Staff Directory
Administration
Ian Repp
Director, University Marketing and Communications
About Ian
- Ian enjoys being outdoors, going for long jogs, and spending time with his wife, J.R., and their two boys, Cale and Crosby.
Crystal Verran
Director of Operations
Links of Interest
About Crystal
- She is the first person to contact when you are interested in working with UMC on a project.
- She loves to brainstorm new ideas for publications with clients and enjoys the variety of projects that come through UMC.
- Crystal is a great source when questions arise regarding University Identity Standards.
- A self-described “design nerd,” she finds herself picking up publications from a variety of different places (to read and critique).
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that's given to us."
—J.R.R.Tolkien
—J.R.R.Tolkien
Scott Balyo
Editorial Director
About Scott
- Originally from Mackinaw City. Relocated to Houghton from Cody, Wyoming where he served as the chamber of commerce director.
- Professional experience includes owning his own small-town newspaper along with public relations and marketing roles in tourism, healthcare and economic development.
- Degree in mass communication from Taylor University (Indiana) and a master's in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University.
- Interests include downhill skiing, hiking, traveling and spending time with his wife and four boys.
Jennifer Donovan
Director of News and Media Relations
Her Beats
- Administration/Executive Team/Board of Trustees
- Policy and Funding Issues
- Research Centers and Institutes
- International Programs & Services
- Graduate School
About Jenn
- Her specialties include working with local, regional, national and special-interest news media.
- She is skilled at finding and developing University news and research stories and interesting the news media in covering them.
- She maintains the University Experts Guide.
- She is a former newspaper reporter and magazine writer.
- She enjoys reading detective stories and science fiction novels.
"So have your wits about you and dig in."
—Ethel Kennedy
—Ethel Kennedy
Shannon Rinkinen
Brand Manager
Links of Interest
About Shannon
- Infuses on-brand tone and messaging for external communications.
- Manages social media content strategy using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
- Writes and edits high-impact marketing and communications pieces.
"Just Go with It!"
Joel C. Vertin
Digital Services Manager
About Joel
- Leading a web marketing revolution across the University
- Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Membership Committee
- Is a Michigan Tech alumnus from Laurium
- Favorite sports include golf, basketball, and softball
Marketing and Creative
Ian Repp
Director, University Marketing and Communications
About Ian
- Ian enjoys being outdoors, going for long jogs, and spending time with his wife, J.R., and their two boys, Cale and Crosby.
Crystal Verran
Director of Operations
Links of Interest
About Crystal
- She is the first person to contact when you are interested in working with UMC on a project.
- She loves to brainstorm new ideas for publications with clients and enjoys the variety of projects that come through UMC.
- Crystal is a great source when questions arise regarding University Identity Standards.
- A self-described “design nerd,” she finds herself picking up publications from a variety of different places (to read and critique).
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that's given to us."
—J.R.R.Tolkien
—J.R.R.Tolkien
Scott Balyo
Editorial Director
About Scott
- Originally from Mackinaw City. Relocated to Houghton from Cody, Wyoming where he served as the chamber of commerce director.
- Professional experience includes owning his own small-town newspaper along with public relations and marketing roles in tourism, healthcare and economic development.
- Degree in mass communication from Taylor University (Indiana) and a master's in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University.
- Interests include downhill skiing, hiking, traveling and spending time with his wife and four boys.
Jennifer Donovan
Director of News and Media Relations
Her Beats
- Administration/Executive Team/Board of Trustees
- Policy and Funding Issues
- Research Centers and Institutes
- International Programs & Services
- Graduate School
About Jenn
- Her specialties include working with local, regional, national and special-interest news media.
- She is skilled at finding and developing University news and research stories and interesting the news media in covering them.
- She maintains the University Experts Guide.
- She is a former newspaper reporter and magazine writer.
- She enjoys reading detective stories and science fiction novels.
"So have your wits about you and dig in."
—Ethel Kennedy
—Ethel Kennedy
Shannon Rinkinen
Brand Manager
Links of Interest
About Shannon
- Infuses on-brand tone and messaging for external communications.
- Manages social media content strategy using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
- Writes and edits high-impact marketing and communications pieces.
Bill Tembreull
Senior Design Specialist
watembre@mtu.edu
Administration Building G17
Administration Building G17
About Bill
- He has worked in design and publications at Michigan Tech for 35 years.
- His work has earned numerous national awards.
- He oversees the design of most University publications, including brochures, posters, magazines, newsletters, and more.
- Prepares bids for pricing publications.
Cyndi Perkins
Web Writer
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.
- She co-creates, writes and edits content for the University’s myriad forms of new media, including websites, blogs and other outreach across departments, for new and existing members of the Michigan Tech community.
- She is a sailor who enjoys Yoga, social media, gardening, and anything near the water. The debut novelist looks forward to writing more books.
Brand Management
Ian Repp
Director, University Marketing and Communications
About Ian
- Ian enjoys being outdoors, going for long jogs, and spending time with his wife, J.R., and their two boys, Cale and Crosby.
"So have your wits about you and dig in."
—Ethel Kennedy
—Ethel Kennedy
Shannon Rinkinen
Brand Manager
Links of Interest
About Shannon
- Infuses on-brand tone and messaging for external communications.
- Manages social media content strategy using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
- Writes and edits high-impact marketing and communications pieces.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that's given to us."
—J.R.R.Tolkien
—J.R.R.Tolkien
Scott Balyo
Editorial Director
About Scott
- Originally from Mackinaw City. Relocated to Houghton from Cody, Wyoming where he served as the chamber of commerce director.
- Professional experience includes owning his own small-town newspaper along with public relations and marketing roles in tourism, healthcare and economic development.
- Degree in mass communication from Taylor University (Indiana) and a master's in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University.
- Interests include downhill skiing, hiking, traveling and spending time with his wife and four boys.
Crystal Verran
Director of Operations
Links of Interest
About Crystal
- She is the first person to contact when you are interested in working with UMC on a project.
- She loves to brainstorm new ideas for publications with clients and enjoys the variety of projects that come through UMC.
- Crystal is a great source when questions arise regarding University Identity Standards.
- A self-described “design nerd,” she finds herself picking up publications from a variety of different places (to read and critique).
Digital Services
"Just Go with It!"
Joel C. Vertin
Digital Services Manager
About Joel
- Leading a web marketing revolution across the University
- Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Membership Committee
- Is a Michigan Tech alumnus from Laurium
- Favorite sports include golf, basketball, and softball
"Simple design, intense content."
—Edward R. Tufte
—Edward R. Tufte
Gail Sweeting
Digital Content Manager
Links of Interest
About Gail
- She helps departments prepare their website copy for migration to the University’s content management system.
- She trains department web liaisons to maintain their websites in CMS and guides them in establishing a schedule for updating their sites.
- She is an original member of the UMC web team.
Alexander Hughes
Digital Developer/Web Programmer
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 assists in CMS training and technical user support.
- He is an avid golfer, enjoys curling, watches many many movies, and would like to visit Finland someday.
Quentin Franke
Front End Developer
Links of Interest
About Quentin
- Uses his expertise of HTML, CSS, and Javascript to build individual elements and whole websites for Tech.
- Develops and manages HTML, CSS, and Javascript items that belong to Tech.
- He works with the CMS and various web duties.
- Researches, develops, and integrates SEO strategies.
- Manages Tech's blog system.
- Collaborates with designers to bridge the gap between develop UI/UX design and the Tech website.
Becky Barnard
Digital Services Specialist II
About Becky
- She assists in project management and web marketing and social media strategy.
- She represents several areas within the administration side of the university regarding content management system (CMS) services, including the Graduate School, Career Services, and the Great Lakes Research Center.
- She enjoys hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and biking around the Keweenaw, and lounging with a book on her couch.
Megan Ross
Digital Services Maintenance Specialist
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 and oversees the student team.
- She enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with her family.
Heather Dunne
Digital Services Specialist I
About Heather
- Represents the College of Sciences and Arts (CSA) regarding content management system (CMS) services.
- She assists with webpage development, maintaining news blogs and event calendars, and CMS training for CSA departmental liaisons.
- She enjoys quilting, knitting, gaming, hiking, movies, reading, and spending time with her pets.
Social Media
"So have your wits about you and dig in."
—Ethel Kennedy
—Ethel Kennedy
Shannon Rinkinen
Brand Manager
Links of Interest
About Shannon
- Infuses on-brand tone and messaging for external communications.
- Manages social media content strategy using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
- Writes and edits high-impact marketing and communications pieces.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that's given to us."
—J.R.R.Tolkien
—J.R.R.Tolkien
Scott Balyo
Editorial Director
About Scott
- Originally from Mackinaw City. Relocated to Houghton from Cody, Wyoming where he served as the chamber of commerce director.
- Professional experience includes owning his own small-town newspaper along with public relations and marketing roles in tourism, healthcare and economic development.
- Degree in mass communication from Taylor University (Indiana) and a master's in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University.
- Interests include downhill skiing, hiking, traveling and spending time with his wife and four boys.
Cyndi Perkins
Web Writer
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.
- She co-creates, writes and edits content for the University’s myriad forms of new media, including websites, blogs and other outreach across departments, for new and existing members of the Michigan Tech community.
- She is a sailor who enjoys Yoga, social media, gardening, and anything near the water. The debut novelist looks forward to writing more books.
Becky Barnard
Digital Services Specialist II
About Becky
- She assists in project management and web marketing and social media strategy.
- She represents several areas within the administration side of the university regarding content management system (CMS) services, including the Graduate School, Career Services, and the Great Lakes Research Center.
- She enjoys hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and biking around the Keweenaw, and lounging with a book on her couch.
Photography and Video
News and Media Relations
Jennifer Donovan
Director of News and Media Relations
Her Beats
- Administration/Executive Team/Board of Trustees
- Policy and Funding Issues
- Research Centers and Institutes
- International Programs & Services
- Graduate School
About Jenn
- Her specialties include working with local, regional, national and special-interest news media.
- She is skilled at finding and developing University news and research stories and interesting the news media in covering them.
- She maintains the University Experts Guide.
- She is a former newspaper reporter and magazine writer.
- She enjoys reading detective stories and science fiction novels.
Mark Wilcox
News Writer
His Beats
- VPA, Humanities, Cognitive & Learning Sciences, Social Sciences
- CDI/Diversity
- K-12/Youth Programs
- Student Activities/Student Affairs/Financial Aid/Advancement
- ROTC
Allison Mills
Science and Technology Writer
Links of Interest
Her Beats
- Sciences, Engineering and Technology
- School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science
About Allison
- She focuses on writing new stories about Michigan Tech research -- everything from robotic prostheses to mesocosms to the physics of raindrops.
- A University of Montana graduate, she earned a master's degree in environmental science and natural resource journalism, which built on her bachelor's in geoscience from Northland College.
- She also teaches dance through the Student Development Complex's community programs.
- She's a radio geek.
Print Services
Rodney Thompson
Manager of Print and Mail Services
Arlene Collins
Print Production Specialist
acollins@mtu.edu
Administration Building G23A
Administration Building G23A
About Arlene
- She has worked for University Marketing and Communications for over 25 years.
- She prepares publications for the printer and coordinates specialized variable data mailings in conjunction with Mail Services.
Mark Kiilunen
Print Production Specialist I
Mail Services
Rodney Thompson
Manager of Print and Mail Services
