The Team

Well-rounded is the best way to describe Mike. An effective Design Concierge account manager, he empowers agents to build strong businesses by supplying them with thoughtful marketing strategy and branding guidance. He’s funny, fun and likes to spread the joy. A theater major in the past, a graphic designer still and an awesome intramural softball player for 18 years, he proved his winning abilities by taking his league’s world series tournament twice. No matter what Mike sets his mind to, he hits it out of the park every time!

With an excellent eye for design and a willingness to jump in whenever needed, we consider Kari an art director extraordinaire. Responsible for developing and executing advertising design for everything from magazine covers to regional ads, Kari juggles it all with a happy-go-lucky demeanor and a matter-of-fact attitude. Here’s a little-known fact – Kari is a tad quirky as she has a penchant for pineapples and grows them at her Florida home. Now we can all say we know a pineapple farmer – sweet!

Making connections is clearly Kylee’s strength. As a Design Concierge expert, she assists agents throughout the progress of their projects from design edits to finished files. Kylee’s engaging personality and intellect has served her well and gained her notable accolades as the title holder of Miss Idaho 2016. She also participated in the Miss America Competition and placed in the top 15 finalists. Trained in classical ballet and voice, her talents are far-reaching and versatile. Brains, beauty and business savvy – looks like we have a triple-threat in our midst.

Luckily for us, we have an incredibly reliable communicator in Jose. He is the liaison between all departments, excelling at multi-tasking and doing it all with a smile! Experienced in running his own successful marketing agency, he comes with a well-immersed background of the industry. Originally from Venezuela, Jose brings his native language of Spanish to the table as well as some delectable baking skills. Note to Jose: We’re all waiting for a lesson in Venezuelan desserts.

Attention to detail is what Sam is all about. She serves as the all-important liaison between the agents and the communications team. Sam is an indispensable resource for clients and team members alike. At her core, Sam is a problem solver, finding solutions to keep everything running smoothly is her forte. And don’t underestimate Sam’s adventurous side. She backpacked across Europe for six months by herself! Perhaps we could coax some European vacation stories out of Sam with her favorite Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup candy – we’re all ears, Sam.

John’s creative marketing designs help showcase the Coldwell Banker® brand and our agents’ unique real estate talents. Thoughtful and quick to come up with creative ideas, John does whatever it takes to exceed expectations. One of his Coldwell Banker designs received the second place Spinner Award in the 2012 PhotoSpin Design Contest, and we’re thoroughly impressed! John keeps on surprising us: he’s a yodeling fan with an awesome Spotify playlist (and followers numbering in the thousands). It sounds like John has a wide range of interests, all with equally high standards.

Everyone who enjoys reading VIEW magazine has Alin to thank. She works diligently to create visually stunning graphic designs and layouts for the 70-page magazine. Alin is fluent in three languages – English, Armenian and Persian – and serves as a board member of the PTA at the Glendale Unified School District, bringing parents and schools closer together. Entrepreneur Mary Kay Ash once said, “What you believe, remember, you can achieve,” and Alin stands as a perfect example of this: she recently earned her MBA and there’s no telling what she’ll achieve next!

Frank manages a talented team of Design Concierge graphic artists, who craft all of the agent materials produced by The Creative Studio. He gained his versatile experience on a start-up team that branded and launched an advertising and design school in Chicago. Frank also owned a brand design studio and taught classes at the Chicago Portfolio School, mentoring hundreds of people in their pursuit of a creative career. Prior to joining Coldwell Banker®, he was design manager for the world’s largest futures exchange, CME Group. We’re inspired by Frank’s sage advice when it comes to any creative challenge, “For best results, apply business end of No. #2 pencil.”

Tracy loves words and enjoys using them like colors in a painter’s palette. And she does so artistically, while creating copy for a multitude of jobs including View Magazine articles and editorials, Clients For Life assets and more. Tracy’s artistic flair goes way back. She’s a graduate of Chicago’s Second City Players Workshop and performed in a Second City Children’s Play. Outgoing and fearless, Tracy has been learning to speak Italian, while gardening, hiking, cooking and traveling fill in the gaps. Color us impressed.

Although she now resides on a different coast, Pooja is still an unapologetic fan of the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Capitals. Speaking of fans, that’s us talking about her. Pooja takes the ball (or the puck) and knows how to run with it, managing the design process from the start of a project to finish, making deadlines and making sure the teams have everything they need to succeed. She’s positive, organized, supportive, personable and a dancing machine. We’re not quite sure how that last skill set fits in, but certain one day it will.

Maintaining a smooth flow of marketing pieces from the field to our copywriters and designers is both challenging and rewarding. That’s exactly what Sally loves so much about her role as marketing traffic coordinator. Sally brings years of real estate experience to the job and lives by believing in what she’s doing, then executing with precise detail and care for each project. That’s the modus operandi of a marketing coordinator extraordinaire. And it just so happens, that’s exactly how Sally describes herself.

Guadalupe has, perhaps, the best slogan of any member of The Studio, “If life gives you lemons, have a tequila!” Now that’s a can-do attitude if there ever was one. Guadalupe brings her agility, accuracy, cheerfulness, curiosity and audacious personality to her role as marketing traffic coordinator. Guadalupe is committed to reaching her goals on the job. Off the job, she makes her own clothing, loves cooking and is fluent in Spanish, French and catchy catch phrases.

Bringing skills and experience from her career path through the publishing, marketing and nonprofit realms, Vanessa joined The Studio as a copywriter in December 2017. (FYI: That’s different from “copyrighter” – a few of her neighbors were under the impression that she’s involved in intellectual property law.) The truth is, no matter what job she tackles, she approaches it with passion, dedication and creativity. As charming as her native “Charm City” and as sunny as her new home state of Florida, Vanessa adds a little bit of sparkle to everything she does.

If it involves the written word, Andrew is your guy! Matter of fact, if it involves the spoken word, Andrew is also your guy – he’s got plenty of stories to tell and would happily share why his favorite inventions are the cruise control and the computer mouse. As a copywriter, he helps write and edit the marketing materials The Studio produces. Not only has writing been his profession for nearly 40 years, but he’s had the chance to work overseas with writers in Chile and Ukraine. After many travels and collected anecdotes, Andrew now prefers to enjoy the simpler delights in life: A relaxing weekend cocktail and living to be 100, as long as the New York Yankees are still playing, of course.

Alice is the friend you can call at 1 am with your burning grammar questions…but no guarantees she won’t laugh when you incorrectly use the word ‘whom.’ She’s a star copywriter and is responsible for communicating the awesome tools that come from the marketing Studio. We are lucky Alice’s career has been dedicated to writing and editing, since her work is what helps agents understand all that they have available to them. When she’s not busy crafting copy, you can find her on the tennis courts, swinging a racket at the errant sentence fragment.

“I must be in the front row!” Having the privilege to work on the legendary Miller Lite Tastes Great/Less Filling campaign early in his career, Bob penned copy for this television commercial featuring Bob Uecker that now resides in the Broadcast Hall of Fame. Years later, his passion for crafting memorable and impactful copy hasn’t waned. From Madison Avenue to New Jersey (his home state) and now to Florida, Bob is excited to bring his creative flair and collaborate with the many talented folks at The Studio. While his spare time revolves around anything related to sports, the one-day screenplay dream is still out there.

To become a copywriter, you’ve got to start somewhere, and we’re happy to be that somewhere for Kristina! A recent grad from the University of North Florida with a degree in journalism, her copyediting and feature writing experience are a welcomed addition to The Studio and will definitely come in handy as she helps us launch the Clients For Life sphere marketing program nationwide. Kristina enjoys reading and loves taking on challenges both professionally and at play (watch out video gamers) — as long as they don’t involve breaking a sweat.

Behind every great agent is a great marketing coordinator – someone who is detailed and disciplined enough to make sure that local agents have the marketing materials needed for their listing. That’s why they love working with Chandler. This graduate from the University of Cincinnati loves his music and eating at Skyline Chili at least once a week. We’ve never been, but with his attention to detail, it’s now on the list.

Give Dana a task, whether it’s editing a new video or training for a marathon, and he’ll get it done with skill, efficiency and creativity. This dedicated team player started with the company as an intern over 13 years ago and has worked his way up to video production manager in our Waltham, Massachusetts location. When he’s not producing amazing company videos, you can find Dana kickin’ it on the soccer field or searching for a good cup of coffee.

Will work for chocolate! Although she may work out of the Sunshine State, The Studio’s advertising manager for the Southeast region is not always one to spread the sunshine. And that’s A-OK. Julie is easygoing, dedicated, hard-working and genuinely cares about the work she does supporting the client’s marketing needs and affiliated agents. While we hear she is out looking for a new hobby, we do know that Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Ohio State University – can we get an O-H, I-O!? – and has held her Florida real estate license since 2004.

In addition to being a super-mom, Jennifer is a super ad manager, fearlessly handling the advertising for Coldwell Banker NRT’s Central region and the advertising spend for the whole country. She’s a true Gen Bluer, having worked with the company from a real estate agent to a luxury markets manager. Interestingly she had her series 7 and series 66 licenses prior to real estate but that’s a whole other story! If you’re sweet to Jennifer, she just might be sweet to: She does love to bake.

When offices and agents throughout the Southeast have questions about the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program, they call Cara. She makes sure the regional program runs smoothly, supports the national program and publishes five regional Homes & Estates magazines annually. She has honed her strategic capabilities with 30+ years of marketing experience, priding herself on her ability to think like her customers and an astute attention to detail where she assumes nothing and checks everything twice. To blow off steam, Cara still twirls her baton – something she started when she was three years old – or takes long power walks.

“Go, fight, win” is the perfect catchphrase for Kat. She’s always on the go, managing a busy team of graphic designers from The Studio’s Sarasota, FL office and overseeing the design and production of Coldwell Banker NRT Core 4 Values marketing materials. She fights every day to work more efficiently and produce more creative and impactful designs. And she wins again and again, racking up multiple Silver and Gold Addy awards over the years for her amazing work. Outside of the office, Kat likes to collect driftwood and secretly hopes to someday be part of a home improvement show.

Creativity thrives in supportive environments, which makes Jan the ideal person to lead The Creative Studio. Warm and outgoing, she’s the quintessential social butterfly – and the team’s biggest cheerleader. As national vice president of creative marketing, she oversees graphic design, copywriting, advertising, video production and project management, providing the challenges and encouragement that result in killer work. Jan started out in journalism, where she had the chance to interview fascinating figures like Jesse Jackson, President Gerald Ford and – her favorite – the legendary Johnny Cash. Outside the office, Jan is usually out on the town with her husband Jon, soaking up Sarasota’s amazing art, architecture and culture.

Over more than 13 years in marketing with Coldwell Banker NRT, Katie has learned all the challenges agents face in promoting themselves and their listings and has strategized ways to help them succeed. “Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun!” said Katie. She oversees the company’s national ad campaigns as well as Listing Concierge advertising, and is admittedly super, super competitive. “I think I may have a problem allowing my children to freely complete their own school projects. I mean, I’m aware, but I just can’t stop helping.” Her kids’ teachers may not love it, but that helpful, problem-solving nature is a major asset for agents!

Our national creative director needs no introduction. His art work has been on display at museums and galleries around the world. He’s published four books. And he oversees the creative direction at The Studio. His name? Sloan. William Sloan. For someone who loves the creative world just as much as he loves people, Bill’s role in The Studio is a natural fit. You can catch him while he’s eagerly keeping agents ahead of the competition with eye-catching campaigns, or after-hours, read the musings on his namesake blog for a peek at his current creative inspiration.

Though her bubbly personality might not make it immediately clear, our Jenny is an old soul. Like, “celebrity crush on Dick Van Dyke” old.
Maybe that’s why she has the drive, dedication and incredible attention to detail that enable her to pull off seemingly impossible feats like flawlessly implementing Workfront, our project management system, nationwide. Today, she heads up The Studio’s project management and traffic team, putting her military high school education and MBA to good use as she keeps everything moving through on time, on budget and on plan. Her love of bad jokes keeps her laughing even when we have 563 jobs in the system at once, but if you REALLY want to see her smile, ask her about her dog, Pippa.

Say “kon’nichiwa” to Lisa and you’re likely to get more than a short response. That’s because she spent seven years in Japan, first as a student and then working as an art director for an English language magazine and later a graphics editor for a newspaper. These days, she works with The Studio’s other creative service managers to oversee a team of talented graphic designers. Given that she also worked in Thailand along the border of Myanmar, it should come as no surprise that she enjoys learning new things, trying new foods, traveling to new places and meeting new people. And, since she’s earned a black belt in karate, she’s certainly capable of taking care of herself in a sticky situation no matter where her travels take her!

You name it, Jennifer has seen it in her 25 years of communications, marketing, public relations and social media experience. As national director of communications, Jennifer leads the way in internal communications, video production and copywriting for The Studio. Outgoing, loyal and hard-working by nature, she consistently pushes her team to make their work better and more impactful. While she has worked with all sorts of celebs, from Donald Trump (back when he was just a reality star) to Jane Seymour and Liza Minelli, Jennifer now focuses on showcasing The Studio’s clients in neon lights. This Kentuckian bleeds blue for University of Kentucky basketball and still lets “y’all” slip more than she’d like in her now home state of Florida.

Melissa wears several stylish hats at The Studio. She has helped to create and develop all the marketing and advertising templates used with the powerful Listing Concierge platform. When not busy with that, her duties include helping The Creative Studio to design marketing plans and strategies that boost agent earning potential. Melissa’s creativity does not stop when she leaves the building, either. On weekends she is a jeweler and metalsmith and loves to paint abstracts!

If you know what AAF stands for (American Advertising Federation), then you know that getting an ADDY or AMY Award is a big deal – well, imagine if your work has racked up multiple Gold and Silver ADDYs and AMY awards over the past few years? That’s exactly the level of professional accomplishment The Studio’s own brand development manager, John Greske has achieved. In addition to his many accolades, he brings 25 years of experience, a fine arts background and a true passion for branding to his role. If you get the opportunity to work with John, just be sure to brush up on obscure movie trivia and quotes first or he’s liable to throw “Eskimo” at you as a test.

As a creative services manager, Moraima leads a team of graphic designers to provide eye catching designs to help The Studio’s clients stand out from the crowd. And speaking of standing out, Moraima (Latin for “she who is as beautiful as the blueberry tree”) may seem like a unique name, but it’s quite popular in her family – her mother and sister are also named Moraima! Our Moraima has been with the company nearly a decade so far, first in Los Angeles and now in Atlanta. What also makes her good at her job is the passion she has for collaborating and problem-solving with a variety of staff from all regions of the company. As a former pole vaulter, she’s able to find ways to jump over any obstacle, making her exactly the sort of person you want on your team.