Bios

Roger Sametz, President and founder of Sametz Blackstone Associates, received a BA from Yale University and an MFA from the Yale School of Art and Architecture.

He serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Associates of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, the Board of Directors of the Corporate Design Foundation, the Board of Directors of the Boston Center for Arts, the Corporate Executive Council of WGBH, and is an Overseer of Boston Ballet. He is a member of the Board of Visitors of Longy School of Music and is a Corporator of the Schepens Eye Research Institute. He is a member of the Design Management Institute and the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and for three years was president of the Boston chapter. Roger has also served on the boards of the American Jewish Committee; the Boston Preservation Alliance; Collage, a chamber music ensemble; and New Voices, a writer’s theater in Boston.

Read more: Roger Sametz, President

Kerri Augenstein, Designer, graduated summa cum laude with a BFA concentrating in Graphic Design from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Kerri has worked with clients including Cabot Research, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Direxion Funds, San Francisco Symphony, Fuller Craft Museum, Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and MIT Sloan.

Will Cook, Principal, Design Director, received his BFA from Arizona State University in 1987 and joined Sametz Blackstone later that year. Will has worked on comprehensive branding, identity, and fundraising projects for the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Harvard Medical School, CBR Institute for Biomedical Research, Joslin Diabetes Center, Colgate University, Roger Williams University, Dana Hall School, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, American Ireland Fund, South End Community Health Center, Raytheon Company, Crane & Company, Harriman, CBT Architects, Goodwin Procter LLP, the City of Somerville, Provincetown Repertory Theatre, Direxion Funds, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Los Angeles Institute for Biomedical Research (LA BioMed), and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

A long-standing member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), Will has frequently participated in their design student portfolio reviews, and he has juried communication projects for the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). Will is a member of the SMPS and the GBBC. His work has been recognized by the Publicity Club, SMPS, AIGA’s Best of New England show, the AIGA 100 Show, and the American Medical Writers Association's New England Chapter. His work has been published in Studio, Print, Step-by-Step, Art Direction, The Communicator Awards, AMCP MarCom Creative Awards, and Graphic Design: USA. Will has also contributed to the AIGA Journal with his article entitled, Views From Above!, and is a member of the Professional Advisory Committee for the New England Institute of Art.

Joerg Dressler, Principal, Director of Design, graduated from Hochschule für Gestaltung in Offenbach, Germany as a Diplom Graphic Designer; he also attended the Ecole National Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. Joerg has worked on comprehensive branding, identity, and fundraising projects for Harvard College, Harvard University Library, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Symphony, First Realty Management, Fuller Craft Museum, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Tufts Health Plan, The Forsyth Institute, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Celebrity Series of Boston, Suffolk University, New England Wildflower Society, National Fire Protection Association, the Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT), New England Aquarium, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Byram Healthcare, Computervision, Spotfire, Windchill Technology, the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a global business and technology consulting firm.

Matt Dyson, Digital Media Developer, IT Specialist, received a BM from Berklee College of Music. His extensive knowledge of Digital Audio Recording gave him a very strong background in computer technology. Prior to joining Sametz Blackstone Associates, Matt spent much of his time working with film and audio projects in Boston and New York City. During his time at Sametz he has gained a strong knowledge of web development and has worked with many clients including Harvard University Library, McGovern Institute, and Harvard Neurodiscovery Center. His role as support for the office keeps us current and moving forward in the rapidly changing technology world.

Michael Eads, Principal, Director of Production, received a BA from Rhodes College. After ten years in the advertising and publishing fields in Memphis and Boston, Michael joined Sametz Blackstone in 1992. Michael oversees progress of all print projects in the office, with an additional concentration on editorial services. A member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Michael has produced projects that have been published in Communication Arts, Print, and Graphic Design: USA and received awards from Printing Industries of America, Engraved Stationery Manufacturers Association and Boston Lithographers and Craftsmen Club. His clients include all print clients at Sametz Blackstone.

Luke Ehler, Digital Media Developer, indirectly found his way into Web development while working primarily in print design, production and development. Before joining the Sametz team, he worked for nearly eight years on transactional documents for clients in the retirement, brokerage and insurance industries—clients included T. Rowe Price, Ameriprise, Fidelity, Wells Fargo, John Hancock and many others. Some of Luke's client's at Sametz Blackstone include the League of American Orchestras, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center.

Jeff Hudecek received a BFA in Visual Media Arts with a concentration in New Media from Emerson College. He has been creating Web sites professionally, with prior clients ranging from non-profits to major metropolitan radio stations, for many years. He currently assists with various coding, implementation, and cross browser issues on projects for Sametz clients including Direxion Funds, Harvard Committee on General Scholarships, and the League of American Orchestras.

Alyssa Jones, Project Coordinator, received a BA in Sociology from Ohio State University. Prior to joining Sametz Blackstone, Alyssa worked for ten years as Assistant Program Director, Finance for Gateway Arts/Vinfen. She has also held project management, marketing and client production positions for Optic Nerve Arts Corporation and Kinko’s. Alyssa is a member of the Gateway Arts Advisory Committee, and serves as Treasurer for the Salem Arts Association.

Lori LoTurco, Business Development Coordinator, received a BS from Skidmore College, where she graduated with honors. Prior to joining Sametz Blackstone, Lori worked within development, marketing and public relations at organizations such as Esteé Lauder Corporate, the National Basketball Association, Nortel Networks, and Wellesley College. Her extensive experience in the fields of marketing and communications have gained her recognition in various industries. She has helped Sametz Blackstone gain new clients such as Mount Sinai Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Dana Hall School, and Colgate University, among others. She is a member of Boston’s Women in Development and the American Marketing Association.

Tamsen McMahon, Director of Digital and Strategic Initiatives, specializes in helping people and organizations align strategies in service of change. She joined Sametz Blackstone after over 10 years of client-side experience, most recently as the Director of Development Communications at Harvard Medical School. She has also served as Director of Marketing & Communications at The Boston Conservatory, Head of Exhibition Planning at the Peabody Essex Museum, and as a change management consultant. Tamsen holds an MBA in Organizational Behavior & Management Communications and an MA in Arts Administration from Southern Methodist University, as well as a BS in Business Administration / Marketing & Market Research and a BA in American Studies from Boston University.

Eric Norman, Strategist, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. Eric's clients at Sametz Blackstone include Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Autism Consortium, Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, MIT Sloan School of Management, Los Angeles Institute for Biomedical Research (LA BioMed), Tufts University, Bottom Line, Boston Public Library, Colgate University, Celebrity Series of Boston, The CBR Institute for Biomedical Research, The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), the Center for Integrating Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT, a joint venture of MIT, MGH and Partners Healthcare), New England Wild Flower Society, Dana Hall School, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Citizens Schools, and the New England Institute of Art.

Summer Burrus Parker, Designer, received a Certificate of Graphic Design from Massachusetts College of Art. Upon graduating, she was one of five students selected to present her work at MassArt’s annual portfolio show. During the program she was selected for an internship at Korn Design (Boston) and was hired as a designer at Lindsay Hill Design (Boston) where she worked for two years prior to joining Sametz Blackstone. Summer has experience working with leading financial and insurance institutions in Boston, as well as with retail, restaurant and small business clients. Summer earned a BA in Literature/Humanities from Bradford College and a Technical Communication Certificate from Bentley College. In 2005 Summer won an AIGA BoNE Show award for student work. Summer’s clients at Sametz Blackstone include Boston Center for the Arts, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Fuller Craft Museum, MIT Sloan, Bottom Line, New England Wild Flower Society, South End Community Health Center, Colgate University, Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center and the League of American Orchestras.

Camille Tortora, Client Services and Facilities Administrator, is a native of Boston and “the voice” of Sametz Blackstone Associates—taking calls from all prospects, clients and associates for over eight years, as well as managing all responsibilities associated with the front desk, and handling the firm’s administrative needs. Prior to joining the Sametz team, Camille worked for such companies as Sterman & Gowell, and the New York Stock Exchange. After serving as a manager of her own company in the hospitality industry for over ten years, she joined our team in 2000.

Brandon Walsh, Manager, Strategy, received an MBA from Boston University’s Graduate School of Management, concentrating in business analysis and strategy. He previously received a BA in Arts Management from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music. Before joining Sametz Blackstone, Brandon held marketing, communications, and public relations positions for the Boston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Spartacus Media Enterprises (a social mission media company dedicated to effecting positive social change through mass media), Real Art Ways, (a seminal, contemporary arts center in Hartford, Connecticut), and Saratoga Performing Arts Center. At Sametz Blackstone, Brandon has worked on strategic brand and communications programs for a wide range of clients including Harvard University, San Francisco Symphony, WGBH, Direxion Funds, Mass Audubon Society, American Cancer Society, League of American Orchestras, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Cabot Research, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and many more.

Venus Wan, Designer, originally from Hong Kong, received her MA of Graphic Design from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University, where she graduated with an outstanding academic award. She previously received a BFA of Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. Before joining Sametz Blackstone, she had internships at a variety of firms including Design Continuum (West Newton) and NERA Economic Consulting (Boston) where she was hired as a designer in the company’s marketing group. Venus has experience working with international clients from China, Japan and Europe. Venus’s clients at Sametz Blackstone include Boston Symphony Orchestra, Celebrity Series of Boston, Finale, Accenture, Dana Hall School, the Office of Controller at Harvard University,  Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Urban Medical, Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Joslin Diabetes Center, McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Autism Consortium, and Bounty Management.

Donna Wardlaw, Principal and Finance Manager, holds an Associates degree in Business and is certified by the American Accounting Association. Prior to joining Sametz Blackstone Associates, Donna worked in the finance industry at such firms as Eckstein CPA. She then moved onward to the creative industry where she served as Finance Manager for ERN Advertising, BMW Advertising, and Paul Baldassi Graphic Design. In addition to years of helping Sametz Blackstone maintain healthy relationships with its clients, Donna also co-manages human resources and facilities.