Mike Hart

President/CEO

Mike joined the family business in 1983 and has managed the agency’s expansion to its current status as the region’s leading integrated marketing communications firm – one known for innovative creative, great customer service and digital expertise. Mike was named executive vice president in 1985, president in 1993 and CEO following the death of his father and agency founder Tom Hart, in 1998. Among his many industry awards is the 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The only things that give Mike as much joy as his family and happy clients? Victories for the Miami Dolphins and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Amanda Aldrich

Receptionist/Office Assistant

We struggled mightily with a title to assign Amanda here, knowing full well that you simply cannot judge our agency’s “front door” by its cover. For example, she’s the Marketing Director for Food For Thought Toledo. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a BA in Culture & Diversity, Human Behavior & Development and French. And we practically have to use the jaws of life to get visitors in from the lobby because she’s just so darned, well, nice. (Unless one of us puts a Styrofoam cup in a recycle bin.) She’s also organized too many charitable efforts to count, and has an admitted obsession with zombies. That’s Amanda, A to Z.

Mike Bell

VP Chief Creative Officer

Mike joined Hart in 1993 and brings our clients well over 20 years of creative experience rooted in art direction and graphic design. He not only manages, he manages to generate inspired work in broadcast, digital, print advertising, illustration, packaging design – the whole Magilla. He says his parents wanted him to be an electrical engineer, but he just kept drawing pictures at the kitchen table. Funny thing … during lunch, you’ll often see him drawing pictures at the kitchen table.

Rich Kretz

Vice President, Video Services

Rich manages the agency’s video services department, and handles editor and producer duties too. He joined Hart in 1986 (he likes it here), after spending two years at Toledo’s WNWO-TV as chief news photographer. Rich also spent time as a producer with the University of Toledo’s Broadcast Services. You know what else he has produced? Four teenage daughters. He says his text bills rival the agency’s billings.

Damian Rintelmann

Director of Digital Strategy

In nearly 10 years of working on the Internet and in telecommunications, Damian has partnered with memorable brands like General Motors, Proctor & Gamble and Coca-Cola. Technology moves at light speed these days, but Damian moves faster. How else could he have scored a hat trick at Joe Louis Arena?

Matt Schroder

Director of Public Relations

Matt came to Hart in 2007 to develop strategies and implement PR tactics, handle media relations and provide crisis communications counsel. He was formerly media relations supervisor at R/P Marketing Public Relations in Toledo, and worked as a reporter/editor for several Northwest Ohio newspapers. He is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America. And raising son Will to be a certifiable Cleveland Indians fanatic.

Sharon Stemen

New Business Development

Every agency has one, right? The “super assertive” new business person who calls, texts, e-mails, Facebooks, tweets and Twitters prospects and, if you’re not careful, may even buy the house next door to get you to go to lunch. Then there’s Sharon. Yes, she’ll gladly regale you with the infinite attributes of Hart Associates. But she’s also a savvy 27-year marketing veteran who can help you size up both your immediate and long-term needs and, if necessary, give you a big-picture perspective on your agency transition. Hey, this woman paints acrylics in her spare time – who better to do the job?

Leslie Verral

Director of Account Services

A member of the Hart team since 2005, Leslie manages the day-to-day aspects of all account service and client activities. She leads staff assignments and ongoing account management training. Leslie’s 20-plus years of experience in both consumer and business-to-business marketing/advertising includes serving as Furniture Galleries® marketing manager at La-Z-Boy. She has a well-earned reputation for being able to handle any challenge. Her young son, Hunter, tops the list, followed closely by being a University of Michigan fan at an Ohio agency.

Susan Whitten

Vice President, Media

Susan’s an accomplished cross-channel marketing and media professional with more than 21 years in traditional/digital media. Her vast client experience includes McDonald’s, Fifth Third Bank, United Way of Greater Toledo and many Fortune 500 companies. She leads Hart’s media strategy team and is instrumental in interpreting the lifestyle/media usage habits of a wide array of target audience groups. She readily admits, though, her favorite target audience is daughter and best buddy Ashley.

Brad Zabroski

Director of Interactive

With over a decade of traditional and new media experience, Brad ensures the outbound digital product is everything clients expect – and a little more. He brings vast knowledge in user-experience planning, interface design, digital/integrated marketing strategy and conceptual development. Brad’s benefited clients such as Johnson & Johnson, La-Z-Boy and GenFlex Roofing Systems. And he’s the only one at Hart (in the world, perhaps?) who has an 8×10 glossy of Joe Piscopo proudly displayed in his office.

Steve Stepanek

Vice President, Client Services

As one of the newest members of the Hart team, Steve brings with him more than 30 years of marketing, advertising and strategic planning experience. He has been involved with the development of business and communications strategies for some of the world’s best-known brands, including Ford, H.J. Heinz, Marlboro, GM and Goodyear. One of Steve’s biggest passions (besides marketing) is his love of sailing. And when you consider that sometimes in advertising there are greater storms than on the open sea, he’s a good man to have on board. He holds MSBA and MBA degrees from Northern Illinois University, as well as a BFA from Northern Illinois. Steve is married and the proud father of two daughters.