Contributing Writers
We thank the following for sharing their valuable knowledge and experience with our readers.
Rob Engelman, Corrie LoGiudice, Abigail Worthington,
Liz Richards, Viktorya Maryan, Gina-Marie Cincinnati & Beverly Chana
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Rob Engelman
Rob Engelman, President of Engelman Management Group, is a seasoned executive with more than 17 years of consumer and business-to-business experience. He has a proven track record in leading projects and teams to achieve significant business results, particularly in the areas of customer lifecycle management and new product introductions. Prior to forming Engelman Management Group, Rob was Vice President of Marketing for Citicorp Diners Club as well as at an Internet start-up organization.
Throughout his career, Rob has been able to obtain a wealth of first-hand experience in all avenues of marketing including: Strategy and Positioning, Segmentation and Analysis, Direct Communications, Advertising, Branding, Telemarketing, Sales Support, On-Line Marketing, Research, Public Relations, Event Marketing and New Product Introductions. He is well known in the field, and has been quoted in publications such as Crain’s Chicago Business and Business Travel News.
Rob holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, a B.A. from Dartmouth College, and a Certificate in Management and Leadership from the University of Michigan Business School. Rob is also a member of several professional organizations including TEC (The Executive Committee), the American Marketing Association and the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing, and he sits on the board of the Kellogg Alumni Club of Chicago.
Rob currently teaches at the University of Chicago – Graham School of General Studies as well as at Roosevelt University. Additionally, he has had numerous articles published in association and trade journal, and has presented to several groups and organizations including the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing, the Mailorder Gardening Association, and the Institute of Food Technologists.
Rob’s first book, That Was Zen, This Is Wow – 232 Ideas for Transforming Your Life from Ordinary to Extraordinary (co-authored with Dr. Russell J. Riendeau, PhD & published by Eyecatcher Press) was released in March, 2005.
Along with his passion for helping businesses grow, Rob is a die-hard Cubs fan, and an avid tennis player and skier. He lives in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife, two children, and two frogs.
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Corrie LoGiudice
Corrie LoGiudice is the Co-op/ Marketing Director for All-Systems Satellite Distributors in Brooklyn, NY. All-Systems is the exclusive Northeastern distributor for DISH Network Satellite Television and XM Satellite Radio equipment, as well as additional products such as plasma televisions, home theater components and installation accessories.
Over the years Corrie has worked hard to become an established and accomplished figure in the satellite industry. She works side by side with, as well as advises DISH Network and XM, both Fortune 200 companies, on activities in the Northeastern market and how to approach it. She is also approached by both companies to brainstorm ideas about marketing strategies and promotions to generate more customer activations.
Her work includes designing and administering large scale marketing campaigns for the 900+ independent satellite retailers she is responsible for, all of whom are small local businesses and do not have a large marketing budget to work with. Her goal with each campaign is to increase their sales, give them a professional “big store” look, and help them grow their business at a pace that suits their personal needs. The campaigns also offer retailers many high tech options such as call tracking, which provides retailers with data that would normally be reserved for high volume call centers, not family owned and operated mom and pop stores.
She also provides individual marketing budget consultations to help her retailers take their businesses to the next level. No matter what your budget, she can figure out creative ways to drive business.
Corrie graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 3 years with a BFA in General Fine Arts with a concentrations in Video Production and Digital Media. She does not hold a formal degree in marketing and has learned the majority of what she knows while actively working in the marketplace.
Corrie currenly lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with her longtime boyfriend. In what little spare time she has, she enjoys playing electric cello, is a season ticket holder for the Mets, and loves long jogs in New York City’s Central Park. She is currently training for her first marathon.
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Abigail Worthington
Abigail Worthington is a freelance graphic designer with intensive training in marketing that bases her practice out of Chicago, Illinois. Abigail works with clients to develop complete branding strategies and marketing plans that integrate design and promotional materials as well as establish a marketing foundation for future growth.
She works primarily with small businesses and individuals, including new start-ups, bands, individual artists, and art collectives, tailoring her work to provide the biggest bang for even the smallest budgets of her clients.
Abigail graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Fiber and Material Studies. She does not hold a degree in marketing, but has held marketing positions in various fields since her graduation and has found that she has a natural talent for strategic planning.
Abigail resides in the Edgewater/Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. In her free time she enjoys seeing live bands whenever possible, attending art openings, and hanging out with an extraordinarily wonderful and creative group of friends.
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Liz Richards
Liz Richards, president of Richards & Lord, an advertising, marketing and public relations firm in Buffalo Grove, IL, helps clients develop a workable marketing strategy, and provides the necessary services to implement it.
After getting her feet wet in public relations and marketing for companies like Volkswagen of America and Xerox, Liz took those skills to the trade publishing arena, where she was involved in the business, marketing, and sales divisions of major publications for twenty years. She has worked on public relations and ad campaigns in the engineering, safety, landscaping, aviation, healthcare, and interior construction industries. One of the few people who has participated in all facets of the publishing industry, she brings that expertise to bear on anything her clients wants to accomplish. For more information, including how to contact Liz, visit www.richardsandlord.com.
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Gina-Marie Cincinnati
Gina-Marie, founder of Bullpen Design, thinks that writing about oneself in the third person is pretentious.
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I’ve been an artist all my life; it wasn’t until I got to college that I realized Design was and IS what I should be doing. I graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 2003 with a BFA in Graphic Design, and concentrations in Photography, Digital Media Arts and Web.
I believe that the life I lead outside of my work is what makes me the designer that I am. I’m sure that this applies to all designers, whether or not they realize it.
I spend my free time volunteering, reading, listening to music and looking at art. I am extremely organized but there is no order to my bookshelves. I invest a lot in appearances although I rarely believe them. I use my photography to get away from the computer, my design to step away from the camera, and then spend my time putting words and images together. Life is a giant contradiction.
I love the work of Rothko, Christo, Warhol, Rankin and McKean, to name a few. There is a very special place in my heart for Bruce Mau, specifically his ‘Incomplete Manifesto for Growth’, which can only be described as a guide for life.
I have come to learn that the most worthy clients usually can’t afford anyone’s rates; therefore I took on mostly pro-bono work for numerous charities and non-profit organizations before the inception of Bullpen Design. I created the company for the sole purpose of giving a name and label to all of the charitable work that I do. We currently have offices in 3 cities. I also hold down a 9-5, take on outside freelance jobs, and am taking courses toward my MFA. Life is never dull.
My design experience includes but is not limited to: Identity, print, collateral, branding, education, pro-bono, web, marketing, consulting, production and direction.
I find the term ‘career’ overrated. I have yet to describe what I do as such.
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Beverly Chana
Beverly Chana, Vice President Corporate Services, provides Gray Hair Management, with over 25 years of experience in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Development and Retention, Employee Relations and Outplacement Services. She began her career in Human Resources for Modular Computer in Massachusetts and Florida. Bev joined CNA as a field director for Human Resources in Boston, moved to New York as Regional Manager for the east coast, to be followed by a move to the Chicago Home Office to direct Human Resources Field Operations. Bev spent the next twenty years successfully building a Human Resource and Executive Training consulting firm of her own. Her clients included organizations and businesses in manufacturing, medical services, professional services, retail, non-profit and education.
Bev joined Gray Hair Management in 2007. Her mission is to help small to medium size businesses minimize turnover, improve their bottom line by attracting, developing and retaining staff, manage outplacement services and create effective Human Capital strategies.
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Viktorya Maryan
Viktorya is the Marketing Communications Coordinator at Peerless Industries, Inc. a manufacturing company of audio/visual mounting solutions. Viktorya is experienced in project coordination and the overseeing of marketing communications and advertising activities for the company’s product lines. Coordinating outsourced development for marketing campaigns and providing copywriting, layout and design support. Her outgoing personality allowed her to successfully interact with interdepartmental staff and sales force to gain supplementary information relating to the targeted customer groups. She has successfully evaluated the effectiveness of campaigns and meet established revenue goals.