Team
Our backgrounds are diverse, but our expertise is uniform. We’ve assembled the best of the best – including Google and Yahoo! certified paid search experts, SEO specialists who have driven significant online campaigns for multi-million dollar companies, account executives who have managed some of the world’s most prominent companies, and creative writers, designers, and programmers who have created and launched global brands online. We have also leveraged our expertise to help start-ups and mid-sized companies reach their goals. In addition to Internet experience, key members of our team have significant experience in direct marketing and traditional media. Our collective experiences help to shape innovative marketing strategies that generate growth for each of our clients.
Our Executive Management Team
- Michael B. Stalbaum – Founder and CEO
As CEO, Michael B. Stalbaum is the leader of Unreal Marketing and directs the company with a focus on future planning. Stalbaum assists in client acquisitions and growth strategy, oversees the accounting and financial health of the company, and manages overall profitability.
Stalbaum developed his passion for marketing while attending law school, where he worked to create marketing campaigns and promotions for local restaurants and charitable organizations. He left his career in law and started Unreal Marketing Solutions in 1999, with a mission to help companies build and maintain a strong presence in the burgeoning online arena.
In addition to his role as CEO of Unreal, Stalbaum dedicates some of his time educating audiences about search engine marketing. He has spoken about SEM and entrepreneurialism at a variety of colleges and conferences, as well as on National Public Radio.
Stalbaum holds a law degree and an MBA from Temple University and a B.S. in Marketing from the Pennsylvania State University.
- Bob Rothenberg – Managing Director
As Managing Director, Bob Rothenberg oversees the day-to-day management and operations of Unreal Marketing. He spearheads the strategic direction of the account & media services groups and works with senior staff & clients to increase ROI and profitability. Mr. Rothenberg also serves as the brand steward for clients and the company, guiding all marketing-related initiatives both internally and externally, and orchestrates proposal development across all client acquisitions and growth strategies.
Prior to joining Unreal, Mr. Rothenberg was the owner and operator of RHR Marketing, a Sports and Entertainment consultancy that grew out of his tenure at GSI Commerce where he headed up Marketing & Business Development focused on providing e-commerce and multi-channel solutions to the world’s leading brands, retailers and other consumer-centric organizations. Mr. Rothenberg has also held a management position with the Consumer Products Group at the National Basketball Association handling the Direct to Consumer initiatives via catalog, e-commerce website, and a database partnership with Sport Illustrated as well as other DTC campaigns
Mr. Rothenberg received an MA degree from Adelphi University with a concentration in Business Administration, and a B.S. from Stony Brook University.
- Tim Daly – VP, Interactive Services
Tim Daly serves as a Senior Vice President of Interactive Services for Unreal Marketing, providing a bottom-up rationale to online and offline marketing efforts. He oversees Unreal Marketing’s services team that is responsible for the planning and execution of online marketing campaigns.
Prior to Unreal Marketing, he was responsible for launching the interactive marketing services division at SendTec. Within a three-year time span, the division began servicing over 100 online marketing campaigns for major companies including: Intuit, Orkin, Columbia House, and Cosmetique.
Before moving to the agency side of the business, Daly accumulated over 12 years of direct marketing and internet marketing experience on the advertiser side. He held various senior management positions within Office Depot’s catalog and interactive divisions, overseeing and developing acquisition marketing programs for both online and catalog sales channels.
Daly holds a B.S. in Business Economics from SUNY at Oneonta, where he earned the President’s Medallion as valedictorian of his class. He also earned an M.S. in Marketing from the Lowry Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University, graduating with honors.
- Lauren Ferst – VP, Client Services & Strategy
In her role as VP, Client Services and Strategy, Lauren’s responsibilities include the ongoing effort of both developing and maintaining momentum of our current client relationships and growing the new. In addition, she manages the account services team, heads-up the competitive research practices group and supervises Unreal’s new internship program “Unreal University”. Lauren plays an integral role in driving the strategic direction of all client-marketing initiatives while overseeing their execution. She is also highly proficient at assisting clients with managing the integration of their online and offline campaigns offering a synergized marketing solution across all consumer touch points.
Before joining the Unreal Marketing team, Lauren spent 7+ years working for David’s Bridal in a Direct Marketing capacity. Her marketing prowess touched many initiatives across multiple brands within the Bridal Group. Her responsibilities there included developing marketing strategies and planning, creative development, campaign optimization and project management, media planning, e-commerce site development, ongoing vendor relationship management as well as financial reconciliation and analysis.
Lauren earned a B.A. in Psychology from The University of Michigan.
Createtraffic.com
- Jon Cooper – VP, Marketing Systems & Product Development
As VP, Marketing Systems & Product Development, Jon Cooper manages and coordinates the Unreal full-service banner, including organic and paid search listings, media buying, and direct content feeds. His team includes experienced online marketers, expert keyword optimizers, and organic search developers whose efforts provide industry-leading ROI for Unreal’s clients. Cooper is responsible for the development of Unreal’s next-generation marketing technology platform, designed to integrate Unreal’s multi-level services and allow Unreal’s online marketers to meet the highest standards of performance on behalf of their clients.
Prior to joining Unreal, Cooper served as Director of Distribution Programs at High Beam Inc., where he acquired new customers through partnerships with search engines and online properties. He also worked at Tucows, launching their online music distribution initiative, and he directed sales operations for Disc Makers, the U.S.’s largest independent CD replicator.
Cooper completed a BBA at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Business and a degree in Music Composition from Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
Our Senior Staff
- Richard Kalson -- Director of Business Development
- Melissa Kielty – Director of Marketing Technology
- Rob Young – Director SEO & Creative
- Dominic Saullo – Senior Manager, Marketing Strategy