The Team | The Artist Evolution

Derek Champagne

Founder / CEO

Derek Champagne is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience developing effective marketing campaigns. He is the Founder & CEO of The Artist Evolution, A full service agency building memorable brands, marketing tools and campaigns for startups to household brands. Derek is also the author of the best-selling marketing book: Don’t Buy a Duck and the host of the Business Leadership Series podcast.

Justin Hegwood

President / Co-Founder of The Artist Evolution Atlanta

Justin is the President/Co-Founder of The Artist Evolution Atlanta. He is a Georgia native and a graduate of Valdosta State University. Justin has 10 years of experience in developing and managing medical practices as well as 6 years experience in business to business sales. His loyalty to customers and their brands builds lifelong partnerships and friendships.

In his spare time, Justin always opts outside - from boating and hiking to long walks with his 13 year old rescue pup - Rowdy.

John Taylor

President / Co-Founder of The Artist Evolution Nashville

With thirty-years in print production and management, John has provided top-notch printed materials with a focus on quality from the early years. Beginning his career in 1990, he studied "the art of printing". Trained domestically and internationally in color management, R&D and TQM, he has provided top notch products from everyday marketing collateral to playing and trading cards for such companies as Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro and Mattel.

Purchasing Minuteman Press Nashville in 2014, he quickly established it as a full-service print, web-to-print and signage company as strong as any in Nashville. Established in 1995, Minuteman Press Nashville continues to grow, providing print and mail production, online ordering, inventory and fulfillment for national brands with thousands of users across the country.

Jon Tegeler

Director of Sales and Operations

Jon Tegeler is TAE’s Director of Sales and Operations. He is a California native, graduate of Arkansas State University and now lives in Fayetteville. Jon has 15 years of experience in business development, client management and operations. He has helped scale up three successful Arkansas tech startups. Jon implements marketing strategies to help businesses grow. His focus is on delivering measurable marketing success for TAE clients. In his free time he paints murals with his wife. He also likes to spend time bicycling, gardening and playing board games with his two daughters.

Rachel Tenison

Senior Account Manager

Rachel is a Fayetteville native and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BA in Communications. She joined The Artist Evolution team in September of 2019. If she isn’t spending time with her friends at various Mexican restaurants around town, snuggling her dog, Stella, or curled up on her couch, you can find her roaming the aisles of Target.

Raegan Johnson

Director of Client Services

Raegan is an Arkansas native, moving to Fayetteville from Sheridan to attend the University of Arkansas in 2009. With nearly a decade of experience in the marketing world, she joined the TAE team in October of 2020. Raegan enjoys attending concerts, anything outdoors and spending time with her son, Macon.

Erica Hendrix

Account Manager

Erica grew up in Hot Springs, AR, and earned her BSBA in Marketing from the University of Arkansas. She began her career at TAE as an intern in January of 2021. When she is not in the office, she is either traveling, picking up a new hobby, or experimenting with different recipes.

Bryce Ward

Copywriter

Bryce Ward is originally from North Little Rock, AR. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BA in English in 2020. Bryce has been with TAE since 2018. He is a passionate advocate for and member of the NWA cycling community.

Valerie Champagne

Co Founder/Brand Strategist

Valerie grew up on Long Island, but has been enjoying the Natural State for 15 years. She has been working in advertising for over a decade. During that time, she has developed an effective system for developing memorable brands, researching the competition, identifying target customers, developing unique messaging, and creating go-to-market campaigns. She has her BA in Psychology and enjoys uncovering the motivations behind consumer behavior as the first step in any marketing piece. She is married and a mother of two amazing kids. In her free time, she enjoys theater, listening to live music, and the beach.

Todd Thomas

Sr. Graphic Designer

Todd is a graduate of Ohio University (Athens) with a BFA in graphic design and illustration. He is an active volunteer with community organizations and serves as a health care board member. He enjoys large amounts of coffee, reading, movies, and hanging out with friends and family.

Donovan Brigham

Graphic Designer

Donovan is an Arkansas native and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2013. He enjoys learning new skills, traveling with his family, and playing music on the weekends with his band.