BABCOX MEDIA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
Barbara L. Kimbrew, a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) has been working in the business of Human Resources for more than 20 years. She is a graduate of Franklin University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. Most recently, Ms. Kimbrew graduated from Kent State University, earning her Master of Business Administration degree. Joining Babcox Media in late 2013, she is responsible for developing, directing and administering all human resource function, including recruiting, benefits, compensation administration, performance management and training initiatives.
Beth Scheetz joined Babcox Media in 1985. Over the years, she has held a variety of accounting positions before being named Controller in 2005 and appointed to the Executive Leadership Team in 2015. Scheetz is responsible for a variety of corporate operational functions with primary responsibility for financial planning and accounting management.
Bill Babcox, the third-generation owner of Babcox Media, has spent his entire professional career with his family's company (apart from a few early years at The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in its retail stores division).
Joining the business in 1985, after graduating from Denison University, he held a variety of sales and management positions before being named Chief Executive Officer in 1990.
Bobby came to Babcox Media with the July of 2019 acquisition of Transmission Digest where he served as publisher since 1993. Prior to Transmission Digest, he held several other positions with MD Publications where duties included I/T, and trade show management.
Bobby holds a dual Business Administration/Economics bachelor's degree from Drury University, a Master of Business Administration from Drury and a degree equivalent in Information Systems Management from Missouri State University. Bobby also has been an instructor, primarily of Marketing and Operations Management, for 23 years at Drury University and for a couple of years at Missouri State. Bobby also spent eight years providing satirical opinion columns to the Community Free Press of Springfield.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Audience Data & Marketing
Brandi Gangel joined Babcox Media in 2014. Appointed to Vice President of Audience Data and Marketing in 2019, she leads the audience data, operations and insight efforts and teams for the company. She is the primary manager of the company's audience intelligence assets and is responsible for audience data acquisition, organization, integration and activation. She also oversees the company's digital strategies and execution.
Prior, Gangel worked for Panera Bread in a variety of field, brand and customer engagement marketing roles. She received her undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University and her graduate degree from Webster University, St. Louis.
Job Titles:
- Digital Advertising Manager / Multimedia Regional Sales Manager
- Digital Advertising Manager / Regional Sales Manager
Cathy Kulwicki, a nearly 20-year media professional, joined Babcox Media in 2015 to assist in the development and positioning of the company's digital solutions. In July 2019, she took on the additional responsibilities of a Regional Sales Manager, working directly with clients to develop integrated marketing campaigns. Prior to joining Babcox Media, Cathy spent 15 years in the newspaper industry, working for the Akron Beacon Journal and the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida. She graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Job Titles:
- Vice President / Group Publisher
Dean Martin joined Babcox in 1996 as an associate group publisher for the company's automotive service publications and a regional sales manager. With an accomplished sales career, Martin was named publisher of Fleet Equipment in 2013. Since then, he has also assumed responsibility for the Tire Review, Fleet Service Technology and Transmission Digest brands, serving as a Group Publisher.
Prior to the start of his career at Babcox Media, Martin served as publisher of trade publications in the mining and construction industries. He is a 1981 graduate of The Ohio State University.
Greg Cira is a 27- year veteran of the company, named President in December 2019. Cira joined Babcox Media in 1992 and has held a variety of publishing, accounting and strategic roles within the company over the years including Group Publisher, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President. He is responsible for all company operations, including finance, strategic planning, acquisition strategy and product development.
Prior to his career at Babcox, Greg spent several years with Ernst & Young in both the consulting and assurance services groups with specialization in retail and manufacturing sectors.
Greg has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting from Bowling Green State University. He is also a CPA and a Fellow with the American Board of Forensic Accountants.
Job Titles:
- Vice President / Group Publisher
Jim Merle, a 26-year veteran of the business, joined Babcox Media in 1993 and currently serves as publisher of the Brake & Front End, ImportCar, Underhood Service, Servicio Automotriz, Shop Owner, Counterman, aftermarketNews and Tomorrow's Tech brands. Prior to joining Babcox, Jim worked for the Akron Beacon Journal. Jim is a graduate of the University of Akron.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Digital Media
Michael Madej joined Babcox Media in 2015 and is responsible for setting digital sales, marketing and execution strategies as well as the digital product development for all brands across the Babcox Media portfolio.
Madej was previously employed by Penton Media, where he led the Manufacturing & Supply Chain digital team. He also spent time with Vendome Group as sales director for the company's Healthcare Informatics brand. He has a bachelor's degree from Baldwin Wallace University and an MBA from Cleveland State University's Ahuja College of Business.
Mike Maleski joined Babcox in 2016 and was tasked with learning the business by working within our automotive service business division before assuming the role of Group Publisher - Customer Solutions. In this position, he was primarily responsible for sales activity and creative customer solutions. Promoted to EVP in 2019, Maleski is responsible for implementing a clear growth and innovation strategy using his prior experience from The Plain Dealer and the Cleveland Cavaliers to develop new multi-media customer solutions. Maleski is a graduate of Waynesburg University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Video & Content Services
- Publisher / Executive Director of Content & Video
Randy Loeser joined Babcox Media in 2013 as publisher of Tire Review and was later given additional responsibilities as the Director of Digital Media and Group Publisher of Engine Builder. In 2018, Randy transitioned into the role of Group Publisher of Content Services to provide creative and custom content and video solutions to our clients. Randy has worked for several national business-to-business publishers in a variety of roles throughout his career, including publisher, business development, marketing and digital management. Randy is a graduate of John Carroll University.
Job Titles:
- Director, Client Activation
- Senior Director, Client Activation
Sam Zelasko, A multi-media professional with over 20-years of marketing and media experience at the Cleveland Indians and Skyview Networks, Sam Zelasko joined Babcox Media in 2021 as the Senior Director of Client Activation. He is responsible for sponsorship sales, activation and management across all brands in the Babcox Portfolio. Sam is a graduate of Xavier University.
Job Titles:
- Digital Advertising Manager / Multimedia Regional Sales Manager
- Digital Advertising Manager / Regional Sales Manager
Sarah Short, a 17-year media professional with a specialized focus in digital marketing, joined Babcox Media in 2019. Sarah currently serves a dual role of Digital Advertising Manager, helping to guide growth in this key area as well as Regional Sales Manager, working directly with clients to develop comprehensive marketing strategies. Prior to joining Babcox Media, Sarah worked for Advance Ohio in a variety of leadership roles. She is a graduate of Gannon University in Erie, PA.
Susan Givens joined Babcox Media in 2017 when the company acquired the AutoSuccess brand. Susan has worked with AutoSuccess since 2001 and held various sales and operational roles before being named Publisher in 2008. Since joining the Babcox Media team, she has assumed Group Publisher responsibility for the AutoSuccess, Motorcycle & Powersports News and Professional Carwashing & Detailing brands. Susan is graduate of the University of Louisville.