Meet the Callafam

Chris became owner and CEO in 2015. Chris works with the leadership team to help the company, our culture and our clients thrive. During his ownership, Callahan has been recognized in back-to-back years as one of Ingram’s fastest-growing companies and one of the best places to work. In his 25-year career, Chris has led the initial launch of Michelob Ultra and the Jordan Brand at retail, as well as multimedia campaigns for Nike, Elanco Animal Health, and more.

As President, Jan-Eric’s curiosity and passion inspires ideas that propel immediate and long-term client growth. His previous analytics and media planning experience at the world-renowned Starcom Mediavest Group along with his more recent strategic work informs his leadership style, which focuses on team integration and synergy. Jan-Eric witnessed the value of synergy when he supervised the integrated account and media team for Sonic Drive-Ins’ award-winning Two Guys campaign. An avid basketball fan, Jan-Eric lives in a house haunted by the inventor of basketball.

As SVP, Client Experience, Shelly is constantly evolving Callahan’s capabilities to meet fast-changing marketing dynamics. Her previous experience as Group Account Director ignited a passion for her clients’ success that shines through in her current role. Brands she has worked with include Elanco Animal Health, Westar Energy, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Sprint. A farm girl at heart, Shelly’s strong work ethic has grown into advocacy and mutual support for women in leadership.

Sarah oversees the financial, IT and administrative functions at Callahan. She makes sure our clients and vendor partners are happy, our employees are challenged and rewarded, and that we provide competitive benefits to attract the best talent. Sarah crosses every “t” and dots every “i,” from budgeting and cashflow to contracts and legal agreements. Her processes ensure accurate billing and timely payments, and her team supplies monthly reports to clients. When not following paper trails, Sarah loves exploring the outdoors via bike or on foot.

With more than 20 years of human resources experience, Dee strives to ensure that everyone at Callahan loves it here as much as she does. She’s a champion for providing top resources in the areas of employee relations, competitive salaries, compliance and benefits. Dee leads our recruitment efforts, working with management to hire talented people who fit our values. Dee is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and a certified professional in human resources (SHRM-CP). In her spare time, Dee bakes gluten-free recipes for her family, particularly her grandkids.

Mark understands the challenges of sifting through the mounds of information that today’s connected consumers generate. He also recognizes its power to drive insightful actions that build a brand’s modern blueprint for success. Mark’s experience spans retail, CPG, financial services, pet, fashion, QSR and energy sectors, including brands such as Walmart, Tyson Foods, Petsmart, Commerce Bank, Cicis Pizza and others. When he’s not at the office, Mark can be found slinging “mud” for his little brother’s stone masonry business or out coaching his daughter’s competitive fastpitch team.

Danny’s childhood was a blur of science kits, logic puzzles and countless attempts to hack the source code of his Magna Doodle. His affinity for math and science has delivered negative ROI in his social life, but it’s doing wonders for Callahan clients today. Danny brings a performance-focused perspective to data, with an extensive background in digital media, search, CRM, and user behavior analytics for brands like Bayer, Kellogg’s, T-Mobile, US Bank, Wendy’s, Ford, Gatorade and Hill’s.

Give Matt Slider a target audience and he’ll slide right into their emotional DMs* with content that captures hearts. A born leader, Matt approaches his work with a passion that ignites the metaphorical Bunsen burner fueling Callahan’s creative minds. Matt’s work has been recognized by the Cannes Lions, One Show, Clio Awards, Communication Arts, Adweek, National Addy’s, WARC and his parents. His brand experience includes MGP, Sonic, Dairy Queen, Elanco Animal Health, Cicis Pizza and more. In his free time, Matt goes spelunking through the stars seeking intergalactic inspiration.

*Platonically. Unless they ask nicely.

As leader of the channel team at Callahan, Ben is responsible for ensuring the strategic, integrated, and innovative delivery of content across online and offline media as well as in-house media buying and management. Key areas of personal interest for Ben include online community, social and digital innovation, and emerging technology.

Kim is a communication and optimization guru who specializes in providing cross-functional solutions spanning every department in the agency. She manages project workflows to maximize agency resources and client budgets while helping ensure teams have what they need to create exceptional work every time. Her diverse background of leadership experience includes managing projects in all forms of media, from social to print, video, digital and app development. In her spare time, Kim enjoys going on new culinary adventures in her home kitchen or satisfying her wanderlust abroad.

Eric brings more than 30 years of marketing, advertising, digital and print experience to Callahan’s Creative and Print Services team (CAPS). He leads a team of strong creative and print professionals that support Toyota in all aspects of marketing and communications, with a focus on the development of impactful, strategic creative solutions and cost containment through volume purchasing. Eric has worked on brands like State Farm, Hilton Worldwide, Wells Fargo, IBM, ExxonMobile and Regus. Eric is a married father of two boys and enjoys music, sports and coaching in his free time.

A well-seasoned creative with big branding chops, Bill leads the way in developing and executing ideas that make brands stand out. Prior to Callahan, Bill helped build the Interstate Batteries visual identity system for the brand and developed work for partners like Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Mercedes, Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, Kubota, Tractor Supply Co and Costco as well as Gaylord Resorts, LaQuinta Inns & Suites and others. In his spare time, Bill can be found smoking something on his small collection of Weber grills or taking a cross-country trek to his next culinary destination.