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RICHARD SMITH
The Extent or Measure of a Surface Inc., New York NY
Creative Strategy Consultant

Richard Smith, co-founder of influential London-based design agency Area, has invented a new future for himself as creative strategy consultant under the guise of The Extent or Measure of a Surface Inc. “I wanted to set up a consultancy that would challenge the status quo,” Smith says.

HUTSON KOVANDA
Neiman Group
Harrisburg PA
Executive Creative Director

Neiman Group elevates Kovanda, who joined the firm in 2007, to the role of Executive Creative Director. Kovanda will divide his time between the Philadephia and Chicago offices. An 18-year industry veteran, he was previously at MARC USA and also worked at BBDO and JWT in Chicago and R&R Partners in Las Vegas.

JUSTIN WARE
Clean Design, Inc.
Raleigh NC
Senior Designer

Ware brings 11 years experience to his new role, previously working as lead designer for Strategic Guru, and at Function Design and Latenight Creative, LLC before that. At Clean Design, he is responsible for the concept and design of projects for clients such as John Deere’s construction and forestry arm and Loadrite and Westborough apartments.

LAUREN WINIKER AND PAMELA WEISS
Verge180, Princeton NJ
Designer and Traffic Manager

Winiker joins creative communications firm Verge180 as a designer. She has a BFA in Visual Communications from the University of Delaware. Weiss, a graduate of the University of Connecticut where she earned a BA in Communications Studies, joins as traffic manager, overseeing daily work activity, billing, production choreography and estimating for Verge180 clients.

AMY OLSON DRAPEAU
Sappi Fine Paper North America
Boston MA
Manager of Corporate Communications

Olson Drapeau brings to Sappi more than 10 years experience helping corporations manage their communication and public relations needs, most recently at SHIFT Communications. At Sappi, she works on corporate sustainability initiatives and corporate sponsorship programs as well as communications.

STEPHEN LEPS
zig
Chicago IL
Creative Director

Leps joins zig’s Chicago office as Creative Director, taking over from Kevin Lynch who is leaving the firm in February. Leps was previously at the firm’s Toronto arm, where the firm placed in the top five in Canada’s agency of the year competition for six years straight. He joined zig in 2001 as an art director and worked his way up, earning the creative director tag in 2007.

JENNIFER TIROLETTO
Mintz & Hoke Communications Group, Avon CT
Art Director

Tiroletto will work on the AIG, Aetna and Embraer accounts in her new position. Prior to joining Mintz & Hoke, she was freelancing in the Hartford area and earlier spent six years with Happy Dog Advertising, also in CT, as a Vice President and Senior Designer. Tiroletto worked on the Clarke, LifeOptions and Gelatissimo accounts during her career at Happy Dog.

MARTIN LAVOIE
The Advertising Production Club Rising Star Award
New York NY

Lavoie is the first recipient of this year’s Rising Star Award, which recognizes a stellar, up-and-coming advertising professional. Lavoie is Senior Production Manager for Laird + Partners, and has also worked as Production Director at Assouline Publishing and as Account Manager at Freedman International plc in London.

THOMAS MUELLER
Siegel + Gale
New York NY
Global Director

Siegel + Gale created a new Dynamic Media Practice and appointed Mueller as its Global Director, charged with helping clients bring their brands to life across all media around the world. He was previously VP Creative Director at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.