BCG Creative Team

What began as one guy’s dream has flourished, thanks in large part to the talented professionals who have become a part of the family. Each team member at Barcelona Creative Group sees their primary responsibility as continuing to grow this chicago marketing agency where cooperation, fun and creativity are encouraged in order to provide successful clients with the value they so much deserve.

The Dynamic Duo

Thomas Barcelona, Founder & CEO

Tom is the Chief Executive, Chief Creative Officer and Senior Copywriter at Barcelona Creative. A strong start to his career marketing community banks, a national real estate franchise and IHOP restaurants throughout the Midwest, and a distinct desire to do things "his way," motivated him to start Barcelona Creative in 1990. Over the years Tom has developed a keen eye for visualizing the right look and crafting the perfect message for virtually every kind of business, nonprofit, product or service brand imaginable.

Tom is an active member of his community and currently serves on the board of directors for the St. George Corporation, parent company of Palos Community Hospital, and the Palos Heights Chamber of Commerce. Over the years he has served as President of Midlothian Country Club, the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce and the Orland Park Rotary Club, and has acted as Chairman of the City of Palos Heights Business and Economic Development Council for the Southwest Suburbs, and a past Director of the Palos Area Unit of the American Cancer Society and the University of St. Thomas Alumni Association.

Tom holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and has been active in more community organizations than he cares to count. In his spare time, he plays as much golf as business and daylight allow and enjoys doing anything his family will do with him.

Juli Barcelona, President & Digital Strategist

Juli is President and Chief Digital Strategist at Barcelona Creative Group. By directing client services and managing operations, she brings serious organizational and creative planning skills to the company and its clients. Her expertise in web development, SEO and online communications enables BCG to continue to expand its digital marketing service offerings. Juli directs client websites, blogging and social media strategies for many clients, while maintaining relationships with important media and business partners.

Juli holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Chicago Chapter of the Construction and Financial Management Association (CFMA) and is heavily involved in the South Suburban Chapter of the IL Continuity of Care Association. Juli is also a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Training Program.

Juli Barcelona is Co-Founder and Co-President of The Wonder Women NFP, a non-profit organization designed to recognize and inspire ordinary women for extraordinary acts. She believes strongly in the power of getting passionate people together to accomplish great things.

In her time off, Juli enjoys golf, running, cooking, reading and spending time with her husband Jeff, Westie Norman, family, and friends.

The Fantastic Five

Carey Wise, Design Director

As Design Director at BCG, Carey has designed websites, logos and various marketing and advertising collateral for a number of highly successful small businesses, including Peace Village, C.J. Erickson Plumbing Co., The Horton Group, Ware-Pak, T&B Tube, Valley View Industries, Physicians Care Health Plans in Michigan and Lakeside Bank. Along the way, he's been able to contribute loads of time and design talent to local churches, schools and other community organizations. Carey's work has been recognized by the Business Marketing Association and has received a Chicago Financial Advertisers award.

Carey is a graduate of the College of DuPage and the Cincinnati Academy of Design. In his spare time he enjoys running, cycling, coaching youth soccer and spending time with his wife and three children.

Krista Hartman, Agency Controller / Production Manager

As Production Manager and Agency Controller, Krista is improving the operations of our agency. She is responsible for the financial operations and the scheduling and production workflow of agency creative. She also maintains our agency management system. Krista came to BCG from First Midwest Bank, formerly Palos Bank and Trust.

While she is familiarizing herself with our operation, our clients and the suppliers we depend on, her background in accounting and organizational skills are helping us to expand our team and grow our business. She also helps with maintaining client websites.

Krista is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. In her spare time she enjoys reading, walks with Halas, her Great Dane, and spending time with her husband Tony.

Nicole Davolt, Marketing Assistant

As the Marketing Intern at Barcelona Creative Group, Nicole assists with a variety of tasks. She participates in agency and client social media sites, seeking to expand their communications. She contributes to media research, composing news releases, distributing content to media contacts, drafting website content, and writing agency and client blog posts. Nicole also participates in creative strategy, messaging, and tactical rollouts, both for traditional and digital campaigns.

Nicole is a student at Illinois State University's College of Business majoring in Marketing with a focus in Integrated Marketing Communications and minoring in Organizational Leadership. She is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS).

In her free time, she enjoys reading, group exercise classes, outdoor recreational sports, sewing, and spending time with her family and friends.

Monica Crites, Media Planner

In her longstanding role as BCG's Media Planner and Buyer, Monica researches print and electronic media and helps integrate media exposure into the marketing communication plans we develop for clients. She is also part of the client service team and helps coordinate print production and tradeshow marketing support for members of the National Association of Employee Benefit Administrators (NAEBA).

Monica is a dedicated wife and mother of two and holds the record for highest number of family photos displayed at a workstation. Because of her deep relationships with Barcelona Creative's clients and business partners, she also serves as a part-time receptionist and greeter when time permits.

Linda Barcelona, Office Manager

Linda is Barcelona Creative's resident "team mom," acting as a part-time receptionist, Office Manager and official greeter. After juggling an active career as a second grade teacher and cheering for her three children at countless grade school, high school and college sporting events, Linda decided to learn QuickBooks and commit herself to keeping Barcelona Creative's accounting books and handling agency payables.

Since Linda lived to decorate her classroom bulletin board each month, it's no surprise she also maintains our wall calendar and client activity board, and she keeps the candy dish full for clients, business partners and mail carriers alike.