About Us

Lora Prill turns strategy into results — and has been doing it for more than three decades.

As President and Partner at ADCO, Lora leads the agency’s strategy work, from brand development to public relations, helping ensure every idea is grounded in purpose and built to perform. With more than 30 years of experience and a partnership earned in 2007, she is known for bringing clarity to complex challenges and helping clients move forward with confidence.

Lora’s strengths are rooted in logic, problem solving and clear, steady communication. She has a natural ability to connect ideas, people and priorities—often serving as the calm, steady presence that keeps projects on track and teams aligned.

A University of South Carolina alumna with a background in journalism and news editorial, Lora has spent her career at the intersection of storytelling and strategy, helping clients shape messages that resonate and stand the test of time.

A Columbia fixture, Lora is a devoted Gamecock fan and never turns down a conversation about USC sports. At home, she shares her world with her husband, her son (currently a Gamecock himself), and a notoriously stubborn beagle named Stewart. When she’s not working, she’s probably planning the next trip to Disney.

Brian Murrell has been making brands impossible to ignore since day one.

As Creative Director and founding partner of ADCO, Brian brings decades of experience turning strategy into creative work that actually connects. He’s the agency’s creative compass — the one who can take a complicated business challenge and shape it into something people genuinely feel. His brainstorming sessions? Still the ones everyone talks about.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in graphic design, Brian pairs a painter’s eye with sharp communication instincts on every project. Since co-founding the agency in 1990, he’s helped define its voice while continually evolving alongside the industry — driven as much by curiosity as craft.

Outside the office, Brian channels his creativity into fine art, exhibiting his paintings at local shows throughout the region. He also enjoys traveling — especially to Europe — and is a dedicated fan of all things Gamecocks especially the South Carolina Gamecocks Women’s Basketball team.

Lauren McAlexander doesn’t just plan campaigns — she architects the thinking behind them.

As Lead Strategist and Partner at ADCO, Lauren oversees the agency’s full strategic output, bringing analytical rigor and creative energy to every engagement. She specializes in digital campaign planning, long-term account strategy and brand growth — combining data-driven insight with imaginative thinking to help clients reach audiences that matter. Named a partner in 2024, Lauren has been a driving force at the agency since joining in 2018.

A University of South Carolina graduate in public relations, Lauren is currently President of AAF Midlands, where she has served on the board since 2020 and was named Board Member of the Year two years running. In 2026, she was recognized as one of SCBIZ’s Top 100 Women and selected for the Women in Business distinction by five regional publications, including Columbia Business Monthly and Greenville Business Magazine.

Originally from Charlotte, Lauren has made Columbia home and loves everything the city has to offer. From weekend lake days and park explorations to family adventures with her husband, daughter and two dogs — she’s the kind of person who shows up fully, whether that’s in life or in the office.

Lawson Murrell finds exactly the right words — and exactly the right platform to put them on.

As Marketing Communications Coordinator at ADCO, Lawson keeps the agency sharp, the content fresh and the social media strategies ahead of the curve. He crafts and executes platform-specific campaigns with a precision that comes from equal parts instinct and industry knowledge — always on the lookout for emerging trends before they become standard practice.

A 2023 University of South Carolina graduate in broadcast journalism and a member of the Honors College, Lawson joined ADCO in 2024 and hit the ground running. His broadcast background and his time with The Daily Gamecock, USC’s student paper, give him a storyteller’s sense of timing and a communicator’s ability to cut through noise.

A Charleston native and die-hard Gamecock fan, Lawson brings his competitive drive off the field as well as on it. He plays soccer, referees adult recreational leagues and follows professional soccer closely — making him someone who understands both the art of strategy and the importance of execution.

Brad Warthen spent decades shaping public opinion in South Carolina. Now he helps clients do the same.

As director of communications and public relations at ADCO, Brad brings a depth of media experience that few in the state can match. Before joining the agency in 2010, he served as Vice President and Editorial Page Editor at The State, at the time South Carolina’s largest newspaper — a role that made him one of the most well-connected and widely read voices in the state. That credibility translates directly into results for ADCO’s clients.

Brad is equally fluent in traditional media and emerging platforms. He has been running his own blog since 2005, and served as communications directors for James Smith’s 2018 campaign for governor. His ability to navigate complex communications environments — from newsrooms to campaign trails — makes him an invaluable asset in high-stakes moments.

Brad is the kind of professional who has seen everything and knows everybody. With a large and growing family of children and grandchildren, he brings the same investment to his community that he brings to his clients.

Jenny Mathews runs the numbers, manages the media, and makes sure nothing — not a deadline or a dollar — slips through the cracks.

At ADCO, she balances two roles with equal precision. As a media buyer and digital media planner, she manages campaigns from strategy through execution — negotiating placements, managing timelines, and ensuring every element delivers. She also plays a key role in the agency’s financial operations, overseeing bookkeeping and budget management that keep client projects on track and on target. It’s a rare combination — and she makes it look effortless.

Her history with ADCO runs deep. She first joined the agency in the early 2000s as a media buyer, developing a strong foundation in the craft before stepping away to raise her family. She returned in 2019 as a part-time bookkeeper, then stepped back into media buying and digital planning full force in 2025 — bringing a perspective shaped by years of experience on both sides of a campaign budget. She holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of South Carolina, bringing an analytical foundation that supports thoughtful, data-driven decisions.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her husband — through Europe, on cruises, and wherever the next adventure takes her. She’s always on the lookout for a great coffee shop or winery, and is continually exploring new places, ideas and experiences.

Debra Legg writes with the precision of a journalist and the savvy of a digital strategist.

As ADCO’s writer and SEO strategist, Debra brings a rare combination of editorial excellence and digital expertise to every project. With a journalism career spanning decades and a partnership with ADCO dating back to 2008, she is one of the agency’s most trusted creative voices. Her writing is clear, compelling and built to perform — whether in long-form content, social copy or SEO-optimized web pages.

A West Virginia University journalism graduate, Debra has earned numerous awards for her writing and editing throughout her career. She is known for her versatility across formats and her ability to deliver outstanding work under tight deadlines — a skill that makes her indispensable in fast-moving campaign environments.

After hours, Debra sometimes enjoys obsessively following baseball, and sometimes hates it, depending on how the game’s going. She also loves sports photography and watching her two sons turn into amazing adults.

Mathew Smith creates digital experiences that balance strategy, storytelling and strong visual design.

As a designer, creative strategist and musician, Mathew brings a multidisciplinary perspective to ADCO’s creative work. His background spans branding, web design, digital marketing and visual storytelling, with a particular focus on helping organizations build an online presence that feels both strategic and authentic. Whether developing digital experiences, designing websites or shaping creative direction, he approaches every project with an emphasis on clarity, emotion and audience connection.

In addition to his agency work, Mathew has spent years working throughout the music and performing arts industries — designing for recording artists, live productions, marching bands and creative organizations across the country. That experience gives him a unique understanding of how visual identity, performance and storytelling intersect, and how strong creative can elevate an entire experience. His work combines technical precision with an instinct for creating visuals that feel modern, memorable and human.

Outside of work, Mathew continues to stay active as a musician, designer and creative collaborator. He is passionate about music, branding, live performance and the creative process itself — always exploring new ideas, aesthetics and ways to connect with audiences through design.