Cause And Effect - Our Team

Cause Marketing is a passion our team shares. Our founders have expertly developed a blueprint that works. We don’t mind if other firms don’t know our name, we’d rather they recognize who we represent, our clients.

Much of our drive comes from our experiences. Our firm’s partners collectively have more than 85 years of success in the areas of media, marketing, PR, cause marketing, event management, financial services, and healthcare. We’re confident that our experience with Fortune 500 clients, local businesses, major media conglomerates, community ventures and extensive project management has ultimately prepared us for Cause Marketing today.

Our platform is simple: if communities need help and corporations can provide it, let’s make it happen. Our team will take care of the rest.

TEAM BIOS.
Marshall G. Zotara, Founder and Managing Partner
Marshall’s words to live by: “Worse than being blind is having the ability to see, but having no vision.” - Helen Keller

Marshall G. Zotara is Founder and Managing Partner of Scottsdale, AZ-based Cause And Effect Evolutions, a cause marketing firm specializing in eco-friendly causes.

Marshall has more than 20 years of related success in media, radio broadcasting, event management, and public relations industries, including management positions with Clear Channel, Cumulus Media, and Edens Broadcasting.

As VP/General Manager of WOLZ-FM, FT. Myers/Naples, Florida, Marshall helped to build a modest community outreach project, PAINT YOUR HEART OUT ® into a major cause branding initiative.

Upon Marshall’s announcement to Clear Channel San Diego, he created and developed PAINT YOUR HEART OUT, a community-outreach/cause branding campaign that has acted as the impetus for the UNITED WE PAINT and TOGETHER WE PAINT series.

Marshall and his son Jeff, immediately realized success as Fortune 100 companies such as Bank of America, The Home Depot, and Prudential all became involved in the project. The Zotaras left Clear Channel to develop the blueprint which has evolved into the TOGETHER WE PAINT series in Arizona (and the UNITED WE PAINT series in California). Marshall relocated to Arizona in 2006 to further develop the blueprint regionally. To date, more than 15 series have been implemented, beautifying more than 525 homes, schools, and community buildings in Arizona, California and Florida.

Marshall credits the success of the cause marketing initiatives in large part to his experience in professional sports marketing. He became associated with sports marketing, media, and events during his tenure as Director, Sports Sales and Special Events for the Q105 NFL Tampa Bay Bucs Broadcast Network. His flagship radio station, WRBQ won numerous awards, including Billboard “Radio Station Of The Year.” He is credited with creating more than one concept that has been adopted by other NFL franchises. He later became Director, Business Development for the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning radio network.

In addition, Marshall was a senior manager and played an important role in the building of start-up WMMO-FM, Orlando, FL, which in its first year won the prestigious Radio & Records major market “Radio Station Of The Year.” He also achieved success in the building of WINT, a start-up radio station in Florida that resulted in the station becoming one of the top 10 stations (based on Arbitron ratings) of its kind in the nation.

Marshall is a Buffalo, New York native where he attended Bryant & Stratton Business Institute. He has three sons, Jeff (who now operates the UNITED WE PAINT California franchise), Jason, and Andrew. He resides in Scottsdale, AZ.

Barbara Carpenter, Partner and Director of Financial and Legal Affairs
Barbara’s words to live by: “The difficult we do right away, the impossible just takes a little longer.”

Barbara Carpenter has been with Cause And Effect Evolutions as Partner and Director of Financial and Legal Affairs since its inception. She has been in several management roles throughout her career with more than 25 years in healthcare. Presently, Barbara is the Administrative Director of Pharmacy for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Barbara earned her Bachelor’s degree at St. John’s University in New York and her MBA specializing in Healthcare Management, from the University of Phoenix. Through the course of her career, Barbara has been responsible for managing 150+ employees and a $ 50 million dollar budget. As Director in a multi-hospital organization, her Pharmacy was the only one operating in the black when the other four (4) hospitals were operating at a loss.

Barbara was one of the principals developing a consulting group in the Northeast and was directly responsible for regulatory compliance in approximately 75 long-term care facilities. This company became a leader in their field in the New York tri-state area. After leaving this company, Barbara became a Corporate Manager for the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York.

In addition to the degrees noted above, Barbara is completing her training as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt at Villanova University. Six Sigma is a methodology for quality improvement, decreasing opportunities for error and removing extraneous tasks from a process. She also has 3 credits toward her J.D. Degree, emphasizing Contract Law. Barbara has volunteered in diverse areas from education as the liaison to the University of New Mexico for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and as adjunct faculty. Currently, she serves as Co-Chair for the Southwest Regional Division of the Premier Group.

Yareli Quintana, Managing Director
Yareli’s words to live by: “To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work.” — Sister Mary Lauretta

Yareli Quintana is responsible for the daily operations of Cause And Effect Evolutions. This includes leading media, marketing and public relations strategies while overseeing management and implementation of all three divisions.

After studying Broadcast Journalism and Media Communications in Sacramento, California, Yareli began her media career at a top-rated CBS radio station. There, she gained extensive experience in radio promotions, marketing and major event production. Following radio she took a position at a sister CBS Television station where she contributed in areas of production and public relations.

After establishing herself in media, Yareli furthered her career when she became the Director of Public Relations for a successful mortgage company in Sacramento. There, Yareli introduced cause-related marketing strategies, planned philanthropic events and led the company into success combining good works for the community with earned media exposure.

In addition to her knowledge of media, marketing, strategic public relations, and event management, Yareli has also actively served her community for many years. The following are just a few of her most recent projects:

    - Member of the Brighten A Life Board of Directors
    - Sacramento Children’s Home Book Drive Coordinator
    - Sacramento Discovery Museum Event and Fundraising Committee Member
    - Featured in “Sacramento’s VIP Women in Business Attire” philanthropic event
    - Luz Torres Scholarship Fund Fundraising Coordinator
    - Assisted in the development of tutoring programs for elementary school children

Joel M. Thompson, Managing Director, Sponsorships

Managing Director of Sponsorships, Joel is responsible for the sponsorship procurement and fundraising for our affiliated causes both nationally and locally. This includes developing partnerships and relationships with national, regional, and local sponsors; ensuring that necessary funding is secured for our nonprofit initiatives and programs, and developing solution-based alliances with collaborative partners.

Joel has garnered 10 successful years of sales team leadership with some of the nation’s most respected companies, including Morgan Stanley, Wachovia, and Met Life. Joel has developed a proven system that meets and exceeds company goals, yet it is his implementation of client-focused processes and effective marketing strategies that positively affects a client’s bottom-line that results in win-win scenarios for all involved. Joel’s previous success, in partnership with his philosophy of client-based solutions, sponsor fulfillment, and marketing experience make him a perfect fit for CAUSE AND EFFECT’s atypical cause marketing platform. Joel resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.