Our Team

Meet MACLYN’s Finest.

Bill Murphy

Marc Hausmann

Ray Kinney

Courtney Healy

Mike Naples

Lauren Koeller

Kevin McMaster

Troy Kelleher

Erin Byrne

Kira Ryan

Carly Slomski

Abbey Bobzin

Kate Lopez

Ryan McBride

Julia Evans

Thomas Hugo

Liz Brahler

Brian Moore

Hannah Frey

NaVia Sumsion

Mike Ray

Colin Brahler

Bill Murphy

Bill believes that good business starts with good people. As MACLYN’s managing partner, Bill develops relationships with our clients while building an agency culture where good ideas and talented people flourish. In his own words, here’s Bill’s take on…

Proudest accomplishment: Raising my children. It’s way harder than anything professionally related.
Favorite cold drink: Whiskey Old Fashioned with one block of ice
Hidden talents: Man, I wish I had some.
Favorite song: Elton John, Tiny Dancer. Always takes me to another place and time.
Favorite pastime: Fishing. I’d fish every day, if I could.
Personal Patronus: Bear
Teletubby of choice: Po. Nothing slows her down.

“The best managers put people in positions to succeed.”

-Bill

Marc Hausmann

Marc’s been here since the beginning, in 1995, when he built MACLYN from the ground up. He believes that relationships are the most important thing. Focus on relationships first, and the rest will fall into place.

Today, Marc continues to bring good people and good businesses together. His humble attitude and straightforward philosophy are the heart and soul of MACLYN, and his vision – a company founded on relationships – shows us the way forward.

“Success is good. Friendship is better.”

-Marc

Ray Kinney

A founding partner, Ray is known around DuPage and beyond as a man who invests all his energy – and he has a LOT of energy – in supporting people, businesses and the community. In his own words, here’s Ray’s take on…

Proudest accomplishment: Without question being the father of 3 great humans whom I adore. My wife deserves most of the credit though.
Higher education: I actually went to college for six weeks.
The holy trinity: Family. Friends. Community – but I also love wine, bourbon and vodka – not necessarily in that order, and I enjoy home barrel-aged manhattans too!
Favorite song: Impossible to say – depends on my mood! Love is the Answer? The Ballad of Curtis Loew? I Ain’t Drunk, I’ve Just Been Drinkin? Fat Bottom Girls?
Greatest Teletubby: What’s a Teletubby?
Collections/Obsessions: I have about 500 vinyl albums. Used to have more, but I lost 300 in a flood. I also have a wine cellar and enjoy finding, collecting, ageing and sharing wine with friends.

“Choose to care about and be involved with the people and causes in your community.”

-Ray

Courtney Healy

Courtney, our Vice President, Strategy & Accounts, leads research projects, builds marketing plans, and thinks both strategically and creatively for our clients. In her own words, here’s Courtney’s take on…

Favorite band that sounds like an animal: Phish
Hidden Talents: I have a weird knack for memorizing numbers, particularly addresses.
Greatest Fear: I don’t have fears.
Grade Cards: I’ve always struggled in school but excelled at work. At 16, I got my first internship (at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce). When report cards came, my parents would be upset with my grades, so I would bring home my employee reviews to show them how well I was doing at work. That pretty much seemed to satisfy them. And that internship eventually led me to MACLYN.
Proudest Accomplishments: My beautiful family: my husband, Mike, and my two kids, Jack and Emma. Another proud accomplishment was having the honor of serving as President of the Naperville Jaycees (2009-2010), a civic service organization dedicated to developing young leaders through community service.

“Strategy lives at the intersection of multiple disciplines—creative, digital, analytics, consumer research, etc. My job is to connect those dots.”

-Courtney

Mike Naples

As a senior leader of our creative team, Mike takes point on projects of all shapes and sizes—all while moonlighting as a world-renowned oil painter and a father of three. In his own words, here’s Mike’s take on…

Hidden Talents: I can balance rocks pretty well. I haven’t won any rock-balancing competitions… but with that said, I haven’t entered any either.
Favorite Teletubby: Nope.
Pets: Weiner dogs only.
Favorite Food: Spanish Octopus from Eatery/A in Des Moines
Surprising personal facts: I leave no surprises unveiled.
Life on other planets: We would be silly to think there wasn’t.

“Don’t let the grind of life stop you from pursuing your dreams.”

-Mike

Lauren Koeller

A leader of our stellar Media Relations team, Lauren captures limelight in a bottle, puts things in perspective, wrangles the media and brings our brands to center stage. In her own words, here’s Lauren’s take on…

Victories, large and small: I love to play basketball. I beat my husband in an intense Pop-A-Shot basketball game with a week’s worth of dish duty on the line. It was EPIC and still stands as one my greatest victories of all time! SWOOSH.
Profundity of parenthood: The most profound thing I have done is becoming a mother. I am in awe watching my two boys grow, learn, problem solve and develop personalities. It is fascinating – and I adore being able to have a front row seat to such a beautiful transformation.
One thing you just can’t get into: Heavy metal
Favorite Breakfast Food: Bread pudding pancakes from Southport Grocery in Chicago.
Indispensable advice: At my first official job out of college, I made a mistake – and my boss calmly said: “No lives were lost; let’s fix it.” That has stuck with me and continues to serve me well, 20 years later.

“Try to be someone others can count on—personally and professionally.”

-Lauren

Kevin McMaster

A marketing pro who is also just a ridiculously fun person, Kevin excels at building relationships, growing brands and helping us all see the big picture. In his own words, here’s Kevin’s take on…

Things you can’t-stop-won’t-stop: I have a self-diagnosed addiction to potato chips.
Favorite pastimes: Enjoying good cocktails and laughing
Collections/obsessions: PEZ Dispensers
TV loyalties: If it’s on BRAVO, chances are I’m watching it.
Nostalgic radio: In college, I hosted a radio show called “The 80’s Rewind.”
Pets: My vodka collection. Best companion a guy could ask for.

“In this biz, relationships are what really matter.”

-Kevin

Troy Kelleher

A writer and occasional thinker, Troy enjoys working alongside some of the best in the biz. In his own words, here’s Troy’s take on…

Musical talent: I can rock out a mean “Smoke on the Water” on the alto sax.
Proudest Accomplishment: Winning the Science Olympiad in fourth grade (thanks to my smart friend). That was my personal high-water mark.
Pets, current and former: I had a remote guinea pig. He died. I had a turtle, but he died, too. I had a beta fish! But, well… you can probably guess.
Personal Patronus: Nicholas Cage
Favorite pastime: Running. To the uninitiated, running seems like the dumbest thing ever, but it’s actually meditative and instructive. To be a good runner, you have to keep your emotions in check and detach yourself from all the little thoughts buzzing around your brain. Good skills to have, especially in a world of iPhones and Insta.

“Never trust a pull quote.”

-Troy

Erin Byrne

An artist who loves a good story, Erin uses her skills in animation, graphic design and art direction to tell visual stories for a variety of brands. In her own words, here’s Erin’s take on…

Hidden talents: I was in choir growing up, but I get really nervous singing in front of people. I’m a pretty good cook. I’m also weirdly good at Catchphrase and pop culture trivia.
Contradictions: I’m really into true crime and serial killer docs. I’m also super into Disney.
Personal Patronus: Pottermore told me it’s a Blood Hound, but I feel like it would be some sort of cat because they’re feisty. But Pottermore doesn’t lie.
Proudest Accomplishments: #1: Spending 16 hours straight at Magic Kingdom (in Disney World) without dying. That is A LOT of steps for one day…
#2: On a more serious note, it would probably be how I handle my diseases (Diabetes and Hypothyroidism) and try not to let them control my life.

“When it comes to art and creative direction, I think it’s best to always trust your instincts. A lot of times, the first ideas are the good ones.”

-Erin

Kira Ryan

With a background in all things digital, Kira specializes in marketing strategy, as well as web development, SEO and content creation. In her own words, here’s Kira’s take on…

Proudest accomplishment: Being an aunt. It’s not necessarily my accomplishment, but it definitely pushes me to be better – to be someone that little girl can look up to.
Favorite dinner: Steak and wine
Driving record: I’ve been in an accident in every car I’ve owned. It’s a curse.
Life on other planets: Earth is a little blip compared to our solar system, our galaxy and beyond. I think it would be bumptious to think there aren’t other life forms out there.
Personal Patronus: A puppy
Collections/obsessions: I collect Lokai bracelets. Actually, I just added three to my collection: BLM, Pride and Women’s Empowerment.

“A lot of marketing strategy comes from understanding people, and that isn’t necessarily taught.”

-Kira

Carly Slomski

A natural caretaker with an eye for detail, Carly ensures that projects move seamlessly from ideation to execution. In her own words, here’s Carly’s take on…

Alternative careers: If I were to switch careers, I would be a studio singer or a marine mammologist.
Travel Plans: I’ve always wanted to travel around Europe. But now that I’m older, I think I’d have to say Thailand.
At-home zookeeping: I have a short-hair tabby cat (Robbie Plant), a bearded dragon (Bonham) and a harrier mix puppy (Apollo).
Life on other planets: I can’t even handle my own planet, y’all.
Zombie apocalypse outlook: OMG I would die so quickly, it’s not even funny. I would just sit in a corner and cry until they come eat me. Unless my niece/nephews are around… then it’s full auntie mode.

“Do your best, take deep breaths, and remember that it’s more important to progress than perfect.”

-Carly

Abbey Bobzin

A self-proclaimed “Jackie of all trades,” Abbey blends her wide range of strategic and artistic skills to innovate every project. In her own words, here’s Abbey’s take on…

Style, modern or otherwise: I can sew a mean cartridge pleated skirt, circa 16th century fashion. And I can accessorize a wedding dress like you wouldn’t believe – I worked in both a costume shop and as a bridal stylist for a spell.
High-speed interviews: One of my first interviews as a PR spokesperson was done LIVE while riding a roller coaster.
Top 5 films: Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Fountain, Moulin Rouge, and Big Fish. I have a whole separate list strictly for Disney and superhero films, provided upon request!
Proudest accomplishment: I would have to say the first theatre production I ever directed, back during my senior year of college. It was a beautiful play and the cast and crew came together to make some magic on stage after months of hard work, dedication, and really innovative thinking on a shoestring budget. We literally took a mattress left for the garbage off a street corner and bleach cleaned it in my apartment for our set. I remember watching the show on opening night in absolute awe of the final product. There was a lot of hustle in that team of creators that warms my heart to this day.

“You have to tackle everything you do with both heart and hustle. I strive to strike the balance between the two—that’s where the magic happens.”

-Abbey

Ryan McBride

A web developer with years of experience in Silicon Valley, Ryan works closely with our creative team to craft digital experiences where form meets function. He also makes some seriously kickass wine. In his own words, here’s Ryan’s take on…

Surprising advantages: I detect movement faster than most because I’m colorblind.
Borderline-divine talents: I can make wine out of water… and grapes.
Best moment ever: Holding my daughter for the first time
Favorite song w/ explicit warning: “Life’s a Bitch” by Mac Dre
Personal Patronus: Wolf
Biggest legitimate fear: Nuclear fallout
Favorite TV shows about legally/morally questionable people Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Sopranos and Peaky Blinders

“Do what works—not just what you like. Just because something looks good to you does not mean it will to others.”

-Ryan

Kate Lopez

A jack-of-all-trades who loves to learn new skills, Kate manages key marketing plans for our client Dunkin’. She brings the right mix of focus and levity to every project. In her own words, here’s Kate’s take on…

Proudest nonprofessional accomplishment: Kicking and making multiple field goals, in a row, at AT&T Stadium.
Travel plans: I’d like to visit all seven continents, but the Festival of the Lights in Thailand has been at the top of my list for a while.
Pets, current and future: Currently, I only have my 3-year-old yellow lab, Ruby, but I’m always looking for more.
Collections, taboo or otherwise: Apparently collecting beanie babies is cool again, so I can admit I still have a few of them. Some even have their tags 😉
Hidden talent: My nail design game
Indispensable advice: You either get bitter or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.

“Never regret a day in your life – good days give happiness, bad days give experience, worst days give lessons, and the best days give memories.”

-Kate

Julia Evans

A dawning dynamo of design, Julia Evans finds creativity in every corner of her life. Whether she’s opening an Etsy store to support Black Lives Matter, restyling thrifted treasures, or roaming around with her mini Australian shepherd Dash, she combines art, smart, and heart.
In her own words, here’s Julia’s take on:

Hidden Talents: I play the violin, love funky earrings, and find the hidden gems at every thrift shop
Surprising Facts: I went “viral” on tiktok for a gift I made my friend (thanks to the BTS ARMY)
Which Teletubbie are you? Tinky Winky. I always thought it was “Pinky Winky” and I loved it because I love pink, but unfortunately I was wrong, I should’ve known from the purple costume
Favorite band: The Head and the Heart (especially the song “Cruel”)
Favorite pasttimes: Painting, crocheting, walking my dog, binge watching tv shows, baking
Is there life on other planets? Maybe, probably?
Celebrity crushes: Mark Ruffalo, my king

“If a strong team = good design, the MACLYN team must all secretly be the Hulk.”

-Julia

Thomas Hugo

As a marketing wordsmith (some simply call him a “copywriter”), Thomas spends his days helping bring brands to life through…words! In his own words, here’s Thomas’s take on…

Birth-related fun facts: I’m a twin, but not the identical kind. Do I still have twin superpowers though? Maybe…
Abandoned childhood passions: I cared too much about geology in 8th grade.
Favorite ways to avoid sitting still: Hiking, biking, and walking around aimlessly through Iowa’s trail system are some of my favorite “activity-based” hobbies.
Prominent irrational fear: I would really prefer not to die in a shipwreck.

“Copywriting is a skill that’s oddly comparable to doing impressions. You have to be able to perfectly capture and communicate every little thing about the brands you work with.”

-Thomas

Liz Brahler

A delightfully diligent pro who’s unafraid to sweat the details, Liz helps keep everything on track between us MACLYNites and our clients. In her own words, here’s Liz’s take on…

Likely aux cord requests: The Spins (Mac Miller), Heat Above (Greta Van Fleet), On My Own (Miley Cyrus), and Sedona (Houndmouth) are four songs that I will simply never get tired of.
Underwhelming near-death experiences: I almost choked on a piece of food the other day while I was home alone. (Make sure you chew your food, people.)
Favorite pastimes (no particular order): Reading, playing with my dog, listening to music, binging tv shows, doing crossword puzzles, and hammocking.
Perceived possibility of extraterrestrial life: Oh, for sure. 100%. I mean like…right?
Favorite color(s): Purple! Or lavender or maroon, but maroon is more of a shade of red…but whatever.
Most beloved meal: Medium rare steak with mashed potatoes and a glass of red wine… chef’s kiss.
Cool collections: Every time I travel somewhere new, I buy a shot glass.

“Always be open-minded. Going with the flow, listening, and learning how other people think and operate opens the floodgates for new opportunities.”

-Liz

Brian Moore

As Creative Director at MACLYN, Brian Moore is like a brain, acting as the vessel that turns ideas into action. He inspires and fosters collaboration, communication, and (obviously) creativity within our entire team—all while delivering stunning solutions for our clients. In his own words, here’s Brian’s take on…

Wholesome hidden talents: I pride myself on being a really good gift-giver.
Proudest non-professional accomplishment: Definitely being the cool uncle. (Could this be related to the gift-giving talent?)
Favorite color: Purple.
Which Teletubby are you?: Tinky Winky, because of my love of the color purple—and also the man-bag swag.
Lengthy canine companions: I have two dachshunds, Piper and Dash.
Favorite films: Anything from Denis Villeneuve, David Fincher, and Neil Blomkamp. Namely: Bladerunner 2049, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and District 9.
Is there life on other planets?: Absolutely, even if it’s just microscopic bacteria. I find it hard to believe we’re alone in the universe. But, then again, this could all just be a simulation.
Favorite pastimes: Playing video games and watching Japanese reality TV.
Dream vacation destinations: Hawaii, Vancouver, and Japan.

“The best solutions are often the simplest.”

-Brian

Hannah Frey

A gifted singer/songwriter and brilliant digital marketing coordinator, Hannah Frey really knows how to strike a chord with an audience. Whether it’s online or on stage, establishing new connections is her forte! In her own words, here’s Hannah’s take on…

Hidden talents (that everyone should know about): I’m a singer/songwriter & yoga instructor. I also used to bartend, so I can make a pretty good drink.
Favorite band: Too many to choose from, but right now I’d say boygenius, the supergroup formed by Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker. It’s a sad song lover’s dream.
Proudest non-MACLYN accomplishment: Releasing music! It’s a really vulnerable thing to do and the perfectionist in me always wants to wait until it’s just right.
Beloved bites and beverages: Favorite food? Mediterranean. Favorite drink? I’ve been obsessed with coconut water since my yoga teacher training. It has all the electrolytes without the sugar.
Got any pets? I have a mini Australian shepherd named Leo!
All-time favorite movie: The Devil Wears Prada!
How well would you do in a zombie apocalypse? What’s your survival strategy? I probably wouldn’t do so hot, but my strategy would be the same as my dodgeball strategy – hide in the back until I’m the only one left.

“You won’t always see perfect results in every marketing campaign, but contrast tells a compelling story.”

-Hannah

NaVia Sumsion

Though she’s a self-described creative connoisseur, NaVia Sumison does more than just, well, create things. “So what does she do then?” Glad you asked. NaVia quite literally brings ideas to life. She has the ability to turn mere concepts into real things people can see, hear, feel, and interact with. Pretty cool, right? In her own words, here’s NaVia’s take on…

Proudest non-professional accomplishments: In the 5th grade I biked the entire width of California in one week with my dad. I stopped taking piano lessons 12+ years ago, but I always feel a large sense of accomplishment when I teach myself a challenging new song.
Where did you grow up? What’s special about that place? I mainly grew up in San Diego, California. What’s special about it? The $7/gallon gas :’)
Potential dream destinations: Italian or French countryside, especially if my family was coming along, and ESPECIALLY if I could have a hobby farm.
Hidden talents: I’m really good at coming up with things on the spot, a.k.a. “faking it till I make it”.
What do you do all day during work? Get lost in Premiere Pro, fed up with Photoshop, or occasionally sit through feelings of imposter syndrome.
Favorite films: Far from the Madding Crowd, Cyrano, or anything with Florence Pugh.
Have any celebrity crushes? Florence Pugh. Blake Lively. Florence Pugh.
Possibility of life on other planets: Oh absolutely, I just don’t think they are green and weird looking. Maybe more like us… have you even seen the crop circles documentary on National Geographic?!?!?

“A good art director is one who is constantly looking through the lens of design, and will jump into learning something new even if they are scared. Nobody knows what they are doing, so just go for it!”

-NaVia

Mike Ray

BEEP BEEP, here he comes! The man behind the magic (and the wheel) of Dunkin’s Central Midwest Community Cruiser, MACLYN Tour Manager Mike Ray is always on the move, bringing delicious Dunkin’ bevs and bites to folks all across the Midwest. In his own words, here’s Mike’s take on…

Favorite films: The Lion King (I can recite all 88 minutes of it), Boiler Room, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Devil Wears Prada.
Where did you grow up? What’s special about that place? I’m born and raised IN Chicago (emphasis on IN Chicago). I’m a city boy through and through. Chicago is a world-class city, one of the best food cities in America. Much like NYC, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
Speaking of food…: I don’t have a favorite food, but I’m a big fan of the Cajun/Creole cuisine. When it comes to drink, I’m a whiskey guy, though I do enjoy a good cognac ‘cause…
Hidden talents: I am a GOOD cook. (Not a chef, but I can def execute a recipe!)
Proudest non-professional accomplishment (that may or may not be related to your hidden talent): Thanksgiving Dinner…. Black folks don’t play when it comes to holiday meals. It’s truly a rite of passage for the elders to turn over the reins and allow you to take over meal preparation. You better not mess it up, ‘cause you’ll hear about it! (I nailed it.)
What do you do all day during work? Grind! On the front end, a lot of planning… booking events, securing permitting, etc. On the back end, I execute! I take all that planning and put on some killer memorable events.
Rate your karaoke skills on a scale from 1-10: 8. I’m solid. I didn’t wanna reveal that in my hidden talents.
Dream destination: I’ve been checking a lot of them off. But I’m really tryna make it to Ghana or South Africa this year.
Is there life on other planets? For sure there is. The evidence is all around us.

“Fortune favors the bold!”

-Mike

Colin Brahler

A self-described “caffeinated conductor of chaos”, MACLYN Senior Account Coordinator Colin Brahler is tasked with orchestrating marketing magic for Dunkin’, ensuring everything runs smoothly and harmoniously. Guess you could call him a real “Caffè BACHiato”. Get it? Like the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach? Anyway…

In his own words, here’s Colin’s take on…

Secret meteorology-related talents: I have a knack for predicting the weather based on the shade of my iced coffee.
What makes life worth living (your hobbies): Watching and playing sports, hiking, biking, and concerts.
The definition of pets and if you have any: Are plants considered pets? Throughout my childhood, I had 2 dogs (Sneakers and Duncan), a very fat cat (Skittles), a turtle, chameleon, snake, rabbit, and hermit crabs.
Favorite things to eat and drink: I will never turn down sushi or a juicy Hazy IPA.
Biggest and most boring fear: Living a mundane life. (Note from the editor: That’s a pretty mundane fear, not gonna lie…)
Favorite TV shows: Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Office, Parks and Recreation – all the classics.
Zombie apocalypse survival odds: Given that I made it through 7 of the 11 seasons of The Walking Dead, I’d say my chances are pretty good. You can find me on a remote island without a care in the world.
Current favorite band: My favorite band is continuously changing. Currently, it’s Mk.gee. Ask me again next week and it might be someone completely different.
Rate your karaoke skills on a scale from 1-10: Three, but a ten if it’s ‘Hey Ya!’ by Outkast.

“There is a lot to juggle when being an account coordinator. It’s like trying to make the perfect cup of coffee – it’s all about finding the right blend of organization, communication, and a little sprinkle of creativity.”

-Colin

All Work

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RW Hardware

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BrownWinick

NAMCO Entertainment

Choose Dupage

Iowa Finance Authority

our team

Bill Murphy

Marc Hausmann

Ray Kinney

Courtney Healy

Mike Naples

Lauren Koeller

Kevin McMaster

Troy Kelleher

Erin Byrne

Kira Ryan

Carly Slomski

Abbey Bobzin

Kate Lopez

Ryan McBride

Julia Evans

Thomas Hugo

Liz Brahler

Brian Moore

Hannah Frey

NaVia Sumsion

Mike Ray

Colin Brahler

MACLYN

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