Brian Jacobsen
Co-President / Chairman
Brian became President of The Madison Park Group in 1997 and today serves as the company's Co-President/Chairman. Brian's roots run deep, as he began working at Madison Park Greetings in junior high school, counting, folding, and stocking cards for his mother's start-up business. After working in print sales, Brian joined Madison Park Greetings full-time in 1990 as General Manager. Brian oversees all the financial and operational aspects of the business. Brian earned his B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington. Outside of work, Brian enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and three children.
Glen Biely
Co-President
Glen became Co-President of The Madison Park Group in 2000, having previously served as V.P. Sales & Marketing (1997) and National Sales Manager (1993). In addition to overseeing sales for The Madison Park Group, Glen facilitates strategic distribution partnerships with other industry companies. Within the industry, Glen serves as an Advisory Board member for both the National Stationery Show and Greetings etc. magazine. Prior to joining The Madison Park Group, Glen worked in sports publishing in Seattle and spent two years living and working in Tokyo, Japan. Glen earned a B.A. in Business Administration and an M.B.A. from the University of Washington, both with an emphasis in marketing. When he's not working, Glen enjoys being outvoted at home by his wife and three daughters.
Judi Jacobsen
Founder
A Seattle native, Judi Jacobsen grew up involved in her family's business, Pacific Trail Sportswear. She graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Home Economics and taught school in public schools. Four children were born to Judi and her husband, Connie. In 1977, Judi began selling her paintings at local art fairs and eventually joined with another local artist, Lucy Rigg, to form a greeting card company, Lucy and Me. In 1984, the two owners divided the company and Judi, together with her daughter, Laurie, continued with a new company, Me Two. In 1994 the company moved to its present location and was renamed Madison Park Greetings. Though no longer involved in the day-to-day operations, Judi still provides artwork for the company and is involved in special projects. Judi has been the recipient of many business and civic awards including Washington State's Small Business Person of the Year, Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year, and Nellie Cashman Women Entrepreneur of the Year. She has been nominated for various Louie Awards (industry design awards) and won a Louie Award in 1993. Judi is currently involved in many organizations including The Seattle King County Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, Association for Theological Studies, and Seattle Pacific University.
Megan Gandt
Senior Art Director
After earning her BFA in Design from University of Kansas in Lawrence, Megan headed to the west coast. She began her career in book publishing and went on to gift and social expression - surrounding herself with the smart, well-read and funny people of this industry. Megan is a native of Wisconsin and moved from San Francisco up to the northwest with her husband in 2006. She's a gardener, camper/hiker, one-time welder and furniture builder, and loves to travel. Her best friend told her that she's a good eater - such a compliment!
Wendy Nazzaro
Accounting Manager
Wendy earned a B.A. in Accounting from Texas A&M University and holds her CPA license. She has worked in many different business sectors, from the billion-dollar, mega-conglomerate to a two-employee, micro-manufacturer. She comes to The Madison Park Group with previous industry experience in fine stationery, and with a true appreciation for being part of a company whose products inspire and delight. Her personal interests include a love of books and the arts and all the natural beauty the world has to offer.
Tracy Armer
Systems Manager
Tracy began at The Madison Park Group in 2002. He previously worked as a Network Analyst for the Seattle School District and was the Information Technology Manager for Trinity Technology. Tracy earned his B.S. in Business Management from Missouri State University. He currently has no free time since the birth of his first son, Weston, in September 2010. However, he is a passionate baseball fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and enjoys the outdoors with his family whenever he can.
Jana Kulas
E-Marketing Manager / The Madison Park Group; Product Manager / iPop
Jana joined The Madison Park Group in 2004. She brought with her a strong understanding of great customer service and market knowledge from her eight years of working on the retail side of the stationery industry. Jana was promoted to National Sales Manager for iPop and Wooster & Prince in May of 2007. In 2008, she added the position of iPop Product Manager to her duties. In 2011, Jana became our E-Marketing Manager. Her passion for the printed piece also comes in the form of her own block printing - something she enjoys in her spare time along with traveling (Paris is a favorite) and the entertainment provided by her husband and three cats.
Kristin Stubbs
Trade Show Manager
Kristin joined The Madison Park Group in the summer of 2005, and was named National Sales Manager for Running Rhino in 2007, and then added Prentiss Douthit and Linnea Design to her repertoire. Currently Kristin has shifted her focus here at The Madison Park Group to the magical world of trade shows, among other duties. Previously she had worked on the retail side of paper and fine gifts for over ten years. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metal Design from the University of Washington. In her spare time she makes jewelry, frequents flea markets, goes kayaking on Puget Sound and tends to the demands of her 2 cats. Kristin has been to over 15 countries and always looks for any opportunity to add a stamp to her passport.
Melissa Clark
Sample Manager / The Madison Park Group, National Sales Manager / Running Rhino
Melissa joined The Madison Park Group in July 2005. Previous working experiences have included work at a wholesale jewelry company as the sole employee, being a manager of the proofreading department at a legal publishing company and painting murals and decorative finishes. Prior to that, Melissa earned her BFA in Painting from Rhode Island School of Design and pursued a career as an artist, showing her paintings in New York City. She moved to Seattle in 1992 to raise her daughter. When not at work, Melissa enjoys cooking, reading, yoga and going on walks and enjoying nature with her daughter and their dog, Chester.
Palma Hoppel
Direct-Sales Manager / Linnea Design
Palma is a Seattle native and a UW grad with a BFA in graphic design. Besides Seattle, she has lived in Alaska, Italy, on the Washington Coast and Whidbey Island, and has lived with cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, alligators, snakes, lizards and horned toads. She was on the original (read 50's!) Mickey Mouse Club for a week. A travel junkie when possible, she has visited Guatemala, Mexico, Greece, Japan, Italy, France and England. She is a textile and garden enthusiast and all around delightful person. That's what her dog Lucca says anyway!
Shannon Martin
National Sales Manager / Girl Designer
Shannon attributes any artistic tendencies to her mother, who used to draw faces on the fruit she put in her children's lunches. She's grateful to work from home, just down the street from The Madison Park Group. Shannon draws inspiration from Joseph Cornell, Anne LaMott, and her hero, Pippi Longstocking. She believes in community, storytelling, and making mistakes, which is where she has learned the most. Shannon is happiest on her front porch with family, friends and her most recent collection of dogs.
Jennifer Lyter
Credit Manager
Jen joined The Madison Park Group in August 2005. Her background involves 14 years in the finance field of A/R and Credit. Jen is a big fan of the Green Bay Packers and is currently basking in their recent Superbowl victory. She also enjoys reading, cooking, scrabble and very kindly asks that everyone pay their bills on time. (Please and Thank You!) On Wisconsin!
Kimberly Dawes
Customer Service Manager
Kim joined The Madison Park Group in August 2006, and was promoted to Customer Service Manager in June 2007. Her past work experience includes working in art supply and paper stores, being a music store merchandiser, and working customer service for a large wholesale footwear company. Kim is a Southern California native who recently decided she had enough sun and moved to Seattle for a change of pace. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends, reading, doing crafty projects, being lazy in the park (on pretty days), and going to concerts every chance she gets.
Vlad Trofimov
Key Accounts / Logistics Manager / International Sales
Vlad began at The Madison Park Group in 2000 and was promoted to Assistant Production Manager in 2003. Born and raised in Ukraine, Vlad studied law at Chernivtsi State University. He recently earned a B.A. in Political Science from Seattle University. Though Vlad's native language is Ukrainian, he also speaks Russian and communicates via international sign language with The Madison Park Group's deaf employees. In his free time, Vlad enjoys listening to music and playing computer games.
Scott Walburg
Warehouse Manager
Scott began at The Madison Park Group in 1993 and was promoted to Warehouse Manager in 1995. Scott was honored as Supervisor of the Year by the Hearing and Speech Deafness Center, and he is largely instrumental for the many deaf employees at The Madison Park Group. Scott graduated from the Florida School For The Deaf and earned his Associate of Arts Degree from St. Petersburg Junior College. Outside of work, Scott enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and playing basketball and golf. Scott's favorite motto is, "Deaf people can do everything except hear."
Kelsey Callahan
Art Production Manager
After earning a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Washington, Kelsey spent several years in the Washington wine industry, including time spent at prestigious wineries such as DeLille Cellars and Chateau St. Michelle. As the Direct Marketing Manager at St. Michelle, she knew she was passionate about wine and customer service, but not Direct Marketing. Deciding to pursue her interests in the arts, she obtained a Certificate in Graphic Production from the University of Washington and joined The Madison Park Group team in July of 2005. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys reading, spending time with friends, being a bit of a wine snob, and an aspiring "foodie."
Kasey Free
Graphic Designer
Kasey was born and raised in sunny Los Altos, California. She attended Colorado College on a soccer scholarship, where she studied fine art and spent her weekends skiing the Rockies. After graduating from CC she studied graphic design at the Art Institute of Seattle. Kasey has several years of experience in book design, and has worked on a variety of books on cooking, crafts, sports, and music icons. Some of Kasey's interests include traveling, yard sale shopping, and spending time with her husband and wheaten terrier.
Katherine Dikeakos
Marketing Manager
Katherine is a Seattle native who joined The Madison Park Group in 2010. After graduating from the University of Washington’s Business School she began her sales and marketing career in an area attraction’s group sales department. Known for spending hours searching for the perfect greeting card she decided if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em—and has been happy with her decision ever since! In her spare time she enjoys traveling, cooking, knitting, attending shows and cheering on the Huskies with her husband.
Erin Pate
Art Production Coordinator
After years of collecting inspiring and eclectic stationery, Erin is delighted to be part of The Madison Park Group team. She arrived in Seattle in fall of 2007 after packing up her little red truck and leaving her home in Alaska for the big city of Seattle. Erin joined Madison Park in February 2008. She has a BFA in English and Studio Art from Santa Clara University, which explains her many hobbies: reading, writing, drawing and just being creative in general. Erin is greatly enjoying all the city has to offer, going to as many plays, restaurants and concerts as she can fit in on her nights and weekends.
Jennifer Biely
Media Relations
Jennifer was raised in Oregon, though she’s a Seattleite at heart . A University of Washington graduate in political science and avid Husky, Jennifer also holds a law degree from Willamette University. Prior to overseeing media relations at The Madison Park Group, Jennifer spent eight years as Executive Director of a national nonprofit organization. When she isn’t running her three daughters back and forth and juggling her duties as PTA president, Jennifer likes to walk her dog, read, garden, and spend time on social media.
Jessica Springer
Sales Coordinator - Madison Park Greetings, iPop and I Can Has Cheezburger?
Jessica is a Seattle transplant originating in South Lake Tahoe. She traded in her shovel for an umbrella. Jessica joined the Madison Park Group in (oh gosh I don’t even know) taking a life detour from the hotel industry. It is known that she has a slight obsession with her frenchbo Beatrice who can be seen on one of our Cheezburger cards (CB074). In her spare time you can find Jessica at the dog park with Beatrice or hanging out with family and friends (which includes Beatrice). Did we mention she really loves her dog?
Kendra Zapata
Credit Assistant / Customer Service
Kendra is a Seattle native and joined The Madison Park Group in November of 2009. After working in the construction industry, she decided to do something more girly and joined the world of greeting cards and stationery. She received her B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington. In her spare time she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, taking a Zumba class, cheering on Seattle teams (Huskies, Seahawks, Mariners) and traveling to sunny places (when she gets tired of the all the rain).
Annie Sedwick
Customer Service
Annie started at The Madison Park Group in March of 2010. She studied Culinary Arts at the South Seattle Culinary School and several restaurants and bakeries, and is currently working towards getting her Bachelor’s degree. In her free time, Annie enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming outside, modern Olympic fencing, reading, writing, cooking, baking, cake decorating, origami, bicycling, doing various craft projects, visiting her incredible family in Minnesota and watching amazing movies. She hopes to travel all over the world, start a small handmade sinfully delicious chocolate company, compete in the Olympic Games fencing someday, and write and publish at least one wonderful book.
Robin Smith
Sales Coordinator - Shannon Martin / Girl Designer
Robin Smith is a seasoned sales professional, having served most recently as a sales representative in Washington State, among the lines she carried were our own Shannon Martin | Girl Designer, Wooster and Prince and Cheezburger. In June of 2011 Robin came to Madison Park as the Sales Coordinator for Shannon Martin. Robin started in the wholesale trade in the 1980’s, working with major manufacturers in the table top industry. She has extensive experience working in retail and tradeshows focusing on the bridal and gift industries. Down time for Robin consists of adventuring by boat and motorcycle as well as relaxing with her pets Kooter and Freddy, a chocolate lab and orange tabby cat.
Kate Hooper
Sales Coordinator - Wooster & Prince, KOCO NY and Linnea Design
Kate Hooper is back home in the Pacific Northwest. An Oregon native, Kate's love of sun and sweet tea drew her to the South where she attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduation Kate headed up the Blues Highway to St. Louis, where she specialized in digital communication and event marketing at Weber Shandwick, a global public relations firm, while also pursuing her passion of performance as an NFL cheerleader with the St. Louis Rams. After traveling to seventeen different countries and coming closer to her dream of seeing a sunset on every continent, Kate brings her zeal for adventure to Seattle and the Madison Park Group.
Agnes Gomez
Graphic Designer
Agnes is a Seattle native and born crafter who’s always loved working with her hands. Passionate about paper since childhood, Agnes grew up making cards for every occasion. She never realized her hobby could turn into a job but soon her career in the stationery industry began designing wedding invitations. She’s always been a fan of Madison Park Greetings so she’s thrilled to now be a part of the team in such a creative and artistic environment. When she’s not at work Agnes enjoys jewelry making, sewing, shopping, dining out and, most especially, being a new mom.
Alex Cartwright
Customer Service
Lucca Hoppel
Office Dog
Lucca is a Golden Retriever. He was born on a ranch in Eastern Washington where they also raise Connemara ponies and a few goats. His mother was a friendly red-head from an island near Seattle and his dad is English, but came from Spain. It was an arranged marriage, but a successful one. Lucca has 9 siblings his exact age but some older half-sibs that live in the Ukraine, from a previous marriage. Dad obviously is a world traveler Lucca is happy to be a local dog and loves coming to work every day. He has two cats at home that ADORE him and won't let him sleep alone. He loves his hamster (but they don't sleep together). Lucca loves his life. We love Lucca.
Cooper Callahan
Office Dog
Cooper joined the Madison Park team as an 8 week old puppy in 2006, and has been sleeping through his work days ever since. He considers himself the official greeter of the art dept, mustering the energy to wake up with a tail wag for any and all visitors. Despite his 100 lb stature, this gentle giant’s biggest fear is a fly in the office. If you hear him bounding down the hallway, you usually know why. But he lives for Friday afternoons when he gets the occasional opportunity to play a little fetch with anyone willing to toss a ball.
Jasper Pate
Office Dog
After a somewhat troubled childhood in and out of shelters in southern Oregon, Jasper has finally found his place in the world: napping in the Art Department of Madison Park. Jasper is always alert and likes to keep everyone around him on their toes. He's most happy when the office leaves for the day and he can run down the hallway and steal Lucca's toys. All in good fun, of course. After work, Jasper enjoys long roaming walks around his neighborhood, racing around his backyard, and terrorizing his little sister, Sadie (a tabby cat).