Bios

MARK A. NEAD
Co-founder | Partner

Mark has more than 12 years of experience in graphic design for print and web-based media, and brand development. Driven by his passion to integrate design and commerce, Mark founded Neadesign Company, now Boondock Walker, a strategic brand communication and design firm, in 1999. He currently serves as Co-founder and Partner. Mark attributes the firm’s success to its holistic approach to brand development, and the partners’ commitment to fostering strong, lasting relationships with clients.

Mark has designed award-winning identity systems, brand development platforms, print collateral, product packaging and advertising for such clients as The Austin Company, Comerica Bank, McDonald Hopkins, MidTown Cleveland, National Enterprise Systems, National Football League, Neighborhood Capital Corporation, Progressive Insurance, Successories, UBS|Paine Webber and Williams-Sonoma.

From 1993 to 1999, Mark served as an Art Director within Progressive Corporation’s Design Group, responsible for design direction and writing on a wide range of projects, including corporate identities, brand standards, print collateral, internal communications, outdoor and print advertising, direct mail, exhibit displays and vehicle signage applications. From 1996 to 1999, Mark worked with Progressive’s Consumer Marketing Group to create and establish brand direction and support. Under Mark’s direction, the Progressive Collection, a corporate catalog program was launched, and has grown to become a $2.5 MM program. Mark was selected in 1998 to lead the Design Group, in collaboration with Hal Riney & Partners, Progressive’s first partner agency, through the company’s first brand development initiative. The campaign would eventually include an NFL sponsorship program in which Mark was responsible for brand identity systems, print collateral and promotional campaigns.

Mark’s varied skills include branding strategy and communication, concept development, design and writing.

Mark studied Architecture at the University of Cincinnati, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from Bowling Green State University. [return to top]

BRIAN J. WILLSE
Co-founder | Partner

Brian has more than 11 years of experience in graphic design and illustration. In 1995, Brian founded Willse Design & Illustration, now Newbomb Design, an award-winning creative firm specializing in design for print and new media. Brian attributes the firm’s success to its ability to develop design solutions that are inspiring, functional and, most importantly, tailored to clients’ singular business and communication needs.

He has created brand marks and comprehensive identity systems, print collateral, editorial design and illustration for such firms as BioEnterprise Corp., Case Western Reserve University, Hear/Say College Music Magazine, HVACR Business, Kaiser Permanente, Mode Organic, 1-800-Gourmet.com, Park City Diner, Rocky River Brewing Company and YMCA of Greater Cleveland.

Brian also specializes in publication design, including the repositioning and redesign of existing magazines. His clients have included Enterprise Magazine; Hear/Say, America’s College Music Magazine; HVACR Business (formerly HVACR News); Organic Spa Magazine; WV Inc., and others. Between 1996-1999, Brian worked as an art director and consultant for Live Publishing and The Free Times. He has contributed illustrations to publications from Ohio University, Kenyon College and the Whitehead Institute.

Brian’s many talents include art direction, graphic design, publishing and book design, illustration, magazine art direction and web design. He graduated from Ohio University in 1991 with a BFA in Graphic Design with an Illustration emphasis.

Professional memberships include the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and the Northern Ohio Illustrators’ Society (NOIS).

Brian served as instructor at Cuyahoga Community College where he taught History of Graphic Design from 2001-2007. [return to top]

MICHAEL LEHTO
Technical Director

Michael Lehto creates at the crossroads of art, science, and technology: drawing from multiple disciplines to deliver a broad vision of integrated design and technology. As Boondock Walker’s Technical Director, he’s focused on technical operations, providing clients and partners with best industry practices and pathways to best-in-class talent.

For the past five years, Michael has been engaged as a freelance multimedia programmer, designer and artist, working with a diverse number of institutions including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Case Western Reserve University, EcoCity Cleveland, and the Cleveland Institute of Art. In addition, he’s partnered with a number of socially-based and non-profit organizations and artists.

In 2007, Michael was a featured artist at the Cleveland Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology, where he presented groundbreaking installation work that tracked the environmental impact of long-distance food systems. Michael also serves as adjunct faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he teaches courses in Information Design, as well as Basic and Advanced Web Programming and Design.

Prior to his joining CIA, Michael worked as a software engineer for a variety of high-tech institutions, including the European Aerospace Agency (Eurocopter), and NASA. He holds advanced degrees in Mathematics, Computer Science, and German, as well as a Master of Fine Art (MFA) in Digital Art.

Michael's interests blend seamlessly with his professional ethic, revolving around a keen sense of social and environmental responsibility. He is also an avid biker and active gardener. [return to top]

DIANN L. MISTELSKE
Project Manager | Photographer

Diann Mistelske grew up in Amish country, Ohio and spent her younger years drawing pictures and riding horses. Now an accomplished photographer with 12 years under her belt and experience in non-profit development and project management, Diann is lending her multi-faceted talents to Boondock Walker as Project Manager/Photographer.

Diann earned her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art with a specialization in Photography and minor in Jewelry & Metals. While in art school, she completed a study abroad program at the Burren College of Art in County Clare, Ireland. She ended up staying in Ireland for more than a year, working at a local stable and gaining access to a portal in Irish life most outsiders never see. Her deep passion for investigating the culture led her to create a large and diverse body of documentary images from horse fairs, family gatherings, public protests and ancient Celtic ruins.

Serving as the last official staff photographer for the Cleveland Free Times in 2001/2002, Diann rounded out her photographic skills, shooting everything from food to political events, formal portraits to rock concerts. Among the musicians and groups she has photographed in concert are Patti Smith, U2, David Byrne, BB King, The White Stripes, Sheryl Crowe, Jack Black, Radiohead, Cher, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, and Robert Plant. She even had the very rare opportunity to capture portraits of legendary Blues musician, Robert Lockwood in her studio—some of her most prized portfolio images.

Diann’s big heart also keeps her involved with area non-profit organizations, lending her creative skills to benefit causes she believes in. In 2004 she photographed 16-yr old Ana Rodriguez, an incredible young lady with the unfortunate burden of being born with HIV, for the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland’s annual educational campaign, “Art Action AIDS.” Ana’s face represented all Latina women across the city, on billboards, postcards and advertisements with the words, “Express Yourself, Protect Yourself” spelled out in Spanish. Ultimately, her billboard received the greatest community response of all campaigns to date and was erected 3 additional times…the last unfortunately after Ana’s passing. In 2006, Diann teamed up with Ana’s sister, Marilyn and video artist Samantha Schartman to create a video detailing the family’s tragic story for an HIV/AIDS special that aired on MTV.

As an adjunct photography instructor at Virginia Marti College of Art and Design over the past 2 1/2 years, Diann has enjoyed sharing her professional experience, knowledge and encouragement with students, helping them to become better artists and designers. She continues to ride horses and make art in her studio in Amish country during her free time. [return to top]

MEREDITH PANGRACE
Art Director | Designer

A well-rounded Art Director and Graphic Designer, with over 10 years of experience, Meredith enjoys creating brand marketing materials for print, publishing, web, and interactive media.

From 2001-2008 Meredith was an award-winning Editorial Art Director for Cleveland Scene, a Village Voice alternative newsweekly. A rising star in Cleveland’s design community, she was quickly recognized nationally and locally for her covers, layouts, and art direction of reknowned illustrators and photographers.

In 2001, she was selected by Cuyahoga Community College to teach animation for Web. While there, she designed a new curriculum using Flash to teach the concepts of 2-D animation.

Short out of college, Meredith tackled the technical ropes at pre-press company R.E. May, then moved on to work as an Interactive Designer at EDR Media/Beachwood Studios. As EDR’s top interactive design talent, she created interactive experiences for such clients as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Best Buy, and IMG.

Meredith was a quick study at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, graduating with departmental honors in Fine Art. She continued her arts eduction with Cuyahoga Community College, has attended personal training sessions with Publishing Solutions in Akron, and has held various internships in town. Most notably, she held an internship in the design/production department of Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine in New York and served as a studio assistant to SoHo-based painter Nancy Brett. [return to top]

WENDY TREM
Director of Interactive Media | Business Development

With over 13 years of creative and project management experience, Wendy has helped companies like Coach, Humana-Medicare, Parker Hannifin Corporation, Fisher-Price and Marriott Hotels leverage their brand to the online channel. Whether it's helping clients launch a new Web site, create an interactive application to demo new products, or strategize and launch a social media campaign, Wendy has been there to provide clients with the best recommendations for online practices.

Wendy has a strong understanding of interaction design, user experience and how to best market and sell products via the web. She has participated in numerous usability tests, competitive assessments and heuristic evaluations and is committed to helping clients find new and innovative ways to reach their end users.

Her previous experience has provided her with a well-rounded background in both agency and corporate consulting environments, with significant business development and strategy experience and broad exposure to Web marketing technologies. 

Prior to joining Boondock Walker, Wendy worked as a Senior Account Manager at Rosetta, later moving into the role of Associate Creative in their Creative and Customer Experience practice. From 2001 - 2005 she worked as an Interactive Producer at Kaleidoscope Animations. Wendy began her career at EDR Media, where she worked as an Account Executive and was lucky enough to work with Fortune 100 companies such as, Burger King International, OfficeMax and Best Buy, Inc. [return to top]

At the young age of 10 Carrie Wing designed, printed, and distributed her own neighborhood newspaper. From that moment on she knew she was destined to have a very creative career. Working her way through school as a bartender, she graduated Cuyahoga Community College with her Associates in Graphic Design. She then went on to the University of Akron, where she earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in 2005.

While still in school, Carrie started as a freelancer for McGill Property Group. From 2003-2008 she designed site plans of commercial properties for use as displays in trade shows.

Carrie worked at ERICO from 2005-2006 as a graphic designer. She was involved in many projects, specializing in international product catalogs and other multi-language materials. She later signed on with Marcus Thomas from 2006-2007, designing a wide variety of pieces for a clients like Kelly Tire, Ohio savings Bank, Team NEO, and Alcoa.

In 2007 Carrie teamed up with Brain Willse at Newbomb Design and was named a full time designer with Boondock Walker in 2008. Besides working on Hear/Say College Music Magazine, HVACR Business Magazine and a mix of other marketing communication projects, it’s a known fact around the office that she can still mix a mean martini. [return to top]