People

Julio Melara

CEO

Julio Melara is president and CEO of Melara Enterprises, a multi-media company which publishes Business Report, 225 Magazine, InRegister magazine, Daily Report, 10|12 Industry Report and many other niche publications, websites and e-newsletters. He is also the founder of Business Report's Executive Leadership Academy- an exclusive program for advancing professionals and entrepreneurs that offers the best of personal development, professional growth, leadership exposure and insight from guest CEO speakers.

Julio is also CEO and Founder of Studio E–a content, communications and creative studio that helps businesses engage and connect with their clients by helping them tell their story and optimizing their content in creative ways on multiple platforms.

In 2023, Julio became the Principal of Launch Media, a video production and visual communication company that creates dynamic experiences and content, thereby helping its clients achieve success with moving images.

He is the author of several books, Do You Have The Time For Success?, It Only Takes Everything You've Got!, Keys To Performance, and Mental Snacks – Nourishment for your mind and fuel for your life!

Erin Pou

Chief Digital Officer

Erin and her team are reinventing the way clients connect with audiences. They are focused on serving local businesses, growing their revenue, and addressing their pain points by delivering premium hyperlocal content with marketing strategies that work. She was honored with the Louisiana Press Association's President’s Award in 2006 and 2018 and the 2011 Louey Award by the Louisiana Travel Association and former Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne.

John E. Jackson

Managing Director

As the founder of Launch Media, John has worked on hundreds of projects, spanning industries from industrial construction and HR to nonprofit and healthcare. Over the course of 17 years, he has transformed a startup 2-man video outfit into a full-service multimedia production company with clients across the country and around the world. Awarded the 2015 Baton Rouge Business Report’s “Young Business Person of the Year,” John is a proven leader with a reputation for quality service, management, and execution. As any good leader knows, with success comes philanthropic effort, and John enjoys serving on boards with Preserve Louisiana, Cap City Beer Fest in association with the Companion Animal Alliance, and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

Fun Facts:
Grew up on his family farm in a small town
Believes everyone should "always be learning"
Would rather be camping (as his bumper sticker says) #CubScoutDenDadLife

Jessi Bajoie

Creative Producer

Jessi Bajoie is a seasoned creative producer with over 14 years of experience in commercial video production. Starting her journey as a photographer, she quickly expanded into videography and has spent the past 7 years honing her skills as a producer. Jessi excels at uniting talented teams and fusing creativity with strategic insight to craft compelling content for brands.

Her work spans across 9+ countries, where she has led teams in producing impactful video and photo content. A passionate advocate for female-owned brands, Jessi is dedicated to empowering women in the Baton Rouge community through her expertise in visual storytelling.

Taylor Stoma

Senior Editor

As resident video editor and animator, Taylor's view and approach to moving image creation is not only a holistic one, but an expression of the dynamic and "out of the box" thinking that births interesting visual stories. He enjoys pulling stories out of images and inventing new ways to present an idea to enhance a client’s vision. Taylor started working with Launch Media over four years ago, after leaving his position with Complete Weddings and Events where he was awarded “2016 Lead Videographer of the Year.” As a short film maker, he strives to approach his work from a place of artistry, building on the principles and elements of design to elevate conventional marketing and advertising methods. Taylor earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Media Arts from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2014.

Fun Facts:
Aspires to be a touring musician and create visual media for his band
Believes that art has healing powers (empirical evidence for it folks)
Avid racquetball player and lover of all water sports

Ari Ross

Studio Manager / Associate Editor

A certified “Swiss-army man,” Ari began his media journey at WBRH, Baton Rouge High’s FM radio station. His experiences carried over to LSU, where he studied Mass Communication with a focus in broadcast journalism. Throughout his college years, Ari spent much of his spare time working in student media as a radio news reporter, DJ, photojournalist, videographer, editor and producer. These experiences gave him a chance to see how different forms of media can combine to tell a story in the most effective way. After graduating in 2018, Ari worked various media-related jobs but always found his favorite ones involved cameras. As Launch’s Production Coordinator, Ari maintains an organized studio and equipment inventory while also supporting day-to-day productions as a utility grip, gaffer, and camera assistant.

Fun Facts:
Pretty good with a slingshot
Has a pet Yellow Lab named Trouble
Bought a drone in the hopes of one day flying it commercially

Manny Fajardo

Business Development Manager

Manny brought his extensive media sales experience to the company in 2011, spearheading the 225 BEST EATS promotion. Under his leadership, this initiative not only continues to thrive but also earned the accolade for Best Overall E-Commerce program. Subsequently, he served as a marketing consultant for 225 Magazine, while concurrently managing 225 BEST EATS. Over the past decade, his dual roles have significantly boosted sales and fostered stronger client relationships. Manny's adept people skills have not only secured client trust but also facilitated his current role as the Business Development Manager for Melara Enterprises. In this capacity, he devises and implements strategic solutions for businesses both externally and internally.

Sara Hodge

Production Coordinator

Sara Hodge is a seasoned administrative expert who serves as the Production Coordinator at Launch Media. Her professional journey is marked by a continuous pursuit of skill enhancement and a deep commitment to excellence in her field. Sara is not only a dedicated professional but also a devoted mother to four children and caregiver to three cats.

Beyond her role at Launch Media, Sara is passionate about raising awareness for congenital heart disease. In her off time, she enjoys delving into the pages of a good book and experiencing the thrill of live concerts. Sara's dynamic approach to her career and personal passions exemplifies her multifaceted character and her unwavering dedication to both her family and her professional endeavors.

J.J.

Mascot

Nearly 17 years ago, J.J. graduated in aerospace engineering at the top of his class. He then earned his PhD in physics at the University of LM Visual Solutions at CBO. As a certified prodigy, J.J. was a top pick for a NASA secret mission to the moon in 2010. It turns out that some Russian agents knocked over the American flag. But, J.J. led the team to victory and managed to replant the flag in the moondust. Footage of the event remains classified.