How are we different?

Experience. More than 300 combined years of skillfully crafting editorial profiles for 200+ of the nation’s most sophisticated and diverse destinations have given us an arsenal of ways to tell your unique travel story.

MEET OUR team

Steve Mitchem, President and Publisher

Steve oversees all business and creative aspects of Destination Creative Group, where he brings an entrepreneurial viewpoint to the team and guides the destination-based content that resonates with both readers and advertisers. Prior to forming DCG, Steve spent 14 years at Pace Communications. There, Steve was publisher of US Airways magazine and headed up Pace’s Destination Publishing Group, where he oversaw over 150 destination features and published the official visitor guide for 15+ destinations, including Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo County, Charlotte, Pinehurst, Myrtle Beach, and Hilton Head Island. Steve’s previous career experience includes a successful internet start-up, plus television and documentary production.

What’s your role in DCG?
DCG has the best collection of creative and sales talent in the travel sector. My role is to make sure they all have the resources they need, and are empowered to lead their area of responsibility. I provide an environment where people can look forward to their work and be energized about what they do. I believe in work/life balance and encourage everyone to strike that balance. This is the DCG advantage for world-class work.

What’s your ideal vacation?
I’m very lucky that as part of my job I get to travel to some of the best places on earth. I never take this for granted and play the role of “tourist” everywhere I go. When I do vacation outside the job, it’s as simple as a pair of shorts, tee shirt, and looking at the ocean in Emerald Isle, NC.

My clients say that I’m… Crazy passionate about what I do and a cheerleader for the destination. Ideas are unfiltered and not always in the proper sequence, but always pushing the client to try new things. I go to great lengths to make sure their needs come first.

Deanne O’Connor, Design Director

Deanne started out designing in ad agencies, but eventually found her way into publishing, getting her start in newspapers, which then led to magazines — which is where her best talent lies. She thinks of herself as a visual journalist, and thinks the best design in storytelling shouldn't distract from the words, but give a story added texture and depth.

What's your role in DCG? 
I’m the lead design director for Visit Napa Valley, Oxnard, Petaluma, and Big Bear Lake’s magazines. I also work on proposals for new business.

What's your ideal vacation?
Anywhere remote and private, with someone else making all the food.

My clients say… Recently, the folks in Petaluma told me I was a genius. Just sayin'.

Lisa Summerell, Design Director

Lisa is a versatile art director with 20 years of professional design experience. She loves the “ah-ha” moment during a brainstorm session, when art and edit comes together to create a message or concept that engages a reader. Lisa received her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

What's your role in DCG? 
I design Hilton Head Island’s Official Vacation Planner.

What's your ideal vacation?
I’d love to visit Vienna for the wonderful art museums, concert halls and cafes. It’s on my bucket list!

My clients say… They appreciate my “can do” attitude and know that I hit my deadlines.

Robin Sutton Anders, Senior Editor

Robin is a writer and editor based in Greensboro, NC. The co-owner of Verdant Word Communications, she holds a bachelor's degree in English from NC State University and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She loves meeting new people, traveling to new cities, and having the opportunity to bring experiences to life through storytelling.  

What’s your role in DCG?
I’m managing editor for Hilton Head Island and Winston-Salem’s visitor publications.

What’s your ideal vacation?
It includes equal parts exploring, eating, reading, and napping! 

My clients say… I'm enthusiastic, curious, thorough, and thoughtful.

Callie Fromson, Custom Content Editor

A seasoned writer and editor, Callie has covered topics ranging from travel and tourism to higher education, personal finance, construction and health and wellness. She loves a creative challenge and finding inspiration in unlikely places. These days she calls Raleigh, North Carolina, her home.

What's your role in DCG? 
Custom content editor. I help advertisers tell their story.

What's your ideal vacation? 
Traveling for a bucket-list marathon or trail race, followed by relaxing and exploring with my family. 

My clients say… that I'm patient and flexible.

Casey Cantrell, Senior Editor

Casey has more than a decade of experience as a writer, journalist, and editor. Ever inquisitive, his past work includes everything from in-depth features on global warming and immigration to a delightful profile about a porcupine named Penelope. When he’s not writing or editing, Casey is likely catching up on his backlog of books or exploring Los Angeles.

What’s your role in DCG?
I’m a Senior Editor for Visit Petaluma, Visit Oxnard, and Visit Big Bear.

What’s your ideal vacation?
There’s nothing more beautiful than the California coastline, so my ideal vacation is driving up Highway 1 with stops in Big Sur, Monterey, and the Bay Area, plus my hometown of San Luis Obispo.

My clients say… Creative, passionate, thoughtful, hard-working. No job or task is too big—or too small—for me.

Lynn Gianiny, Design Director

Lynn has been an art and design director and a contributing writer in the content provider industry for 16 years. A native of Washington, DC, Lynn worked in film advertising in Los Angeles until moving to North Carolina as part of the creative team of awarding winning Attaché and US Airways magazine.

What's your role in DCG? 
Custom content Art Director for many of DCG's beautiful publications and visitor's guides from coast to coast. 

What's your ideal vacation?
A long stay in Tuscany to visit the Gianinni ancestral village of Fibbialla, and experience the surrounding beauty of hillside vineyards and the Mediterranean shores.

My clients say…
I am in tune with and personally interested in their vision. I'm reliable, detail-oriented and willing to go the extra mile to achieve the final creative goal – and meet the deadline!

JESSIE AMMONS RUMBLEY, SENIOR EDITOR 

Jessie has written for national publications and edited several city magazines, as well as destination guides in California and the Southeast. She loves to tell an authentic story and create platforms to celebrate places and people. Jessie lives in her hometown, Raleigh NC, and earned a degree in communication with entrepreneurship from Wake Forest University. 

What's your role in DCG? 
Writer and editor. I've worked on many of DCG's publications over the years, most recently leading editorial content for the Ventura and Augusta magazines. 

What's your ideal vacation?
Anyplace where a day can begin with a long walk or hike to a good view and end with a glass of wine watching the sunset. 

My clients say… I'm organized, detail-oriented, prompt, and friendly. 

Lance Elko, Copy Editor

An editorial veteran with more than 30 years of experience, Lance Elko has served as editor/editorial director for six nationally distributed publications, most recently US Airways magazine and USAA magazine.

What's your role in DCG? 
Copy editor and writer

What's your ideal vacation?
A meandering and leisurely three-month drive across the U.S. and back

My clients say… I’m thorough, meticulous, and eagle-eyed.

Contributing Partners

Christine Xoinis, Design Director

With nearly 20 years of international experience in art and creative direction at major advertising and publishing agencies, Christine takes a collaborative approach to design and enjoys being able to help clients tell their stories visually. She leads the art of design teams as a co-founder of our contributing agency, Ethos Creative Group in Burlington, NC. Oh, and if you're curious about the last name: How you spell it is how you say it: "X-oh-ee-nis."

Erica Katz, Design Director

Erica has more than a decade of experience working in design for major consumer brands and large non-profit organizations. She has an unparalleled work ethic and is lighting fast, and has a keen design sensibility to match. Erica serves as an Art Director at Ethos Creative Group, while also contributing to several of our publications. Fun fact: Erica is named for a famous soap opera character. Can you guess who?