Get somewhere and accomplish something with people who have been there and done that.

As practice leaders at top agencies and companies, our founding partners have provided strategy, design, and marketing solutions to high-profile clients in entertainment, technology, education, professional services, and consumer products.

Russell Granger

CEO | PRACTICE FOCUS: STRATEGY & CREATIVE

Russell provides insight and oversight to all projects and engagements with a simultaneous focus on big-picture objectives and critical detail.

At the dawn of digital, Russell co-founded Entertainment Drive, a company that became an early category leader in online marketing for the entertainment industry’s major players including Universal Studios, MGM, Sony Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Touchstone, New Line Cinema, Focus Features, and many other studios and television networks. The first agency authorized to digitize Disney animation for online distribution, the company was featured on the cover of PC Magazine, honored with one of the first Webby awards, and recognized for significant achievement in new media technology by the Smithsonian Institution. Russell brought his new-found expertise to IBM Global Services as a brand strategy consultant, where he directed global projects for companies such as Samsonite, Key Bank, Newell-Rubbermaid, and CSFB.

He went on to build digital design teams for several firms including Multimedia Solutions, where his division produced award-winning projects for clients such as Verizon, Dow Jones, Panasonic, Forbes, and Newsweek; and Gigante Vaz Partners Advertising, where he built a comprehensive digital channel practice serving clients such as St. Martin’s Press, Ricoh, Toshiba, and many others. Schooled in graphic design at Parson’s, communications at Northwestern, and film at NYU, Russell juggled roles as a writer, television producer, and marketing director before logging on and getting hooked. He lives in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, and is an avid amateur local historian.

Marie Benesh

COO | PRACTICE FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY & APPLICATIONS

An inveterate researcher and born technologist, Marie brings expertise and good humor to operations and resource management. Her enthusiasm for new tools and platforms keeps us on the cutting-edge, and our clients in-the-know.

A recognized expert in organizational design and change strategy, Marie has for the better part of the last decade focused her efforts on helping higher education institutions adopt and deploy new technology platforms. Through team building, analysis, strategic planning and business process development, Marie has facilitated large-scale implementations at a wide variety of institutions including Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, Ohio State, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Syracuse and Cornell Universities.

One of the first women to hold an executive position in technology management, Marie headed Strategy and Standards for the corporate IT division of Corning, Inc. before launching her own consulting company. As a thought leader and respected facilitator in management effectiveness, process design, and planning & standards, she brought a range of technology services and solutions to clients in both the public and private sector, including the U.S. Department of the Navy, Texas Department of Social Services, Columbia Healthcare, and Citibank. A published author, Marie has two four-star rated books on technology leadership and project management.

Jackie Iandolo

VP ACCOUNTS | PRACTICE FOCUS: MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Jackie’s focus on analytics insures that projects are about results, and that clients can focus on business growth. Her extensive experience in both corporate and small business marketing make her a versatile and invaluable head of accounts.

After successive executive marketing positions at companies like AT&T and Lucent Technologies, Jackie launched her own marketing consulting practice for small businesses. The combination has enabled her to develop a highly diversified set of skills ideal for a wide range of brands and businesses. Consumer and b-to-b marketing, global and main street advertising, client and staff management are just some of the areas where she has excelled in her 20-year career. Jackie was instrumental in developing and implementing integrated marketing strategies and programs, as well as corporate communication plans, for companies such as Andrew Corporation, Celiant Corporation, and Liebling Associates.

Her concentration in the telecom and wireless sectors make her especially well-suited to help technology clients successfully craft and deliver their messages, as well as help brands of every stripe use technology to engage customers. With a marketing degree from Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, Jackie’s proven track record in handling and maintaining accounts will provide much needed support to ensure clients’ objectives are met through effective customer communications strategies.

Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others. –Robert Louis Stevenson