Sawako Agravante Creative Director
Sawako was raised under the tropical sun and surrounded by pristine emerald ocean of Okinawa, Japan. To this day, nature and animals are her teachers, and she values respect and honor for all. Power of visual art intrigues Sawako. She started drawing obsessively as a young child, and her career spans 30+ years as a graphic designer, specializing in typography and print design.
Sawako has a Fine Arts degree from UC Irvine. Sawako feels blessed to work as CVG's Creative Director to help clients communicate with their audience via graphic design. Sawako was raised under the tropical sun and surrounded by pristine emerald ocean of Okinawa, Japan. To this day, nature and animals are her teachers, and she values respect and honor for all.
Shawnn Gallagher Graphic Designer/Copywriter
Shawnn brings a unique blend of corporate and government experience to her role as a graphic designer and copywriter. Her passions for both writing and design, along with her keen attention to detail and organizational skills, have made her an invaluable member of the CVG team.
Shawnn holds a degree in communications from California State University, Chico and a certificate in graphic design from California State University, Long Beach. Her past work experiences include the City of Irvine, Disney Sports Enterprises and the Orange County Register.
Wendy Shields Creative Strategist
As a lifelong artist and musician, Wendy is addicted to creativity, the multitude of sounds the keyboard provides, and is hopelessly drawn to the colors orange and turquoise. Rampant creativity is balanced by the desire for organization with a small peppering of “geekiness.” Attracted to so many muses – gardens, décor, jewelry, painting, sound; virtually anything that involves design and creation provides fodder for eye-catching marketing design for print and digital media. She spends her free time paddling, walking, photographing anything interesting, and making silver jewelry.
Wendy has an M.F.A. in Fine Arts and taught 2-dimensional design at the university level as it applies to marketing and the psychology of good design. She was a former director of the Irvine Fine Arts Center which features galleries, working studios, and arts events, and contributed to marketing efforts for Irvine's quarterly publication Inside Irvine and the signature annual event Irvine Global Village Festival.
Christina Briones Production Manager
Coming from a family of talented musicians and artists, Christina had no other choice but to follow suit and love music and art as well. She was always drawn to art electives in school, photography and ceramics being her favorite. In her free time she enjoys paddling, kayaking and finding new DIY projects to do.
Christina took a job with the City of Irvine when she was 15 years old. During that time she earned a Certificate in Graphic Design from Irvine Valley College and began assisting with various marketing materials for the City's events and programs as well as the City of Irvine Brochure of Classes and Activities. Christina is now part of the CVG team and stay-at-home mom.