Niles Thomas Ambrose
Founder & CCO

Niles founded Olivo Design Group in 2002 just after leaving a cushy art director position in Los Angeles. With studies in design at Art Center in Pasadena, he worked his way up as art director at TBG, bringing his creative inspiration for clients such as Coca-Cola, Timberland, Mattel, Williams-Sonoma and Nestlé to name a few. Niles established himself as a dedicated and drive creative, and has an incessant thirst for excellence.

After a few years as art director, Niles decided to transition himself into a better position – to own his own business. "I'll never forget that day… It was Spring 2002 and I decided to go to lunch and never came back. I was young, arrogant and believed that if I had enough experience to help with the building blocks of the Fortune 500 I was working for, then I can build my own company. I was highly inspired by Daniel Quinn's 'Beyond Civilization' at the time. That book changed my life."

In addition to being responsible for the strategic direction of the business, he also oversees all of the Creative, remaining closely involved with every project that Olivo Design Group produces for its clientele, maintaining the high-end Olivo Design Group stamp.

Favorite Quote:
"If you think you're too small to be effective, you've never been to bed with a mosquito." – Anita Roddick

Lee Prior
COO

Lee is the Chief Operating Officer of Olivo Design Group. An Australian expat, together, Lee and his wife moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and are loving it!

Prior to joining Olivo, Lee has spent years consulting in the Real Estate, Corporate and Non-Confirming Finance industry. His experience has helped to increase valuable market share with countless small business and National Business alike, where he has been responsible for overseeing 70+ real estate offices nationwide and growing profitability.

After landing in Los Angeles, Lee took on the role of Chief Operations Officer of a multi-national Cosmetic company, helping to grow Lee's insights into domestic business here in the U.S.

Olivo Design Group is lucky to have him!

.Favorite Quote:
"If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed."
– Chinese Proverb

Sharon Halevi
Design Director

Sharon is an artist through-and-through and art is her ultimate passion in life. She's a painter, photographer, and of course, one of our top graphic designers. With studies at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, she's top-notch in logo design, product design and illustration. Oh yeah… she's fluent in three languages, so that's cool!

Favorite Quote:
"Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back." – Chinese Proverb

Chris Komashko
Creative Director

Chris has seen it all. Been there, done that. As one of our most eccentric people on the Olivo team, he brings quite the creative direction to each of our client projects. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Cal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Cal State Northridge, Chris has also held positions at Disney, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Robb Report Publishing, and the list goes on and on.

By night, Chris pursues his other passion – DJ'ing music in the underbelly of LA's clubs. When he strolls in around 11am.... we don't ask too many questions.

Favorite Quote:
"Providing, meaning to a mass of unrelated needs, ideas, words and pictures - it is the designer's job to select and fit this material together and make it interesting." – Paul Rand

Cristina Gavin
Copywriter

Born beneath the smogberry trees in Los Angeles, Cristina graduated with honors in Creative Writing from Stanford University.  She went on to work as both a copywriter and art director in San Francisco under the mentorship of legendary creative director John Scott MacDaniels.  She has won top honors from Best in the West and the One Show, as well as an Obie and even a CEBA award for creative excellence in black advertising, for clients ranging from Amtrak to the New Zealand Tourist Board.  The Clio remains elusive, but as Cristina is wont to mutter, “It shall be mine… Oh, yes.  One day, it shall be mine.”  She likes to sing so much she showers on request.  Last year, she ran the LA Marathon.  This year, she is just trying to learn to hula (hoop, that is).

Favorite Quote:
“Writing, when properly managed… is but a different name for conversation.” – Laurence Sterne