Our Team

Background

Prior to co-founding Active, Mr. Wagner’s career in the media industry began at Kaiser Broadcast, as Eastern Sales Manager, which became Field Communications and then Katz Media Group, the largest media representation firm in the United States. He is widely regarded as an expert in Business Development and Sales. Additionally, in 2008, he was inducted into the International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) Hall of Fame, and is the former President of the Corporate Barter Council. He has also made community involvement a priority. Through the company’s Active Cares program, contributions have been made to nearly 700 nonprofits since 1997.

Background

Bill was previously Senior Vice President, Advertising and Affiliate Sales for Comcast Networks and Senior Vice President at Liberty Media, spending more than 10 years at both companies.

Earlier in his career Bill played competitive tennis, competing at the U.S. Open and playing on the ATP Tennis Tour. After a sports-related injury, he transitioned to the business world, becoming Vice President of Sales and sponsorships for the ATP Tour.

Background

Before joining Active International, he held positions at Television Sales and Marketing Services Ltd, Channel Four Television Corporation and ITV Digital.

Background

Melissa has a thorough understanding of how to deliver integrated approaches across disciplines. What’s more, she has a proven ability to deliver on client needs.

Prior to joining Active, she was Executive Vice President, Channel Investments at Havas Media.

Background

Before joining Active in 1993, Gary was Chief Accounting Officer at In-Store Advertising, Inc. He began his career at KPMG, advancing to Senior Manager of Audit Services.

Gary is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the New York State Society of CPAs and FEI. He is a Certified Global Management Accountant. His MBA from New York University followed graduation with highest honors from Northeastern University with a BS in Business Administration.

On a volunteer basis, Gary spent fifteen years as a National Trustee and Treasurer of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, worked with the Central Park Conservancy and was a scout leader for ten years, during which 30 youths became Eagle scouts.

Gary and his wife, Tina, are avid travelers and adventurers. Recently, Gary has successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and dove in the Galapagos Islands.

Background

Bethany started at Active in 2009 and has worked across Client and Sales, ultimately overseeing partnerships with Agencies today. Prior to Active she worked for 18 years at various ad agencies, from boutique shops, to WPP and Omnicom.

Background

Bob began his career at Ogilvy & Mather, before joining Active as a local TV buyer.  Prior to his current role, Bob led our Media Trading team and the Local media group. Bob lives in Blauvelt, New York with his wife Maureen and their three children.

Background

Dennis leads the investment, acquisitions and trading activities, creating media products that deliver value and opportunity to Active’s clients and partners.

Dennis brings a quarter century of experience in advertising sales management, network general management, business development, and P&L operating responsibility with both cable television and digital businesses.

Prior to joining Active in 2010, he was President, Sales and Marketing for Channel M, the producer of customized in-store TV networks. In that role, he was responsible for expanding existing networks, adding new retailers, overseeing the sales of all media assets and advertising opportunities, as well as all marketing efforts for Channel M.

Before that, Dennis was Executive Vice President, Business Development at Turner Broadcasting, where was responsible for all domestic new business activity. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President and General Manager of the TBS Superstation, where he oversaw all day-to-day operations of the network, including programming and marketing.

Before joining Turner, Dennis was a Captain in the United States Air Force, serving as a navigator and bombardier in the B-52 Stratofortress. He also served as a physical education instructor and soccer coach at the United States Air Force Academy.

Background

Gemma is passionate about learning, growing, teaching and mentoring. She is a member of Women in Advertising and Communications, Leadership, serving on their Future Talent committee and part of the mentoring program, as well as the Alliance of Independent Agencies. She also facilitates peer coaching sessions for senior women in the industry and leads keynote corporate speaking sessions. In addition to her MBA from Edinburgh Business School with a focus on organizational behavior, Atkinson is an accredited Executive Coach, an NLP practitioner, a Mental Health First Aider, and is accredited to administer psychometrics.

Gemma has a special affinity with Giraffes for their best-in-class perspective and communication. We can all strive to emulate their qualities and “Be More Giraffe”.

Background

Liz joined Active in 1992 as a media assistant and has advanced into positions with growing responsibility, including Media Coordinator, Buyer, Account Director, Systems & Operations Manager, and Associate Director of Media Operations. Most recently, she was Senior Vice President, Director of Media Operations. Liz received a B.A. with a specialty in international business from St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Kimberly draws on over 20 years of experience in B2B / B2C Marketing for brands such as Active International, Allianz, G4S, and Grand & Toy (OfficeMax Canada). She is passionate about helping businesses grow through the integration of brand, culture, and customer experience.

During her time on the leadership team of Active International Canada as SVP, Marketing & Culture, with a focus on fostering a high-performance culture, Active was recognized with a number of workplace awards and designations including Employee Recommended Workplace, Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures, and Great Place to Work’s Best Workplaces in Canada, Best Workplaces for Mental Health, Best Workplaces for Women, and Best Workplaces in Professional Services.

Kimberly has co-facilitated Active’s Diversity Inclusion and Belonging Advisory Group, is a multi-year CMA Awards Judge (Brand Building), and is a former member of the 2020 CMA Talent Council. She is a supporting artist of the annual NABs Art Auction and has volunteered with TechServeTo – an organization that helps Senior Citizens navigate the online world, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as a red-carpet liaison, and on the committee for the Special Olympics Festival.

Outside of the office, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her daughter and creating multi-media artwork.

Background

Prior to joining Active and iNvolved Media, Michael had led teams in social media, programmatic, search, and influencer space focusing on strategy and media buying to produce successful business outcomes. Michael’s previous responsibilities include digital media leadership roles at Horizon, Crossmedia, Media Assembly and Michael’s Inc. Michael currently lives in New York City with his partner and two pups.

Background

Alex joined Active in 2019 with nearly 20 years of experience in marketing analytics and data strategy. He has worked with a wide range of brands including Tylenol, Microsoft, PNC Bank, Novartis, and Expedia, primarily at NYC based agencies DeutschNY, Assembly, and Broadbeam Media. Alex lives in Syracuse, NY and enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with family at the lake.

Background

Prior to joining Active, Tom held global roles at IBM and the technology division at CIGNA, where he was responsible for executive selection, development, and succession planning. Tom was the Founding President of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR) a not-for-profit resource for Black & African American human resources practitioners to share, gain information, and provide leadership on issues affecting their careers and the global workforce. Tom holds a BA in Business and HR from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MS in international HR from American University. When he’s not taking pictures on his travels, Tom enjoys taking advantage of all that NYC has to offer.

Background

With a background in local planning and buying, Melissa’s clients have included brands in consumer-packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, and restaurants. She holds a BS in Business Administration from the Gabelli School of Business of Fordham University, and lives in Pearl River with her husband and their two children.

Background

Combining his exceptional skills at collaboration and strategic insight, Kevin not only develops innovative Corporate Trade transactions for clients, vendors, and strategic partners, but he also incorporates his financial expertise to assure these transactions are tailored to specific business, industry, and accounting objectives.

Background

After two years in media, learning about corporate trade and advertising, Lana moved into the Finance department and became an ACCA-qualified accountant. She became head of finance in the UK in 2011. In 2013 the UK office introduced the position of Financial Planning & Analysis, which was given to Lana to develop. In order to further her understanding and development of the role, she studied for an MBA at the Edinburgh Business School, which she completed in December 2015 (with distinction). In May 2016, Lana was given responsibility of Strategic Planning for Active’s International division.

Background

Judy was Executive Vice President at Univision Communications in NY where she and her team grew revenue from $100M to $1B in ten years.

She restructured and helped build the network sales division; designed pricing, planning and sales systems, developed sales strategy and managed a staff of 80 across the US. Judy also held executive roles as EVP at 20th Television and EstrellaTV. Most recently, Judy was Chief Growth Officer at Trade X Partners, NY. From the beginning of her career, Judy worked with various forms of barter/trade both on the vendor and agency side which is why she is excited about moving to Active International.

Judy lives in Merrick, Long Island with her husband, Jerry, twins, Maddie and Ryan, and daughter, Kate.

When not at Active, you can find Judy wearing her trademarked and patented, Pandora’s Chest, a small pouch that clips on an undergarment and stores a cell phone, money, keys, etc. Both Judy and Jerry coach their children in sports. Judy coaches both Maddie’s and Kate’s basketball teams. Jerry is on the board of the Merrick/Bellmore Little League girls softball and boys baseball program.

Background

George’s team handles some of Active’s largest clients, including Reckitt Benckiser, Keurig Dr Pepper, Long John Silvers, Staples, Firehouse Subs and Georgia Pacific. The client teams are responsible for client retention and client growth, and expansion into new fulfillment areas. George is an avid skier and golfer. He also loves to travel.

Background

Prior to joining Active in 1994, Liz was an M&A and Securities Law associate at Orloff, Lowenbach in NJ and before that at PA-based Dechert LLP. She’s a member of the NJ, NY and PA bars and graduated from Villanova University Law School in 1988 with a JD, cum laude, and from Georgetown University, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, with a BSFS, magna cum laude. Liz participates in a variety of charitable endeavors and is on the Advisory Board for Animal Alliance of New Jersey.

Background

Prior to joining Active in 2001, Dominic held senior-level positions including Regional Vice President at Liberty Travel, Senior Vice President, Sales at Direct Travel and President of Fugazy Vacations, and COO for The World Key Agency Group.

Background

Her expertise ranges from consumer and digital through social and experiential—and across a wide range of clients including Ford Motor Company, Chiquita and AT&T. Prior to joining Active, Catherine worked at Media Edge, JWT Detroit, Sawtooth Group, MVBMS and Y&R.

Catherine cites her biggest accomplishment as mother to her four children. Family time and community involvement shapes her time outside the office. Catherine teaches catechism at church and supports the Pearl River Fire Department where her husband is a volunteer firefighter. She holds an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Background

He has long touted the effectiveness of online advertising and continues to round out his knowledge with a deep understanding of search. Rob strongly believes that digital is a key driver of brand growth and results.

Background

Alan’s development of media capacity trading programs, using trade credits as partial payment for media, allows for marketplace parity and revolutionized corporate trade. Alan Brown graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a B.A. in English.

Background

With a background in media, management, and entertainment, CeCe sits on the board of the IRTS Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to building tomorrow’s media leaders through access, education, and diversity. She is also on the Executive Leadership Team for the American Heart Association Tri-County Heart Walk. CeCe lives in Briarcliff Manor, NY with her husband and has two daughters.

Background

He works with the senior management of new business development, new business sales and client retention to determine the risk profile of all deals and makes recommendations on how to create better deal structures, which minimize risk and maximize returns.

Jeff also manages Active’s real estate department, where he is responsible for closing all real estate opportunities. This includes the identification, structuring and execution of Active International’s fee simple and leasehold real estate acquisition and disposition activities worldwide.

Jeff also led the New Business Development team, tasked with prospecting potential opportunities and bringing new business into Active.

Prior to joining Active in 2005, Jeff was Vice President of Acquisitions for UrbanAmerica, LLC and Vice President at First Evergreen LLC both real estate investment firms, where he was responsible for the identification, valuation and origination of real estate transactions.

His education includes a BA in Economics from Rutgers University and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Background

Tom leads a team of DR experts in the execution of both hybrid and traditional lead generation-based DR media. His background in performance marketing has allowed Active to offer clients a best-in-class product for Direct Response Corporate Trade. Before joining Active in 2010, Tom was Media Director for Halogen Response Media, the DR buying unit of Starcom/Mediavest Worldwide, where he was responsible for DRTV efforts in financial, healthcare, travel and telecom sectors. Prior to that he worked at ID Media where he managed DRTV efforts for Verizon’s consumer products, American Express, HBO and the University of Phoenix. Having spent much of his career in Direct Response, Tom has extensive experience developing effective media buying strategies to achieve client goals.

Background

Born and raised in New Jersey, Bob graduated Bucknell University and spent 20 years in the ad agency business—at Deutsch, Slater Hanft Martin, Grey and Dentsu- prior to joining Active in 2009. He has a broad base of advertising experience, including CPG, retail, automotive, and technology. He lives in Oldwick NJ with his wife Jackie and twin daughters Grace and Emma.

Background

In 2011, Shawn was promoted to VP, Assoc. Director of Local and ultimately named SVP, Agency Alliance. Previously, he worked at Zenith Media Services and prior to that, Darcy Masius Benton & Bowles.

Shawn grew up on Long Island, NY and received a Bachelor of Arts at State University of New York-Geneseo as a communications major. The married father of two resides in Bergen County, NJ. He enjoys reading, movies, traveling and barbecuing. A very lucky Yankees fan, Shawn was in attendance for two perfect games, Mariano Rivera’s final game and the game in which Aaron Judge broke the all-time rookie home run record. He is a frequent blood donor and volunteers each year at People to People, Rockland County’s largest food pantry.

Alan joined Active International in 2002 and in 2014 became Chief Financial Officer for the International Division.

Connect

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Background

Alan is a chartered accountant with a broad-based business background, including 14 years at Deloitte supporting growth-driven subsidiaries of overseas groups, Global Financial Controller for the outsourced IT Production at UBS Warburg, before opting for a dramatic change of environment at an internet start up.

He also has a sense of humour, which is probably why he’s still here after 16 years.

Background

After spending 15 years building business for iconic brands in Canada and the USA such as Molson Coors, Red Bull and Grand & Toy – Office Max, Andrew joined Active International as President and Managing Director of the Canadian Operations in 2011. Under Andrew’s leadership, he has kept a focus on building a high-performing corporate culture while delivering value to customers, partners, and community. As a result, Active Canada has been consistently recognized with numerous workplace awards and designations including Employee Recommended Workplace, Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures, and Great Place to Work’s Best Workplaces in Canada and Ontario. Active has more than doubled its business during his tenure.

Andrew received his ICD Directors Designation in 2017. Andrew has volunteered his time at the local level coaching hockey in his community of Aurora as well as nationally on the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Canada and the Board of Directors of Motionball in support of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. When away from the office you can find Andrew spending time with his wife and three children.

Background

Pauline operates out of our UK office, where she previously led the marketing efforts. She can be found in her natural habitat, usually behind a mountain of sneakers, gadgets or donuts. A fount of occasionally useful (but often useless) general knowledge. She does not function well in extreme temperatures and is powered almost entirely by tea.

Background

With a strong background in marketing leadership and media strategy, Jordan’s experience working with TV studios, media holding companies, and independent agencies has given him a unique and valuable perspective on the industry, leading to the creation of successful strategies with proven results. When he’s not helping build brands, Jordan enjoys watching soccer/football (COYS!), attending his son’s musical theater performances, traveling with his family, and attempting to manifest pickleball greatness.