Elf
Create the Future
Our Team
Curiosity, imagination, will, compassion, and a compelling urge to create drive us forward.
Jan A. Manon
CEO
Jan Manon founded Elf at 28. Most days, she’s working on design concepts, apps, and engineering projects for clients and building business partnerships and investments as CEO of Elf.
Jan has her BA in philosophy and ecology from Emory University where she initially studied pre-medicine. She also attended Lincoln College at Oxford University for literature and studied business at Stanford for a year. Jan is a self-taught software engineer skilled in Apple platforms and has redesigned aeronautical and automotive interfaces and dashboards for leading companies. She also wrote a WSJ bestselling personal finance and investment book for an Elf client.
As a child, Jan trained as a soprano and built her first engine at six. Now years later, she is happy to apply those skills again in new capacities, through our Stardust podcast for music and film, working on renewable energy solutions, and designing zero-emission aircraft through our R&D unit.
Jose Garrido
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jose Garrido is our Creative Director. He defines, creates, and manages all our branding and visual identities.
Classically trained at the notable Design College (Escuela Superior de Diseño de Aragón) in Zaragoza, Spain, Jose has an extensive range of design skills. He lives and breathes design and is constantly experimenting and learning new things. He brings a keen eye, precision, and elegance to his work.
Jose has designed graphics, visual identities, illustrations, branding, movie posters, and retail packaging for clients like Nike, Sony, Red Bull, and more.
Rachel Walsh
MARKETING STRATEGIST
Rachel Walsh is our Marketing Strategist with a keen mind, great imagination, and natural marketing savviness.
Rachel attended Richmond Upon Thames for design and literature, followed by a degree in illustration at Cardiff School of Art & Design.
Versatile and quick to learn, Rachel started out creating beautiful hand-drawn illustrations for us. Since then, she has run and managed events and worked extensively on marketing strategy. With a natural gift for connecting with what people want, Rachel has honed our marketing outreach, working on our Snowtraxx app and our Stardust podcast.
Erik M. J. Sjoberg
Erik Sjoberg is our Business Development Officer. He manages daily communications and develops business partnerships for our programs. Erik attended William & Mary, where he obtained a double degree in English literature and business.
Kristen Olsen
Kristen Olsen is our Marketing Manager. She manages our social media. Kristen has a degree in Economics from Boston University and has attended the Academy of Art. Formerly a contract photographer for well-known modeling agencies, Kristen brings a love of photography and composition to her work every day.
Eva Taylor
Eva Taylor is our Office Manager who ensures things run smoothly at our HQ and studios. A graduate of the University of Miami in Psychology and Marine Science, Eva manages our community giving.
Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts is our CPA and our principal accountant. A graduate of the Florida International School of Business, Dave brings over a decade of financial expertise and accounting experience.
We're optimistic, open-minded, and nimble. Our Elf team is collaborative and shares a love and appreciation for design. Our team consists of strategists, designers, illustrators, art directors, editors, engineers, developers, and data scientists. We work in focused groups of 4-6 people. Apply to work at one of our studios. Join us.
We hire throughout the year.
We're excited to pioneer new ideas, solve complex challenges, and do work we love. We value a healthy work environment and renewal to maintain an exceptional, positive, and highly effective team.