our team
The Wax staff is a unique group – multitalented, engaged, professional and fun. We are a capable team of managers, account executives, writers, editors, designers, sales people, web gurus and marketing and production coordinators who brings together our singular talents to deliver superior custom publications and marketing campaigns. If we have to fit any mold, it would be our own … be unique!
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Bill Wax, President and Founder
Twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, Bill Wax spent 10 years at the New York Times Company and then worked as a freelance magazine photojournalist. His work has been published in hundreds of newsstand magazines worldwide: Time, Forbes, Newsweek, Elle, Sports Illustrated and Fortune. He has created book covers for publishing houses such as Random House, Bantam, Crown and Putnam. Throughout his career, Bill has garnered well over 750 awards for photography, design and publications. The youngest person to be named "Photographer of the Year" by the National Press Photographers Association, Bill founded his company in 1986, drawing on his prodigious background and extraordinary design sense to bring a unique creative approach to custom publishing.
Owen McDonald, Managing Director
A native New Yorker who spent the first half of his 22-year career as a nationally published business journalist, Owen rose to prominence covering the home entertainment industry for large publishing houses, including Capital Cities ABC and Cahners. He then crossed from journalism to marketing, moving to B2B giant Advanstar Inc., where he became a senior custom publishing executive for their renowned travel and hospitality division and served as Editor-in-Chief of Travel Agent. Owen has also enjoyed a robust freelance career, having written for publications including Entertainment Weekly and the popular e-commerce website, www.kbkids.com.
ACCOUNT SERVICES GROUP
Heather Mickley, Director of Account Services, Special Projects
During her first ten years with Wax, it is estimated that Heather managed the production of nearly 1,000 publications. An English major who minored in Fine Art, Heather is passionate about the creative process and creating long-lasting relationships with clients.
Steve Iaconis, Account Executive
Steve is an account services professional with over ten years experience in devising and directing marketing and advertising programs for national brands including CBS Sports, AutoNation, Pella Windows and Eukanuba. He is proficient in interactive marketing, in-store advertising and direct-response marketing from both the client and agency side. A Miami native, Steve earned a B.A. in Political Theory from Columbia University in New York.
Fiorella Juarez, Account Executive
A graduate of the University of Miami, Fiorella comes from a dynamic background in marketing and publishing. In addition to being part of the launch team for a first-of-its-kind publication on U.S.-China business, Fiorella has also spent time overseas working for Mindshare Worldwide in London, UK. Fiorella devotes her spare time to organizations such as the Organization for Women in International Trade (OWIT) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Karla Gordillo, Account Executive
Karla has invested more than two years managing national healthcare accounts, and has an extensive background in market research. She graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Marketing and Business Management, and later obtained a Masters in Business Administration at Nova Southeastern University. She was born in Peru and is fluent in three languages.
Meg DeLeon, Account Executive
Meg has an extensive background in publishing, advertising and research on both the client and agency sides. She has worked with industry giants such as Hearst Corporation, Knight Ridder Inc., the Miami Herald and Federated Department Stores. Her experience includes media and print buying, event planning, sports sponsorships and managing creative teams in the development of ads and in-store collateral. Meg is also an expert in pop culture and confectionary arts.
DESIGN GROUP
Darrin Kagele, Senior Art Director
Innovative design industry veteran Darrin Kagele heads Wax’s award-winning graphic design department. With a diverse career spanning 15 years in direct marketing, print advertising and media licensing, Darrin who is also an accomplished fine artist, has created major marketing campaigns for global brands including DreamWorks SKG, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Licensing, Activision, AT&T Digital Media Centers and Rhino Records.
Claudio Figueroa, Associate Art Director
A former art director of Hispanic magazine and Poder magazine USA, this award-winning designer brings more than 14 years of experience to Wax including graphic arts, broadcasting design, TV production, animation, motion and sound editing.
Jeannie Saiz, Graphic Designer
A graduate of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Jeannie has worked for Southeast Resort Media designing publications including Las Olas Magazine, ROOMS and International Yachtsman.
Christian Schrader, Graphic Designer
A native of Colombia, Christian has worked in prominent magazines such as Las Olas, ROOMS and International Yachtsman. In his spare time, Christian uses his design skills to help non-profit organizations in Colombia.
EDITORIAL GROUP
Terri Poindexter Smith, Editorial Director, Special Projects
Terri is a P.R. and marketing consultant with extensive experience guiding internal and external strategic communications; media and community relations; and Web and new media marketing for a broad spectrum of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies and non-profits. She holds an M.A. in communications from Wake Forest University.
Gretchen Schmidt, Editorial Director
Gretchen, who oversees editorial content for various Wax projects, has been editing and writing for more than 30 years – the past 10 years in custom publishing for a variety of clients. She’s written the book on fun (Fun Seeker’s Guide Miami) and other guidebooks (Miami Night + Day), and has also contributed to Time Out and Fodors.
Greg Ling, Staff Writer/Editor
Greg Ling is a seasoned professional whose experience in health plan writing and editing includes having served as a staff member with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and other health plans. A published poet with an MFA in English, Greg is working on his second novel.
Andrea Gollin, Staff Writer/Editor
Comfortable working in any medium, Andrea is an expert health care writer and also has considerable experience writing about technology and the arts. She has covered a wide range of topics for publications including The Washington Post, Salon.com, Entertainment Weekly, Scholastic and Expedia. She regularly works with museums, nonprofits, architects and planners.
Caroline Hatchett, Copy Editor/Staff Writer
Originally from a small Georgia town of 2,000 people, Caroline joined Wax after earning a journalism degree from the University of Georgia and working as a researcher for Zagat Survey in New York. She has also earned a culinary certificate from Le Cordon Bleu Paris and enjoys being well read and well fed.
Technology Group
Rick Gramatges, Director of Information Services
Rick joins Wax as director of information services after spending 18 years helping develop Internet related systems and services for U.S. and international markets. After earning a master's in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology and electrical engineering degrees from Florida International University and Miami-Dade College, the Miami native started his career at Bell Labs in Chicago. He has worked in New York, Europe and, most recently, Latin America for Brasil Telecom and Lucent Technologies. With his knowledge of information systems and services, Rick will focus on growing Wax's interactive portfolio.
Benny Millares, I.T. Manager
Benny is the capable and inventive mind behind Wax’s slate of interactive products and services. He is especially adept in open source environments and has extensive knowledge of the mathematics of market research.
Anton Fajardo, Senior Software Architect
Born in Russia and raised in Cuba, Anton has worked in United States for more than 10 years, gaining expertise in technologies such as ASP, ASP.NET, MsSQL, C#, VB and many others. He also has contributed to open source CMS systems and has extensive experience in the telecom industry and software project management and design.
Fernanda Millares, Web Developer
Originally from Argentina, Fernanda has handled both print interactive design and programming in the 10 years she’s worked with Wax. She is also a commercial photographer; she won an MTV award as a music video producer and is an artist.
Kelley Kirk, Interactive Account Executive
Kelley has more than 20 years of experience in health care marketing and public relations. She has worked in virtually every area of the market including hospitals, physician practices and managed care with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), SantaFe HealthCare and AvMed Health Plans. In recent years, Kelley has developed strong interactive management capabilities.
Business development
Julian Orbon, Director of Sales
Julian is an accomplished advertising, sales and marketing executive with over 25 years experience. After a successful career in publishing with companies such as American Express Publishing, Condé Nast and Meredith, Julian founded Orbon Marketing Group, a custom marketing company specializing in creating integrated partnership programs designed to enhance brand awareness, drive incremental business and leverage multiple channels of distribution. The company developed and managed programs for major national accounts including ConAgra Foods, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, The Biltmore Hotel, Healthy Choice, Kodak, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Hawaiian Airlines, PBS and Puroast Coffee.
Mark Collins, Business Development Manager
For more than 30 years, Mark has worked in various sales, marketing and management roles in custom publishing, and now primarily handles health-related accounts for Wax in the western United States. Also a talented writer, Mark has contributed to publications including USA Today.
Production
Jennifer Harryn, Production Manager
An ad agency and print production veteran, Jenny grew up in New Jersey and has worked for such powerhouses as Hallmark Cards, Vertis Communications and Blockbuster Entertainment.
Jozett Torres, Production Coordinator
A Miami native, Jozy graduated from Florida International University with an advertising degree in 2004. She has most recently worked at Crispin Porter + Bogusky as a Traffic Manager for the company's largest account, Volkswagen, and before that was a marketing coordinator at Perry Ellis International's Marketing Department.
Scot Corson, Sales and Advertising Coordinator
With his University of Michigan communications degree in-hand, Scot started at BBDO Detroit, handling all facets of Chrysler advertising and acting as liaison between the head office and regional offices. Scot also has sales experience in the medical device industry.
Internal marketing
Caitlin Crawford, Marketing Manager
Before joining Wax in the summer of 2008, Caitlin spent three years in the award-winning WIRED magazine's marketing department. A native Californian, she enjoys languages, travel, and eating and drinking well.
Finance
Lilly Brunetti, Controller
Lilly’s accounting career actually began at the age of eight, helping out at her mother’s accounting firm. Her background also includes photography and photo lab work, and she has a degree as a professional makeup artist specializing in advanced prosthetics. Lilly speaks three languages, and her diverse interests include working for nonprofits, such as The Urban Environment League of Greater Miami.
administration
Jason Baez, Office Co-Manager
Jason's previous work as a contract administrator and marketing associate for a top real estate developer earned him a role in the Wax family. Experienced in computer animation, music production and graphic design, Jason is a unique asset to the company.
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