CREATIVE DIRECTOR

 

Mara Zapiain Monroe

Do what is right, not what is easy.

 

Mara invests her whole self in each project—bringing her creativity, attention to detail, aesthetics, style, and efficiency everywhere.

 

Mara is a natural-born creative and entrepreneur.

Trained as a graphic designer, she—and, by extension, her agency, Marabunta Creative—has forged a path all her own, expanding into other complementing creative capabilities like digital marketing, multimedia productions, business strategy and development, storytelling, and event planning. 

She splits her time between Los Cabos, México, and Las Vegas, Nevada, while also doing extensive travel to several countries (32 so far and counting) at times reaching 50+ cities a year. Along the way, she picks up business knowledge, inspiration, cultural insights, and world understanding, all of which is evident in her work.

Mara loves health and wellness, as well as outdoors and adventures. She sees and understands the correlation between her creative spirit and productivity in the workforce. You’ll often find her hiking, mountain biking, near the water, doing yoga, or venturing from restaurant to restaurant—another of her favorite activities (she regularly visits 300-plus restaurants a year). It’s no wonder that she is so successful in the restaurant branding field.

Mara is also a certified health and life coach and yoga teacher. She began as a freelancer back in 2003 and has an extensive portfolio.

She brings a holistic design approach into every aspect of her life, striving to understand cultures and human dynamics. Mara sees talent in people (and brands) and loves helping them reach their full potential.

WORK EXPERIENCE

2010–Present
Marabunta Creative

Las Vegas, Los Cabos

Owner and Creative Director

Oversee all aspects of boutique branding and design agency, from lead generation to strategy, design, execution, and final presentation of projects. Manage team and coordinate with companies’ in-house marketing leads. Develop, transform, and/or grow brands from solo ventures to companies of 300-plus employees. Operate several projects simultaneously and remotely.

2010–2014
Manoma Wellness Center

Los Cabos, México

Founding Partner, Creative Director, Yoga Teacher

Oversaw daily operations of the wellness center, as well as branding and marketing. Managed staff, teachers, classes, courses, workshops, sales, and services provided to developments around Los Cabos. Taught Yoga and other courses as well.

2010–2012
Bahia Hotel & Bar Esquina

Los Cabos, México

Marketing Director

Led branding and marketing, public relations, and coordinating events—including but not limited to fashion shows, wine tastings, yoga classes, and paddling tournaments. Involved in restaurant renovation and launch.  

2006–2010
Los Cabos Magazine

Los Cabos, México

Art Director

2003–2006
Archer Group

Los Cabos, México

Senior Designer

2002
Contact Incentives

Los Cabos, México

Group Specialist/Destination Host

2002–2003
L.Diez Diseño Gráfico

Monterrey, México

Graphic Designer

Strategic Partnerships

2020–Present | 1Enemy Official

Gastonia, North Carolina

Creative Director

Launched brand, coordinating multimedia production, website, and e-commerce store. Oversee ongoing branding and marketing.

 

2015 | Cómete Los Cabos

Creative Director

Online restaurant guide, coordinated sales team, design, and marketing.

 

2012–2015 Bahia Hotel & Bar Esquina

Design & Marketing

 

2008–2018 Doc Wine Bar

Designer

Oversaw branding, design, online efforts: Website, newsletter, social media.

 

2014 | Yoga + Fitness Workshop

Partner, Organizer, and Creative Director

 

2013 | Getaway & Spa Magazine

Partner and Creative Director

 

2012 | Expo Wellness Cabo

Partner and Creative Director

 

2010 | Cabo Tea Shop

Founding Partner

 

2010 | Cabo Divas

Founding Partner and Creative Director


 

EDUCATION

2000–2005 Graphic Design

Universidad de Monterrey

 

2000 | Yoga Teacher Training

Shunia Yogalife & Spa Mexico

 

2019–2020 Health and Life Coach Certification

Health Coach Institute


SKILLS

  • Fully bilingual: Spanish and English

  • Mac and PC Platforms

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshot, Ilustrator, Bridge, Premier, Lightroom

  • Microsoft: Word, Excel, Outlook

  • Website Builders: Squarespace and Shopify

  • Other management software: Dropbox, Google Drive, Harvest, Paymo, Todoist