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| About Us |
S. Ahriana Platten, M.Th, CHth More than twenty years of marketing, sponsorship acquisition, event production and product development operations form the background of Ahriana’s unique experience. She has been responsible for the coordination of large scale events and activities for a notable client list, including Ogden Entertainment, The American Honda Convention, The Texas Music Association, Prudential Bache, and various US cities. Since 1996, Ahriana has served as the President of VitAlex Incorporated, an international marketing development company serving the leisure, tourism and entertainment industries across the US and abroad. Ahriana has researched, packaged, negotiated, and concluded marketing and sponsorship campaigns for a variety of consumer and cause related projects, and has garnered the financial support of many high profile corporations like Miller Brewing, Coca Cola, AT & T, Diamond Shamrock, Blockbuster Entertainment and Sebastian International. She has conducted Market Feasibility Studies for multi-million dollar projects on five of the seven continents. Having spent several years in the broadcast industry, both as a Marketing Executive and as an On-Air Personality, Ahriana has extensive experience in media, advertising, collateral material development and strategy design. She has produced national television programs and international radio campaigns. Ahriana is an accomplished speaker who has presented seminars and workshops for numerous industry-related associations, and she has been a professional Mistress of Ceremonies since the age of 14. She has voiced or appeared in television and radio commercials for over 200 companies. In addition to her marketing career, Ahriana is a Certified Hypnotherapist and an Interfaith Minister who holds a Master’s Degree in Theology. She is a requested speaker at many New Thought churches and Spiritual Events throughout the USA. As the Founder and Director of the Colorado Ecospirituality Center, Ahriana supports a wide variety of classes and activities that combine scientific theory and spiritual philosophy with a love of nature. Ahriana is a published writer and newspaper columnist, the mother of four and grandmother of three. (See Ahriana.com). She makes her home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she can enjoy long walks with her husband, Mark. Barbara Selene, M.S.W. Selene brings a diverse background in travel and tourism to the VitAlex Team. With more than twenty years of management experience in 4 and 5 star hotel operations, meeting planning, and travel agency organization, she uses a strong background is psychology and sociology to gather, analyze and evaluate psychographic/ lifestyle-oriented materials. Selene is responsible for social impact assessment, analyzing the likely affect of proposed projects on the surrounding area, community, and citizenry as a result of development. She designs the systems and methodologies used to gather qualitative cultural and ethnographic research. As the Vice President of Global Marketing Analysis, Selene directs international information relevancy exercises and discernment of data, as well as working with the design team during the report compilation process to assure global/cultural perspective is considered. She is a published writer who has Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Communication and a Master's Degree in Social Work. Selene is active in her community and has worked with the Make A Wish Foundation, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Trauma Resource Center and as a Victim Advocate. Julie C. Woods With more than 30 years of experience developing and implementing training solutions for such prestigious companies and institutions as Harvard Business School, Harvard University, American Science and Engineering Inc., and various US national organizations including the Pentagon, Julie is often called "a Renaissance woman of the 21st century" and a "primal force of nature" by her peers. She is an international-award-winning technical trainer; a social entrepreneur and a motivational speaker. As the Chief Technical Editor and Research Supervisor for VitAlex Inc, Julie edits or supervises the editing of all written documents, reviews all researched data for continuity, and assures presentation congruity between the various areas being studied and documented. She is a training facilitator who provides a wide spectrum of information for clients preparing to open new developments or who are adding new departments to an existing operation. A renowned, "urban fine art" painter; and a much-beloved multi-instrumentalist, both as a solo singer/songwriter and as the highly-energetic percussionist for the trio "Playing In the Temple," Julie brings not only professional skill, but world-class creative enthusiasm to the VitAlex Team. Monica Lacombe As a resident of several foreign countries, Monica's travels have taken her from the United States to Singapore to Australia. She has an extensive background in foreign investment studies as well as marketing, and has worked for such notable companies as KPMG Pete Marwick and Gaston Jaunet. Having spent over a decade in real estate development of Historic Properties, As an IT consultant, Monica is well-versed in over 20 different software programs with emphasis on technologies related to web-design and management. She has served as a manager and buyer for international retail locations and specialized in promotion coordination, seminar presentation and client development. Her education, from the University of Houston and the University of St. Thomas, included pre-law, philosophy and theology. Currently, she is based in Athens. Ohio, USA, where her close proximity to the major East Coast markets allows us a wider domestic and international reach. Mark Platten BS, MBA Currently based in Colorado, Mark serves the Vitala Group in two ways. For Vitalex Marketing, Mark serves as the Community Resource Development Specialist. His primary responsibilities include analyzing the various community offices that exist to support any project and then creating strategies for such interaction. He is also involved in Grant Writing procedures. Mark's second position is in service to the Vitala Group Technical team, where he serves as a Biological/ Environmental Researcher. Mark has worked extensively with the US Forest Service, completing numerous Biological Evaluations for various forest projects per National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requirements. He has created Geographical Information System (GIS) maps for these Biological Evaluations and performed analysis based on acres, vegetation types, and Forestry Management Plan codes, and has worked on the "roads" initiative to accurately map all Forest Service roads and trails using GIS, quadrangles, aerial photos and ground truthing. As a US Air Force Captain, Mark was responsible for creating courseware standards, lessons, tests, supervising instructors and students, and serving as instructor for the initial GPS qualification training. He was also responsible for the administrative, counseling, feedback, quarterly awards and yearly reviews of all students and instructors and served as Squadron facilitator and lead trainer for Quality Air Force (QAF) management plan. His Community Service activities include serving as an interpreter for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Spring Break Camp, coaching YMCA Pee Wee League Basketball, and participating in the Big Brother/ Big Sister Program. He and his wife, Ahriana are avid campers and love to take their children out into nature whenever possible. Niki de Soto With over 25 years in communications, including broadcast news, public relations, corporate communications, video production, commercial production, newspapers, magazines, and Internet – Niki delivers international expertise in media and marketing development for the VitAlex Marketing Team. Having worked under titles such as Graphic Design Team Manager, Managing Editor, News Producer, Video Producer, Production Designer, Public Relations Liaison, Proposal Coordinator and Business Development Leader, she has experience in all aspects of Marketing, from traditional copy and design pieces to online web content and design. In conjunction with her diverse marketing and communications background, Niki is also an Interfaith Minister and the co-founder – along with her husband, Brennan – of the Instructional Society for Interfaith Studies, whose mission is to promote religious tolerance in the South. She is a published writer, web and newspaper columnist/blogger, and is a member of the Mammoth Spring–Thayer Ministry Alliance. She lives in the Ozarks, where she and her husband are creating a self-sustaining way of life, and teaching the basics of self-sustainability to others. Heather Stocker With almost twenty years in the hospitality industry, Heather has a strong background in both business operations and management. She has been involved in the corporate segment with experience on the franchisee and franchisor level for large organizations such as; Applebee's, Village Inn, Holiday Inn, Famous Dave's BBQ, Fish City Grill, Whiskey Creek Steakhouse, Chi-Chi's Mexican Grill, Old Chicago's, and Country Kitchen. As an independent business consultant , she has also been instrumental in the success of businesses both in and out of the food industry, and had shared ownership in her own restaurant. Over the years, she has served as project manager for both new construction sites and for businesses that needed remodeling. She has been involved in professional food equipment sales, applied water treatment systems that deliver clean water to third world countries, and held a management position for one of the 5 largest banks in America. In addition to her hospitality career, Heather is active in the Deaf Community and will be certified in American Sign Language this Spring, is the president of the Board of Directors at her local church, volunteers at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Riddles Elephant Sanctuary, and United Animals Nation. She currently resides in beautiful Colorado." Molly Couch Molly has been involved in the advertising industry all of her adult life. As early as 1984, she was involved in print media, successfully ranking in the top 10% of the 120 person sales department at Houston's Donnelly Information Publishing. From print, Molly advanced to radio sales, quickly achieving a position as a top-ranked Account Executive with monthly billing exceeding $30,000. She created and co-ordinated numerous client promotional events which, due to her keen ability to analyze the target demographic, resulted in measurable increased sales for her clients and increased listenership for the radio station. The success of her sales record and her proficiency at promotional development led Molly to the position of Broadcast Marketing Director. As such, she implemented over 200 promotions and special events per year, planned and managed an annual budget of over $600,000. Molly is particularly adept at fund-raising for non-profit and civic organizations, and directed efforts to raise more than $150,000 for the American Cancer Society. Leading the Resource Development and Public Relations efforts, Molly serves as the principle liaison between the client, the company, and related participants. She designs marketing plans, creates and co-ordinates on site promotions, procures and maintains an inventory of speciality items for contesting, and makes initial contact with all potential sponsor companies. She is a contributing member of the Creative Design Team, and is responsible for acquiring approvals, and maintaining contact with assignment editors, writers, and other members of the media. |
