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.
Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Executive Director of Digital Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

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

About Joel

  • Manages digital marketing in UMC
  • HighEdWeb Association Leadership Academy Program Co-Chair
  • Award winning presenter
  • Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13)
  • Enjoys running, softball, and being a Dad
Rick White
"I’d much rather watch people do what they do than talk to them across a desk."
—John McPhee

Rick White

  • Director of Strategic Communications, University Marketing and Communications

About Rick

  • Rick leads the UMC communications team in projects ranging from media relations to editing MTU News and Tech Magazine.
  • He has degrees in geography, environmental studies, and creative nonfiction.
  • He enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, and exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula.
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, University Marketing and Communications

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.

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

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.
Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Executive Director of Digital Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

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

About Joel

  • Manages digital marketing in UMC
  • HighEdWeb Association Leadership Academy Program Co-Chair
  • Award winning presenter
  • Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13)
  • Enjoys running, softball, and being a Dad
Sarah Erickson

Sarah Erickson

  • Associate Director of Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

About Sarah

  • Sarah works to elevate the University brand by crafting engaging content for recruitment publications, websites, emails, advertisements, and more.
  • In addition to marketing, her professional background includes event planning, fundraising, public speaking, and admissions advising.
  • She enjoys reading, playing cozy video games, sewing, and spending time with her family—especially at their tranquil cabin on an island in northern Minnesota.
Bob Gross

Bob Gross

  • Graphic Design Specialist, University Marketing and Communications
Jodi Miller

Jodi Miller

  • Marketing Project Manager, University Marketing and Communications

About Jodi

  • Jodi manages client projects from conception to delivery.
  • She has many years of experience in marketing, design, event planning and project management.
  • She enjoys gardening, playing handbells, reading, watching sunsets and spending time with her family.
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

  • Copyeditor, University Marketing and Communications

About Jessie

  • Former newspaper copy editor and proofreader for a major outdoor recreation retailer.
  • Hails from Pinconning, Michigan, and has lived in Western Nebraska and Colorado.
  • Combination word nerd and bookworm.
  • Doting pet parent.
Jen Withers

Jen Withers

  • Graphic Design Specialist

News and Media Relations

Rick White
"I’d much rather watch people do what they do than talk to them across a desk."
—John McPhee

Rick White

  • Director of Strategic Communications, University Marketing and Communications

About Rick

  • Rick leads the UMC communications team in projects ranging from media relations to editing MTU News and Tech Magazine.
  • He has degrees in geography, environmental studies, and creative nonfiction.
  • He enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, and exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula.
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

  • Copyeditor, University Marketing and Communications

About Jessie

  • Former newspaper copy editor and proofreader for a major outdoor recreation retailer.
  • Hails from Pinconning, Michigan, and has lived in Western Nebraska and Colorado.
  • Combination word nerd and bookworm.
  • Doting pet parent.

Photography and Video

Ben Jaszczak

Ben Jaszczak

  • Multimedia Specialist, University Marketing and Communications
Kaden Staley

Kaden Staley

  • Photography Specialist, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Shanna Reynolds
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."
—Winston Churchill

Shanna Reynolds

  • Administrative Assistant, University Marketing and Communications

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, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

About Haley

  • Story admirer and outdoor enthusiast with a knack for getting to the heart of a narrative.
  • Specialties: Higher Education, Social Media Management, Creative Direction, Public Relations
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

  • Copyeditor, University Marketing and Communications

About Jessie

  • Former newspaper copy editor and proofreader for a major outdoor recreation retailer.
  • Hails from Pinconning, Michigan, and has lived in Western Nebraska and Colorado.
  • Combination word nerd and bookworm.
  • Doting pet parent.

Websites

Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Executive Director of Digital Marketing, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

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

About Joel

  • Manages digital marketing in UMC
  • HighEdWeb Association Leadership Academy Program Co-Chair
  • Award winning presenter
  • Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13)
  • Enjoys running, softball, 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.
Eric Minaker

Eric Minaker

  • Web Applications Development Manager, University Marketing and Communications

About Eric

  • Experienced developer and technical manager, passionate about web performance and accessibility.
  • Programming and technical lead for the University's CMS.
  • He enjoys board games, camping, and photography in his free time.
  • Spends too much time thinking about keyboards.
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.
  • HighEdWeb Association Leadership Academy Sessions Moderator.
  • She enjoys quilting, knitting, crafting, gaming, 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

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

  • Copyeditor, University Marketing and Communications

About Jessie

  • Former newspaper copy editor and proofreader for a major outdoor recreation retailer.
  • Hails from Pinconning, Michigan, and has lived in Western Nebraska and Colorado.
  • Combination word nerd and bookworm.
  • Doting pet parent.
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

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.