Prior to co-founding Deep Conversion Communications, Talley Summerlin was a Vice President and Creative Services Director for GCI Group (now Cohn & Wolfe), a global public relations agency. Throughout his eight years with GCI’s Dallas and Austin operations he worked extensively on environmental and corporate social responsibility programs with Dell’s communications and sustainable business teams, helping the technology giant evolve “from laggard to leader” among consumer brands. Summerlin is particularly proud of the work he did to co-create and manage Dell’s partnerships with Goodwill and the National Recycling Coalition to bring real computer recycling options to Americans.
In addition to work with Dell, Summerlin co-developed and produced a variety of campaigns with values-led brands Whole Foods Market and Seventh Generation to educate consumers about important environmental and human health lifestyle choices. In this work he helped coordinate and manage meaningful brand partnerships with Motheringmagazine, Meredith Corporation, William McDonough and Sheryl Crow.
As Creative Services Director for the agency Summerlin facilitated countless idea generation sessions for dozens of state, national and global organizations including Dell, Whole Foods Market, Seventh Generation, Darden Restaurants, Nokia, Radio Shack and Nike. He also frequently led clients through strategic planning sessions and brainstorming retreats helping them align vision, mission and “big ideas” with their core values.
Summerlin’s other experience at GCI, includes media training facilitation, event management, digital media initiatives and multiple awards, including a Holmes Report Bronze Anvil and the GCI Group North American Spirit Award for Creativity.
Alongside his Deep Conversion work, Summerlin is currently a Director for Green Canary Sustainability Consulting, a subsidiary of EnviroMedia Social Marketing — one of the nation’s first and most prestigious advertising and public relations agencies dedicated exclusively to environmental and public health campaigns. He works closely with the Green Canary principals and management team to help clients craft practical strategies that ensure they remain credible, minimize risk and reach their sustainability goals.
Finally, in his life as an artist, Summerlin is a published songwriter and a critically acclaimed independent recording artist. He has also been a cartoonist and is currently writing and illustrating an epic poem for children, when not writing new songs.
Summerlin currently resides in Austin, TX with his wife and Deep Conversion Communications co-founder, Elizabeth Freese, and two daughters, Rose and Vivian. He earned his MA in English from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and his BA in Communication, with an Art minor, from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.
Elizabeth Freese, MA Partner
The essence of Elizabeth Freese’s contribution to Deep Conversion Communications is her holistic insight regarding the crucial transformation of society to sustainability. Through many years of academic study of cultural dynamics, environmental activist work, spiritual growth, and personal lifestyle change, she has gleaned significant wisdom that she now shares in her writing, formation and consulting endeavors.
Freese began her studies at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York, pursuing a BA in Sociology and developing a love of societal analysis. After a few years of travel, odd jobs, and deep reflection upon her vocation in a troubled world, she kicked off her career in environmental activism in the Ozark forests of Northwest Arkansas. As a freelance writer and organizer she worked with the Newton County Wildlife Association and the Sierra Club to promote public awareness of and support for a Citizens’ Management Plan for public lands. Having published numerous articles and after contributing to a variety of outreach and lobbying projects, Freese went on to earn a MA in Communication from the University of Arkansas, with a focus on strategic environmental movement rhetoric.
Following her time in Arkansas, Freese moved to Dallas, TX and worked in public relations for Read-Poland Associates, garnering significant ink for her clients and organizing a large web portal for regional environmental groups. However, she soon heeded yet another call to graduate study and began a Masters program in Theological Studies at Southern Methodist University. She found herself on a long journey into the depths of religio-cultural issues related to eco-crisis and possible Church responses. Transferring to Austin along the way, her studies culminated with a MA in Religion from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest and a thesis focusing on the parallels between the historical principles of Judeo-Christian justice and the current ideals of a sustainable society, which have significant formation, theological, and liturgical implications.
In addition to her academic work, Freese has been engaged in managing a sustainable household. From organic food to non-toxic cleaning to low-impact consumerism to time/energy/finance budgeting she does the research and makes the shifts so that she and her family move ever closer to truly eco-friendly, sanely paced living.
In co-founding Deep Conversion Communications, Freese drew together all of her training, experience and passion to offer useful products and services to both environmental and Christian organizations. She leads “Gospel is Green” workshops and “Sustainable Life Support” groups for Christians seeking to integrate their faith with practical, green living, and she is currently working on a book, Deep Conversion: Calling the Church to “Come to Jesus” in an Age of Eco-Crisis, with an associated year-long formation curriculum. For environmentally concerned activist and business organizations, she offers her strategic perspective on values oriented communication in general and on outreach to the Christian community in particular.
Elizabeth Freese grew up in Fort Worth, TX. She currently resides in Austin, TX with her her husband and Deep Conversion Communications co-founder, Talley Summerlin, and their two daughters, Rose and Vivian. They are members of the Congregational Church of Austin, meditate regularly, and, when possible, go hiking around Austin or in Red River, NM.
