TEAM

Michelle Cardinal, CEO/President, Cmedia

Michelle Cardinal is the CEO and founder of Cmedia, and group President of R2C Group, the agency holding company.  Since helping found both companies in 1998, Michelle has helped build the agency from a start-up into the 20th largest independently-owned advertising agency in the nation (Ad Age), with over $420 million in billing.

Over the past 10 years Michelle's companies have enjoyed explosive growth and many accolades, with Cmedia ranking as the largest women-owned company and one of the largest privately held companies in Oregon. Oregon Business Magazine named Cmedia among "Oregon's Top 100 Best Companies To Work For," and Inc. Magazine profiled Cardinal (along with husband and business partner Tim O'Leary) among the nation's "Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs." Cardinal was also the recipient of the prestigious Orchid Award, honoring her as Oregon's premier woman entrepreneur.

Cardinal began her career in the burgeoning DRTV business working with some of the most successful traditional direct marketing companies of the 90's, including NordicTrack, Icon Health & Fitness, Ronco Products, Guthy Renker, and many more.  She also helped launch many of the first successful branded direct response television campaigns for major brands including Hoover, Philips Electronics, Toshiba, DirectTV and Braun.  Some of her recent clients include Humana Healthcare, Procter & Gamble, General Mills, Home Depot, Chase Bank, Vonage and many others.

Cardinal was raised in Boston and graduated from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. She resides in Carson, Washington, with her husband and business partner Tim O'Leary.