Meet The Team

Our goal, which we pursue with great passion, is to provide unparalleled service, flexibility, and on-going client satisfaction.

 

Lisa Harp
President

Since founding L.A. Harp & Associates, Inc. in 1987 (now Harp Advertising + Interactive), Lisa has utilized a full range of industry expertise on behalf of major clients. From international branding strategies and campaign concepts, to copywriting, art directing, media planning and overall client service work, she understands and has been involved in every detail of the entire gamut of marketing and advertising on both national and international levels.

Key accounts have included New York Life, Diners Club, Citibank, Bekins Van Lines, Easter Seals, Donnelley Marketing, Navistar, World Book Encyclopedia, Turtle Wax, Great Brands of Europe and Illy Caffe of North America.

Today, Lisa's main responsibilities include new business development and strategic involvement on all client accounts. Her philosophy of integrated marketing ensures streamlined efficiencies across all media, including interactive, and optimum marketing impact for every dollar spent.

Based on academic achievement and merit, Lisa's professors at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) nominated her for Graduate work under the Fellows Scholarship, for which she was the national recipient for Advertising study in 1986. She received a Master of Science degree in Advertising in 1987, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising in 1986.

 

Jim Norman
Management Supervisor

Jim has a 27-year track record building financial industry brands and managing successful financial marketing communications programs.

He has been responsible for developing the positioning and differentiation strategies that helped introduce, reposition and build the businesses of online brokers TradeStation Securities, optionsXpress, Xpresstrade, Man Financial, Jack Carl Futures and Index Futures.

Jim was called on by Nasdaq Liffe Markets (NQLX) to launch single stock futures and the exchange. And, he has worked closely with The Options Industry Council since its inception in 1992—generating over 2 million leads and developing programs that have kept the OIC's unique cost per lead under $30 since 1995. His OIC options education podcast series' have been downloaded well over 2 million times and are regularly featured in iTunes Top 100 business podcasts.

Jim has also managed market communications programs for American Express Travel Service, Midas-International, Safety-Kleen Corporation and Hitachi Electronic Devices.

 

Diane Rayfield
Account Director/Project Manager

A founding partner of L.A. Harp & Associates in 1987, (now Harp Advertising + Interactive) Diane developed the Interactive division of Harp opening a previously untouched dimension of marketing & advertising to Harp's Fortune 500 clientele. Creating multi-media CD presentations and corporate web sites, with Diane's lead, Harp continued to pioneer the way in early web development in Chicago providing clients with the unique experience of strategic, interactive, market-driven websites.

With a career in high-gear, Diane took a hiatus from the ad industry to raise her daughters. At home, Diane's entrepreneurial spirit and creative energy were channeled into designing high-end jewelry; and she launched a successful boutique artisan-jewelry & e-commerce business.

Returning to Harp as Account Director in early 2007, Diane's expertise in branding, concept development, art direction, copywriting, e-commerce and photography qualify her as one of the best all around talents in the industry. She utilizes these skills to bring forth fresh, integrated marketing solutions executed in a timely, meticulous and cost-effective manner—ensuring a positive client/agency experience and winning results on every project.

 

Christopher Chakonas
Account Executive

Chris is a left brained/right brained client-focused account executive who thinks strategically, analytically and creatively. Chris uses research and analytics to strategize and hone marketing plans for clients; and oversees exceptional and effective execution of those plans with all departments within the agency from SEO, social, creative, and programming. With a keen eye for tracking online performance metrics and aligning website performance based on client goals, Chris is an Account Exec for the digital world.

Chris brings added value to any account or project with his ability to think visually within the context of overall marketing and business goals. That ability, combined with his mastery of information design, storytelling and digital media, enables him to create powerfully effective presentations for clients for any situation or media.

While he was a project manager at ARENDS, a Chicago B2B agency, he managed marketing projects for technical products and services from companies like HINO Trucks, Knowles Acoustics and HEIDENHAIN.

Chris graduated with Honors from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in Marketing.

 

Peter Beltemacchi
Senior Programmer & web Developer

Peter is a highly-skilled and extremely versatile programmer and web developer. His database skills are second-to-none. With extensive knowledge in SQL, Perl, and ASP (among others) he is adept at designing data-driven web solutions for our clients. Peter's extensive programming skills also allow him to create custom back-end systems to deliver our clients' content in a functional and efficient manner that integrates with established marketing design requirements.

Having worked as DDB's webmaster for several years building and managing over 20 key sites including, Discover Card, Statefarm Insurance, Budweiser, Tyson Foods, and McDonald's, he moved onto form his own web development company—Xplore.com, which netted over one million annually during the internet boom.

Peter's creative out-of-the-box programming solutions afford us the opportunity to offer our clients services usually found only at larger agencies and web development companies.

Peter received a Bachelor's Degree in Information Design from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Institute of Design, and is trained in multiple disciplines including photography, animation, 3-Dmodeling and product design.

Peter holds a patent for a top-mounted faucet he developed for Kohler.

 

Pete Kehoe
Programmer

As New Media Designer and Developer at Harp, Pete is responsible for implementation of web site and CD ROM programming utilizing his ASP, .Net, JavaScript, DHTML, Flash and Director skills. He is an expert at HTML email programming which requires a combination of design skills as well as programming expertise. At Harp Pete is involved in concept development and the creation of finished pieces for print, web, interactive tools and CD ROM development. He is also the webmaster of the Harp web site.

In addition to his excellent design and technical abilities, Pete has an extensive print background and is an expert in Quark, Photoshop and Illustrator. Prior to Harp, he was employed by both Ambrosi & Associates and Black Dot Graphics in their print graphics departments.

Pete has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Northern Illinois University.

 

Beth Brackett
Media Director

A pioneer in online media planning and buying with over 17 years of experience in media buying, planning, negotiating and tracking, Beth is passionate about discovering and appropriating the nuances that create a notable improvement in clients' campaigns. She understands a well-defined target audience with clearly-understood consumer behavior is needed for the groundwork of a media plan that promises the greatest success. Beth also has experience in quantitative, qualitative and geo-targeting research analysis, which also contribute to better media placements and ROI.

Beth has worked for Starcom/Leo Burnett, Lois/EJL; providing account services for Canon, CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange), ComEd, Jewel-Osco, KFC, OIC (Options Industry Council), Toys"R"Us, Car-X, Rayovac, and Speed Queen among others.

Beth received a BBA (Bachelors of Business Administration) Degree in Marketing and a Minor in Advertising from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater.

 

Cyma Saeed
Certified Internet Marketing Specialist

A certified Internet marketing and advertising professional, Cyma has over 15 years experience with search marketing, SEO copywriting, as well as project management. Her comprehensive marketing consulting and copywriting skills have allowed her to work for some of the most reputable creative organizations in the industry, such as Saatchi & Saatchi and BBDO.

Along with her senior copywriting and creative leader background, Cyma has worked as an SEO Engineer and Internet Marketing Specialist for Cherryone Web Design, as well as a Web Content Editor for corporate review website, Tenolu.com. Her strategic and analytical strengths reside in web analysis, interactive media management, and SEO/SEM analysis.

Cyma received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Psychology, and Economics from the University of Karachi St. Joseph's College and her Practical Internet Marketing certification from DePaul University. She also was an Advertising & Communications advisor for AAF's College Chapter Competition Group at Iowa State University.

 

Mike D'Onofrio
Account Executive/Art Director

Mike has been in the marketing and creative industry for over 10 years as an account director, project manager, art director, and graphic/interactive designer. He has held positions at Learning Insights (an e-learning company), The Rosen Group (advertising), Artistic Impressions (direct marketing), and has done many contract jobs creating campaigns that range from print, web, and multimedia design, to video production, art direction, copywriting, digital photography, and short film production.

Mike was awarded Nokia's first place award for design and development of the top mobile game of 2003. He has also had his creative work displayed in art galleries, and has worked on the sets of several independent feature films.

Mike attended Northern Illinois University and is a Graduate of Columbia College of Chicago with a degree in Liberal Arts.

 

Erik Kwiek
Creative Director

Erik is an award-winning designer who came to us from Draft/FCB. He is a strong conceptual and multi-style designer for both web and print. With his extensive experience in design and web development, Erik produces skillfully designed websites, micro-sites, standard and rich media banners, emails, social media applications, mobile applications, and print ads and brochures.

With over 8 years of professional experience and strong technical skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash, Erik has an exceptional talent for blending art and technical ability.

Erik graduated from The Illinois Institute of Art with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Multimedia & Web Design.