About
Capabilities
- Advertising
-
Your advertising campaign may be your primary face to the market. Vertical can help make it smart and effective.
- Brand Development
-
Vertical helps clients in multiple industries bring their brands to life. Backed by a strong brand identity, your marketing and sales efforts will reach new levels of success.
- Channel Development and Sales Support
-
Vertical understands that a well-informed, well-prepared sales team can make all the difference. We create invaluable tools to strengthen and support your sales channels.
- Creative Strategy and Execution
-
Creative ideas succeed when they embody your message, support your business strategy and capture the imagination of your customers. Our creative energies are strategically focused to achieve your business goals.
- Graphic Design and Copywriting
-
Visual structures speak volumes. Words motivate nations. That’s why Vertical is passionate about strong design and powerful copy.
- Public Relations
-
Cost-effective and targeted, a public relations campaign with Vertical is a key ingredient to changing public perception and building a long-lasting, positive reputation.
- Strategic Planning
-
Combining our years of experience with current market intelligence, Vertical can help define and develop effective strategies to reach your business goals.
Our Team
Michael J. Keating, President
Strengths:
Hiring people smarter than himself
Weaknesses:
Coffee and chocolate doughnuts
Work Experience:
Ogilvy Public Relations, Porter/Novelli, Bozell
Past Life:
World traveler, avid reader, interesting conversationalist, martini connoisseur
Current Life:
Helping my son navigate the challenges of middle school and Chicago’s urban bicycle paths
Accomplishments:
Signed affidavits in 50 states vowing never to launch a singing career
Duane Perolio, Creative Director
Strengths:
Helps designers see work through the client’s eyes
Weaknesses:
Potato chips and French Onion dip
Education:
B.F.A. – Graphic Design, Kent State University; M.F.A. – Print Media, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Past Life:
Cultural Theorist and Andy Warhol protégé
Accomplishments:
Had a perfect attendance record in grade school
Hidden Talent:
Can do wheelchair stunts
Michael Sobczynski, Account Services Director
Strengths:
Details, numbers, analysis and project management
Weaknesses:
Chicago Cubs, Starbucks and Chicago Cubs
Education:
B.S. Economics, University of Chicago
Past Life:
Investment banking, pub crawls, wanted to be the first blond James Bond
Current Life:
Husband, news junkie and Starbucks recovery
Can’t live without:
My wife/my Xbox (hope I never have to choose)
Sean Fermoyle, Senior Graphic Designer
Strengths:
Strategy, organization, and clean design
Weaknesses:
Books
Work Experience:
Has assisted agencies large and small
Education:
B.F.A., Communication Design, The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
Hidden Talent:
Painting
Cannot live without:
Art
Angela Espeland, Office Manager
What are your strengths?
Keeping things organized, making bad puns
What are your weaknesses?
One-hit wonders from the late 90s, biscuits and gravy
What’s your work experience?
Started out answering phones and opening mail, slowly evolved into full-fledged Office Wizard.
Major accomplishments?
Getting my comedy writing published on a popular satire website
What can’t you live without?
My husband, our cat, combat boots
What’s your favorite thing about Chicago?
The diversity – we can’t be defined by a single culture
Debbie Dodge, Senior Consultant
Strengths:
Grammatically correct and strategically insightful
Weaknesses:
Small venues full of local art, music, dance, theater & film
Work Experience:
Public relations executive for art museum, hospital and management consultant
Can’t Live Without:
Looking at art
Education:
M.S. – Public Relations; M.S. – Historic Preservation
Hidden Talent:
Photography
Lloyd Babbitt, Vice President, Intelligence and Insight
Strengths:
Strategic Planning, Competitive Intelligence, Critical Thinking
Weaknesses:
Sweets and Action Flicks
Work Experience:
Multi-Nationals in the U.S. and Asia
Past Life:
International man of mystery
Current Life:
Husband and father
Education:
Bachelors of Architectural Studies, University of Illinois; Master of International Management, Thunderbird – American Graduate School of International Management
Hidden Talent:
Free hand drawing
Cannot Live Without:
Family
Client List
AHIMA
Alliance of American Insurers
ATS
Baker Knapp and Tubbs
BIN WIne Cafe
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Cypress
eMeter
Group Benefit Associates
Grainger
Greyhound Partners
Humidor to Door
IK Gymnastics
Ingenuity Incorporated
InSite Real Estate
KIMCO
Labelmaster/DGIS
Mitsubishi
Pedestal
PLRB