leadership
Kevin Madden, CEO
A model entrepreneur, Kevin Madden founded Madden Publishing in 1982, growing the company and eventually creating Madden Media, one of the tourism industry's most dynamic print and electronic publishing entities. With a keen eye for changing markets, industry development, and business potential, Kevin continues to guide Madden Media's growth and offers his unsurpassed business acumen on our clients' behalf.
David Zapf, Partner, Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial and Operations Officer for Madden Media, David oversees all financial assessment and planning, accounting, human resources, and operations including creative, editorial, client services, information technology, and marketing services. Previous senior general management and financial positions in various organizations have given him a broad-based understanding of the many elements critical to achieving success. Significant contributions over his 30-year work history have included a company turnaround; initiation of cost improvement and QS-9000 self-assessment programs; implementation and training of fully integrated software systems; development, implementation and training of employee participation teams that earned his Operating Divisions numerous industry awards and world-class preferred-source supplier designations. David graduated summa cum laude from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, with a BS in Business Administration majoring in Accounting.
Greg Gilstrap, Partner, Chief Marketing Officer
Greg brings to Madden years of executive level experience in strategic planning, marketing, and research for the travel and tourism industry. Greg currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Tourism Alliance; he formerly served as the Cabinet Secretary of the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) and Director of the Kansas Travel and Tourism Division. After he left the Arizona Office of Tourism, he served as CEO of Nichols Gilstrap, Inc., for eight years. The Phoenix-based firm was a national leader in providing strategic planning, marketing, and research services to the travel and tourism industry. Greg has been a featured presenter at the Travel Industry Association of America's Annual Travel Outlook Forum and the National Conference of State Legislators' Conference on Tourism. He's made numerous presentations to the National Association of State Development Agencies and various International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus' forums. He has served as an instructor for the NASDA/George Washington University Tourism Development certificate program, as a guest professor at New York University, and as an instructor for the DMAI/Purdue University Professional Tourism Certification Program. He recently represented the private sector as one of 30 professionals from around the world at the April 2007 International Summit on Education in Tourism and Hospitality in Vienna.
John Hudak, Partner, Publisher
John Hudak has served with Madden since 1987, significantly contributing to the firm's impressive growth. Under John's operational guidance, Madden Preprint won numerous design and editorial awards for excellence. John serves on the Product Development Committee for the Arizona Tourism Alliance, the Marketing Committee for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Tourism Task Force for the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Board of Directors of the Southeast Tourism Society, and the Advisory Board for the Southwest Section of the Professional Golfers Association, among other industry groups. Dedicated to the arts community in his home state, John was a founder of three non-profit organizations, the Tucson Arts District Partnership, the Tucson Poetry Festival, and the Tucson Arts Coalition. John currently serves as president on the Tucson Waldorf Education Association Board, and also serves on the Patronato San Xavier Board of Directors, University of Arizona Department of Art Advisory Board, Tucson Poetry Festival Committee, and the Arizonans For Cultural Development Board.
Robert "Mac" McCracken, Partner, Chief Innovative Officer
Mac has worked with destination marketing organizations for more than a decade, including his role as Deputy Director at the Arizona Office of Tourism. Mac managed the development of the state's enduring website, ArizonaGuide.com, along with the agency's other online initiatives. He also guided the office's research efforts and performance monitoring, including conversion and economic development studies. Mac earned a master's in business administration and a law degree at Cornell University
Grady Colson, Vice President of Operations
Grady is best known at Madden Media as an efficiency authority. He created and maintains interactive systems that measure performance with a level of intricacy once thought impossible. Grady applies this data across the company, increasing productivity and improving strategic planning both in-house and for Madden's clients.
Grady's management of operations-comprised of editorial, management information systems, eMedia, ad traffic, and print design-is informed by his varied background and many areas of expertise. His 20 years of experience include database design, accounting, sales, management, and business analysis. He began his career in the Army as a member of the "Old Guard," the official ceremonial unit and escort to the president. Grady has served in several positions at Madden, beginning as a database programmer in 1998.
Lesley Kontowicz, Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Since joining Madden Media in 1995, Lesley has worn many hats: purchasing train loads of paper, buying media from newspapers throughout U.S., Canada, and the U.K, conducting demographic research, implementing marketing campaigns, managing the sales, marketing, editorial, design, and distribution of all Arizona publications, and most recently overseeing the sales and marketing efforts for all products outside Arizona. This varied experience allows Lesley to understand the company's operations from many perspectives. Meanwhile, she knows the only perspective that matters is the client's perspective. Additionally, Lesley's knowledge of sales and marketing strategies within multiple mediums including television, film, magazines, and newspapers provides our customers an analytical approach to how consumers interact with media and how they arrive at their buying decisions. Plus, Lesley is admittedly a demographic geek and really enjoys finding the best avenue to reaching your targeted audience.
Becky Wright, General Manager & Associate Publisher
Becky joined Madden Preprint Media in 2006 as Advertising Director for its Phoenix publications. In 2007, she was promoted to General Manager & Associate Publisher of the Arizona Publishing Division. Wright oversees a number of publications including such titles as Valley Guide, Tucson Guide, Tucson Home, Phoenix Official Visitors Guide, Tucson Official Visitors Guide, Phoenix Destination Guide for Meeting and Travel Professionals, Phoenix & Tucson Golf Guides and Phoenix & Tucson Area Maps. Wright is an Arizona State University graduate with over 10 years' experience in advertising, marketing, management and publishing. The top positions she has held include Advertising Director for the magazine division of The Arizona Republic, VP of Advertising for Empire Publishing, Advertising Director for Recharger Magazine and World Expo, and Regional Manager for Homes and Land Magazine.