Our Team

Amy Abrahams, Owner

Before opening the doors at Efficiency Media, Amy spent 12 years selling Chicago radio. Her radio sales career includes nine years at WTMX-FM, The Mix, where she was awarded the Presidential Sales Award by Bonneville International, the station’s owners. The award is given annually to one seller nationwide who excels most in creating and developing success for new advertisers, client service and commitment to the company’s core values. Additionally, Amy was the local sales manager for WLIT-FM where she was responsible for the local sales staff, their budget and many client brainstorming facilitations. While at WLIT, Amy was also given the responsibility of hiring and training all new employees of the six Chicagoland Clear Channel radio stations. Amy started her career selling Spanish radio for WOPA.

Michelle Marlo, Director of Media Planning

Michelle brought a unique quality when she joined Efficiency Media in 2012: having expertise on both the planning and buying side for local and national media. Providing strategic analysis on market research, competitive spend and media consumption is something that Michelle enjoys brining to the table. While managing day to day relationships with clients is currently her main focus, she is also highly experienced in buying all media platforms including print, radio, broadcast TV, cable TV and digital for clients including AMITA Health, Orlando Health, Sport Clips, Terlato Wines, Crate&Barrel, CNA Insurance, Northwestern Hospital, Health Alliance, and DePaul University. Michelle joined Efficiency Media with over 10 years of media planning and buying along with account management experience from SpaceTime. During her tenure with Efficiency Media, her media insights and strategic thinking have proved an asset for every account.

Melanie Ivanov, Director of Media Planning

Melanie comes to Efficiency Media after spending almost 13 years at her former agency, SpaceTime. She provides in-depth knowledge in both local market and national media planning and buying. Her extensive media planning experience includes over 120 DMAs throughout the country after eight years managing the Jimmy John’s account. Melanie has spent many years buying spot radio, television and cable, outdoor and transit, local print media as well as professional and college sports sponsorships. She also has more than 10 years of experience on the healthcare side, having managed the media support for Northwestern Hospital, the Loyola University Health System and Northwest Community Healthcare.

Marci Crane, Broadcast Director

Marci is a 20 plus year veteran in the media industry. She has worked in large firms such as J. Walter Thompson & Starcom and boutique firms, GRP Media, Two X Four and now Efficiency Media. She has honed her skills by servicing a broad range of clients from the automotive, pharmaceutical, financial services, quick service food, professional sports, tourism, and legal the industries. A sampling of clients include Ford Motor Company, Lexus, Toyota, Fox Movie Studios, Chicago White Sox, Northern Trust, Amita Health and Warner Lambert. By virtue of all this experience Marci is an outstanding negotiator and understands the value of superior customer service to her clients.

Jeannie Johnston, Senior Media Buyer

Jeannie has 20 years of experience planning and buying media. Prior to joining Efficiency Media, Jeannie was at Gatesman Agency & Noble Communications where she spent several years as client media contact, supervisor and planner-buyer, executing large scale national campaigns to hyper-targeted local initiatives. Jeannie’s experience on both national and local accounts include Fellowes, Country Financial, Coors Brewing, Taco Bell, Subaru, John Deere, Pace Bus, Metra Rail, Potbelly Sandwiches, Shop n’ Save, Illinois Tourism and Lottery. Her media expertise includes negotiating TV, cable, radio, out-of-home, print, and digital in spot markets of all sizes. She also has extensive experience negotiating sports sponsorships which include pro, college and high-schools sports. Jeannie started her career at Foot, Cone & Belding in Chicago.

Jessica Rhea, Senior Media Buyer

Jessica brings more than 10 years of media experience to Efficiency Media. In her most recent role at RPM, Jessica was responsible for overseeing all research and media planning while handling media negotiations on several accounts. Throughout her time, she has honed her skills on both print and outdoor buying working accounts such as Gatorade, Kraft Pizza Co., Horseshoe and Harrah's Casinos, Tier II and Tier III Automotive, White Hen, 7-Eleven and Field Museum. Jessica began her career at Foot, Cone & Belding in Chicago as an assistant media planner on national accounts.

Sylvia Talavera, Digital Director

Sylvia brings with her 10 years of extensive experience in all forms of digital/online marketing, media planning, buying and negotiating. Her knowledge includes online display and video, mobile, lead generation, affiliate programs, search marketing/PPC and email marketing. She has also worked on various social media initiatives including paid Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn campaigns as well as developing a social influencer/blogger content strategy. Sylvia has worked with industry trendsetters including Q Interactive (formerly CoolSavings) and Groupon to create sustainable DR campaigns while working closely with the analytics teams to maximize ROI. She has also worked at both Lipman Hearne and FRED and Associates where she built campaigns for various clients including Tootsie Roll, Avery, University of Cincinnati, Elmhurst College and DeVry.

Kelly Cappelletti, Social Media and Digital Specialist

Kelly comes to Efficiency Media with over eight years of experience in media planning and buying. She started her career as a broadcast buyer at RPM Advertising and over the years transitioned into a fully integrated media planner and buyer for all kinds of media. She specializes in research, strategy and planning for both B-to-B and B-to-C clients. She has created and executed media plans for a variety of clients on both the local and national level, including: Pier 1 Imports, Northwest Community Healthcare, UW Health, Hollywood Casino, 900 North Michigan Shops, Loyola University, CNA Insurance, amongst others. She has experience in buying and planning all mediums. At Efficiency Media, Kelly is following her true passion as a member of our digital team specializing in Social Media.

Tyler Eastman, SEM – SEO Specialist / E-mail Marketing

Tyler joins Efficiency Media with over 20 years of digital marketing experience. He comes to Efficiency Media from Howerton+White where he helped develop campaigns for Spirit AeroSystems, PetroChoice, Tall Grass Film Festival, Wichita Chisholm Trail Marathon and others. Tyler has also been integral with digital efforts for several large e-commerce companies including Macy's, American Eagle Outfitters and BuildASign.

Trista Countryman, Traffic Director / Senior Media Buyer

With over 11 years of media planning and buying experience, Trista brings a wealth of knowledge to Efficiency Media. During her 10 years with Noble / Gatesman, Trista developed and implemented media campaigns of all sizes, both national and local in scope. She has been involved at every level of the project from managing budgets to overseeing the planners and buyers, from researching industry competitive and new media to trafficking of all traditional media. Trista is also a seasoned negotiator for TV, radio, print, digital, outdoor, and sports sponsorships.

Karen Fusco, Accounting

Karen joined Efficiency Media in 2014. She brings with her a degree in communications from Syracuse University along with many years of experience is advertising. She started her career in the media department of Tatham Laird and Kudner (TLK). From there she managed the Chicago office for Simmons Market Research Bureau, a national syndicated research company focusing on primary and secondary research.