities program, saving the company tens of millions of dollars in facilities costs, in year one.

    Christopher then was promoted to lead retail procurement and logistics group where he reorganized the program led to a 15% reduction in costs in year one and an upgrade to the quality and timely delivery of materials and fixtures. Soon tasked with leading the Research and development team Christopher took on the development of a new Apple retail Store program, developing all the materials, systems, and fixturing. Christopher is named on multiple design and material patents and helped to develop an entirely new language for Apple stores.

    Promoted to Head of Design, Christopher led the teams designing the Apple store, Apple Flagship, and Apple Global Flagship programs under Angela Ahrendts. As part of the senior leadership team managing this multi-billion dollar, multi-year program, Christopher’s teams controlled all aspects of retail delivery from concept and ideation to full design packages, development, and procurement of materials, fixtures, and technologies, and setting up the care and maintenance.

    Working with Lisa Jackson, vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives and Former head of the EPA, Christopher led the R+D teams to develop the Apple retail sustainability program as part of the larger Apple Sustainability effort. Working towards “climate restorative buildings” this program managed the key building components of energy, materials, sourcing, waste, and environment and is still in use today.

    After leaving Apple, Christopher has worked with multiple brands in retail development, design, and branding, Most recently as VP of Real Estate, Design, and Development for Better Place Forests a San Francisco-based company that converts pristine forests into memorial forests for the retail end of life experience and the preservation of forest land. Christopher partnered with foresters and biologists to define how to launch and manage forests while allowing generational customer access. Launching nine locations in his first year, he has also overseen the 3D design of all facilities and customer spaces. In addition, he oversaw product inventory and merchandising activities.


Studio

We also offer a unique creative + content studio led by award-winning Creative Director Jim McGinley.

This agile, as-needed studio was born to support our team of experts assigned to projects — but has flourished and grown to offer the same creative leadership directly to any client looking to move their brand forward.

Jim McGinley

Director, Creative & Content

/ Creative Studio Lead
/ Interim Creative Director
/ Content Producer


Jim is an award-winning Creative & Content Director rooted in outdoor, footwear, and culture-forward brands. He leads all creative and content services from our Boston studio, managing our network of fellow producers and creatives.

Prior to his 20+ year creative career, Jim flew for the United States Coast Guard as a Helicopter Crew Chief and Instructor for 13 years and honors the same mission-centric approach to his work on client projects.


Account Direction

Erika Carpenter brings 35 years of executive experience to her role at ACV. She is the founder of three sustainability companies, as well as an international non-profit organization, and has spent a lifetime committed to social and educational equity projects. In addition, her background as a river guide and wilderness EMT makes her a calm, cool collaborator, no matter what comes across her desk.

Erika manages all client accounts, is a content contributor, and nurtures our commitment to purpose-driven projects.

Erika Carpenter

Director, Client Success

/ Interim + Fractional Project Management
/ Content Architecture + Development / Copywriting / Social Impact Development / B-Corp & 501c3 Setup + Management

Our Team

  • Sabrina Perez

    DIGITAL TEAM

    Director, Digital Marketing &
    Ecommerce Development
    Digital Analytics + Digital Strategy

    With over 20 years of expertise in e-commerce and digital marketing, Sabrina has honed her skills at renowned brands such as Royal Robbins, American Recreational Products, Giro Sport Design, and ThinOptics. Possessing a profound understanding of harnessing and leveraging data across various sales and marketing channels, she adeptly identifies pathways for growth. Demonstrating a consistent track record of success, Sabrina excels in crafting and executing impactful paid marketing strategies while remaining at the forefront of cutting-edge search marketing trends.

  • Emma Houghton

    DIGITAL TEAM

    Lead Digital Strategist Digital Strategy + Brand Management

    Emma Houghton is a digital strategist with over 12 years of experience across global brands, agencies, and start-ups, including Lululemon, Peloton, Edelman, and Alpha Foods. She brings a diverse background across all areas of digital marketing, from content strategy to paid media, and is passionate about bridging creative and analytical thinking to build impactful digital strategies.

  • Shannon Ferry Aydar

    DIGITAL TEAM

    Digital Support Brand Strategy + Digital Support

    Shannon Aydar is a brand strategy veteran with over 20 years of experience shaping some of today’s most iconic and challenger brands, including Levi Strauss, Pepsi, Sony, and Microsoft. She is passionate and skilled in brand identity, aesthetic design, marketing, events, and promotions, and her business acumen extends to a wide range of industries, including beauty, fashion, music, beverage, travel, and software.

  • Seth Bradbury

    BRAND TEAM

    Brand Expert
    Interim CMO + Brand Strategy


    Seth’s career started in the early years of Red Bull where, for over 15 years, he led local, regional, and national teams to win the youth consumer. He led national and international cross-functional teams to ensure quality execution across social, digital, retail, and advertising. In addition, he was the driver behind the community activation program for some of the brand’s largest tentpole initiatives.

    As a consultant Seth has continued to refine his approach to brand strategy supporting F100 brands, CPG and lifestyle brands, startups, celebrities, and agencies shaping their long-term planning, communications, activation, and organizational design.

  • Andrew Rice

    STUDIO TEAM

    Senior Art Director
    Brand + Campaign + Shopify Design


    Andrew is a Senior Art Director / Multidisciplinary Designer / Photographer based outside of Boston with over 15 years of big brand experience. He's the creative lead for ACV assisting Jim with all studio content coming in and going out. His background has centered within the outdoor/lifestyle arena working with top brands including LL Bean, Hurley, Quiksilver, Sperry Top-Sider, Coldwater Creek, and Hydrow Indoor Rower, a highly successful startup tech brand based in Boston.

  • Aimee Spence

    RETAIL TEAM

    Architect
    Store Development + Planning


    Aimee Spence is a licensed architect with over 25 years of experience working in retail architecture. Starting her career at Gensler as a project manager, Aimee went on to 8 years at Sephora USA as Director of Architecture & Store Planning, and then 7 years at Gap Inc. as Director of Architecture. Aimee works with retailers to roll out new stores and remodels in keeping with their brand identity. Putting the customer experience at the center of retail development, she collaborates with designers and visual merchandisers to create clear merchandise stories with the flexibility to evolve.

  • Anh Tran

    RETAIL TEAM

    Architect
    Retail Design Systems + Visual Concepting


    Anh Tran is a designer and interdisciplinary design-thinker. Trained as an architect, Anh has developed physical brands from concept ideation through execution for early-stage companies. She has implemented mature design systems at a regional and national scale. Her work varies in medium and scale ranging from objects, multi-media installations, environments, and architecture. Previously, Anh has worked for Google, WeWork, Better Place Forests, Snøhetta, OMA/Rem Koolhaas, and Skidmore Owings & Merrill. Anh has a degree in Engineering from Stanford University and a Master of Architecture from Cornell University with Merit and Distinction in Design. She is a registered architect based in San Francisco.

  • Ida Tam

    RETAIL TEAM

    Architect
    Digital Productions + Renderings


    A New York-based licensed Architect with over 13 years of experience, Ida has published and practiced architecture internationally. Working on high-profile and award-winning projects in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and throughout the United States, specializing in ground-up new construction, interior design, and building information modeling. Ida’s work has been recognized and published by institutions such as the Guardian (UK), BBC (UK), Architect’s Journal (UK), Architecture Magazine (US), and the American Institute of Architects Design Awards. Academically, her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and she is also the author of the book Reconsidering Authenticity: Computational Approach to the Preservation of Siheyuan in Beijing.

  • Doug Marks

    RETAIL TEAM

    Industrial Design
    Configuration + Production + Prototyping


    Well-versed in industrial design and material science Doug is the founder of 37 Fabricators, a high-end production house managing industrial fabrications from concepting to mock-ups and delivery. He and his team of craftsman and artisan cohorts have produced large-scale experiential marketing installations, fully custom interior retail design build-outs, and museum-quality architectural sculptures.

San Francisco + Boston

Whether you’re on the East Coast, West Coast, somewhere between, above, below, or on another continent — with our HQ in San Francisco, our Creative Studio in Boston, and a connected and proven team of creatives at the ready everywhere — we’ve got you.

Are you an expert looking to work with a superb team, great clients and produce powerful work? Connect with us for a portfolio review and let’s talk.