Team

The Conveyor Group Team is made up of an expert group of media producers, web programmers, account managers, designers and media planners. All accounts are assigned an account manager to see projects through to completion. Account managers work directly with our in-house designers, video producers and multimedia programmers to produce necessary results. 

  • Aaron F. Popejoy

    Creative Director / Operations Manager

    Accounts
    Administration
    Audio/Video
    Design
    Direction
    Photography
    Public Relations
    Strategy
    Technical Support

    Aaron is the founder of and chief strategist for Conveyor Group. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from San Diego State University (SDSU) - majoring in design with extended studies in marketing communications, photography, videography, web development, journalism, architecture, and music. As a lifelong student of the trade, his learning and professional development never ends. Which he considers a benefit of a career path he chose and committed to as a 7th grader.

    Aaron has logged over a quarter century of advertising and communications industry experience and has been recognized with numerous awards for his creative work over those years. Aaron has worked in commercial printing, television production, publishing, corporate communications, dot-com era programming, and even as a sign painter. He also cut his teeth working for multiple agencies as a designer, photographer, developer and art director. Aaron is considered a pioneer in local web development and digital media, having begun building custom websites and online software systems for Imperial Valley clients ahead of the first web boom in the mid 1990s.

    Beyond day to day creative direction and project management, his current role with Conveyor Group entails overseeing public and governmental relations efforts, commercial photography and videography, copywriting, conceptual and strategic planning, and ongoing business development. He's proud to be on the front lines working directly with clients while participating behind the scenes in actual work product.

    Over the span of his career, Aaron has become a local resource for all things marketing-related. He is regularly asked to chair committees and give presentations and workshops on advertising, branding, web development and social media. As a dedicated community advocate, Aaron has served as president of the El Centro Rotary Club, president of the El Centro Chamber of Commerce, and as chairman of the Imperial Valley Joint Chambers of Commerce. He is the current chairman of the City of El Centro Planning Commission. Aaron also participates as a volunteer and advisor for numerous local organizations, educational institutions, and non-profits - including sitting on the boards of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Imperial Valley Community Foundation where he is the current vice chairman.

    In 2012, Aaron was honored with the "Leader of the Year" award by the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (IVEDC). He was also recognized by the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) as their "Alumnus of the Year" for 2013 and later with the IVROP Community Foundation's innaugural "Partner of the Year" award in 2017. He is a fourth generation native of El Centro and a proud resident and proponent of the Imperial Valley as California's frontier of opportunity. Aaron and his wife, Nellie, are raising three sons, Thacker, Oliver and Spencer as fifth generation Imperial Valley natives.

    Aaron is passionate about design, technology, and creative problem solving. He doesn't consider himself to be "the boss" but rather part of a stellar creative team, working together to provide the best solutions possible for Conveyor's clients. Aaron spends his "free" time with his family, appreciating his natural surroundings by exploring, camping and overlanding. He's also an artist, musician, foodie, and wine aficionado.

    What is something we may not know about you? - “I'm the product of multiple generations of local business owners who have served the Imperial Valley since 1907. That makes Conveyor Group about as local as local gets.”

    Sprocket Since 1997

  • Hartnoll L. Nellie Popejoy

    Principal / Business Director

    Accounts
    Administration
    Media
    Strategy

    Nellie is the co-founder, managing partner, and focused business director for Conveyor Group. She is responsible for accounting, business development, operational strategy, human resources, media auditing and general company management. In a group of creatives, Nellie is Conveyor's secret weapon.

    As a fourth generation Imperial Valley native and daughter of agriculture, Nellie comes from the life-long school of entrepreneurship and hard work. She lives by the mantra: "if it is to be, it is up to me". Her education includes an Associates Degree in business administration from Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA, and a Bachelor of Sciences degree in business administration with an emphasis in management and extended studies in marketing and media communications from San Diego State University (SDSU). She also studied business technology and finance at San Jose State University (SJSU) during the peak of the first dot-com boom in the heart of Silicon Valley.

    Nellie's diverse experience includes administrative assistance and management for small business, real estate operations, banking and finance, international trade, architecture and construction development. She has also provided professional consulting for business organizations, accounting, productivity, management software integration and organizational restructuring.

    Nellie enjoys the culinary arts, entertaining, fine wine, good living, crafts, ceramics, and philanthropy. She loves to travel and explore the world around her and truly appreciates handmade and locally sourced goods. Nellie is also the dedicated mother of three beautiful boys - Thacker, Oliver and Spencer.

    She is a member of the Society For Human Resources Management (SHRM) and a PEO sister. She's also a very supportive wife and best friend to her business partner, Aaron.

    What is something we may not know about you? - “I grew up without a TV in the house. I’m serious, no TV.”

    Sprocket Since 1997

  • Steven Thomas

    Lead Web Developer / Systems Administrator

    Design
    Technical Support
    Web Development
    Steven is our lead developer who was originally hired as a designer. Seriously, he was, it turns out Steven’s aptitude for development made him ideal for developing SiteFactory3. A stickler for planning, organization and thorough development he thinks ten steps ahead of everyone else, clients included, to develop well-designed, well-structured products to meet client needs. 
     
    He is a graduate of The Art Institute of Phoenix, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and Animation. He’s a computer and technology enthusiast constantly reading and learning. He’s always looking for the “next great thing” and testing it before everyone else does. Early in his career he spent a great deal of time freelancing, doing basic web programming and design before he eventually wound up at Conveyor Group where he’s been able to experience “new challenges in web design and web development”.
     
    An avid reader, Steven can often be found reading a book or magazine expanding his knowledge. He like the rest of the team also enjoys a good day of gaming. It doesn’t matter what kind of gaming as long as “it has a good story”. Steven is also a huge film buff, he helps support he Imperial County Film Commission by participating and assisting with the annual Imperial Valley Film Festival. 
     
    He and Melissa, production director, married in December of 2015, and along with their German Shepherd and Husky, call Brawley home. Continuing to add to their family, they welcomed their first tiny human, son Logan, in 2017. 
     
    What is something we may not know about you? “I have a Cadillac El Dorado with a hula girl on the dashboard.”
     
    Sprocket Since 2008
  • Carolina Gonzalez

    Design Associate

    Design
    Web Development
    BA, Digital Graphic Design - CETYS University
     
    Sprocket Since 2018
  • Carolina Robles

    Design Assistant

    Audio/Video
    Design
    Photography
    Web Development
    B.F.A in Graphic Design (Summa Cum Laude) - Rocky Mountain College of Art
     
    A.A in Beauty Industry Merchandising and Marketing - Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

    Sprocket Since 2022

  • Abraham Morales

    A/V Production Assistant

    Audio/Video
    Photography
    BA, Animation & Visual Effects Engineering - Universidad Politécnica de Baja California
     
    Sprocket Since 2022