Think of our team as an extension of your team

Terry Zelen is a seasoned Creative Director with more than 25 years of experience in Advertising and Marketing.

As President and owner of Zelen Communications, Terry manages a team of designers, programmers, account management and print production personnel, cultivating their talents while ensuring the highest level of quality. He also serves as the point man for many of his clients.

As one of the advertising pioneers who embraced today’s technology in its early stages, Terry embodies that rare breed of creative … deftly combining the importance of Branding and Strategic Thinking with design that’s both functional and easy to use. The results are products that work hard to meet clients’ marketing goals with the “Wow Factor.”

Terry’s talent also shines in his print work, having received numerous accolades from the American Advertising Federation for his depth and breadth of work on clients locally, regionally and nationally.

A consummate professional with a sense of humor, Terry prides himself on building his business by building long-term relationships.

Terry earned B.A.s from the University of Tampa in Marine Science and Biology, and also graduated with a minor in Art.

Prior to joining Zelen as Account Director, Fulton was Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for Outback Steakhouse, where she oversaw the monumental task of coordinating and implementing the branding and retail efforts of nearly 800 restaurants nationwide.

From TV and radio campaigns to the naming of new menu items, Internet promotions, grass roots marketing, sports and celebrity partnerships, product integration and more, Fulton constantly sought ways to keep the Outback brand top of mind to current and new consumers.

Fulton began her career nearly 20 years ago, working on accounts such as McDonald’s and Taco Bell at some of the most high-profile advertising agencies in Atlanta.

From there she joined West/Wayne Advertising in Tampa where for nearly 10 years she served as Director of Client Services, managing its two largest accounts, Publix Super Markets and Outback Steakhouse. Working closely with the Creative Department, Fulton helped elevate the Publix brand image to breakthrough levels, and was highly instrumental in the successful introduction of a 50 restaurant, Aussie-themed, casual Steakhouse to the country.

Fulton’s experience on the agency side has aided her tremendously on the client side. It was Fulton who managed and guided the conception of “No Rules. Just Right.” During her time with Outback revolutionary services such as Curbside Take-Away and Call Ahead Seating were launched to satisfy consumers’ busy lifestyles.

Equally important, under Fulton’s guidance, Outback’s TV commercials have been recognized by its peers with the “Best Use of Humor” award by MUFSO. They also enjoyed the highest re-call among TV viewers in ADWEEK polls. She accomplished many successful and highly visible national product integrations. The most successful were on NBC’s “The Apprentice” season four and five. In 2005, Fulton was awarded the most prestigious acknowledgement in the company, “Outbacker of the Year for the year 2004.”

Fulton is a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, Who’s Who in Women, and Who’s Who Worldwide. Her charitable efforts include Take Stock in Children as a mentor and marketing board member, Meals on Wheels, Autism Speaks and Hannah’s Buddies.

Fulton’s a Florida native and graduate of the University of North Florida.

The first thing you’ll notice about Chris McChesney is his sense of humor. The second is his commitment to excellence in his work. With a Fine Arts degree from USF where he studied Sculpture and Printmaking, Chris honed his skills and turned to Graphic Design and Art Direction where his creativity continues to flourish. He began his career in Orlando in 1992, eventually making his way to the Tampa Bay area.

Chris has worked on many award-winning accounts in the technology sector. He also possesses a wealth of experience designing for numerous national sports publications, as well as the healthcare industry.

When not designing for Zelen Communications, you’ll find do-it-yourselfer Chris working on his house, or spending time with wife Kim and sons Christopher and Matthew.

Kristin’s previous position established her as an integral part of the account management and media buying team at a fast-paced Tampa advertising firm, preparing her for her next role with Zelen Communications. She has worked on a wide array of clients, giving her a well-rounded experience. Kristin’s background also includes stints as an elementary school teacher, law clerk and sales associate.

Her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Florida State University makes her a natural fit for our marketing communications team. As the gatekeeper for clients, staff, media contacts, and vendors, she is the oil that keeps the Zelen machine functioning at peak performance. Kristin is unflappable in the most demanding of circumstances.

Outside the Zelen offices, Kristin spends time with her large close-knit family, attempts to train her 10-year-old Pomeranian Koby, and enjoys spending time with friends. A favorite annual activity is diving for lobsters in the Keys during mini-season. She is a current active member of the Junior League of Tampa.

Harold has been programming websites for nine years, and writing programs since he was 10. Entirely self-taught as a programmer and as a web developer, he operated his own website development service for various clients in Caracas for several years before deciding to move to Tampa to work with Zelen Communications.

Cherie Shive offers extensive experience on the client and agency side of the media business as well as a strong ability to lead teams through key growth cycles of a brand.

As Vice President of Media Services for Outback Steakhouse, Cherie provided media expertise and exceptional execution as Outback’s footprint grew from a local advertiser to a national brand. As Outback expanded into more than 800 locations, Cherie managed a $110 million Marketing and Advertising budget. She provided the strategic thinking and analytical planning to maximize media dollars as the company’s strategies and the media landscape evolved.

In her 11 years in the role, Cherie optimized media programs and leveraged assets between target audiences throughout purchase funnels of Network TV, National Cable, Spot TV and Radio, Local and National Print, Internet, Outdoor and Digital. The media programs she was responsible for developing were instrumental in increasing Outback’s sales and profits in the highly competitive restaurant industry.

Her career in advertising began in 1978 as a Media Buyer on National and Regional Brands: Monsanto, Ralston Purina, Six Flags and Jack In The Box for Advanswers Media Programming in St. Louis, MO.

In 1988, Cherie joined West/Wayne Advertising in Tampa, FL as VP Media Director, where her responsibilities included media planning and buying for all clients including Publix Super Markets, Sun Trust Banks and Outback Steakhouse. AtWest/Wayne Cherie grew into a true leader in agency collaboration, and earned a track record of optimizing advertising dollars across all advertising mediums on a national and local level.