University Marketing and Communications

Staff Directory

Administration

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Associate Vice President for University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Allison Carter

Allison Carter

  • Executive Director of Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

About Allison

  • She helps clients identify and develop marketing strategies and materials to advance the goals of the University.
  • She has extensive experience in writing content for recruitment publications and websites, and creating communication plans and dynamic presentations.
  • She is a Michigan Tech alumna.
  • She enjoys spending time with family, crafting, gardening, and heading to the beach on warm summer days.
Stefanie Sidortsova

Stefanie Sidortsova

  • Executive Director for Communications, University Marketing and Communications

About Stefanie

  • Stefanie leads UMC's communications team, including news and media relations, social media, and brand communications staff.
  • Her professional background includes experience in higher education administration and instruction, law, government relations, and writing and editing.
  • She enjoys hiking, writing, and spending time with family and friends.
Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Executive Director of Digital Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

Areas of Expertise

  • Digital Advertising
  • Digital Analytics
  • Dashboard Reporting
  • Conversion Optimization
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

About Joel

  • Leading a digital marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
  • Manages digital advertising and web teams
  • Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Leadership Academy
  • Presenter at HighEdWeb and Higher Ed Experts conferences
  • Winner of the 2019 HighEdWeb Red Stapler for Best in Conference
  • Is a Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13) from Calumet, MI
  • Enjoys golfing, running, softball, nordic skiing, and being a Dad
Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly

  • Creative Director, University Marketing and Communications
Mechelle Normand

Mechelle Normand

  • Manager Print and Mail Services, University Marketing and Communications
Shanna Reynolds
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."
—Winston Churchill

Shanna Reynolds

  • Administrative Assistant

Brand Management

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Associate Vice President for University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Allison Carter

Allison Carter

  • Executive Director of Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

About Allison

  • She helps clients identify and develop marketing strategies and materials to advance the goals of the University.
  • She has extensive experience in writing content for recruitment publications and websites, and creating communication plans and dynamic presentations.
  • She is a Michigan Tech alumna.
  • She enjoys spending time with family, crafting, gardening, and heading to the beach on warm summer days.
Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly

  • Creative Director, University Marketing and Communications

Mail Services

Allison Carter

Allison Carter

  • Executive Director of Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

About Allison

  • She helps clients identify and develop marketing strategies and materials to advance the goals of the University.
  • She has extensive experience in writing content for recruitment publications and websites, and creating communication plans and dynamic presentations.
  • She is a Michigan Tech alumna.
  • She enjoys spending time with family, crafting, gardening, and heading to the beach on warm summer days.
Mark Kiilunen

Mark Kiilunen

  • Mail Services Specialist, University Marketing and Communications
Scott Mikkola

Scott Mikkola

  • Mail Services Specialist, University Marketing and Communications
Mechelle Normand

Mechelle Normand

  • Manager Print and Mail Services, University Marketing and Communications

Marketing and Creative

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Associate Vice President for University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly

  • Creative Director, University Marketing and Communications
Allison Carter

Allison Carter

  • Executive Director of Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

About Allison

  • She helps clients identify and develop marketing strategies and materials to advance the goals of the University.
  • She has extensive experience in writing content for recruitment publications and websites, and creating communication plans and dynamic presentations.
  • She is a Michigan Tech alumna.
  • She enjoys spending time with family, crafting, gardening, and heading to the beach on warm summer days.
Stefanie Sidortsova

Stefanie Sidortsova

  • Executive Director for Communications, University Marketing and Communications

About Stefanie

  • Stefanie leads UMC's communications team, including news and media relations, social media, and brand communications staff.
  • Her professional background includes experience in higher education administration and instruction, law, government relations, and writing and editing.
  • She enjoys hiking, writing, and spending time with family and friends.
Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Executive Director of Digital Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

Areas of Expertise

  • Digital Advertising
  • Digital Analytics
  • Dashboard Reporting
  • Conversion Optimization
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

About Joel

  • Leading a digital marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
  • Manages digital advertising and web teams
  • Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Leadership Academy
  • Presenter at HighEdWeb and Higher Ed Experts conferences
  • Winner of the 2019 HighEdWeb Red Stapler for Best in Conference
  • Is a Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13) from Calumet, MI
  • Enjoys golfing, running, softball, nordic skiing, and being a Dad
Sarah Erickson

Sarah Erickson

  • Associate Director of Marketing, University Marketing and Communications
Bob Gross

Bob Gross

  • Graphic Design Specialist
Cyndi Perkins

Cyndi Perkins

  • Senior Content Specialist, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

About Cyndi

  • The former Daily Mining Gazette journalist and editor hails from Houghton and has written for a variety of international, national and regional publications.
  • Specializing in feature writing, she co-creates, writes, and edits content for the University, from webpages and Michigan Tech Magazine stories to social media.
  • A novelist active in the Upper Peninsula Authors and Publishers Association, the Authors Guild member looks forward to writing more books—and to camping trips in her RV with husband Scott and Goldendoodle Max.
Jessie Tobias

Jessie Tobias

  • Copy Editor

About Jessie

  • She has been a word nerd all her life.
  • She has copy edited for a family of county newspapers in the Lower Peninsula, and has proofread for a major outdoor recreation retailer.
  • She is a native Michigander and has lived in Western Nebraska and Colorado.
  • She enjoys being outside, petting her dogs, and hiking with her family. 

News and Media Relations

Stefanie Sidortsova

Stefanie Sidortsova

  • Executive Director for Communications, University Marketing and Communications

About Stefanie

  • Stefanie leads UMC's communications team, including news and media relations, social media, and brand communications staff.
  • Her professional background includes experience in higher education administration and instruction, law, government relations, and writing and editing.
  • She enjoys hiking, writing, and spending time with family and friends.
Cyndi Perkins

Cyndi Perkins

  • Senior Content Specialist, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

About Cyndi

  • The former Daily Mining Gazette journalist and editor hails from Houghton and has written for a variety of international, national and regional publications.
  • Specializing in feature writing, she co-creates, writes, and edits content for the University, from webpages and Michigan Tech Magazine stories to social media.
  • A novelist active in the Upper Peninsula Authors and Publishers Association, the Authors Guild member looks forward to writing more books—and to camping trips in her RV with husband Scott and Goldendoodle Max.
Jessie Tobias

Jessie Tobias

  • Copy Editor

About Jessie

  • She has been a word nerd all her life.
  • She has copy edited for a family of county newspapers in the Lower Peninsula, and has proofread for a major outdoor recreation retailer.
  • She is a native Michigander and has lived in Western Nebraska and Colorado.
  • She enjoys being outside, petting her dogs, and hiking with her family. 
Rick White
"I’d much rather watch people do what they do than talk to them across a desk."
—John McPhee

Rick White

  • Public Relations Specialist

About Rick

  • Rick specializes in narrative nonfiction, literary criticism and the personal essay form. He's been fortunate to learn his craft from authors Judy Blunt, Chris Dombrowski, Rebecca Solnit, Melissa Febos and Edwin Dobb.
  • To support his writing habit, he has variously sold vegetables, taught middle school, tended bar, managed elder care services, and worked as a cellarhand in a local cidery, among other jobs.
  • Rick enjoys cooking, gardening, attempting to catch trout and cross-country skiing with his girlfriend Monica and their dog Jude. 

Photography and Video

Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly

  • Creative Director, University Marketing and Communications
Ben Jaszczak

Ben Jaszczak

  • Multimedia Specialist, University Marketing and Communications
Kaden Staley

Kaden Staley

  • Photography Specialist

Links of Interest

Megan Ross

Megan Ross

  • Digital Support Manager, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • Omni CMS
  • Events Calendar
  • Training and Documentation
  • Customer Support
  • Studio Coordination

About Megan

  • She is a Michigan Tech alum from Houghton.
  • She creates documentation and provides training for the content management system (CMS), blog system, and events calendar.
  • She manages help requests.
  • She enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with her family.

Print Services

Allison Carter

Allison Carter

  • Executive Director of Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

About Allison

  • She helps clients identify and develop marketing strategies and materials to advance the goals of the University.
  • She has extensive experience in writing content for recruitment publications and websites, and creating communication plans and dynamic presentations.
  • She is a Michigan Tech alumna.
  • She enjoys spending time with family, crafting, gardening, and heading to the beach on warm summer days.
David

David "Archy" Archambeau

  • Print Specialist, University Marketing and Communications
Mechelle Normand

Mechelle Normand

  • Manager Print and Mail Services, University Marketing and Communications

Social Media

Haley Goodreau
"You can't always be certain but you can certainly be positive."

Haley Goodreau

  • Social Media Manager

Links of Interest

Cyndi Perkins

Cyndi Perkins

  • Senior Content Specialist, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

About Cyndi

  • The former Daily Mining Gazette journalist and editor hails from Houghton and has written for a variety of international, national and regional publications.
  • Specializing in feature writing, she co-creates, writes, and edits content for the University, from webpages and Michigan Tech Magazine stories to social media.
  • A novelist active in the Upper Peninsula Authors and Publishers Association, the Authors Guild member looks forward to writing more books—and to camping trips in her RV with husband Scott and Goldendoodle Max.
Jessie Tobias

Jessie Tobias

  • Copy Editor

About Jessie

  • She has been a word nerd all her life.
  • She has copy edited for a family of county newspapers in the Lower Peninsula, and has proofread for a major outdoor recreation retailer.
  • She is a native Michigander and has lived in Western Nebraska and Colorado.
  • She enjoys being outside, petting her dogs, and hiking with her family. 
Megan Ross

Megan Ross

  • Digital Support Manager, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • Omni CMS
  • Events Calendar
  • Training and Documentation
  • Customer Support
  • Studio Coordination

About Megan

  • She is a Michigan Tech alum from Houghton.
  • She creates documentation and provides training for the content management system (CMS), blog system, and events calendar.
  • She manages help requests.
  • She enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with her family.

Websites

Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Executive Director of Digital Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

Areas of Expertise

  • Digital Advertising
  • Digital Analytics
  • Dashboard Reporting
  • Conversion Optimization
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

About Joel

  • Leading a digital marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
  • Manages digital advertising and web teams
  • Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Leadership Academy
  • Presenter at HighEdWeb and Higher Ed Experts conferences
  • Winner of the 2019 HighEdWeb Red Stapler for Best in Conference
  • Is a Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13) from Calumet, MI
  • Enjoys golfing, running, softball, nordic skiing, and being a Dad
Bruce Brotherton
"Take it easy, but take it."
—Woody Guthrie

Bruce Brotherton

  • Web Developer/Programmer, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • HTML
  • CSS
  • JavaScript
  • Responsive Design

About Bruce

  • He is from Hancock.
  • He is responsible for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Accessibility implementation on the University's content management system.
  • In his free time he reads and plays video games.
  • Ask him about the nuances in animated films.
Alexander Hughes

Alexander Hughes

  • Web Applications Development Manager, University Marketing and Communications

About Alexander

  • He is a Michigan Tech Alumnus from Hancock.
  • He is the programming and technical lead for the University’s content management system (CMS).
  • He is an avid golfer, enjoys curling, watches many many movies, and would like to visit Finland someday.
Heather Powers

Heather Powers

  • Digital Content Manager, University Marketing and Communications

Digital Marketers Group

Areas of Expertise

  • Web Project Management
  • Web Design/Content Strategy
  • Digital Analytics
  • Web Accessibility

About Heather

  • Knowledgeable in web/content strategy, marketing, digital analytics, document accessibility, and web design.
  • Provides content management services, project coordination, marketing expertise, and support to digital projects.
  • She enjoys quilting, knitting, gaming, hiking, traveling, movies, reading, and spending time with her pets.
Megan Ross

Megan Ross

  • Digital Support Manager, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • Omni CMS
  • Events Calendar
  • Training and Documentation
  • Customer Support
  • Studio Coordination

About Megan

  • She is a Michigan Tech alum from Houghton.
  • She creates documentation and provides training for the content management system (CMS), blog system, and events calendar.
  • She manages help requests.
  • She enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with her family.
Will Schuett
"Yeah, I can make that work"

Will Schuett

  • Digital Project Manager, University Marketing and Communications

Areas of Expertise

  • Web Project Management
  • Web Design/Content Strategy

Specialties

  • Provides advice and assistance to Michigan Tech's Undergraduate Admissions webpages.
  • Creates, updates, and recommends revisions for several general webpages on mtu.edu.
  • He enjoys thinking through situations and trying to figure how things work. If a situation needs resolving, he's happy to use all his life experiences to recommend a practical and proper solution.
Jessie Tobias

Jessie Tobias

  • Copy Editor

About Jessie

  • She has been a word nerd all her life.
  • She has copy edited for a family of county newspapers in the Lower Peninsula, and has proofread for a major outdoor recreation retailer.
  • She is a native Michigander and has lived in Western Nebraska and Colorado.
  • She enjoys being outside, petting her dogs, and hiking with her family. 
Desiree Valle

Desiree Valle

  • Web Developer: Accessibility, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • HTML
  • Javascript
  • Web Accessibility
  • Debugging

About Desiree

  • She is from California and learning to add "eh?" to the end of sentences.
  • She is responsible for identifying and resolving Accessibility issues in the University's content management system.
  • She enjoys finding solutions to Accessibility and Usability issues to make websites more inclusive and usable by everyone.
  • She can be found reading, crafting, cooking, or playing with her nieces and nephews whenever she gets the chance. 
Austin Walhof
"The best way I've found to have a positive impact on code is to write it!"
—Bob Martin

Austin Walhof

  • Web Programmer, University Marketing and Communications

About Austin

  • He is a Michigan Tech alumni from Central Wisconsin.
  • He is responsible for writing and maintaining web applications and pages that are consistent with Michigan Tech’s brand.
  • In his free time, he can be found tinkering with code, gaming, reading, and watching hockey.