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Management
Jim KabakowPresident & CEO
Jim joined Media Horizons in 1988, the same year the company was founded. Soon after, historic tales were born with adventurous clients such as McGraw-Hill and The Wall Street Journal, who is still a client today. Jim became SVP/Account Management in 1999, overseeing a roster of accounts including Nestle Waters North America, BMG Music and The Bradford Exchange. He was named President in 2004 and CEO in March of 2007. During his career at MHI his mission has been to partner with blue-chip direct marketing companies to cost effectively generate new customers and maximize their lifetime value by developing innovative strategy, efficient media plans and winning creative across all media channels.
Prior to MHI, Jim worked in the financial industry at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette. He quickly realized Wall Street was not fast paced enough for him and became a direct marketer. Jim holds a degree in Economics from Tufts University. He has taught Direct Marketing at Western Connecticut State University, led numerous industry Seminars, and participates in worthwhile industry organizations, including The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF), and The Direct Marketing Idea Exchange (DMIX). He is a board member of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities and currently lives in Westport, CT with his wife and two sons.
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Alan KraftChief Revenue Officer
Alan founded Media Horizons, Inc. in 1988. Alan’s thorough understanding and extensive knowledge of the direct marketing industry, combined with his keen insight and dedicated and superior staff enabled Media Horizons to expand from a staff of two to over forty direct marketing professionals. Alan is currently Media Horizons’ Chief Revenue Officer, responsible for the company’s new business efforts and external communications.
Alan is a well-respected and popular speaker on the subject of direct marketing and has spoken at various industry events which include the Annual DMA Conference, Direct Marketing Days in New York and Chicago, the DMA Catalog Conference, the DMA Young Professionals Series and the TransPromo Conference.
In 2009, Alan was named the annual individual honoree by the DMA Insert Media Council for his career of service and contributions to the Insert Media Industry. In October of 2010, Alan was elected to the DMA's Ethics Policy Committee. Alan resides in Wilton, Connecticut with his wife Sheryl and has two sons, Jonathan and Jeremy.
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Bruce J. NathanChief Financial Officer
Bruce has over 30 years experience in accounting and finance. Prior to joining MHI, Bruce served as Chief Financial Officer for Weave Corporation, a high end designer and manufacturer of custom textiles. Prior to that, Bruce served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Media Group, a direct response firm located in Stamford, Connecticut. In addition, Bruce has served in executive positions in retail, leasing and brokerage firms. Bruce is a CPA and has a Masters in Corporate Finance from Pace University. Bruce’s interests include golf, baseball, and live fire cooking. Bruce lives in Chappaqua, New York with his wife Elise, two daughters Jessica and Nikki, and German Shepherd, Bandit.
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Thomas ReynoldsSenior Vice President / Partner
Tom joined Media Horizons in 1998. Extensive client-side experience spanning the full spectrum of direct response disciplines makes Tom a well-rounded marketing professional who is able to assist his clients with any and all of their marketing challenges. His specific areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: strategic planning and budgeting, customer acquisition and customer retention marketing, fulfillment and database management. Tom works closely with clients to understand their goals and objectives, and constructs media plans across a variety of channels: inserts, mass media, print, direct mail, broadcast and online.
Tom has over nineteen years in direct marketing and has worked with some of the most prominent companies in the business. In crossing over from the “client” side to the “service” side of the industry, Tom is in the unique position of providing his clients with a knowledgeable and thorough understanding of their needs. Prior to joining MHI, Tom worked for American Express Publishing, where he held positions as Director of Continuity Products and Services and Director of New Product Development. He has also held key marketing positions at Bantam Doubleday Dell (now Random House), Newfield Publications and International Masters Publishing.
Tom attended the University of Vermont, where he graduated with a BA in English.
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Scott KellermanSenior Vice President / Partner
Scott began his career with Media Horizons in 1994 as an Assistant Account Executive. After 12 years of hard work, Scott earned the position of Senior Vice President and Partner in 2006. Scott's tireless work ethic, vast industry expertise and interpersonal skills serve him well in managing the multichannel media campaigns of several leading national advertisers. In addition to his account management role, Scott also oversees the entire MHI Account Services Team, a group of highly skilled and motivated industry experts. His clients include Oreck and Bose, for which MHI are involved in acquiring and retaining customers via print media, insert media, direct mail and online. Scott also works with these clients on their print production and database work, and oversees all facets of campaign planning, negotiation, execution and analysis for all of his clients. Scott is a seasoned and respected industry veteran, and is passionate about delivering only the highest quality work to his clients. Scott attended Bryant University, where he played varsity soccer and graduated with a BS in Marketing. He lives in Newtown, CT with his wife Crissy, twin boys Luke and Daniel and Yellow Labrador, Buddy.
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Diane TancrediVice President, Media Horizons Management
Diane joined Media Horizons in 2011 as the Vice President of Media Horizons Management, Media Horizons’ Media Management Division.
Diane started her career in direct response marketing in 1978 as a broker assistant with E.J. Krane, Inc. Since that time Diane has gained experience as an account manager, advertising manager and division supervisor at the list management companies of Media Marketplace, American List Counsel, Walter Karl and The Kaplan Agency. Diane moved on to the client side in 1995 heading up the list and alternative media profit center for BMG Music and then Columbia House in 2001. Diane moved on to Rodale, Inc. in 2005. At Rodale she was responsible for traditional list and alternative media as well as opening up new revenue generating opportunities utilizing existing assets both postal and digital.
The combined perspective as a program owner and program manager have given Diane a 360 degree view of the opportunities and challenges facing our clients - program owners and advertisers alike.
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Liz RussellVice President, Operations
Liz joined MHI in 2000, and began working on marketing initiatives with clients such as Bradford Exchange, BMG and The Wall Street Journal. In 2003, Liz brought her 15 years of insert management experience to Media Horizons Management, where she helps clients including Rodale, Redcats USA, Barnes&Noble.com and Arizona Mail Order maximize their insert media revenue. Liz’s primary responsibilities include auditing and streamlining of all reports for MHI. She also oversees the operations end of all MHM’s managed properties, including lettershop, fulfillment and reporting. Liz’s experience spans over 20 years of insert management and brokerage. Formerly with The Kaplan Agency, she handled accounts such as BMG, Newport News, Checks In The Mail, Time Life and York Photo.
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Steve TurkDesign Director
Award-winning writer and designer, Steve Turk is the Design Director for Media Horizons. Steve has led the creative team in developing several successful direct response campaigns. Prior to joining MHI, he held a Creative Director position at the Taunton Press in Newtown, Connecticut where he built an in-house agency responsible for the creation of all print advertising, direct response and promotion of six different magazines as well as the book publishing division.
Prior to moving to New England, Steve and his family resided in the Twin Cities where he was Creative Director for West Publishing Company, the world’s largest legal publisher. His career began in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin where he was a partner and creative director at Duerre, Turk and Associates after serving in the military during the Vietnam war.
Steve attended the University of Wisconsin on an art scholarship as well as the University of California. He is married and fathered two children; Nathan and Sarah.
His numerous awards include several Echo and Caples Awards for both writing and design, as well as regional advertising awards.
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Rick ChildVice President, Data & Analytics
Rick joined Media Horizons in 2006.
12 years of client-side experience in all disciplines of direct marketing make Rick an excellent strategist and problem solver for his clients. In crossing over from the client side to the service side of the industry, Rick has a thorough understanding and appreciation of client needs.
During his career, Rick has developed marketing campaigns in all major media, managed creative development, overseen print production and designed inventory management strategies. He is especially strong in analysis, where he applies his scientific training as a Meteorologist to the discipline of direct marketing. Rick is also an expert in the application of statistical modeling to both acquisition and database marketing.
Rick has redesigned customer contact strategies involving direct mail, telemarketing and email media for two major multi-million dollar companies. Both initiatives resulted in significant ROI improvement.
Prior to joining MHI, Rick worked for Scholastic-at-Home, where he held positions as Brand Director of Housefile Products, Director of Acquisitions and Senior Product Manager of Disney Licensed Products. He has also held marketing positions at the Danbury Mint and Rodale.
Rick has received an MBA in Marketing and a BS with Distinction in Meteorology from Cornell University.
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Tracy EganMedia Director
Tracy is the Media Director of Media Horizons overseeing the strategic planning and buying of print, insert and direct mail opportunities for all MHI clinets. She joined MHI in February of 2006. Previously she was an Account Executive with RMI Direct Marketing in Danbury, CT where she worked in their brokerage division on accounts such as Bookspan, Garden's Alive, and Gerber Life. Tracy started her career in 1995 at LR Direct as an Account Executive where she was the lead list/insert broker, list/insert manager as well as handled all billings for clients, such as Gruner & Jahr Publishing, Time Inc., and The Vitamin Shoppe.
Tracy attended the University of Connecticut where she graduated with a BA in English/History. She lives in Watertown, CT with her husband Charley and their children: Erin, Charley and Emily.
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Erica DePalmaVice President Digital Marketing
Erica DePalma joined Media Horizons in October 2011. As Vice President of Digital Marketing, she oversees strategy for both MHI and MHM’s digital divisions. Erica is driving initiatives expanding beyond the traditional direct response space, working with clients to capitalize on all forms of online media, including display, online video, lead generation, eMail acquisition, mobile marketing, affiliate marketing, and emerging technologies. Erica’s experience crosses the B2B, B2C, and non-profit sectors, and her client roster represents some of our industry’s most forward thinking direct response and brand awareness marketers.
Erica has a decade of experience in customer acquisition and retention, managing digital programs for brands such as Guthy-Renker, Kraft Foods, Avon, Wyeth Healthcare, Gerber Life, Masterfoods/Mars, Delta Air Lines, Heineken USA, Sony USA, and Dish Network.
Erica's work has been recognized by the interactive community, including an appearance in DMNews’ “Top 30 Under 30”, and being named among Media Magazine's “Rising Media Stars”. Erica also served as a Board Member of 212, New York's Interactive Advertising Club from 2004-2007.
Erica holds a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Digital Media from Loyola University in Maryland.
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