Meet us

Tom Silva is the founder of Silva Brand and a brand strategist whose work sits at the intersection of business strategy, corporate communications, creative direction, and storytelling. Over more than two decades, he has helped complex organizations clarify their position, sharpen their message, and express their value with greater confidence and coherence across leadership, member, customer, investor, and stakeholder audiences.

His background combines executive marketing experience with hands-on creative practice. Before founding Silva Brand, Tom served as Chief Marketing Officer at Alter and Communications Director at PM Realty, one of the world’s largest real estate management firms. That experience gave him a deep understanding of how organizations communicate under real business pressure—across leadership teams, boards, sales environments, public-facing campaigns, and high-stakes moments of change.

Tom’s work has spanned associations, professional communities, financial services, commercial real estate, institutional organizations, and B2B enterprises. His portfolio has been recognized by GlobalTrend, the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, the International Academy of the Visual Arts, and the Web Marketing Association. He has served twice as a keynote speaker at Google’s Global Startup Challenge, and his thinking on marketing and branding has appeared in Forbes, Thomson Reuters’ books and London’s Hot Topics magazine.

Alongside his brand work, Tom has maintained a creative life as a filmmaker, writer, and musician. His work has been featured at the Montreal World Film Festival, in Rolling Stone, on PBS and iTunes, and by the Art Institute of Chicago. His short fiction has appeared in The Nashwaak Review, The Bombay Review, and Witness.

Antonio has 9 years of experience as a graphic designer based in Guadalajara, Mexico specializing in branding strategy and identity. He produces brand guidelines based on marketing research and corporate identities. He has also worked on real estate projects and brand management for an international architectural firm. He believes design simplifies and harmonizes our daily lives.

In his free time, he goes to the beach, swims, and visits new restaurants with friends. He also loves animals, art, and music.

Heather Doucette is Lead Designer at Silva Brand and a freelance Graphic Designer with 10+ years of experience. She holds an MFA in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, and has worked with leading creative agencies such as Dazz Media, Implementation Management Partners, and Creadio.

A native of California and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Heather brings a disciplined, detail-driven approach to her work. She is also the founder of Hilltop Botanicals, a botanical-based product and design business rooted in craftsmanship.

Heather enjoys sharing her design knowledge and exploring new ways of visually communicating ideas. In her free time, she enjoys photography, arts and crafts, gardening, and life on her Kentucky homestead.

Over her 30-year career, LaVonne has worked within the real estate industry, supporting executive teams across the planning, design, leasing, and investment sales process. A self-taught computer-maven, she is passionate about managing the financial planning and forecasting for entrepreneurial teams. Her high energy, attention to detail, cool under pressure, and organizational skills are a key part of Silva Brand. A native of Chicago, she spends her off-hours boating, hiking, and camping with her kids and grandkids.

Lauren Brechner is passionate about making digital learning both engaging and effective. A former Course Production Manager at McKinsey & Company, she spent over six years creating top-tier online learning experiences for clients worldwide. Leading a global team of specialists, analysts, and vendors, she helped build courses that didn’t just teach but transformed the way people learn.

With a sharp eye for user experience and operational efficiency, Lauren led initiatives that streamlined course production, reducing build time by an impressive 13x—saving both time and costs while maintaining quality. She’s all about designing seamless, intuitive learning experiences that align with business goals and put learners first.

Lauren brings a unique mix of strategy, creativity, and execution to every project, making digital learning more accessible without losing sight of the big picture. Whether she’s optimizing workflows or ensuring a course meets its full potential, she thrives on delivering solutions that work—for businesses and learners alike.

Aaron is a digital marketing partner and growth operator specializing in B2B acquisition and scalable revenue systems. He has worked with over 100 companies, managing multi-channel campaigns across paid media, SEO, and automation while building high-performing funnels, websites, and marketing infrastructure that drive long-term growth.

Michael Lahey is an award-winning filmmaker and editor based in Chicago, IL. Over his 20-year career, he has edited programs for PBS, Discovery, History Channel, and National Geographic, among others.

His documentary films have won numerous prizes, including at the Arizona International Film Festival, the Newburyport Documentary Festival, and the Great Lakes International Film Festival. His latest file, Shelf Life, premiered at the Gene Siskel Film Center at the Art Institute of Chicago and continues to screen throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Oral Berat User is a film making powerhouse, weaving stories that captivate, inspire, and transport audiences around the globe. With over 30 years of experience, 800+ hours of programming, and shoots in more than 50 countries, he’s as comfortable scaling ancient ruins as he is navigating the creative chaos of a bustling set. Based in Chicago, Oral is known for blending technical brilliance with a storyteller’s soul, crafting everything from cinematic documentaries to reality TV and global ad campaigns.

Since 1989, his work has graced the screens of National Geographic, Discovery+, PBS, NBC, and A&E, while corporate heavyweights like Nike, United Airlines, and Oracle trust him to bring their visions to life. His projects have earned Emmy nominations (We Are Witnesses: Chicago), festival awards (LOVE, CHARLIE: The Rise and Fall of Charlie Trotter), and Sundance acclaim (Return of the Navajo Boy).

Oral thrives in unpredictable environments, capturing stories everywhere from remote rainforests to vibrant cities. His hallmark? Unwavering precision, creative adaptability, and a team-first approach that makes collaboration a joy. Whether unraveling ancient mysteries or exploring the human spirit, Oral’s work resonates deeply, leaving an indelible mark on audiences—and the people lucky enough to work with him.

A native of Austria, Florian Auckenthaler currently calls Charleston, SC his home, where fifteen years ago he founded designingIT.com, an international digital agency.

DesigningIT’s mission is to help clients grow their business and marketing ROI, at home and abroad.

Florian’s global team combines international digital strategy, web design and development, and online marketing for brands such as Gulfstream, Norwegian Cruise Line, Harvard University, Nickelodeon, Cnet, as well as small to medium size businesses.

When Florian is not busy driving growth for clients, he enjoys specialty coffee, cycling, traveling, and spending time with his wife and their two sons.