Meet the Team

Ajdin Balihodžić

Andrea Shemeley

Andrea Shemeley is a visual storyteller who creates a harmonious relationship between type, imagery, and white space. She is a kind collaborator and editorial design maven who designs magazines from cover to cover. She is an award-winning art director and graphic designer with more than 20 years of proven experience working for global brands, startups, creative agencies and publishing houses across the nation. She has lived on the west coast, the east coast and down south, and has somehow landed back in the suburbs of New Jersey, where she lives happily with her husband and two daughters, and owns a small creative studio, A Creative Mind for Hire, providing freelance art direction and graphic design services.

www.ACreativeMindForHire.com

ashemeley@me.com

Al Ferreira

Allyssa Woodford Hughes

Andrew Rice

Blake M. Wilson

Brandon Weil

Brandon is a strategic, versatile and detail-oriented art director and designer with 25 years of agency and in-house experience.  Most recently, Brandon was Art Director at Urban Land Institute, where he oversaw and executed designs for the global organization.  With experience creating brand identities, designing front-end websites, executing event collateral, and producing a variety of print and digital assets, Brandon takes pride in ensuring brand consistency while also elevating anything he works on.   Brandon is known for building and growing relationships to increase efficiencies and enhance collaboration, ultimately leading to the strongest designs.  Brandon earned a BFA in graphic design from Kent State University and maintains his own freelance business at brandonweil.com.  

Bryce Vickmark

Broc Baird

hello@broc.media

Broc Baird joins Matthews Publishing Group as our new Art Director, bringing extensive experience in graphic design and multimedia arts. With a background that includes teaching at McMurry University and working in the industry, Broc is known for his innovative and detail-oriented approach. Holding a BS in Graphic Design and an MFA in Media Design from Full Sail University, he excels in creating compelling visual narratives and managing creative projects. Based in Abilene, Texas, with his family, Broc is passionate about driving our creative vision and brand success.

Christian Koszka

Caitlin Robinson

Cait brings 19 years of graphic design experience to the table, having graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2005 with a fine arts degree. For the past 12 years, she has contributed her talents to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in development.

Her expertise spans both print and digital realms, encompassing logo creation, event branding, magazine layouts, large-scale signage, PowerPoint presentations, website design, and email campaigns, among others. Residing in Brockton with her two children, Nicco and Harlow, and their miniature poodle, Juju, Cait cherishes her free time spent on house projects, fitness, and quality moments with her loved ones.

Cristian Iancu

Graphic Designer

Chris Fain

Callie Tuck Knapp

Carol Mihelik

Carol is a Bridgeport, Conn. based graphic designer who loves designing and reading magazines.
To help exercise her mind and body she enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing. In pursuit of
becoming a Nordic Worldloppet Master she has traveled extensively throughout Europe.
During Covid, Carol picked up the brush and pen again and now paints local and European
cityscapes and landscapes.

Douglas J. Benjamin

Dan Calabrese

David Lee Cullen

Diane Myers

Diane Myers (MFA), is an award-winning Designer and Art Director whose career spans over two decades. Her passion for visual storytelling combined with her keen eye for design quickly propelled her into leadership roles. She earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier, Vermont.

As an Art Director, Diane has been instrumental in shaping the visual identities of numerous publications, bringing to life the visions of authors and editors alike with her distinctive style and unwavering commitment to excellence. From concept development to execution, Diane’s work has graced the covers and pages of a variety of books and magazines. One highlight of her career would be designing the Olympic Series for Time Life books. 

Beyond her creative pursuits, Diane loves exploring the world around her. She got the travel bug after spending a year studying abroad in England. After graduating college, she spent time working in Iceland and Russia, in addition to various locations in North America. A passionate traveler, she seeks inspiration in new cultures, landscapes, and experiences, infusing her work with a rich tapestry of influences from around the globe. One highlight of her travels would be learning to create marbled papers from an artist while she was in Venice, Italy.

In her downtime, Diane can often be found indulging in her love for lattes, where she finds solace in the simple pleasures of life. Diane currently resides in southwest Michigan with her husband, two rescue dogs, three rescue cats, and a revolving door of foster animals. Her two adult daughters have followed in her footsteps to explore the world, so she enjoys visiting them wherever they happen to be. One recent trip included travelling to Majorca, Spain and exploring the beauty of the island with her family.

dfarenick@hotmail.com

Darren Sanefski

Darren Sanefski is an accomplished graphic designer, educator, and author with expertise in branding design, editorial design, data visualization, UI/UX design, and marketing. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in visual communication from Syracuse University and a Master of Arts in interactive design from State University of New York at Oswego, where he graduated with honors.

Currently, Darren serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Mississippi’s School of Journalism and New Media, teaching courses in graphic design, multimedia design, 3D modeling, motion graphics, and information design. He has also taught at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and previously served as Associate Director of the Magazine Innovation Center at Ole Miss.

Darren is the author of “Effective Graphic Design” published by Oxford University Press, which integrates theoretical concepts with practical design applications.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Darren has worked with various organizations, including Central Current, where he provided branding and UI/UX design services for their website. He has extensive experience in magazine design, having created brands, layouts, and templates for numerous publications.

Darren’s professional experience also includes roles such as Art Director for New York Horse magazine, Presentation Editor for Via Corsa magazine, and the design and launch of Central New York Sports Magazine. He has garnered regional, national, and international recognition for his designs, data visualizations, and illustrations.

Outside of academia and publishing, Darren operates a freelance marketing and graphic design business, working with clients ranging from local companies to national entities like iHeart Media, Boeing, and UnitedHealth Group. He is frequently sought after as a consultant and presenter for design seminars and workshops.

dsanefski@gmail.com

Don Michaelowski

Daniel Gray

I love people and love photography! I am a full time professional commercial photographer based in Charlotte, NC. As a former electrical engineer and IT specialist I have a highly technical approach towards my work and a passion for detail and quality.

My specialty is ultra high resolution product photography and portraiture, but I have also done video and 2d animation/motion graphics work for national brands. Typically I end up wearing a lot of hats for my clients and am a bit of a one man agency for many of them.

I shoot with a Phase One Iq3 100mp trichromatic medium format and Nikon system.

David Monteith

David Monteith is a writer and journalist living in Little Rock, Arkansas. Formerly a middle and high school teacher in San Antonio, he enjoys learning and writing about education and transportation issues.

David Sinclair

Eric J. Francis

Elizabeth Zuhl

Elizabeth is a multi-disciplinary art director and designer. She’s passionate about visual storytelling and has over 15 years of experience at industry-leading media brands. You can check out her work at elizabethzuhl.com or contact her directly at elizabethzuhl@gmail.com to discuss how you can work together.

Frederick Freeman

Fran Sherman

Grant Romancia

John D. Schulz

John D. Schulz is one of those wise, old Washington owls who has performed and produced at some of the highest levels of journalism in his 40-year career, mostly as a Washington newsman. Schulz has been a transportation journalist for more than two decades, specializing in the trucking industry. He is known to own the fattest Rolodex in the business, and is on a first-name basis with scores of top-level trucking executives who are able to give shippers their latest insights on the industry on a regular basis.

James Jarnot

James Jarnot is a designer and art director based on the Upper West Side of New York.

With over 20 years in the magazine industry, James has developed a broad range of skills in both print and digital art direction. His expertise covers financial, lifestyle, travel, and business magazines. He enjoys every aspect of working with magazines, from designing engaging layouts, hiring illustrators and coordinating photoshoots.

James is skilled in developing and executing creative concepts for magazines, ensuring each project meets high standards of quality and visual appeal. He values collaboration and consistently works to achieve the best results in his projects. James also enjoys spending time with his son, Martin.

John David Pittman

John David Pittman is a Little Rock, Arkansas based commercial and editorial portrait photographer. His work has been featured in local, regional, and national publications. John David lives in the historic Park Hill district of North Little Rock with his wife and daughter.

Jen Talbot

Associate Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design, School of CommunicationWriting Across the Curriculum and Writing in the Disciplines CoordinatorUniversity of Central Arkansas

John McCarthy

John is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Long Island, NY.

With over 35 years of experience, he has held roles as an art director, marketing specialist, and production manager. His skills also encompass writing and editing copy. From designing logos for t-shirts to creating business cards, billboards, and developing both print and digital materials, he loves it all.

His passion for variety is evident in his diverse background:
John’s experience spans financial, medical, and technical publishing. His work includes daily newspapers, monthly magazines, books, comics, and package design. He has also been actively involved on both sides of the table at conferences and trade shows.

John brings a versatile, can-do attitude to his work. He loves taking a project from scribbled notes and stick figures to polished brochures, magazines, comic books, and beyond. He thrives on collaboration and has been praised for bringing out the best in his clients.

Jennifer Matthews

Jennifer Matthews has extensive experience in publishing, advertising/media buying and political affairs. Prior to forming MPG in 1998, she served as advertising manager – special publications for Arkansas Business Publishing Group in Little Rock, Ark. While there, she achieved record sales performance for the company. Prior to moving to Little Rock in 1995, Matthews lived in Boston, Mass., working for Rising Star Associates, publishers of New Age Journal and two financial advisory newsletters. Her political experience includes grassroots coalition building, governmental affairs, local and national political campaigns, issues referendums, polling, petition drives, political fundraising, and efforts to improve conditions for the trucking industry contracted with and on behalf of industry groups such as the American Trucking Associations.

A native of Portland, Ore., Matthews graduated summa cum laude from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., with a Bachelor of Arts in environmental science and political economy (double major). Politics were a large part of her college experience, including working on election campaigns, lobbying for Sierra Club and a variety of other issues at both the state and congressional levels. Her undergraduate work includes studies in Soviet environmental policy at Kazan State University in the Kazan Republic. Her post-graduate work includes courses in governmental affairs, international, law, treaty law, and constitutional law at Harvard University Extension in Cambridge, Mass., and in 2023, she graduated with a master’s degree with distinction in public service from the Clinton School of Public Service.

After spending 21 wonderful years in Little Rock, Ark., Jennifer now resides in Minneapolis with her husband Brett whom she’s known since kindergarten. They have three children – Griffin, Van and Amelie. Jennifer has three more children – Justin, Lauren and Will – two children-in-laws and four grandchildren from her previous marriage.

Jack Roberts

Kristian Anderson

Kaylie Sirek

Karen Pulfer Focht

Kevin Jones

Lacey C. Thacker

Larry Kuzniewski

Linda Tuttle

Driven by my passion for print design and advertising, I bring with me 25+ years of marketing design and illustration experience. I have worked in both agency and corporate environments strategically designing brand collateral and promotional campaigns. In addition to all things creative, I love the outdoors, gardening and enjoy watching sporting events. I’m inspired by my husband, daughter and 2 doodles to be the best person I can be and to have a little fun doing it. I can be reached at linda@lindatuttledesign.com.

Matt Esser

Matt Esser resides in the Madison, Wisconsin area and brings more than 25 years of expertise in creative design. Outside of work, he enjoys seeking out new adventures with his family. Additionally, Matt enjoys tending to his garden, cooking meals from scratch and cruising the open roads on his motorcycle.

Matthew Scott

Matthew brings over 23 years of experience leading both in-house and agency teams as a Creative Director and hands-on Designer with proven experience in developing and managing strategically driven brand platforms/campaigns across multiple channels for a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and non-profits alike. He values intelligent design, trusts in its ability to solve problems and communicate in meaningful ways and believes firmly that every brand has a great story to tell.

mscott@mscottvisual.com

Matthew Farrar

Mark A. Davis

Mathew Piltz

Mathew Piltz is an innovative Graphic Designer/Creative Director with over 30 years of experience in all aspects of advertising and marketing. He takes great pride in creating designs that are eye-catching, memorable and instantly recognizable. He specializes in full branding initiatives, advertising campaigns, photo editing, brochures, website design and specialties. Mathew has designed for multiple publications, including hundreds of trade magazines and annual reports.

When not spending time on his craft, Mathew loves spending his time at the beach with his beautiful wife and two amazing sons. An unapologetic self-acclaimed geek, Mathew enjoys time at Walt Disney World and the Universal Parks and is an enormous fan of everything Star Wars and Marvel as well as his beloved Kansas City Chiefs, Royals and as a resident of Tampa Bay, Florida, the Lightning, Rays and Buccaneers.

His other clients have included hundreds of hospitals of HCA Healthcare, Space Florida and NASA, Disney Animation, Palisades Toys, Jim Henson Studios and Children’s Television Workshop, Disney Consumer Products, The Florida Wood Council, The Florida Builders Association and many more. 

His online portfolio can be viewed at https://www.piltzdesign.com.

Norma Lopez Molina

Paul Curtis

Paul is a longtime creative professional, and has worked for many years with nationally recognized publications and organizations. In fact, his first published illustration came at the age of nine! When not designing layouts, or greeting graphics, he enjoys making custom Lego minifigures.

paulcurtis1974@gmail.com

Renee Miller

Renee Miller holds a master’s degree as well as a CDL class A license. She is the CEO of Recue18Wheeler,L.P. – an online subscription-based platform that is transforming the industry by providing a risk management solution to the driver shortage. She has written for the Behind the Wheel, Wheel, Nebraska Trucker, Arkansas Trucking Report, Steering Wheel, Tarheel Wheels, Tennessee Trucking News and The Transportation Professional. She has published eight books and is included in two anthologies. She frequently speaks and leads conferences throughout the U.S. and splits her time at home between Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Monterey, Cali. and Memphis, Tenn.

Rosa D’Elia

A born and raised New Yorker, Rosa has been designing, crafting, painting, and photographing for 10+ years. When not working on layouts, Rosa can be found eating and laughing with her large Italian family.

Richard Pata

Richard Doll

Steve Brawner

Sami Roy

Stacy Tisci

stisci0625@gmail.com

Suzanne Darabaris

An accomplished creative and award-winning art director, Suzanne is experienced in advertising and communications design. She has worked on many Fortune 500 brands including Anheuser-Busch, General Mills, McDonald’s, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Her brand-building communications span print, collateral, direct, identity, video, broadcast, digital, website and editorial design. She welcomes new projects large and small and can be reached at darabaris.s@gmail.com.

Tanya Nuchols

Tanya Nuchols is a graphic designer/art director with 22 years experience effectively solving visual communication challenges and delivering professional quality digital and print design. Her portfolio includes work for the U.S. Coast Guard, the World Bank, various B2B publications and consumer titles like Road & Track Magazine.  She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BA in Communication Arts & Design (one year at the Corcoran School of Art) and has won two Ozzie publication design awards for SPEED Magazine and a guidebook for the Mazda RX-8. Tanya has a talent for visually interpreting ideas and organizing content creatively.

Email address: tanyanuchols@gmail.com

Thomas Grady

Tricia Kessler

Vern Johnson

Vern Johnson is a well-established professional in the media industry, renowned for his dynamic and innovative approach to creative direction and leadership. With decades of experience, Vern has mastered the art of engaging target audiences through strategic visual storytelling. His exceptional ability to distill complex information into enjoyable and rewarding content sets him apart in his field. Adept in creative strategy, photo direction, and publication design, Vern prides himself on his versatility and inspiring leadership. He remains steadfastly committed to empowering and evolving both brands and teams under his guidance.