Our Team

Jim McKeen

Jim McKeen is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Strategic Marketing Associates, Inc., and has nearly three decades of marketing expertise to the construction industry.

Prior to establishing SMA in 1997, Jim was a Senior Marketing Executive with Master Builders Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, where his charge was leading the company’s market planning efforts, directing the company’s market research and analysis, providing consultative planning and analysis to Master Builders customer base, and representing the organization as an industry speaker and trainer.

Earlier in his career, Jim worked as a Senior Planning and Financial Analyst for the Dana Corporation, and later as an Account Executive with SRC, an Ohio-based research and consulting organization where he honed his primary research expertise.

Jim is an active member of the SMPS (Society for Marketing Professional Services), the CMRC (Construction Market Research Council), and the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders).

Jim is a graduate of the University of Toledo where he received an MBA with a dual concentration in marketing and management, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Diana Caro

Diana Caro, a Senior Associate with SMA, specializes in the property and casualty industry, consulting with clients seeking to establish effective sales and marketing strategies for their organizations.

Prior to this role, Diana was a Project Manager with SMA, with responsibilities for focus group studies, trade show market research activities, and program development.

Scott Arnold

Scott Arnold, an IT, Lotus Notes, and database expert, has worked as Strategic Marketing Associates database specialist since our inception in 1997. Scott is responsible for our data cross-tabulations, our more sophisticated Excel Applications, and database development efforts.

Scott graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing.

Ken Perelman

Ken Perelman is a Research Analyst and Web Development Associate with SMA. Prior to working with SMA, Ken served as a marketing executive with Master Builders Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, a leading supplier of admixtures to the ready-mix concrete industry where he managed the company’s marketing services department.

While at Master Builders, Ken served as President of the CMRC (Construction Marketing Research Council) and was a member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals.

Ken received his MPA from Indiana University and his BA from The Ohio State University.

Steve Lanza

Steven Lanza is a Senior Associate with Strategic Marketing Associates and has 18 years of market research, marketing management, and consultative marketing experience.

Steven has a significant breadth of experience in the construction industry, having led research projects in the highway transportation, concrete repair, and residential construction markets.

Steven holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Akron. Steven sits on the boards of the Sales & Marketing Executives Association (SME) and Toastmasters International.

Dave Stofka

Dave Stofka has over 25 years professional experience working in web design and interactive development. He has worked on projects for businesses in numerous industries — including architecture and construction, engineering, manufacturing, real estate, transportation, and medical services — but also for non-profits and smaller organizations.

Coupling his left-brain expertise in HTML, Javascript/jQuery, CSS, and PHP with right-brain skills in art and visual design, Dave creates sites and experiences that communicate with clarity, efficiency, and appeal. He specializes in WordPress development, customization, and repair. And when marketing calls for it, he also puts to use his talents in 2D animation, video effects, and audio editing.

Dave earned his Bachelor’s Degree in General Business and Computer Art at Bowling Green State University.

Sara McClintock

Sara McClintock has over 15 years experience in the marketing and advertising industry. As Senior Marketing Services Manager for Omnova Solutions – Commercial Wall covering Division, Sara developed marketing campaigns for eight brands, and managed Omnova’s trade show presentation at NEOCON 2001.

As Circulation Marketing Manager for Trenchless Technology, Inc, she improved the BPA audit on their charter publication, Trenchless Technology, and earned BPA audit credentials for Directional Drilling Magazine. Experience within both advertising agencies, as well as in-house marketing departments, provides Sara with an intuitive perception of, not only our client’s needs, but the message required to generate optimum results from each target market.

As a freelance graphic artist and copywriter, Sara has a great deal of experience communicating with outside vendors – printers, binderies, photographers, and suppliers – coordinating production to get the job done accurately and in the most efficient timeframe possible.

Tom Brandt

Tom Brandt is a Research Associate with Strategic Marketing Associates with over 25 years in consulting, research, and in-depth interviewing experience.

Tom’s primary focal points are the Manufacturing Capital Equipment, Construction, and Specialty Equipment industries.

Tom is currently a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and the National Truck Equipment Association.