People

Peggy Lauritsen

Owner and Chief Executive Artist

Peggy founded PLDG in 1980 with a passion for building client brands. Today, her responsibilities include client relations, strategic planning, marketing and account management. She is also a dedicated advocate for economic development issues in Minnesota through her efforts on behalf of women business owners.

In 2006, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). In 2001, she was awarded Woman Business Owner of the Year from NAWBO. Peggy holds a B.S. in Art with honors from the University of Wisconsin, Stout.

Amy Clarke

President

With more than 25 years of experience in design and project management, Amy sees bridges where others see roadblocks. She oversees daily operations, managing all aspects of design, estimating, production, scheduling and traffic management. An expert in vendor relations, Amy also leads PLDG’s sourcing. No matter the challenge, Amy can find a solution. Amy received her A.A. in Advertising Design from the Colorado Institute of Arts.

Sharon Stanton

Senior Account Executive

In one client’s words: “Sharon has perfected the role of the account executive, adeptly anticipating needs and seamlessly orchestrating projects.” Sharon has a particular passion for healthcare marketing, helping create communications that educate and inspire providers and patients. With a style that is both compelling and calming, Sharon leads the creative team in defining and delivering on a client’s project goals. Sharon has a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota.

 

Linda Gosslin

Senior Account Executive

Clients appreciate the insight and ideas Linda brings to their brand strategy. With more than 25 years of experience with branding, client relations, and creative implementation, she oversees PLDG’s execution aligned to strategy.

Linda has facilitated brand workshops with employee and executive teams and conducted communication audits. She is also a speaker on emerging kiosk and multi-touch technology trends. Linda holds a B.A. in Marketing Management from the University of St. Thomas and has participated in Brand Management curricula at The Carlson School of Management.

Bob Upton

Creative Director

Bob excels at giving brands a visual “voice.” He knows how to help consumers emotionally connect with a product or service to inspire brand preference and loyalty. This expertise earned him Best of Show of the Top 50 Brands of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts for the Belvedere and Chopin Vodka campaigns — just one of numerous awards. In his 28+ years of creative leadership, Bob has served national and multi-national clients. Over the course of his career, he has focused, in particular, on the healthcare, consumer and hospitality sectors.

John Haines

Senior Art Director

John is particularly adept at developing multi-channel marketing campaigns that allow him to create work for interactive, video and print. He brings 25+ years of experience in design and creative direction. John’s work has been recognized in HOW Self-Promotion Annual, PRINT Regional Design Annual, Summit Awards, American Corporate Identity, International Logos and Trademarks, Communication Arts magazine, Logos, Graphic Design USA and by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), both national and Minnesota chapters, and the Minnesota chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. John is a recipient of the Palazzolla Memorial Award for Graphic Design and holds a B.F.A. with honors from the University of Michigan.

 

Viera Hartmannova

Senior Art Director

Viera is an expert in brand identity with a great depth of experience, including printed marketing-based materials, signage, environmental design projects and Web design. Her work has received several awards including multiple American Graphic Design Awards and an American Corporate Identity Award of Excellence. Viera has a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, as well as an M.F.A. in Visual Studies from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Heather Laubach

Senior Art Director

As a creative, conceptual thinker with high attention to detail, Heather brings a unique perspective to all client projects. She also excels at developing strategic employee engagement and marketing materials that meet client objectives and adhere to brand guidelines. Heather’s work has been honored by a PRINT Creativity + Commerce award, as well as the HOW International Design Annual and the Healthcare Advertising Awards. She has a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Sara Rogge

Production Artist and Proofreader

The best creative falls flat if it’s not delivered with accuracy and speed. As a production artist, Sara excels at refining a design from the first look to the final proof. Sara executes high-quality projects, helps with photo research, prepares documents for print, prepares scans, proofreads and performs flight checks. She graduated cum laude from Arizona State University with a B.I.S. in Mass Communications and Sociology.

 

Jan Tylko

Accounting Manager

Accurate invoices? Timely payments? Monthly financial statements? Employee benefits and payroll executed? These are all ways that Jan contributes to the ongoing success of the firm. She is organized and accurate about the accounting functions of the company. She is efficient and thoughtful with day-to-day accounting, bookkeeping and benefits administration. As part of the senior management team, she plays a key role in strategic planning. Jan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a Minor in German from The University of Minnesota.

Laine Warnke

Junior Designer

Laine is the voice of the office; wearing many hats, she greets callers and visitors at the front desk. As a bright junior designer she brings fresh perspective to the firm. She works with senior art directors to create concepts, execute graphic standards, perform photo research, make PDF proofs, prepare mock-ups for presentations, or finalize digital files. Laine also collaborates with account executives regarding client support services and marketing. Laine has a B.F.A. in Graphic Design and a B.A. in Spanish from Minnesota State University. She was an officer in the MNSU Chapter of AIGA and studied in France and Mexico.