Storytellers

The Great Lakes Studios
Team Delivers Audiences.

Digital Studio

Build brand awareness, increase engagement or improve lead quality with our team of marketing, SEO, lead gen and distribution specialists. Expect exceptional personal service and results.

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Video Studio

Videos amplify a business’ marketing message and reach a broader audience. Our team of writers, art directors and videographers create expertly crafted videos designed for impact and interest.

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Publishing Studio

Everyone loves a good story. Our team crafts brand-aware, content-savvy print products that deliver on message and have lasting impact for both clients and the audience.

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Media Studio

Ohio Magazine. LongWeekends Magazine. Cleveland Magazine. Lake Erie Living. Our magazines share the fascinating attractions, restaurants and outdoor adventures that you’ll want to experience, too.

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Featured Projects

Meet Our Team

President

Lute Harmon Jr.

President

As the president of Great Lakes Studios, Lute provides recommendations based on industry trends and best practices. He’s a past board president for the City & Regional Magazine Association and has more than 30 years of experience in advertising and content marketing. He serves on the board of the Ohio Travel Association and was previously in a leadership role with the American Advertising Federation of Cleveland. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Sales & Marketing Executive and an American Marshall Fellow.

Director of Digital Strategy

Jacquie Chakirelis

Director of Digital Strategy

Jacquie, the director of Digital Strategy for Great Lakes Digital Studios for four years, is an award-winning marketing and media executive and international speaker serving audiences from 30 to 3,000 with keynotes, workshops and breakout sessions. As a leading digital strategist, Jacquie has worked for some of the largest media publishers in the country including Tegna, Gannett and Advance Publications, developing sales, marketing and editorial teams to leverage digital platforms for audience and revenue growth. Jacquie is Google Analytics certified.

Digital Strategist

Joe Vargo

Digital Strategist

Joe oversees campaign strategy and execution, as well as client communication. Joe has been helping tourism clients in his role at Great Lakes Digital Studios for the past four years and has a wealth of experience in the tourism industry, including 10 years as Experience Columbus’ Director of Digital Marketing. Joe started his career at the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism. His work in the tourism industry has received acclaim, including a U.S. Travel Association Destiny Award for an Experience Columbus image campaign. He has presented at travel marketing conferences nationwide, including the U.S. Travel Association’s ESTO, eTourism Summit, the Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism and the Texas Association of CVBs Annual Conference. Joe is certified in Google Analytics, Google Advertising and Meta Advertising.

Development Manager

Dan Klinzing

Development Manager

A computer programmer for over 16 years, Dan currently manages more than 100 websites and mobile apps for Great Lakes Digital Studios. Experienced and personable, Dan is committed to exceeding expectations to develop professional solutions and services. He has proven experience building and deploying usable, interactive, scalable web and content management solutions for internal staff, clients and mass audiences. Dan is Google Analytics certified.

Project Coordinator

Camille Ross

Project Coordinator

Camille serves as project coordinator for Great Lakes Digital Studios, keeping track of tasks and deadlines, as well as creating welcome kits and reports. She shepherds clients and the internal team through the website development process, keeping all parties aware of any deviance from a project’s established scope or schedule. Additionally, she sets up and monitors timelines to keep developers, strategists, clients and other relevant parties on time and on task. She is certified in Google Analytics.

Managing Art Director

Stephanie Mauric

Managing Art Director

Stephanie has been an art director for 18 years, with the last 13 at Great Lakes Studios. As Managing Art Director, she’s led a team of talented designers in the creation of websites, landing pages, publications, videos and more. Photography is her first love. She took camera classes so she could better appreciate how the photographers she worked with found success. She was hooked and can often be found taking photos that capture authentic moments. That experience is a benefit to Great Lakes Studios' clients — it makes her an even more effective creative director who can ensure that photographers capture the best images.

Associate Art Director

Selwyn James

Associate Art Director

A talented illustrator and artist, Sel is adept at creating publications, videos and more. Sel also schedules and directs photo shoots, edits photos and helps gather photography assets. With their friendly nature, they put models and client at ease.

Managing Editor

Claudia Plumley

Managing Editor

A lifelong resident of Ohio, she has more than 25 years of experience in the tourism industry, including 11 years as the Managing Editor of Great Lakes Studios. With a focus on customer service, her team produces everything from print to digital to videos. She’s shared her marketing savvy as a presenter at the Kentucky Travel Industry Association’s Spring Travel Forum and the West Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association’s Hospitality University. Claudia has coached many of today’s leaders as co-chair of the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy for the last 10 years.

Senior Editor

Kelsey Miller

Senior Editor

With her keen eye for detail, Kelsey manages client projects ranging from printed publications to video. Her creative writing skills shine in print and web projects as she captures the authenticity of each destination. Under Kelsey’s capable guidance, she’s able to turn any project into a winner.

Assistant Editor

Jennifer Coon

Assistant Editor

Along with writing video scripts and SEO-friendly content, Jennifer reads every Great Lakes Studios' project with a fine-tooth comb to ensure quality control. An avid reader in her off hours, she compiles research on industry trends.

Advertising Sales Manager

Karen Matusoff

Advertising Sales Manager

With more than 40 years in the industry, Karen oversees the Great Lakes Studios' advertising team, which produces Ohio Magazine and more than 100 tourism products and digital campaigns each year. She works with the sales team year-round, developing client relationships, prospecting, researching, planning, selling and servicing new and established accounts.

Account Manager

Bryan McMahan

Account Manager

With 30 years of experience, Bryan works with partners in southeast Ohio to promote their business and expand their customer base. With his outgoing personality and extensive experience, Bryan knows how to find out exactly what a client needs. He is Google Ad Words Certified.

Account Manager

Nichole Cardinale

Account Manager

With 23 years of experience, Nichole works with partners in northeast Ohio to promote their business and expand their customer base. She’s adept at coming up with creative promotional opportunities.

Account Manager

Cosmo Mills

Account Manager

Cosmo works with partners in central Ohio to promote their business and expand their customer base. With a marketing background, Cosmo is a creative thinker who’s always brainstorming ways to improve products.

Account Manager

Frank Bird

Account Manager

With 30 years of experience, Frank works with partners in northwest Ohio to promote their business and expand their customer base. With his fresh ideas and exceptional customer service, he continuously refines his clients' products.

Account Manager

Treg Waldron

Account Manager

With nine years of sales experience, Treg works with partners in southwest Ohio to promote their business and expand their customer base. He listens to his clients and creates solutions catered to their needs.

Production Manager

Matt Kraniske

Production Manager

With more than 20 years at Great Lakes Studio, Matt is in charge of creating and preflighting advertisements and making sure everything prints properly. He works with the printer to ensure distribution is correct, on time and error free.

Advertising Traffic Manager

Megan Stimac

Advertising Traffic Manager

Megan is an experienced advertising traffic manager with 12 years of experience. She manages artwork collection, fulfillment and reporting.

Editor

Jim Vickers

Editor

Jim loves sharing the beauty, adventure and fun of the Buckeye State through Ohio Magazine and the publication’s digital brand extensions. His attention to detail, creative methods of storytelling and approach to curating content connects with audiences both in print and online.

Art Director

Rachael Jirousek

Art Director

Rachael is passionate about storytelling and enjoys infusing each issue of Ohio Magazine and LongWeekends magazine with clean, compelling designs that bring out the best of each article. She also manages Ohio Magazine’s brand standards and makes sure they are followed in print and online.

Associate Editor

Gracie Metz

Associate Editor

Gracie highlights our state’s charming people, places and happenings for Ohio Magazine’s print and digital platforms, and she brings her organization, storytelling skills and knack for collaboration to every project. Gracie has a passion for telling genuine stories about what makes life in Ohio so special.

Associate Editor

Erin Finan

Associate Editor

With an eye for clarity and accuracy, Erin ensures that every piece of writing connects with Ohio Magazine’s audience in a meaningful way. She has a particular fascination with Ohio’s rich history and constantly seeks to explore the stories that shape our state.

Digital Content Assistant

Kelly Powell

Digital Content Assistant

Kelly writes stories, updates website content and assembles newsletters for the Ohio Magazine audience. She is passionate about the state and enjoys highlighting all the beauty, adventure and fun that can be found here.

Finance Director

Perry Zohos

Finance Director

A graduate of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, Perry supports all of the company's studios by facilitating efficiencies in accounting. He's been with the company for more than 11 years.

Accounts Payable Coordinator

Geli Valli

Accounts Payable Coordinator

With more than 21 years at Great Lakes Studios, Geli ensures all accounts are paid timely and efficiently.

Audience Development Manager

Kristen Brickner

Audience Development Manager

Kristen works to develop the audience of the Media Studios' publications through fulfillment campaigns and distribution chanels.

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We're ready to inspire your audience. Talk with our team about creative marketing campaigns.

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