When DCG welcomed Urban Emu earlier this year, it marked a significant leap forward in DCG’s long-term growth strategy.
By bringing together Urban Emu’s expertise in technology, AI development, and problem-solving with DCG’s strengths in research and strategic communications, we’re creating new opportunities to serve clients in innovative ways.
As we continue building this next chapter together, we’re excited to spotlight a few of the team members who joined DCG. From digital strategy and training to software development, each brings a unique background, valuable experience, and a shared commitment to helping our clients succeed.
Tom Delorme
With more than 25 years of experience in digital communications, marketing, and management, Tom brings a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver impactful client solutions.
At DCG, Tom leads legacy Urban Emu accounts, supports the technical team with AI product development, and contributes to delivery and growth initiatives.
For Tom, one of the most rewarding aspects of joining DCG has been how seamless the transition has felt.
“From day one, I have felt like part of the team at DCG. Our cultures are very similar, and the transition has felt like a natural fit,” he said.
Looking ahead, he’s excited about the potential created by bringing two strong teams together.
“It’s already clear that our teams bring complementary strengths. We’re collaborating to develop stronger, more innovative solutions than either team could deliver alone.”
Outside of work, Tom enjoys traveling, exploring new food and wine experiences, and drawing on memories from his time studying abroad in Costa Rica and Argentina.
When it comes to his approach to work, he keeps two things in mind.
“Each day matters. Every day is an opportunity to show up for your team and for your clients. Details matter. The smallest of details may be the most important factor in determining whether you succeed or fail.”
Hayden Yarbrough
As DCG’s Training Lead and Marketing Planning Lead, Hayden helps clients and colleagues feel confident adopting new tools, systems, and processes. Whether she’s creating instructional videos or leading live demonstrations, she focuses on making learning approachable and accessible for both clients and internal teams.
Her approach comes naturally, as she originally studied to become a teacher. When the opportunity to move into digital solutions arose, she embraced it, discovering a new passion and building a career that has now spanned nearly a decade.
“I’ve always been a hands-on learner, and I was given the freedom to explore the areas that interested me. It turns out this career was the perfect fit for me!” Hayden said.
Since joining DCG, Hayden says the people have made the biggest impression.
“The people I work with every day are incredibly talented, supportive, and welcoming. It feels like one big family.”
Outside of work, Hayden enjoys painting, spending time with her son, and staying active through weightlifting.
A philosophy that has guided both her career and personal life is simple: “Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and take on something new. You never know what you’ll enjoy or excel at until you try it.”
Joe DiBenedetto
As a software developer at DCG, Joe builds and maintains applications for both internal teams and clients while also supporting several VA websites and former Urban Emu projects.
He began his path to software development at an early age.
After receiving a computer as a gift at the age of 10, he became fascinated by programming and quickly moved from playing games to building his own software applications. Although his career briefly took a different direction when he joined the Army, an opportunity to develop software solutions during his military service reignited his passion for technology.
Today, he enjoys applying that experience to solve practical challenges.
“I’m looking forward to building custom tools that help the DCG team in their work,” he said.
Since joining DCG, he’s enjoyed collaborating with colleagues across a wide range of projects and finding opportunities to improve processes and workflows.
Outside of work, he’s an avid animal lover, photographer, and woodworking enthusiast. He combines his interests by volunteering at local animal shelters, helping pets find homes by photographing them for shelter websites and social media.
One lesson that has shaped his approach to work is the importance of balancing attention to detail with practicality.
“Sometimes it’s good to step back and ask whether what I’m working on is worth the time I’m putting into it,” Joe said.
He also encourages others to embrace continuous learning, saying, “Don’t get comfortable. Your job will change over time, so there’s always something new to learn.”
Randy Rodriguez
Randy focuses on helping teams and clients turn ideas into practical digital products and experiences as DCG’s Vice President of Digital and Product.
With a career spanning more than 20 years, Randy has worked across strategy, design, product development, and innovation.
“I’ve enjoyed connecting business goals with what people actually need. Bringing that experience to DCG is a natural next step,” Randy said.
A former draft pick for two Major League Baseball organizations, the Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers, Randy still spends plenty of time on the field as a youth baseball coach.
He enjoys helping players develop their skills, build confidence, and learn how to be good teammates.
It’s easy to see how that philosophy carries over on and off the field.
“Start by understanding the problem and the people experiencing it,” Randy said. “The best work comes from listening, asking good questions, and staying focused on what will make a difference.”
Jeff Carnegie
As an AI Engineer, Jeff helps develop AI-powered products and the cloud infrastructure that supports them. His work includes solutions for research, proposal writing, and media and sentiment analysis, as well as helping move applications to a shared Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform.
Jeff brings more than 24 years of software development experience, including leadership roles at PayPal, Vevo, and Yelp. Since 2023, he has focused on building products with large language models and is now helping bring that expertise to DCG.
One thing that has stood out to him since joining DCG is the organization’s speed and willingness to innovate.
“An idea from a meeting can become a working tool in front of the team within days, and people here are always eager to try something new,” he said.
His approach to work can be summed up in a simple philosophy. “Keep it simple. If a plan doesn’t fit on one page, it probably isn’t clear yet. The same goes for code and for teams: the simplest version that works is usually the right place to start.”
While Tom, Hayden, Joe, Randy, Jeff, and all our new team members each bring different backgrounds and areas of expertise, their stories reflect the shared values that brought DCG and Urban Emu together: collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to delivering meaningful results. These three team members represent just a few of the talented professionals who joined DCG through this partnership.
As DCG enters this next chapter, it’s the people behind the work who make the difference. Adding the Urban Emu team has strengthened our capabilities and enhanced our ability to deliver results for our clients.
