Management Team
Jason Kulpa, Chief Executive Officer
Jason Kulpa founded Underground Elephant in 2008. He brings strategic initiatives to the Company, and is responsible for building key relationships and alliances. Since its inception, Underground Elephant has become a leader in technology-based marketing, and is the fastest-growing private company in San Diego. He was recently recognized for his outstanding leadership, and awarded the “Most Admired CEO” award by the San Diego Business Journal in 2010. By creating an integrated, collaborative culture through innovation and transparency, Kulpa has ensured Underground Elephant’s continued success and has grown the marketing technology company from 20 full-time employees in 2009 to over 60 employees today. Outside the office, Kulpa is a strong advocate for philanthropy and community involvement. Some of his philanthropic contributions include The San Diego Humane Society, American Red Cross and the San Diego State Athletic Department. Kulpa is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Communication from Arizona State University.
Brad Kates, Chief Financial Officer
Brad Kates serves as Underground Elephant’s Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for overseeing corporate finances, developing initiatives to streamline internal operations, and assisting with the company’s aggressive acquisition plan. Kates comes to Underground Elephant from Shopzilla, where he also served as CFO. Prior to Shopzilla, Kates held several leadership positions with The Walt Disney Company. He has over 20 years of experience as a financial executive. Kates is known for a high energy management style. His collaborative, dynamic approach to organizational management, and his demonstrated ability to streamline financial operations, enables Kates to be an effective, valued member of the executive team. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy from Emory University.
Taryn Lomas, Senior Vice President, Strategic Accounts
Taryn Lomas serves as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Accounts. Seasoned in sales, marketing, advertising, and business development, she clearly executes the vision of the company. Lomas has been recognized for multiple awards, including the SDBJ’s Women Who Mean Business Award and the Stevie Award for Women in Business. Lomas has carved her way into digital marketing and lead generation industries through her aptitude, tenacity and hard work. Working diligently to expand and improve business development initiatives, Lomas plays an integral role in the company’s continued growth. Whether it is overseeing the Internship Program or the Vertical Sales Department, Lomas mentors and inspires key personnel, facilitating continued development and career success. Prior to Underground Elephant, Lomas was the Marketing Director at National Powersport Auctions, where she executed top-level marketing strategies. She graduated from The School of Letters and Sciences at Arizona State University, with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree in Business and Communication.
Keola Malone, Senior Vice President, Products
As the Senior Vice President of Products, Keola Malone is responsible for establishing the foundation for Underground Elephants’ technology systems. Leading a team of 15, Malone has helped to develop and implement the core proprietary software which has been the backbone to the Company’s technical operations. Utilizing a breadth of technological and industry knowledge, Malone continues to streamline Underground Elephant’s infrastructure and internal processes. By overseeing the development of new technology iterations, he works closely with the team in order to continually optimize platform features and functionality. These technologies have directly contributed to the company’s competitiveness and have led to an overall increase in sales and profitability. He was recognized as a finalist for SDBJ’s IT Executive of the Year Award for his outstanding leadership and desiccation to his department. Malone has a comprehensive background in information technology, systems support, and mass communications.
Mike Norman, Senior Vice President, Marketing
Mike Norman, Senior Vice President of Marketing, is responsible for developing, growing, and maintaining the Company’s revenue generation process at Underground Elephant. Using his vast knowledge of the industry, he manages and directs the Marketing Department, including the Search Engine Marketing, Social, Display, Business Intelligence and Design teams. Norman continually adapts to the shifting trends in the online marketing space by predicting changes and creating innovative solutions to better optimize current processes. He spearheads all marketing initiatives and streamlines production operations so that management expectations are carried through each stage of development. By continuously finding new ways to diversify the company’s revenue streams, Norman ensures the company continues to increase stability as well as scalability as it expands. He is responsible for assessing the profitability of current and future verticals and has successfully launched the marketing team into the education, automotive, mortgage and insurance verticals. Norman graduated from Purdue University with an emphasis in Business.
