Lesley University

Lucas Guerra '97

Art Institute of Boston

While an undergraduate at the Art Institute of Boston in 1992, Lucas Guerra, who hails from Argentina, founded Argus, a graphic design company. Now a full-service communications firm specializing in multicultural and social marketing, and with Lucas' experience in graphic design, concept development and art direction, he manages Argus' creative teams. He has been the innovative mind behind award-winning projects for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Rockport Publishers and the American Institute of Architects Press.

Lucas, who studied graphic design at AIB, was honored in 1998 with a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Award, the first of two he has received, for best public service announcement in the New England region. The Emmy winner, "It Isn't Easy," is a 30-second television spot that prompts smokers who'd like to stop to call the Massachusetts Smokers Quitline for personalized encouragement and counseling." While all preceding anti-smoking ads were general, we were the first to position the Quitline as a product," says Lucas, "and the response was tremendous." Calls increased by close to 30 percent and more hours and weekends were added to handle all the calls. Agrus also aired a Spanish radio spot and that, too, led to a large increase on the Spanish Quitline. A second Emmy award in 2006 recognized Argus' television work created for the Massachusetts Governor's Highway and Safety Bureau.

Fifteen years since its founding, Argus has been named by the ICIC and Inc Magazine as one of the top 100 fast growing inner-city companies in America. Lucas serves on the Lesley Board of Trustees and several others boards of directors and, on a pro-bono basis, he provides creative work for many community-based organizations.

This profile was compiled from previously published sources: Lesley Magazine editions: Spring 2000 and Winter 2008.