Who We Are
The Martin Group is a full-service marketing communications firm dedicated to providing our clients with strategically based, high-impact solutions in the most timely and cost-effective manner. The agency is small enough to be flexible and responsive, yet has the talent and the experience to provide full-service solutions. An open, fun environment, free of corporate hierarchy, is a defining principle of The Martin Group, which strengthens the creative product and fosters a positive client experience. Our work has been recognized for creative excellence and outstanding business results, both locally and nationally. Please feel free to contact any of our clients for further information about their experiences with The Martin Group.
Tod Martin
POSITION: President/Creative Director
NICKNAME: "Todie"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Developing concept & design that exceeds client expectations
PET PEEVE: Negative attitudes
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis
WHY BUFFALO? Great friends, great restaurants, great culture
Pete Ahl
POSITION: Senior Art Director
NICKNAME: “And Justice for Ahl”
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Working with cool clients
PET PEEVE: Bad coffee
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains
FAVORITE LUNCHTIME FOOD: Mac and Cheese from Holly Farms
Alexa Petro Christopher
POSITION: Strategic Development
NICKNAME: "Lex"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Every project is a blank canvas
PET PEEVE: George Bush
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: I just listen to Joe's selections
FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD: Homemade macaroni & cheese
Lisa Freeman
POSITION: Brand Director
NICKNAME: "Green Machine"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: The cool clients I get to work on
PET PEEVE: Close talkers
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: I usually don't, but if I did, any country song would do
FAVORITE SONG I LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE ELSE'S DESK: "The Price Is Right" theme song, courtesy of Joe Sweeney
Patty Herkey
POSITION: Senior Art Director
NICKNAME: “Cake”
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Everything
PET PEEVE: When people don’t wash their hands
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: “Big Yellow Taxi 2007” by Joni Mitchell
NERVOUS HABIT: Singing out loud
Gwen Ito
POSITION: Copywriter/Proofreader
NICKNAME: “Gwenny”
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Combining creativity and structure
PET PEEVE: People thinking I'm related to the judge from that trial
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: “A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall” by Bob Dylan
REASON TO LIVE: My adorable, feisty daughter
Jason J. Kroll
POSITION: Assistant Art Director
NICKNAME: “Surf”
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Being able to ride the wave of creative juices
PET PEEVE: Wrinkled clothes (come on, everyone has an iron)
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: “Blue Flowers” by Dr. Octagon
SUNNY D OR PURPLE STUFF? Purple Stuff (Water, Sugar, Purple)
Jim Lorentz
POSITION: Brand Manager
NICKNAME: "J-Lo" (Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got.)
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Interacting with clients
PET PEEVE: Dirty hotel rooms
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: "Saved by the Bell" theme
FAVORITE SEINFELD CHARACTER: Kramer
Matthew Malburg
POSITION: Accountant
NICKNAME: “Matty” (though only a few people are allowed to call me that)
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: The open environment at TMG
PET PEEVE: Late timesheets
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: Pete’s music gets me through the day
FAVORITE CANDY TO KEEP IN THE DISH ON MY DESK: Reese’s mini peanut butter cups
Greg Meadows
POSITION: Associate Creative Director
NICKNAME: “Mr. Meadows”
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Being surrounded by creative people
PET PEEVE: Drivers who seem to lack any regard for my life-
or that of my children
FAVORITE VICE/INDULGENCE: A big California Cabernet
IFI COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ANY ONE PERSON FROM HISTORY–
PAST OR PRESENT– WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD I HAVE: Count Basie, Fried Chicken
Steven W. Molenda
POSITION: Brand Manager
NICKNAME: "Steve O"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: The end product. Being able to see your all of thoughts and hard work in a tangible form
PET PEEVE: timesheets
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: Anything Umphrey’s (or as Riley calls it – Humpdy’s)
FAVORITE CRAFT BREW: Breckenridge Brewery, Small Batch 471 IPA
James Neiler
POSITION: Assistant Art Director
NICKNAME: "Jamos"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Strategic Thinking
PET PEEVE: Clutter
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos
FAVORITE BALDING FOLKSINGER THAT SHARES MY FIRST NAME: James Taylor
Ben Palmeri
POSITION: Associate Creative Director - Design
NICKNAME: "Big John"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Finding a creative way to solve problems
PET PEEVE: Lack of respect for others
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: "Start Choppin" by Dinosaur Jr
BAD HABIT: Mumbling
Dion Pender
POSITION: Creative Director/Designer
NICKNAME: "D"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: To watch younger talent blossom, knowing I had some influence over it
PET PEEVE: A dirty windshield.
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: Metal (Oh, the foolishness of my youth)
PERSONAL STRESS RELIEF: Armor-Alling my truck tires
FAVORITE FOOD: Anything I can put Frank's Red Hot on
Kelli Putney
POSITION: Brand Strategist
NICKNAME: "Kel"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Delivering "spot-on" creative to our clients and seeing it move the needle for their business
PET PEEVE: Traffic (It's one reason I moved home to Buffalo from the Washington, D.C.-area!)
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: I like to hear Pete's choices through the wall -- especially old school '80s.
CIRCUS ICON WITH WHOM YOU'RE DISTANTLY RELATED: P.T. Barnum -- Really!
David Riley
POSITION: Senior Art Director
NICKNAME: "Kariley"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Seeing the positive results of our creative strategies and solutions
PET PEEVE: Negative attitudes
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: There are so many. For now, I pound my head to the echoing sounds cranked by my office brethrens
PERSONAL STRESS RELIEF: Ice Hockey at 10:30 p.m.
WORDS TO LIVE BY: Destroy Mediocrity
Melissa Skipper
POSITION: Brand Manager
NICKNAME: “Skip”, “Skipper”, “Skiiiiiiiiiiiiip”
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Developing a project from the ground up, and seeing everyone's hard work that went into it
PET PEEVE: Negativity
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: I generally listen to Jason's new-age music, which is growing on me
FAVORITE THING TO DO WHEN I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO: Watching Seinfeld reruns
Daniel Skrok
POSITION: Assistant Art Director
NICKNAME: “Sebastian”
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Networking, it’s all about networking
PET PEEVE: This question
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: N/A, I don’t have speakers
THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS: The second law thermodynamics
stipulates that the total entropy of a system plus its environment can not
decrease; it can remain constant for a reversible process but must always
increase for an irreversible process
Jennifer Sweeney
POSITION: Traffic Manager
NICKNAME: "Jen Bird","Morticia"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: The focused yet laid-back general atmosphere of the group
PET PEEVE: The sound/feel of scouring pads
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: "Shore Leave" by Tom Waits
FAVORITE JAMES BOND: Sean Connery
Joe Sweeney
POSITION: Associate Creative Director - Copy
NICKNAME: "Joe's Weeney"
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR JOB: Doing pro bono work for not-for-profit community organizations -
it reminds me that I'm not a completely useless waste of flesh
PET PEEVE: Blinding physical pain
FAVORITE SONG TO BLAST FROM YOUR DESK: The Golden Girls
REASON TO LIVE: My beautiful wife, Jen