About Clever
Clever Creative builds people-first brands. Branding is so much more than logos and taglines; it’s about creating living stories that can evolve, inspire connection, and create community. That’s why we start every project with your people — we become experts in your team and your audiences to uncover the truths that will ground our strategy and inspire our creative work.
With over 20 years of experience across home, lifestyle, CPG, wellness, beauty, pet, hospitality, entertainment, transportation, and civic industries, our LA-based, female-founded team partners with in-house teams to bring brands to life with fresh perspective, strategic creativity, and purpose-driven design.
Meet our leadership team
Meet our leadership team
Shannon Gabor
CEO/Founder
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Shannon Gabor, CEO and Founder of Clever Creative, has spent 20 years growing her solo vision into a thriving independent agency.
She set out to not be an agency but rather an ally to clients, building relationships with purpose and intention as if each brand were her own. She established a methodology for evolving brands by connecting business and creativity with a people-first mindset. Under her leadership, Clever has built award-winning brands that continue to thrive, grow and expand, a testament to the strategic and creative approach of a boutique independent agency that tailors its work to meet each client where they are. This includes heritage icons, best-in-class global category leaders, challenger brands and emerging disruptors across entertainment, CPG, pet care and nutrition, wellness, hospitality, transportation and venture-backed startups. She believes brands thrive when built with focus, empathy and purpose.
Emily Palmer
Group Account Director
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Emily Palmer is dedicated to driving impactful results for clients through strategic insight and innovative approaches.
With over two decades of experience, Emily specializes in client management, ensuring excellence in every aspect of our projects. Her leadership inspires teams to consistently deliver high-quality work that exceeds expectations. She’s had the privilege of collaborating with renowned brands like Red Bull, Aetna, and Virgin Galactic, crafting transformational strategies across diverse industries.
Emily Zarnow
Creative Director
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Emily Zarnow brings her lived experiences and a people-first mindset to her role as Creative Director, shaping brands with vision, bold confidence and a spirit of collaboration.
With more than 15 years of experience, she leads creative teams with vision and collaboration, specializing in crafting compelling visual stories across brand identity, packaging, photography, campaigns, print, and digital design. She has built brand systems, evolved creative direction and delivered impactful work for global brands including VCA Animal Hospitals, Purina, Walmart, Kraft Foods and Johnson & Johnson. At Clever, Emily embodies the spirit of ally not agency, partnering with clients across pet care, consumer goods, food and beverage and health and wellness. Her ability to balance creative brand expression with a marketing lens makes her a creative director who delivers work with clarity, creativity and heart.
