THE DEDICATED TEAM
BEHIND YOUR MARKETING SUCCESS
All great teams need a leader, a few superstars, and a cadre of outstanding players who are willing to sacrifice their turn in the spotlight for the good of the team. At LaFleur, each of our employees can fill all three roles simultaneously because each of us values initiative, excellence, and perseverance. And because we all share this core group of values, there’s nothing we cannot achieve, both internally and on your behalf.
We have a full (and growing) squad of All-Star caliber marketing professionals. We have the perfect assets in place to conduct thorough research, develop effective strategies, and produce lead-generating deliverables on time, every time.
CHIP LAFLEUR
PRESIDENT
Chip LaFleur has led innovation in marketing and business development over 15 years, spending the last five building, testing, and refining digital marketing systems for law firms. Time with family at home and in the garden, woodworking, and backpacking are favorite distractions.
DAVID VANDEWAA
CONTENT DIRECTOR
David VandeWaa has spent over a decade teaching writing, literature, and history in high school and college classrooms. His work has been published in academic journals, he has traveled extensively in Europe, and he occasionally posts anecdotes about his experiences on his blog.
FALON PETERS
GENERAL MANAGER
STEVEN THOMAS KENT
MANAGING EDITOR
A former magazine editor and reporter, Steven Thomas Kent has combined passions for digital marketing and journalism throughout his career. He uses both skill sets daily as a managing editor at LaFleur. In his spare time, he likes to read new fiction and play guitar.
SARAH LAFLEUR
WEBSITE DESIGN STRATEGIST
With a passion for knowing “all the things” related to Internet Marketing, Sarah LaFleur has a strong background in analytics, SEO, design, management, and user engagement. She’s a mother to two (Lucien and Leif) and enjoys horseback riding, travel, backpacking, and reading.
KYLE MCCARTHY
MANAGING EDITOR
Kyle McCarthy is an experienced and skilled content strategist who earned his MA in English literature in 2012. Since then, he has worked with several national brands delivering compelling content and implementing marketing strategies founded on a comprehensive, unified approach.
PAT KOSE
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Pat Kose is an experienced account manager who has worked with many clients ranging from landscapers to doctors to lawyers. He enjoys traveling, good food, and playing with his daughter.
JANE NEWTON
MARKETING STRATEGIST
With an affinity for words, travel, good beer, and great friends, Jane Newton is naturally drawn to communication. She loves action-oriented meetings, laughing, strategizing, and getting stuff done.
SOWMYA PADIGI
PPC MARKETING SPECIALIST
Sowmya is our PPC marketing specialist who handles all things paid advertising. She is a former Google employee and comes with a wealth of knowledge about AdWords and the online search landscape. She is an expert with campaign management, search analysis, and bid management.
SARA BRUINSMA
MARKETING ASSISTANT
As a former immigration paralegal and communications assistant for a national nonprofit, Sara brings a knowledge of the law and a passion for digital marketing to LaFleur. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, biking, reading, and watching movies.
NICK WRIGHT
FRONT-END DEVELOPER AND DESIGNER
Nick Wright is a front-end developer and designer here at LaFleur. He graduated with a B.A. in Media and Information. His interests include art, technology, animation, games, and just about everything in between. Outside work, you can often find him adventuring outdoors.
LEIGH EBROM
CONTENT SPECIALIST
Leigh is a hopeless research nerd. She loves taking complicated issues and turning them into interesting and understandable content. When she’s not writing, she loves traveling with her family, cooking absurdly large meals, and advocating for Montessori education.
CATHERINE SMYKA
PROJECT MANAGER
Catherine Smyka is passionate about project management and community activism. She has lived in Seattle and Chicago but loves being back in her hometown: Grand Rapids. Catherine is a storyteller with the NPR program The Moth and enjoys hiking, traveling, and time with her wife and family.
JASON BROWER
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
A former MiLB social media pro, Jason Brower helps clients grow their social media presence through creative content and personal interaction. When he is not tweeting, he enjoys spending time with family, outdoor activities, and following his favorite sports teams.
BECKY ZOBL
PROJECT AND ACCOUNT MANAGER
With over a decade of marketing experience, Becky Zobl has developed a passion for efficiency and details. She naturally connects with others and is a creative problem solver. Out of work, she loves adventuring with her two boys, sewing, and planning how to find the next doughnut.
BRENT VELTING
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Brent Velting earned an M.A. in Media and Rhetoric from Syracuse University in 2011. Before joining LaFleur, he spent five years in sales and business development at Quail Ridge Golf Club and WAFUSA Logistics. He’s eternally curious, frustrated with his golf swing, and more like BoJack Horseman than he cares to admit.
