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A-Z Media Group, Inc. is
proud of its dynamic and award-winning team of
leading senior executives. Each individual is uniquely
skilled and brings immense talent and industry
knowledge to our company. We hope you will take a
few minutes and get to know those who shape the way
we do business.
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Dennis Conforto
Founder & CEO
A-Z Media Group, Inc. was founded by
Dennis Conforto. Dennis has been
Chairman and CEO of A-Z Media Group,
Inc. since 1999. His extensive
experience in retail sales and marketing
was the basis for his vision in the
founding of the company.
For nearly 20 years prior to founding
A-Z Media Group Inc., Dennis was an
owner and senior executive at GERS
Retail Systems, a worldwide leading
vendor of retail management information
systems. Dennis also served as president
of the Retail Consultants Center for
nearly two decades, and was executive
vice president at a Top 50 retail home
furnishings company. He has been a
frequent speaker at major industry
events, focusing in particular on sales
and profitability. Dennis is the
proud father of 7 and grandfather of 12. |
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Karen Crisp
Vice President of Sales Publishing
Karen
leads the sales efforts of the
Scrapbooking.com Magazine and The Smart
Group divisions. She has been with A-Z
Media Group, Inc. since 1999.Prior to
joining the A-Z Media Group, Karen
worked several years with MAI Systems on
the marketing team of a powerful,
high-tech, award-winning software firm
servicing the hotel industry. For nearly
a decade and a half Karen was the CEO of
a financial service firm she owned
headquartered in Southern California.
Her company provided a variety of
finance products and services. Karen has
worked with and consulted with many of
the largest, most successful
manufacturing firms within the
Scrapbooking Industry. She has innovated
with her clients several new products
and services that A-Z Media Group, Inc.
now provides to the marketplace today. |
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Steve Orme
Vice President of Sales Media
A-Z Media Group and its associated
division A-Z Media sales efforts are
lead by Steve Orme. Steve has been with
the A-Z Media Group since 2002 and was
associated with the company starting in
1998. Steve’s vast experience in Media
Buying, emailing marketing and TV
commercials has been a driving force
behind the sales success of the company
for nearly a decade.Prior to joining
A-Z Media Steve was an executive in a
larger service company and was also a
founding partner in a start up firm
attesting to his management and service
skill sets. |
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Tony Beecher
Vice President of Information Technology

Tony Beecher oversees the information
and system needs of A-Z Media Group,
Inc. and its associated divisions. Tony
has been with the A-Z Media Group since
1999. Tony’s extensive experience in
information systems and technologies has
been a driving force behind the
technical success of the company for
nearly a decade.
Prior to joining A-Z Media Group,
Inc., Tony worked for GERS Retail
Systems for over 13 years where he was
instrumental in the design, development,
quality control and implementation of
three generations of software products.
During this time, Tony served in various
positions including quality control
manager, product manager, marketing
support and training specialist.
Previously, Tony worked for a large home
furnishings business and was responsible
for the daily operations of 14 stores in
the San Francisco bay area. Tony has
also served as a partner in a
warehousing, wholesale distribution and
advertising firm specializing in the
retail home furnishings and consumer
electronics industries. Tony has worked
closely with the leaders in these
industries to develop a clear
understanding of these industries. |
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Nancy Ferguson
Vice President of Finance & Operations
Since 2005 Nancy has administered the
finances of A-Z Media Group, Inc. and
its associated divisions. Her experience
in finance and accounting has been
crucial to the company’s ongoing
success.
Prior to joining A-Z Media Group, Nancy
managed the accounting departments for
several companies. She also worked with
GERS Retail Systems’ executive
administrative department for many
years.
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Jake Naylor
Director of Marketing & Creative
The
graphic design and marketing efforts for
A-Z Media Group, Inc. and its associated
divisions are led by Jake Naylor. Jake
has an innate ability to take an idea
and create a marketing piece that
conveys not only the required
information but the feeling of the piece
as well. His experience has been
critical in directing the company’s
marketing strategy. Prior to his
work with A-Z Media Group, Inc., Jake served
as a design consultant for a
construction firm with operations
spanning the western United States. Jake
also brings to A-Z Media Group, Inc.
experience in marketing and promotions
with a leader in cancer research
funding. |
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Nancy Snow
Executive Administrator/Trade Show &
Event Coordinator
Since
1999, Nancy has served as the
administrative executive for A-Z Media
Group and all of its associated
divisions. Her experience and background
have been crucial to the company’s
ongoing success. Chief among her
responsibilities is managing trade shows
and events, in addition to handling many
of the administrative functions that
make the corporate office work.
Prior to joining A-Z Media Group, Nancy
worked for GERS Retail Systems as the
executive assistant to Dennis Conforto.
She was responsible for speaking
engagements, travel, sales reports,
conference schedules and hundreds of
PowerPoint presentations. Nancy has
worked with Dennis for over 20 years. As
Dennis says, “Nancy runs the show, I
just talk.” |
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Jami Petersen
Editor-In-Chief: Scrapbooking.com
Magazine, Newsletters
Jami
is the managing editor of
Scrapbooking.com Magazine’s weekly
business and consumer newsletters. She
is also the managing editor of the
bi-weekly SMART Report. Prior to joining
A-Z Media Group, Inc., Jami was editor
of several different craft publications.
In addition to her managing editor
responsibilities, Jami can be seen on
Crafttvweekly.com demonstrating various
craft projects. |
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Stacy Smith
Managing Editor, Scrapbooking.com
Magazine
Stacy has been the managing
editor of Scrapbooking.com Magazine
since 2006. The success of the magazine
can be attributed to Stacy’s ability to
relate to its readers. An avid
scrapbooker herself, Stacy understands
what the readers are most interested in
learning. Stacy rose through the ranks
of the company and leads a talented
group of industry writers. |
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Sherry Chapman
Senior
Manufacturer Consultant, The SMART Group
Sherry
is a consultant for The SMART Group
representing the needs and interests of
the manufacturers. She joined the team
in 2008 to work with manufacturers to
grow their market share with retailers.
Sherry's experience in the scrapbook
industry goes back to 1999 when she
worked with Frances Meyer, Inc. Upon
relocating to California in 2002, Sherry
joined Creative Imaginations, a leading
scrapbook manufacturer, first as Art
Director until she was promoted to
Marketing Director. She was responsible
for trade shows, advertising, special
events and new product launches. After
the birth of her second child, Sherry
stepped down as Marketing Director and
now consults from home as part of the CI
marketing team. Sherry has also served
on the Scrapbook Advisory Board and The
SMART Executive Committee. |
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Lisa Fedele
Senior Retailer Consultant, The SMART
Group
Lisa Fedele comes to The SMART Group
with over 15 years of corporate
experience in finance, operations and
marketing. After a stint as a management
consultant, Lisa decided to open her own
business. She operated two Cherished
Scrapbooks stores in southern Ontario
for seven years. During that time, she
was awarded The Pinnacle Award Business
Women of Distinction, The Sam McCallian
Small Business Community Involvement
Award and The SMART Retail Leadership
Award. Lisa holds an MBA and a Bachelor
of Commerce degree. |
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