Meet TFG

Tavi Fulkerson

Founder
Founded The Fulkerson Group in 1983

Tavi Fulkerson, the founder of The Fulkerson Group, is well recognized as a sponsorship sales expert with an extensive marketing and public relations background. Prior to moving to the Detroit area in 1991, Fulkerson owned a public relations firm for 10 years in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the 1970s, Fulkerson hosted both a radio and television interview talk show and wrote a weekly newspaper column for the Ann Arbor News. Fulkerson is a communications graduate (B.A.) from the University of Michigan (1974). In 2008, Crain’s Detroit Business named Fulkerson a Power Seller of The Year. The publication recognized the top eight salespeople in the Detroit metropolitan area. Fulkerson was the only woman honored.

Sarah Swanson

Senior Account Director

Joined TFG: September 1998
Key Accounts: The Parade Company and the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation

Sarah Swanson is an accomplished sponsorship and development executive with more than 25 years of experience in strategic partnerships, sponsorship sales, grant writing, and revenue development. She specializes in creating innovative funding and marketing strategies that connect organizations with corporate partners, foundations, and donors to drive growth, engagement, and impact. Recognized for her ability to build lasting relationships and develop customized partnership opportunities, Sarah has helped organizations secure critical resources while delivering meaningful value to stakeholders and communities. Her passion for collaboration, innovation, and mission-driven work continues to guide her efforts in advancing organizations and creating sustainable opportunities for success.

Cyndy Doherty

Major Event Sponsorship Sales

Joined TFG: October 2010
Key Accounts: Detroit Auto Show, Henry Ford Health System’s EyesOn Design Awards at the Detroit Auto Show and EyesOn Design Automotive Design Exhibition

Cyndy Doherty came to The Fulkerson Group with broad leadership experience as a fund-raiser in area philanthropic events.   At TFG, she specializes in sponsorship sales for the North American International Auto Show and its technology showcase, AutoMobili-D.  She also manages the EyesOn Design account representing one of the region’s most prominent health systems: Henry Ford Health System.  Doherty holds a Masters’ Degree in Psychology from the University of Detroit.  When she is not attending the exciting major events represented by The Fulkerson Group, she enjoys international travel and dabbling in gourmet cooking with a focus on entertaining her friends and family.

Mike Marchand

Strategic Programming and Partnerships Consultant

Joined TFG: May 2024
Key Accounts: Detroit Auto Show, International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

Mike Marchand joined the Fulkerson Group after a 35-year career with Michelin where he was the Director of Partnerships, Sustainable Development & Mobility. He brings extensive experience in the automotive industry to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by the emergence of new technologies and business models, and the growing international demand for sustainable mobility solutions. Mike earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from the University of South Carolina.

Octavian Gherasim

Business Development Director

Joined TFG: November 2022
Key Accounts: International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Detroit Auto Show

Gherasim has exceptional sales experience with proven success in lead generation, closing sponsorship sales and contracts. Since joining the team, he has generated $1.5M+ in annual partnership and sponsorship revenue, consistently meeting and exceeding quota through strategic account management and proactive prospecting. He manages a named portfolio of 100+ corporate accounts, owning the full sales lifecycle, from initial outreach and onboarding through renewal, upsell, and multi-year expansion, achieving strong year-over-year revenue retention.

Rachael Williams

Intern

Joined TFG: 2026
Key Accounts: The Parade Company and the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation

Rachael Williams is a recent graduate of Wayne State University, where she earned a B.A. in Media Arts and Studies with a minor in Digital Art and Photography. With a background in marketing, communications, social media and event promotion, Williams brings a creative perspective to her work at The Fulkerson Group. She is especially interested in the creative side of events and sponsorships and enjoys finding new ways to bring ideas and people together. Williams is excited to continue growing her career in Detroit and learning more about the events and sponsorship industry.

Gabriella Spindler

Sponsorship Fulfillment Specialist

Joined TFG: September 2025

Key Accounts: IEDC, Detroit Auto Show

Gabriella joined The Fulkerson Group with extensive experience in operations, logistics, and executive leadership gained through a decade of service as a U.S. Army Officer. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, and Georgetown University with a Master’s in Sports Industry Management, she brings a strong foundation in logistics and sales fulfillment, strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and partnership development. Her background provides her with a unique perspective on resilience, performance, and teamwork to deliver creative solutions for clients and partners.