November 16, 2011 – Nelson Schmidt, a leading full-service marketing communications firm, announced today that Andy Thompson has joined its creative department as a senior Web developer in its Milwaukee office.

Thompson will be responsible for the programming and development of client websites and applications. He has more than five years of experience working in Web development, social media, e-commerce and online games. He previously worked at Milwaukee-based Meet-meme, a social media company that specializes in business card replacements and networking events enabling individuals to build online connections through personalized trading cards.

“I came to Nelson Schmidt because I was impressed by their exceptional work and wanted to be part of a great team,” said Thompson. “I look forward to using my experience to help clients bring their visions to life.”

Thompson received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2009 in management information systems.

“Andy is a great addition to our expanding creative team at Nelson Schmidt,” said Ken Hagan, executive creative director. “We’re excited about the expertise he brings to the agency and how his experience with various development frameworks will benefit our clients.”

November 2, 2011 – Nelson Schmidt Inc., a leading full-service marketing communications agency, announced today that Ike Roell has joined the Madison office’s creative team as an art director.

Roell will provide creative oversight for some of the agency’s leading accounts, including Honeywell, CUNA Mutual and Dichtomatik. He has more than three years of experience in developing and implementing creative strategies for business-to-business and business-to-consumer companies.

“I am excited to be working with Nelson Schmidt because it offers me the opportunity to work with national and global clients,” said Roell. “I’m looking forward to developing highly creative solutions for very visible brands and contributing to the agency’s continued success.”

Roell previously worked as an art director and graphic designer at Lindsay Hill Design in Boston, Mass. where he developed branding guidelines for the agency’s new look, supervised all art projects and helped advance junior designers’ skills.

“Ike’s previous work shows great creativity which made him an ideal candidate for this position,” said Ken Hagan, Nelson Schmidt executive creative director. “Clients will appreciate his ability to deliver a creative product consistent with their vision across multiple platforms.”

Roell earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University, Boston, Mass. in 2007. He is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Boston Graphic Artists Guild and Sigma Alpha Lambda, a national leadership and honors organization.

October 12, 2011 – Nelson Schmidt Inc., a leading full-service marketing communications firm, announced today that it has hired Corey Wernlund as direct marketing manager and Evan Berns as an assistant account executive. Both will be working in the firm’s Milwaukee office.

Wernlund will be responsible for overseeing the agency’s direct marketing services and call center activities, which provides sales lead generation and qualification programs along with in- and out-bound direct marketing campaigns.

“Our direct marketing center is an extremely valuable asset for our clients and a competitive differentiator for our agency,” said Dan Nelson Jr., president of Nelson Schmidt. “With Corey’s knowledge and experience, we are excited to have him join us to support our clients’ initiatives and help drive the service line for our customers.”

Wernlund previously worked as an account executive with Groupon in Chicago, Ill. after starting his career at Nelson Schmidt. He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2009 from Marquette University.

As an assistant account executive, Berns will be responsible for executing account service plans and providing day to day client support.

“Evan will provide support to our account management team and we look forward to his new ideas and enthusiasm,” said Cody Pearce, vice president of account management at Nelson Schmidt. “Our agency continues to expand and with that growth comes a need for emerging talent, which we have found in our latest additions.”

Previously, Berns worked as an intern for the Milwaukee Brewers in corporate marketing and community relations. He earned his bachelor’s degree in advertising from Marquette University in May.

September 1, 2011 – Nelson Schmidt Inc., a leading full-service marketing communications firm, announced today that Michele Essma has joined its account management department as an account coordinator in its Madison office.

Essma will be responsible for executing account service plans, including writing estimates, timelines and status reports, as well as providing day-to-day client support.

“Nelson Schmidt has a great reputation for supporting global brands and I am happy to be a part of its future,” Essma said. “I look forward to learning more about the industry while bringing new ideas to our clients and helping them accomplish their marketing goals.”

She previously worked for WKOW-TV, Madison, in advertising sales. She has also served as a media intern for Knupp & Watson & Wallman (KW2), Madison.

“Michele brings energy and fresh ideas to our team,” said Chris Schell, managing director of the Madison office. “We are already very impressed with the professionalism and skill she brings to the agency and our clients.”

Essma graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and communication arts with a focus on strategic communication. She is a member of Ad 2.

August 25, 2011 – Nelson Schmidt Inc., a leading full-service marketing communications firm, announced today that it has hired Brendan Kennedy as senior copywriter in its Milwaukee office and Greg Machotka as copywriter in its Madison office.

Kennedy and Machotka will be responsible for producing written communications for the agency’s clients, which include but are not limited to advertising campaigns, sales brochures and website copy.

“We’re pleased that Brendan and Greg decided to join our team,” said Ken Hagan, executive creative director of Nelson Schmidt. “Adding them to the roster brings a fresh perspective to client work and we’re excited about the experience they bring to the agency.”

Kennedy has more than seven years of experience in business-to-consumer and business-to-business writing. He previously worked at Bader Rutter in Brookfield, Wis.

In 2005, Kennedy earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

He is the recipient of two Business Marketing Association awards, a National Agri-Marketing Association award and the 2009 winner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Local Partners in Humanity award.

Machotka has more than three years of writing experience, with a focus on the energy sector. Previously, he worked as a freelancer for Ocupop Inc., Kaneohe, Hawaii.

In 2002, Machotka earned his bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on fiction writing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

He is the recipient of a Milwaukee 99 Merit award and a Titan award from the Transworld Advertising Agency Network.