Rising Stars: Meet Maria Penler of Toledo, Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Penler.

Maria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been drawn to a creative spaces. In college and early in my career, I taught art classes at the local YMCA to elementary-aged kids. That experience really sparked my love for helping others express themselves through art and design. I graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2018 with a BFA in Digital Arts and a minor in Art History, and soon after, I joined The Danberry Co. as a Marketing Assistant.

Over the years, I’ve grown within the company and stepped into the role of Director of Marketing in 2023. I’ve held a lot of different positions at Danberry, but this one is definitely my favorite. I get to lead an incredibly talented team of nearly 10 staff creatives and several contractors, all working together to bring big ideas to life for our agents and clients. It’s both challenging and rewarding, I truly love the mix of strategy, creativity, and collaboration that comes with it. Each day is different than the last and we get to be involved at every step of the creative process.

In 2024, I earned my Master of Design in Integrative Design from BGSU, where my thesis focused on improving health insurance literacy in young adults through human-centered design. What brought me to grad school was actually having access to affordable health insurance. That project really reinforced how design can be used to solve real-world problems and make complex information more approachable. It affirmed for me how important it is to help educate others while I am educating myself.

Today, along with my work at Danberry, I also teach as an adjunct instructor in the Graphic Design Department at BGSU. A full-circle moment that lets me share my passion for creativity and design thinking with the next generation of designers. In addition to that I also pursue freelance projects working with Nurse Educators, A Recruitment Agency, and an online fitness platform, just to name a few.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I suppose that depends on how you define “smooth.” I feel fortunate that my journey has been relatively smooth sailing compared to many, especially knowing we live in a society where access and opportunity aren’t always distributed equally. That said, I’ve certainly faced my share of challenges, most of which came from navigating the real-world aspects of growing up and becoming a professional.

When I was an undergraduate, I accepted an out-of-state internship that, looking back now, was unfortunately quite predatory. It taught me valuable lessons that I wouldn’t trade, but it also caused harm. Because of that experience, I think it’s incredibly important to remind newer creatives that not every opportunity is worth taking. There are organizations that exploit those who are eager to get started, and it’s up to those of us with more experience to hold space for those conversations. And, when possible, hold those organizations accountable for their actions.

Another major challenge I’ve seen, and personally felt, is the lack of access to fair wages and benefits. Healthcare, in particular, is a huge contributor to consumer debt, and access to affordable insurance is essential for resilience in today’s world. Society often blames individuals for not understanding an overly complex system, but I believe we need to do better. As a creative educator, I see it as part of my role not only to teach design skills like typesetting or software proficiency, but also to help students navigate the broader realities of the profession. Seeing people as whole individuals, not just as designers, creates more resilient creatives who are better prepared for both life and career challenges.

Lastly, many of us are actively navigating the rise and normalization of AI technology. Personally, I try to be mindful of my own use of it, remembering that it’s a tool, not a substitute. The real challenge lies in having honest conversations, especially outside of creative spaces, about the potential risks of replacing human creativity with artificial systems.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I lead the marketing efforts at The Danberry Co. as Director of Marketing, overseeing a team of staff creatives and several contractors. Our work spans branding, digital marketing, content creation, photography, and design, everything it takes to support our agents and connect meaningfully with their clients.

I’m known for being a problem solver. No matter the challenge, I love to dive in, research possible causes and solutions, and tinker until I get it right. I’m constantly curious and always willing to learn new skills, which allows me to adapt quickly and find innovative ways to approach complex projects.

I strongly believe in building up others and fostering an environment of curiosity, creativity, and ownership. Treating my team as whole people, with real-world concerns, is essential to me. I want coming to work to be fun and exciting — not something anyone dreads on a Sunday evening.

Recently, our team has been recognized with several awards, including GDUSA’s In-House Design Award for Integrated Marketing Campaigns and a 2025 MarCom Gold Award for a Business-to-Consumer brochure. Personally, I’m honored to be nominated and considered for the 2025 Toledo 20 Under 40 competition, which will be announced this November.

What sets me apart is this combination of strategic thinking, curiosity, and empathy. I work hard beside my team to produce thoughtful, impactful work while supporting their growth and creativity every step of the way.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk is an essential part of growth, both personally and professionally. However, taking risks isn’t about being reckless; it’s about making informed decisions and stepping outside of my comfort zone to pursue opportunities that have the potential to create meaningful impact. Whether taking a risk ends in a success or a failure, the opportunity to grow is worth it.

One risk I took was moving into the professional world during my senior year in college by accepting an out-of-state internship that, in hindsight, was not ideal. At the time, I saw it as an opportunity to gain experience and build my portfolio, but it turned out to be a challenging situation. While it caused some setbacks, it ultimately taught me invaluable lessons about evaluating opportunities, advocating for myself, and navigating professional environments.

Another risk I took was pursuing my Master of Design in Integrative Design while working full-time. Balancing graduate school and a growing leadership role was demanding, but it allowed me to grow my skills and apply human-centered design thinking to real-world problems. It also helped me to navigate industry changes such as AI and recovery post pandemic with more ease and grace than I would have been able to do otherwise.

For me, the most rewarding risks are those that challenge me to develop new skills, think differently, and support others in doing the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mariat20142018.wixsite.com/maria-taylor-design/work
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-penler-63862589/