An agency built on your success.
ON Advertising was founded in 1993 and is owned by John Hernandez, Eric Garcia, Ron Meritt, and Matt Owens.
Over the years, ON has developed a reputation for being one of the most creative, accountable advertising agencies in the Southwest and beyond. We have built a culture of client service where an open flow of ideas is encouraged and every strategy is shaped with a business objective in mind. We provide an exceptional range of marketing, advertising, creative, public relations, digital services and event services to a client base that spans some of the best-known brands in a broad spectrum of industries. Meet the team that leads our agency.
John Hernandez
Eric Garcia
Eric began his career in 1991 as an Assistant Art Director at Robinson & St. John Advertising in Florida. While at RSJ, he was part of the team that produced advertising and marketing campaigns for national and regional accounts including AT&T, Bank Boston, Ford Motor Company, and Wendy’s Restaurants. His talent as an illustrator was also utilized in a number of campaigns developed by RSJ.
In 1995, Eric launched his own multidisciplinary design firm, EFG Creative, in Albuquerque, NM. Wanting to expand to the Arizona market, EFG came to the valley looking for an advertising agency to pair with. In January 2018, EFG merged with ON Advertising.
As a hands-on designer Eric has a meticulous eye for detail and a fresh graphic style. Eric is a fine artist and a native of New Mexico.
Using his vast knowledge of fine art, Eric founded EG Structural. EG Structural, has won several public art awards in the US. Please visit egstructural.com to learn more.
Ron Meritt
Ron opened ON Advertising after working in television for many years. He wanted to take skills honed in his broadcasting career to help clients navigate the ever-changing media landscape. As President, Ron oversees day-to-day operations at the agency while guiding the strategy, client service and performance. He does this by uniting a unique combination of strategic thinking and business innovation.
In addition, Ron manages the agency’s Crisis and Issues Management division. Ron leads a nationally-accredited seminar that provides training for clients on how to communicate in crisis situations and manage the impact of a crisis. His depth of experience and expertise is unrivaled in this area.
Ron has degrees in Broadcasting and Public Relations from Northern Arizona University and in Meteorology from Mississippi State University.
Matt Owens
Both Matt and his father, Bill Owens, founder and owner of long-time Valley ad agency Owens & Associates, were named Advertising Person of the Year in 2012 and 1982, respectively, making them the first father and son to both receive this award by the American Advertising Federation’s Phoenix Ad Club.
Matt is a graduate of Woodbury University and is married to the love of his life, Karen. He enjoys traveling, driving his hand-built English sports car, and wood-working.
Darren Higgs
Prior to ON Advertising, Darren honed his skills as an Account Executive for six years at EG Structural, ON’s sister company. Joining ON Advertising in August 2017, Darren climbed the ranks quickly, ascending to Vice President of Marketing by 2019. In this capacity, he supervised all clients and oversaw marketing, social media, and web services within the Account Services Division. Known for his strategic acumen and supervisory prowess, Darren was entrusted with all marketing and PR accounts.
In 2023, he was appointed President & General Manager, where he assumes responsibility for daily agency operations and staff development. He offers strategic recommendations to owners regarding agency structure and operations. His comprehensive expertise and leadership abilities underscore Darren’s integral role in the success of ON Advertising.
Dawn Webley-Fadda
With over 20 years of marketing experience, Dawn is a seasoned media operations and strategy expert. Her impressive track record includes collaborating with some of Arizona’s most rapidly expanding agencies. She has been instrumental in empowering brands across diverse industries throughout her career, consistently delivering award-winning work. Dawn’s approach revolves around a strategic mindset, prioritizing high-touch media planning, seamless execution, and comprehensive analytics to achieve outstanding results for our clients. Her expertise and dedication make her an invaluable asset to our team, driving our company’s media endeavors to new heights.
