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