Our Team

Dan Merrell President, CEO, Founder and Captain – Dan serves as Propeller’s president and a member of the board. He founded Propeller Consulting in 2004 and is one of the reasons we are all here. Dan has vast experience as a senior marketing executive in the kids and family entertainment industry. In addition to overseeing all marketing, sales and retail distribution for Big Idea Productions, Dan has also served as a senior executive of HIT Entertainment, Lyrick Studios and Best Video Distributors. Throughout his over twenty year career, Dan has been instrumental in the successful launch, distribution and sales of leading family entertainment brands like VeggieTales, Bob the Builder, the Wiggles and Barney the Dinosaur – resulting in over $1 billion in consumer sales collectively. Dan has been responsible for guiding Propeller since its inception and is the driving force behind the growth of the company. Dan and his wife Debbie live in Brentwood, TN; along with Debbie’s greyhounds and the most impressive DVD and video game collection you have probably ever seen. Email Dan: dan@flypropeller.com

Bob Elder Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer – Bob has worked in the Christian product marketplace for over 20 years. He began his career with Family Christian Stores, serving in the store operations and merchandising departments for nine years, before moving to Nashville to work with Word Entertainment. As head of distribution marketing at Word, Bob was responsible for selling and merchandising multi-platinum recording artists and videos to the Christian retail channel. In 1999 he was recruited by Big Idea Productions, the award winning production company and creator of VeggieTales® to head up their Christian sales department. In 2003, Bob launched E3 Strategic Solutions to serve the Christian marketplace; which he folded into Propeller in 2006. Bob is responsible for the day to day management of Propeller’s office, staff and operating budget; leads our weekly staff meetings and makes quarterly reports to the board of directors. How he finds time to also be heavily involved in ministry to men and couples is a mystery to all. Bob and his wife Heidi have two children, John (18), and Emily (16), and are active members of Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, TN. Email Bob: bob@flypropeller.com

Sue Beddingfield Vice President – Sue joined Propeller in 2006 and brought her 20-plus years of experience in launching and building brands with her. Before joining Propeller Sue ran Surround Marketing Group, specializing in developing and implementing business, brand and marketing plans, primarily for children’s and family brands. Her work history includes a stint as senior vice president, marketing, for HIT Entertainment (formerly Lyrick Studios), where she authored innovative marketing programs for many blue-chip children’s entertainment brands. She was a member of the executive management team responsible for developing and maintaining Barney’s classic-character status in the preschool category. Additionally, Sue created and managed launch plans for popular characters Bob the Builder and The Wiggles, building Bob to an award-winning (License of the Year) $100 million launch in the U.S., and generating a media and sales frenzy with The Wiggles. She also designed the brand extension plan for Angelina Ballerina, growing Angelina from a classic book character to a successful television and video series. Sue and her husband Bobby live in Dallas, TX with their daughter Molly Grace. Email Sue: sue@flypropeller.com

Bill Reeves Vice President – Bill joined Propeller in 2007 after a number of years as entertainment director for Tommy Nelson, the children’s division of Thomas Nelson Publishers. In this role, Bill supervised day-to-day activities of video, audio and licensing business for the division. He also served as executive producer for several video projects, including Max Lucado’s Hermie and Friends™ series. Prior to Tommy Nelson, Reeves worked as director of CBA market development at Big Idea Productions, known for its highly-successful VeggieTales® cartoon series. Before coming on board with Big Idea, Bill spent 12 years working in the Christian music industry, most of those with Word Entertainment in Nashville. In addition to his duties at Propeller, Bill is also manages Working Title, a literary agency the represents Stephen & Alex Kendrick authors of the New York Times bestseller The Love Dare among others. Bill has been married to his wife Heidi for 17 years and they have three children: Juliana (13), Jon (10) and Denham (4). He also serves as a deacon at The People’s Church (First Baptist Franklin, TN). Email Bill: bill@flypropeller.com

Andy Peterson Sr. Creative Director – Andy began his marketing career at BMG Entertainment’s Reunion Records in 1995. It was from there that he moved on to help launch the highly successful independent label Rocketown Records, founded by Grammy Award winning Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith. In his time there the label saw tremendous sales growth, launching the careers of Dove Award winning artists Chris Rice and Ginny Owens among others. In 2002, Andy accepted a position as senior marketing director at Warner Bros. Records, serving its Word Records imprint which housed a diverse roster of legendary artists like Amy Grant, Sixpence None the Richer, Point of Grace and Randy Travis. Andy then went on to head up marketing for Thomas Nelson Publishers’ specialty books division which included the Tommy Nelson children’s imprint. In 2005 Andy joined Propeller as its second staffer and has remained a key part of the company’s identity since – overseeing a number of creative aspects for the organization in addition to clients representing music, publishing, film and non-profit work. Andy and his wife have been married for 13-years. They live in Nashville, TN. Email Andy: andy@flypropeller.com

Rodney Bowen Director of Marketing – Rodney’s entertainment marketing experience began at Chordant Distribution Group (now EMI CMG), where he grew from marketing manager to major accounts manager. From there Rodney joined Word Entertainment, serving for several years as sr. marketing director for Word Distribution’s business-to-business marketing division. While there he facilitated a range of strategic activities, including promotion and program development, label relations, Internet initiatives and public relations. Rodney joined Propeller in 2007 and is a key point of contact and organization for a number of our clients. He is a talented pianist and an active member of a touring southern gospel quartet. Rodney and his wife Joni live in Bellevue, TN. Email Rodney: rodney@flypropeller.com

Laura Beth Stubblefield Marketing Manager – Laura Beth Stubblefield has been part of our team since 2008. She is our tactical marketing manager in addition to her unofficial duties as commissioner of the annual board game competition. Her experience in project management first began in manufacturing, and after three years LB (as she is known in the office) made the move over to marketing. As a planner and executer of the marketing initiatives set forth by the Propeller team, Laura Beth enjoys seeing clients’ ideas make their way into the marketplace. She currently helps oversee areas such as website design and development, packaging, strategic partnership outreach, and event and trade show planning. She lives in downtown Franklin and currently enjoys the shortest commute to the office of the entire staff. Email Laura Beth: laurabeth@flypropeller.com

Robin von Tagen Receptionist and Office Manager – Robin joined Propeller in July 2009. She is the one that greets you at the door, the voice you hear when you call, and likely the person that set up your meeting with Dan. She is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University in Southern California and moved to Nashville in 1998. Robin’s prior work experience is diverse including jobs as: administrative assistant, dance instructor & choreographer, pre-school music director, makeup artist, esthetician, stylist, talent scout, model and actress. Whew! She loves staying connected to the entertainment industry at Propeller and we are glad to have a choreographer on staff – just in case. Robin is the mother of four wonderful boys: Tyler (15), Jordan (13), Derick (10), Mikey (8). Email Robin: robin@flypropeller.com