Staff Vitae

Andy Chapelle is the former managing editor at Crain's Detroit Business where he supervised the reporting staff from May 2007 to January 2011. Before Crain's, Chapelle served as editor of the Ann Arbor Business Review and was the founding editor of the Oakland Business Review. Both were weekly business journals owned by Advance Communications Inc. He previously spent 21 years as an editor with The Ann Arbor News, finishing there as the paper’s news editor. He was also Ann Arbor News Manager of the Year for 1999. Prior to launching his career in daily journalism, Chapelle worked six years as a public relations representative at Eastern Michigan University where he was responsible for internal and external public relations for the university, including the EMU Board of Regents. He served as spokesman for the university on breaking news stories, edited a weekly publication for faculty and staff, and produced an audio news report used by local radio stations. Chapelle was twice elected to the board of directors of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association, an organization of editors and managing editors of the more than 1,500 newspapers served by the AP. He also served as a board member for Society of Professional Journalists, Detroit Chapter. Chapelle is a longtime Ann Arbor resident. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and earned his master's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.
Laura Blodgett, consultant has 15 years of experience in marketing communications and public relations in a range of industries including automotive, education, finance, foodservice, law, retail, small business and travel. Her hands-on experience includes writing, editing, media relations, account management, community relations, promotions and event planning in both agency and corporate environments. She served as managing editor, Global Communications at Visteon Corporation where she managed the writing and editing of global internal and external communications for the auto supplier. Laura held positions with several agencies in Chicago serving the public relations needs of clients such as AT&T, Chicago Youth Centers, CNA Insurance, Factory Card Outlet Superstores, Fordham University, the Illinois State Bar Association, Jamaica Tourism Board and the National Association of Women Business Owners. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.
Jaclyn Klein, consultant, graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in April 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Political Science. Jaclyn interned in the public relations department at the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan in the summer of 2009 and began interning at Eiler Communications in May 2010. Since graduation, Jaclyn has become the Communications Specialist for Arbor Hospice, while continuing to consult with Eiler Communications. Her experience includes writing, social media, communication design and project ideation.
Wendy Williams, has over 20 years experience consulting with large and small businesses with graphic design and production services and new and social media It is her belief that “community” is increasingly becoming the defining feature of the most successful business and brands. Her goal is to help businesses thoroughly define their customers and the tools that will constitute a customized, purposeful, flexible, innovative online marketing campaign—for any budget. She is a graduate of Michigan State
JoAnn L. Atkin, Ph.D. is on faculty of Western Michigan University. She holds a PhD from Michigan State, MBA and Bachelors degrees in Marketing from Wayne State University. Her experience encompasses planning and implementing broadcast and print advertising strategies for regional retailers; retail sales management; and planning and implementing both qualitative and quantitative consumer research studies related to marketing/advertising strategies and consumer behavior. Most recently, her primary responsibilities in industry included: analyzing, interpreting and reporting results of direct marketing programs; conducting secondary research; and, developing and coordinating primary research activities for the following clients: Daimler Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, General Motors Corporation, and Pfizer.
Case Ernsting is an established Digital Communications Specialist working in areas of Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click Advertising, Social Media Marketing and Blog Strategy. After he gradated from the University of Michigan in 2009, Case pursued a passion of Public Relations and the growing shift towards online marketing, consistently relying on accountability to drive new projects and campaigns.
Ashley Ferremi, intern, is a junior at the University of Michigan. She is majoring in International Studies: Political Economy & Development as well as Spanish Languages. Ashley has prior experience with event planning and views strategic planning as a key component to the success of any individual or organization. Upon graduation in 2013, she plans to enter the public relations
field on an international level, where her cultural awareness and experience from her internship at Eiler will guide her to success.
Kathleen Gannon, intern, is a senior at the University of Michigan majoring in psychology. Kathleen has prior internship experience as the Development Intern of Children's Leukemia Foundation where she created relationships with businesses as well as conducted multiple philanthropic events. On campus, she is an active member of her sorority, Delta Gamma. After graduating in May 2012, she plans on pursuing a career in Public Relations or Marketing.
Rebecca Zajac, intern, recently graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing and a minor in Economics. Rebecca has interned with the marketing and public relations department of the Australian Baseball League; served as a marketing and funding consultant for Witt-In-Africa, a non-profit initiative to fundraise for Lesotho, Africa; and as a grant-writing intern for Wittenberg University’s Office of Advancement. Her experience includes social media marketing, writing, event planning, fundraising and project ideation.