Meet the Direct Mail Experts at Cactus Mailing
As you will read below, Mike and Maria Ryan started Cactus Mailing in their garage over 20 years ago. But we would not be where we are today without an amazing staff to help get us there.
Our Mission
Utilizing Our Direct Mail Expertise and Experience to Help Businesses Drive Growth
Our Values
Excellence:
Striving for superior quality
Pursuit of continuous improvement
Setting and surpassing standards
Commitment to best outcomes
Integrity:
Upholding ethical standards always
Being transparent and honest
Building trust through actions
Consistency in words and deeds
Fun:
Fostering a joyful environment
Celebrating team achievements together
Encouraging creativity and innovation
Valuing work-life balance
Flexibility:
Adapting to changing needs
Embracing new ideas willingly
Being open to feedback
Navigating challenges with ease
Where It All Started
In early 2001, my wife Maria and I set out to start our own business. Working on the proverbial “shoestring” budget, we set up shop in our two-car garage.
We invested in a few pieces of used equipment and purchased the special software required for processing mailing lists. After a few weeks of practice and training, we were ready for business.
- Michael Ryan
The History of Cactus Mailing
A walk down memory lane from the corporate world to our garage to becoming a leading postcard marketing company.
2001
Deciding that they were tired of the corporate environment, Mike and Maria decided to start a business. So, with a newborn and a three-year-old, as well as Mike still having a full-time job, they set up shop in the garage, and Cactus Mailing was started.
2003
Maria answered the phone and responded to emails during the day. In the evenings, Mike would do quotes and process mailing lists. Weekends were for addressing and preparing the bulk mailings in the garage. With the business starting to grow, it was becoming too much for just nights and weekends. So Mike took the leap of faith and left his cushy corporate job to pursue Cactus Mailing full time.
2004
After three months of being focused on Cactus Mailing full-time, they were outgrowing the garage and started looking for a facility to move into. After weeks of looking to no avail- Maria was driving by a building in the local business park and noticed a for lease sign in the window - Cactus Mailing had found its new home.
2009
The Cactus Mailing team had grown to over a dozen, and the business was averaging over 250 mail campaigns per month and becoming a nationwide player in the direct mail industry. But space was becoming a big issue, so the offer from the building’s landlord to take over the adjacent suite came at the perfect time and doubled the operating space.
2014
The landlord stopped by Cactus Mailing to inform them that he would not be able to renew the lease as he needed additional space for his business. Fortunately, he gave plenty of notice, allowing ample time to find a new home for Cactus Mailing.
2015
The search for a new facility concluded with the purchase of a run-down building a block over from the current location. The condition and price presented an opportunity to realize a vision for a state-of-the-art direct mail facility. After a six-month renovation, Cactus Mailing moved into its new facility designed around streamlined and efficient mailing operations, including all new high-speed addressing and mail processing equipment.
2023
Twenty-one years after our start in the garage- we are still at it. Having assisted over 23,000 businesses, we've successfully executed more than 50,000 campaigns. This achievement translates to over 500 million postcards printed and mailed.
Meet the Cactus Mailing Team
May Pattarino
Project Administrator
Favorites:
- Food: Thai
- Hobby: Hiking
- Artist: Daughtry
- TV Show: Firefly
- Place: Biltmore Estate - Asheville NC
May Pattarino
Project Administrator
Maria Ryan
Vice President
Favorites:
- Food: Lechon Asado & Tostones
- Hobby: Working Out , Hiking
- Artist: Journey
- TV Show: Miami Vice
- Place: The Beach
Maria Ryan
Vice President
Debbie Floss
Project Administrator
Favorites:
- Food: Italian, Donuts
- Hobby: Karaoke
- Artist: Whitney Houston
- TV Show: Friends
- Place: Naples, Florida
Debbie Floss
Project Administrator
Stephen Mills
Production Assistant
Favorites:
- Food: Lumpra, Sushi
- Hobby: Wood Working
- Artist: Bob Ross
- TV Show: Star Gate SG1, Atlantic
- Place: Baguio, Philippnes
Stephen Mills
Production Assistant
Curtis Johnsen
Production Supervisor
Favorites:
- Food: Steak
- Hobby: Trying to Play Guitar
- Artist: Buckethead
- TV Show: Simpsons
- Place: Vegas
Curtis Johnsen
Production Supervisor
Mark Gerhardt
Design Manager
Favorites:
- Food: Apple Fritters
- Hobby: Video Games
- Artist: O.C. Supertones
- TV Show: Pysch
- Place: Mahogony Bay, Roatan
Mark Gerhardt
Design Manager
Holly Isengard
Project Administrator
Favorites:
- Food: Steak
- Hobby: Writing
- Artist: Taylor Swift
- TV Show: All American
- Place: Where Family Is
Holly Isengard
Project Administrator
Joe McAtee
Sales Executive & Database Guru
Favorites:
- Food: Italian
- Hobby: Mountain Biking
- Artist: Radiohead
- TV Show: Game of Thrones
- Place: The Beach
Joe McAtee
Sales Executive & Database Guru
Michael Ryan
President
Favorites:
- Food: Cuban Sandwich
- Hobby: Golf
- Artist: The Cars / Huey Lewis
- TV Show: Miami Vice
- Place: Golf Course
Michael Ryan
President
Logan Beach
Production Equipment Operator
Favorites:
- Food: Tortilla & Steak
- Hobby: Car Mechanics
- Artist: Taiwan MC
- TV Show: Peaky Blinders
- Place: Dinner Table
Logan Beach
Production Equipment Operator
Michael Rodriguez
Graphic Designer
Favorites:
- Food: Tacos
- Hobby: Rock Hounding / Gardening
- Artist: Fleetwood mac
- TV Show: Loki
- Place: Mountains / Forests
Michael Rodriguez
Graphic Designer
Charlene Smith
Sales Executive
Favorites:
- Food: Pasta Dishes
- Hobby: Snorkeling
- Artist: Bryan Adams
- TV Show: NCIS Hawaii
- Place: My Backyard
Charlene Smith
Sales Executive
Jill Brown
Sales Manager
Favorites:
- Food: Quesadilla
- Hobby: Poker
- Artist: Garth Brooks
- TV Show: The Big Bang Theory
- Place: With Grandkids
Jill Brown
Sales Manager