Six New Colleagues Arrive at Simantel
October 2011 - Simantel is beefing up our digital and account teams, and adding some creative minds to the mix by hiring a "six-cessful" group of talented employees.
Digital Service
Brent Vargo, Senior Digital Strategist. Brent holds an undergraduate degree in management and a master's of business administration, both obtained from Grand Valley State University. For the past five years, he worked as the manager of interactive user experience and content for Meijer Inc.'s digital media department. Prior to that, he worked for Wolverine World Wide. Brent recently moved from Michigan, where he enjoyed participating in sprint triathlons; he plans to become involved in the Central Illinois outdoor community through fly fishing and much more.
Max Leitch, User Experience (UX) Designer. Max holds a bachelor's in multimedia from Bradley University. He previously worked as a lead web designer at MultiAd and served as the interactive designer for Build-A-Bear Workshop. Max will serve in a new role at Simantel; as a dedicated UX designer, he'll enhance the Digital Service department's current capabilities and help develop detailed client strategies. When Max is not at home with his wife and two children, he enjoys snowboarding.
Carolyn Elder, Digital Project Manager. Carolyn graduated from the University of Missouri, where she majored in journalism and minored in Spanish. She previously worked as digital project manager at HeathWallace in Chicago, IL, where projects were driven by user experience and testing. She has additional experience in digital marketing, client service and corporate marketing. Outside the office, Carolyn is involved in acting and is currently working on a short student film project for the Chicago Art Institute. Since her move to Peoria, she is eager to get involved in the local community, specifically protecting historic landmarks.
Creative Service
Phil Borst, Animator/Video Editor. Phil graduated in 2007 from Madison Media Institute, where he studied video production and motion graphics. Previously, Phil was the graphic artist for a TV station where he worked on commercials and on-air graphics for the newscast. With experience in video and motion graphics, he will work alongside the Simantel team to communicate ideas through different mediums and techniques. In his spare time, Phil enjoys drawing, reading and seeking out new creative content on the Internet; he also does volunteer work with his local church and in the community.
Account Service
Kathy Smith, Account Manager. Kathy graduated from Bradley University in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in public relations and a minor in creative writing. She recently moved from Chicago, where she held positions as strategic planner for Turner Broadcasting and account manager for Brandimage Desgrippes and Laga. Kathy has worked on both local and national accounts, and also has experience with client branding, social media and grassroots marketing campaigns. In her spare time, Kathy actively participates in the local running community and teaches an indoor cycling class at the Metro Centre.
Nicole Bruns, Account Coordinator. In 2009, Nicole graduated from Butler University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in marketing. Upon graduation, she started her career in retail management and then advanced to Central States Media, where she worked on fulfillment and media buying. Outside of work, Nicole is involved with St. Jude and also teaches strength and resistance training classes at a local fitness center.
