About Us

Experts in Social Marketing
City of Austin
Susan Poag, founder of SUMA Social Marketing, has created a company devoted to promoting health, well-being, and self-sufficiency. She has a passion for social marketing and is a strong proponent of the model. With experience in facilitation, research, community-based partnership, strategic planning, and creative media, she has grown SUMA from an Austin, Texas-based firm to one with national stature. SUMA has received numerous awards for excellence in communication, training, and print and video programming designed for diverse audiences.
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The SUMA Team is smart, dedicated, and professional. It includes experts in research, marketing, education, social work, design, facilitation, and management. We work collaboratively so that our clients always get the very best we have to offer. With 20+ years of experience, we have a deep bench of talented partners to draw upon as we assemble the best possible team for your project. SUMA is certified as a Texas HUB.

Tessa Baker is a qualitative researcher and project manager who has been on the SUMA team since 2014. She is a writer and skilled researcher with experience in focus group moderation, in-depth interviewing, qualitative analysis and report writing, and research instrument design. She lends her talents to SUMA’s work as the lead project manager, keeping client expectations, timelines, and budgets at the forefront.

Kathy Jones manages SUMA's outreach efforts. She excels at engaging stakeholders and partners, making their community organizations part of our team. She has built a strong network of medical providers in Arizona to promote the PowerMeA2Z vitamin campaign, which is considered a national model.

Jacquie Shillis is a qualitative researcher who has worked with the SUMA team for over 15 years. Prior to that, Jacquie spent 15+ years employed by Texas state agencies, including the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). This deep expertise in working within state agencies brings a valuable perspective to SUMA's state projects. For SUMA, she provides focus group facilitation, data analysis, and meeting facilitation.

Myra Spector is a bilingual qualitative researcher with a specialty in Hispanic research. Throughout her 20+ years of experience, Myra has honed her craft. She designs and tests messages that educate the public about the issues and products that most affect their lives. Her attention to detail and deep understanding of Hispanic cultural issues have made her a valuable addition to the SUMA team since 2007. For SUMA, she provides Spanish translation, data analysis, and focus group facilitation.