The Team
we’re MK3.
we’re one of the smallest agencies you’ll find, working with some of the biggest brands in the world.
How do we do it? Vim and vigor,
spit and polish, duct tape and piano wire.
Joel Kaplan
Principal & Founder
Joel Kaplan
Principal & Founder
stuff you need to know
Joel is the “K” in MK3. He’s dedicated to understanding each client’s needs, so he’s perfected the art of listening and asking all the right follow-up questions. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Northeastern University and completed his MBA from the University of Massachusetts. Joel believes quality work starts with a quality team and is proud to deliver video and digital solutions for some of the best brands in the world.
stuff you don’t
Joel helped his wife Rachel pass “Sally’s Law,” a state law protecting nursing home residents. He’s on the Board of Directors of Temple Emanuel’s Brotherhood, the non-profit “All Cats All The Time,” and is certified in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. When he’s home, he and his wife enjoy their two cats. When he’s not, he enjoys theater and fine dining.
Alexandria Hunter-Whalen
VP Strategy & Operations
Alexandria Hunter-Whalen
VP Strategy & Operations
stuff you need to know
From the beginning, Alexandria has been curious, adventurous and always asking the question “why?”, fueling her passion for life and her pursuit of the creative process. She began her career as an actor, performing on both stage and screen in LA and NYC, and then transitioned to producing independent films, commercials and live events; along the way also becoming an accomplished presentation coach. Throughout her diverse career she’s worked with and for global agencies and brands (most recently Bose) in delivering world class creative.
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Alexandria and her husband Dean have three rescue cats named for each of the Three Stooges, and they all split their time between Boston and Newport, RI. She loves yoga, travel, cooking and a good glass of wine. And not always in that order.
Jonathan Markella
Executive Creative Director
Jonathan Markella
Executive Creative Director
stuff you need to know
It’s hard to put into words all that words have meant to Jonathan. He’s been a creative director for his entire career, and his process always starts and ends with the written word. Writing and directing design have always been his strengths, and he’s won national awards for his work in television, video, radio, print, and digital. Prior to being a founding member of the MK3 team, Jonathan was the Director of Creative Services at NESN, and enjoyed 18 years at the sports cable network.
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Jonathan has two daughters, two grandchildren, two authentic World Series rings, five Emmys, a dozen published and produced one-act plays, a bag of “favorite” tennis rackets, and an amateur acting career that favors Neil Simon. Jonathan and his wife Robin live in Duxbury MA, the town he grew up in.
Mary Poluikis
Director of Accounts
Mary Poluikis
Director of Accounts
stuff you need to know
The ability to analyze client business needs and pair them with the right talents and solutions is one of Mary’s core strengths. She’s an accomplished Senior Marketing Communications professional with legacy experience in professional business development and account management. Throughout her career, she’s driven branding and integrated media campaigns and managed digital transformations for clients ranging from regional leaders to the Fortune 500. Ultimately, her strong sense of commitment and attention to detail are ingredients of her success.
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Mary and her family are obsessed with Europe and return to Italy more often than George Clooney. Between her yoga and walks on the beach with her dogs, she considers herself somewhat of a health buff – but she’s also addicted to coffee and Lay’s potato chips, original flavor.
Mark DiTondo
Creative Director
Mark DiTondo
Creative Director
stuff you need to know
For Mark, the creative process is all about having the right plan – understanding the “what” and providing the “how.” He offers over 15 years of award-winning experience in directing and producing, with a focus on video and events. Every great plan starts with an idea, and Mark enjoys the challenge of transforming project complexities into creative ideas that come to life, all according to plan.
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Mark is originally from Buffalo, NY and currently lives on the South Shore with his wife Janel, daughter Olivia and dog Biggie Smalls. He loves golfing, beaching and Buffalo sports. Go Bills!
Rodrigo Philbert
Art Director & Motion Designer
Rodrigo Philbert
Art Director & Motion Designer
stuff you need to know
Rodrigo, our Art Director and Motion Designer, hails from Sao Paulo, Brazil and came to MK3 with a passion for creativity as an editor, motion graphics artist and 2D/3D animator. He loves the art of collaboration, and while he’s created award-winning work in the United States and Brazil, he’s more interested in accomplishments than accolades. As a true master of motion, his job is to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, which he does with ease.
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When he’s not practicing his animation wizardry, Rodrigo embarks on mythical quests, immersing himself in ancient legends, religions, and spiritual traditions. For his more down to earth pursuits, he loves cooking up traditional Brazilian recipes, grooving to samba beats, and perfecting the art of mixing Brazil’s national cocktail, the “Caipirinha.”
John Lawrence
Creative Director
John Lawrence
Creative Director
stuff you need to know
To John, it’s all about framing the story through his own creative lens – as a creative director for over a decade, and as a cinematographer for two decades before that. John’s strength in “visualizing the creative” has taken him around the world, framing up some interesting people along the way, including Barack Obama and Sir Paul McCartney, Gene Hackman, J.J. Abrams and Steve Martin. For John, bringing the client’s vision to life is all about listening, strategizing and then framing up the creative in his own unique way.
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A native New Englander, John lives in Milton, Massachusetts with his wife and two children. He loves spending time with family, playing basketball, strumming his guitar, learning new things, and creating art.
Alex Miller
Senior Producer
Alex Miller
Senior Producer
stuff you need to know
For Alex, it’s all about bringing a great story to life with “rock star” execution. She thrives on planning and problem-solving, and as MK3’s producer, Alex combines her storytelling and organizational skills in helping our clients add structure to their stories. Alex comes to MK3 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, gathering minors in Creative Writing and Psychology along the way.
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If you’re looking for Alex, you’ll often find her lost in the pages of a fantasy novel or in the kitchen whipping up fantastic new recipes. She loves combing the city for new foods and old bookstores, adding to her already burgeoning book collection.
Bryan Fusco
Lead Editor & Cinematographer
Bryan Fusco
Lead Editor & Cinematographer
stuff you need to know
Bryan is MK3’s in-house editing expert, with years of post-production experience. He’s also comfortable behind the camera, as a skilled filmmaker who can bring projects to life from start to finish. Bryan has worked in lighting departments from coast to coast on award-winning films including CODA, Little Women, and Knives Out, and in camera departments for major music videos with artists I Prevail, Joyner Lucas, and Timbaland.
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Freed from the editing suite, Bryan embraces the diehard New Englander within him, hiking and exploring Boston’s North Shore. He lives in Salem Massachusetts, and loves photography, film scoring, and all things analog tech.
Jamie Tedeschi
Creative Director
Jamie Tedeschi
Creative Director
stuff you need to know.
Jamie knows the creative process includes multiple points of view and should seamlessly blend a brand’s persona with understanding, purpose and commitment. He’s produced results on both sides of the boardroom – the client and agency side, creating compelling content from award-winning video productions and global events to national ad campaigns and communication programs.
Before joining MK3, Jamie was the Director of Creative Services at W.B. Mason, overseeing advertising, events, communications and partnerships with Major League Baseball.
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Jamie comes from a family of entrepreneurs and entertainers, and he understands success starts with dedication and passion. He lives in Hanover with his wife, 2 daughters, and their black lab and spends his time documenting local wildlife and maintaining his beehives. It’s a pretty sweet gig.
Erin Gieselman
Junior Designer & Social Media Coordinator
Erin Gieselman
Junior Designer & Social Media Coordinator
stuff you need to know
Erin is a graduate of Indiana University where she studied advertising and film. After spending two years on Lake Lemon as a member of the Women’s Rowing Team, she shifted her focus to more creative pursuits; production and design. With an eye for aesthetics, Erin lives in the Adobe Suite and social media space, dedicated to making things look pretty.
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As a Midwestern transplant in Boston, Erin is having a blast exploring all the East Coast has to offer. Whether she’s hunting for vintage treasures at consignment shops, discovering new music, or doodling illustrations, she’s always in search of inspiration. She takes her work seriously, but when it comes to herself, not so much.
Haley Noviello
Producer
Haley Noviello
Producer
stuff you need to know
Haley has always been sharply focused on the customer experience. She believes every problem has a solution, and no task is too tall – it’s all about creativity. Prior to MK3, Haley worked in non-profit event planning and production, collaborating with organizations across New England in producing memorable fundraising galas, community events and educational conferences. To Haley, there’s no greater feeling than seeing a client’s vision come to life.
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Haley is driven by a lot of horsepower – literally. She’s been a competitive equestrian for most of her life, winning regional and national championships throughout the country. When she’s not at the barn, she’s probably at the park, watching the Red Sox.
Rachel Geller
Human Resources
Rachel Geller
Human Resources
stuff you need to know
Rachel has a doctorate in Policy, Planning & Administration and manages Human Resources at MK3, responsible for finding, recruiting and screening job applicants. She’s also active in the “behind the scenes” operations at MK3 and has a knack for helping the boss maintain perspective.
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Rachel authored a state law, “An Act Protecting Nursing Home Residents,” has run 11 Boston Marathons, enjoys golf and her Red Sox season tickets. She’s a certified cat behaviorist, a pet chaplain, a surrender prevention and free fear shelter specialist, president of the 501c3 charity “All Cats All the Time,” and harbors an intense attachment to her two cats that borders on obsessive.
Luciano Marcao
Motion Designer
Luciano Marcao
Motion Designer
stuff you need to know
Luciano was born and raised in Sao Paulo, and influenced by the sights and sounds of his native homeland of Brazil. He is a motion graphics artist with a wealth of experience in creating motion graphics across all media. He loves to collaborate with creative directors and clients, project managers, illustrators and editors to ensure the success of every project. If you looked at his resume, you’d see things like 2D and 3D animation, typography, design, editing, and color grading.
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He’s half Italian, half Brazilian and 100% committed to pizza, gelato, Formula 1 racing and exploring new countries and cultures. If you pushed him a bit further, he’d confess to being an amateur go-kart racer and his passion CrossFit training.
Deb Stewart
Accountant
Deb Stewart
Accountant
Deb Stewart is our accountant extraordinaire with years of experience in both private and public accounting. She joined MK3 in 2022 and everything’s been adding up ever since.
Greg Almieda
Special Assistant; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Greg Almieda
Special Assistant; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
stuff you need to know
Although his career began in television and radio, Greg has spent the majority of his professional life elevating the conversation around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – years before most organizations considered the concept. He now counts many of Boston’s most prestigious companies as clients, from banking and consumer packaged goods to biotech and healthcare. When it comes to all things DEI, Greg is known for his strategic approach and insightful guidance.
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When it comes to athletics, Greg is no pushover. He loves pushing himself to the limit, mastering Taekwondo, CrossFit, and Krav Maga in the process. Greg grew up in Boston, but currently lives in Rhode Island with his family.
SOME AWARDS WE’VE WON