Team

Since founding MI in 1978, Lois LeMenager has led the company through tremendous growth and innovation.  Through her efforts and energy, MI remains one of the largest woman-owned businesses in the country and one of Chicago’s largest private firms.

Lois maintains a strong interest in the industry and in mentoring women in the business world. Over the years, she’s received numerous prestigious awards, all recognizing her tremendous contributions to furthering the industry. Among them are entrepreneurship awards from organizations such as the Entrepreneur of the Year Institute, Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame and American Institute of Entrepreneurs. Other awards are: Chicago’s Top Women-Owned Firms, Crain’s Chicago Business – one of Chicago’s largest women-owned firms, 1989 – 2005, Who’s Who in Chicago Business, Crain’s Chicago Business, America’s Top 500 Women-Owned Businesses, Working Woman Magazine – one of the largest women-owned businesses in the country. Ms. LeMenager also participates in many travel and incentive industry associations. She is a strong proponent of women’s groups, promoting the advancement of women in the business world, including the Chicago Network.

Under his leadership, Rick Blabolil spearheaded tremendous growth for MI during the past decade, enabling MI to become one of the largest incentive marketing companies in the U.S. Over his 30 year tenure, Rick drives the overall business strategy of the company as well as lends his expertise to solving our clients’ toughest challenges. He provides thought leadership to the performance improvement industry and serves on a variety of organization boards within the industry:

• President – Incentive Marketing Association (2008)
• Past President/Founder – Forum for People Performance Management
• Past Vice President – Incentive Research Foundation
• Board Member – Performance Improvement Council
• Past President/Board – Incentive Gift Certificate Council
• Advisor – Incentive Federation
• National Advisory Committee for The Motivation Show
• Incentive Legislative Committee

Rick holds an MBA from Northwestern University, J.L. Kellogg School of Management and holds a Certified Professional of Incentive Management (CPIM) designation from the Incentive Marketing Association.

Michael determines the strategic direction and business contribution of the information systems area and coordinates the activities of all systems-related projects. In addition, Michael creates and maintains program databases, administers disaster recovery procedures, and implements and supports new applications.  Michael has worked in the information technology field for 18 years, as a computer consultant. Previously, he owned and operated a company that manufactured and marketed an industrial oil filtration system. Michael is an inventor who holds three patents. His professional affiliations include membership in the Incentive Marketing Association and the Online Incentive Council. Michael received his bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in marketing from Northern Illinois University. Michael has been with MI for 15 years.

Brad leads the strategic development of People Performance Management solutions for our clients, by incorporating best practices and new technologies into the solutions delivery infrastructure. He manages the consultative sales process including client discovery dialogs, business issue identification, cost/benefit analysis and time-to-value analysis, and he scopes all client solutions with defined performance metrics and return on investment.  With Brad’s solutions architecture, Marketing Innovators can design programs that are tailored to meet each client’s unique set of objectives, challenges and audience needs.  Brad also oversees key account management, expansion and new business development. Brad holds a B.A. in Business with a minor in Communications from Fordham University, Bronx, NY. Brad is a member SHRM, the IMA and RPI. Brad also holds a Human Capital Strategist (HCS) designation from The Human Capital Institute, Washington, DC.  Brad has been with MI for 10 years.

Cindy is charged with planning and executing marketing and sales strategies for MI and MI clients and oversees the JCPenney Incentive Sales group. She has 18 years of experience in the incentive and recognition industry with a strong record of leadership and service including her roles as President of the Incentive Marketing Association in 2005 and as President of the Incentive Gift Card Council in 2007. She holds a Certified Professional of Incentive Management (CPIM) designation and has been with MI for 4 years.

Jig is primarily responsible for developing and enhancing the People Performance Management Suite application.  He has successfully transitioned various clients to the People Performance Management Suite whose needs may have been simple out of the box solutions or complex custom enhancements.  Jig has worked in the information technology field for over 9 years primarily working with web applications.  He has both worked on and managed projects among a diverse portfolio of needs in project management, quality assurance, full lifecycle system development, IT visioning and strategic planning, data warehousing and business process redesign.  Jig has been with MI for 5 years.

Shawn directs the accounting and finance activities at MI. She holds a B.S. in Accounting/Finance from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, IN.  Shawn has been with MI for 18 years.

Cyndi manages the Customer Service area and oversees several of our major PPM accounts at MI. She has been with Marketing Innovators for over 22 years. Cyndi takes an active role in the Autism Community dedicating many hours to fund raising and volunteering her time.

Sue manages a team of Customer Care and Award Fulfillment Coordinators.  She oversees client orders, fulfillment of award mailings, customer service, invoicing, award printing, gift card ordering and inventory for our reward and recognition programs.  She works closely with our JCP clients, and maintains other customer relationships.  Sue recently become involved in our Merchant Relations department and has created, and maintained, relationships with many of our 300+ Vendors.  Sue holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin and has been with MI for over 20 years.

Wilmi leads MI’s operational process and procedures in the implementation of new programs.  MI’s Client Services Department acts as our internal and external customer’s single point of contact in the launch of new programs.  Wilmi has held several positions at Marketing Innovators, including Manager, Human Resources/Office Services, Director, Merchandise Operations and Manager of Retailer and Multicultural Development.  Prior to Marketing Innovators her background includes 6 years in the travel industry working in sales for Dennis and Donovan Travel in Boston, MA.  Wilmi holds a B.S. in Psychology & Music from Mary Baldwin College, in Staunton, VA, and an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources from Northeastern University, Boston, MA.   Wilmi has been with MI for over 20 years.

Chris leads programs and systems that support the company’s most valuable resources: MI employees.  She manages all aspects of the human resources area including compensation & benefits, recruitment, organizational development, performance management, rewards & recognition, payroll administration, legal compliance, strategic HR planning, and employee relations. Chris has worked in the human resources field for over 20 years primarily in the manufacturing and retail industries. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Dominican University in River Forest, IL, a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the HR Certification Institute, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Human Resource Management (MHRM) from Keller Graduate School of Management. Chris has been with MI for 3 years.