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Andrew Krause - CEO
As CEO and Executive Producer, Andrew Krause keeps his eye on total customer satisfaction by consulting with our customers and overseeing production projects.
In 1998, Andrew founded AKA MEDIA INC. after seven years working in the public relations industry at agencies including Golin Harris and JohnstonWells Public Relations. He has collaborated with some of the most respected brands in the country, in a variety of industries from beauty to technology.
New challenges push him to work hard, an outlook he passes on to his employees. Andrew lives by the philosophy “the show must go on” and his enthusiasm is what drives our company.
Quote to live by: Do or do not. There is no try.
Alternative Job: I could see myself working in golf… I’ve collaborated with many of PGA’s top golfers and I imagine that lifestyle would not be half bad!
Tim Parker - President
As AKA MEDIA INC. President and Executive Producer, Tim spends time consulting with clients and field producing to execute high profile projects. As co-owner of AKA, he also handles human resources, finance and management.
Tim is extremely proud of the staff that AKA MEDIA INC. has built throughout the years and sees the group more as extended family rather than employees or coworkers.
Tim joined AKA MEDIA INC. in 1999, after five years of service with Fleishman-Hillard in St. Louis. His experience in developing and executing multi-faceted public relations programs provides a valuable consulting resource for our customers.
Hobbies: My hobby is daydreaming about hobbies I might like to have some day.
If money were no issue: I’ve always thought about going back to get a law degree, mostly to be educated when I am talking to lawyers so they can’t bully me around.
contact | tparker@akamediainc.comMyles Erick - Senior Editor
As a Senior Editor, Myles uses his skills to edit a variety of multimedia including web content, commercials and corporate videos.
Myles sees his job not just as an editor, but also a storyteller. He enjoys having the creative freedom to take a client’s vision and piece together a story that will mean something. No two projects are the same.
Before joining the AKA MEDIA INC team and working with clients such as Baxter and Harley Davidson, Myles was an editor at The Film and Take Works of Chicago.
Best Thing About AKA: PIZZA Fridays. Who doesn’t love pizza? On the first Friday of the month, the office samples some of the best pizza in the city. The best part: rating each one based on taste, presentation, and delivery.
contact | merick@akamediainc.comKate Galbincea - Senior Editor
As an 8-year veteran of AKA, Kate has edited video, assisted in postproduction design and created motion graphics. She has worked with such clients as Ace, Baxter, and Appraisal Institute.
Kate loves having the creative freedom of taking elements of a video and shaping it into something cohesive and unique. With a small group of co-workers, everyone respects each other for their talents and is there to lend a hand. The company’s office environment is what sets AKA MEDIA INC. apart from other workplaces.
Prior to joining the AKA MEDIA INC. team, Kate worked at Chicago-based Manning Productions and Console Inc. in San Diego.
Quote to Live by: Collect moments not things
Sarah Gitersonke - Senior Producer
As a Senior Producer who’s been with AKA for more than 6 years, Sarah consults with clients to determine what strategy is best for their project. She is the main client contact for a wide range of productions including satellite media tours, public service announcements, behind-the-scenes B-Roll packages, web videos and live webcasts. Sarah is also on the Digital Team and oversees SMNR design and distribution.
Before joining AKA, Sarah served as President for the Public Relations Student Society of America at Southern Illinois University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Communication.
Favorite Project to Date: Working with Betty White for the Snickers Superbowl project, which involved a hilarious behind-the-scenes ad shoot and packed media tour. Betty is the best!
Unknown Fact: I was an on-air DJ for the SIUC student radio station, WIDB. My roommate and I had a show called Kibbles and Bits.
Cassie Tyler - Editor
As an Editor, Cassie works on B-Roll packages, web videos and motion graphics. She graduated from Ferris State University in 2011 with a degree in Television & Digital Media Production. After college, she moved to Chicago and worked as an intern and production assistant for Big Shoulders Digital Video Production. She previously developed social media for a nonprofit organization and designed video and graphics for the Zacuto brand and The San Jose Group advertising agency.
Quote to Live by: “Live with no regrets.” It encompasses everything I strive for: enjoying life and doing right.
contact | ctyler@akamediainc.comPaige Hollenberg - Producer
As a Producer, Paige works with a wide range of clients to develop and execute campaigns. She not only books production crews and studio space, but she also works on our digital team to conduct social media research and outreach.
Paige loves going out in field, even on those 16-hour workdays, to watch every aspect of the pre-production come together. In her words, the great thing about AKA is that any skill she wants to learn, she has that opportunity here.
Favorite Project to Date: My very first shoot in New York City. I assisted with three satellite media tours and sat behind the scenes during interviews with media outlets nationwide.
Meet Anyone Alive or Dead: I’d conduct a focus group with Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, John Lennon, Notorious B.I.G, Eminem, and Madonna. Why you ask? Can you imagine the conversations to be had with this group of music revolutionaries? Me neither, that’s why I want to find out.
Alison Sneed - Producer
With more than 10 years of experience in broadcast reporting, Producer Alison works to engage clients, brainstorms ideas and develops them into future projects.
One of the most exciting aspects of Alison’s job is how unexpected each day is. With new clients and new projects, no two days are the same and anything can change at a moment’s notice.
Alison joined the AKA MEDIA INC. team from Edelman Productions and where she made a name for herself working with such clients as Microsoft, Starbucks, and Burger King.
Hobbies: During the winter I love the crisp outdoors and spend my free time snowboarding.
Quote to Live by: Eventually all the pieces fall into place. Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moment, and know that everything happens for a reason.
Zach Mau - Web Services Specialist
As Web Services Specialist and an important part of the Digital Team, Zach takes charge of designing and coding social media news releases and tracking impressions once a campaign is completed.
Specializing in web coding, HTML, and JavaScript, Zach also handles day-to-day AKA web site maintenance. He enjoys having the creative freedom to design and watch everything come together.
Zach comes to AKA MEDIA INC. after graduating from Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago with a degree in Interactive Media and Web Design.
Crazy AKA Moment: There is always mischief going on in the office. Snowball fight in the office ranks pretty high up on the list.
Vince Rango - Media Relations Manager
Vince brings more than 10 years of newsroom experience to his position as Media Relations Manager. His relationships with news producers nationwide help get our stories on the air from NY to LA and everywhere in-between. Vince supervises pitching for all projects, including satellite media tours and B-Roll packages, and praises his fellow AKAers for quick collaborations that turn a problem into a solution.
Before joining the AKA team, Vince was a Writer/Segment Producer for WBBM-TV (CBS) in Chicago after working for Tribune Media, where he produced feature stories for WGN and CLTV.
Unknown Fact: I worked as a stuntman in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular show at Disney in Orlando!
Quote to Live by: We aren’t here for a long time, we are here for a good time.
Stephanie Warsen - Media Specialist
As a Media Specialist, Stephanie’s is responsible for all aspects of satellite distribution, results measurement and online distribution.
Stephanie finds her job unique because she has a small hand in almost every project that AKA MEDIA INC. produces. Stephanie looks back on her four years at AKA MEDIA INC. with admiration and loves the team camaraderie. At the end of the day everyone has each other’s backs.
Stephanie joined AKA after working at Weber Shandwick and as a production assistant on various commercial and television projects.
Best Kept Secret in Chicago: The Blue Frog Karaoke Bar is a dungy, yet magical place! The owners are husband and wife and treat all regulars like family.
Elaine Ganick - News Producer
As a Nashville-based News Producer and Director of Media Relations, Elaine Ganick leads our Media Relations team and is responsible for much of our telephone pitching and follow-up. By making contact with newsrooms every day, she and her dedicated staff are the muscle behind our stories.
Marla Thompson - Media Relations Specialist
Marla Thompson is a Media Relations Specialist, working with our pitching team on a daily basis. She brings a wealth of experience in the fields of public relations, education and administration, as well as program design, market analysis and implementation. In a typical week of pitching, Marla and her staff speak with well over 1000 media contacts on behalf of our clients.
Jamie Cannon - Media Relations Pitcher
New York City Media Relations Pitcher, Jamie Cannon, assists AKA MEDIA INC. with telephone pitching and follow-up. By making contact with newsrooms on a consistent basis, she helps us get our clients on the hottest stations.
Mark Sofer - Production Consultant
As a New York based Production Consultant, Director and News Producer, Mark Sofer lends more than his share of television production experience. Whether it's working with celebrities, or tweaking the shot to get it just right, Mark uses his expert judgment and excellent production values to get the job done.
Wlodzimierz Rucewicz - Camera Operator
New York City based camera operator, Wlodzimierz Rucewicz, assists AKA MEDIA INC. with the majority of our NY location shoots. With Wlodzimierz's understanding of broadcast media, we can focus our attention on getting the shots that count.
Brian Callahan - Production Consultant
As a Los Angeles based Production Consultant and News Producer, Brian Callahan provides valuable television production experience. Brian has worked as a television producer and photojournalist in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. His production credits include Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, The History Channel, and dozens of national networks and programs.
