Our Team

Navigate Media Guide

At Navigate, we have recruited the best people in the industry to be a part of our team. Our employees are both experienced and passionate about the job and client relationships. Please get to know us ...

AJ Maestas

AJ, President Download vCard

Position: President
Current Location: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Fairbanks, AK
Height: 6-0
College: BA University of Washington, MBA Arizona State University
Previous Teams: rEvolution, IEG, Yellow Roadway and Microsoft.
Current Team Contributions: Client service, business development, management of the valuation and analytics practice and frequent happy hours.
Career Highlights: Recruiting the Navigate team, and our client roster, which reads like a who’s who of the top leagues, teams, agencies, media and brands.
Other Accomplishments: Board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, Navigate’s #1 ranked player in table tennis and foosball, frequent speaker at industry events, adjunct and visiting professor at ASU, Columbia, Northwestern, Ohio U and NYU, and Chicago’s leading (and free) employment broker.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: I am a passionate Huskies fan.

Michael Stephens

Michael, Sales

Position: Director, Business Development
Current Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Height: 6-2
College: BA Texas Christian University
Previous Teams: CareerBuilder.com Sr. Account Executive; The Icon Group – Executive Chef
Current Team Contributions: Developing Navigate partnerships with brands, teams, and leagues to provide best in class sponsorship valuation, custom market research and ROI to improve execution of marketing goals and drive revenue.
Career Highlights: CareerBuilder President’s Club Member 2010 (Top 10 Account Executives nationally)
Other Accomplishments: Creator of Slavo Salt – The World’s Greatest All-Purpose Seasoning
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: Had I not grown up in Arizona, I would have been an Olympic Downhill Skier

Chris Todd

Chris, Sales

Position: Business Development
Current Location: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Height: 5-10
College: BA Coastal Carolina University
Previous Teams: Director of Sales at Pharmacy OneSource, Baseball Player in San Francisco Giants Organization
Current Team Contributions: To provide best in industry custom market research, sponsorship valuation and ROI to all teams/facilities and brands looking to improve business and increase revenue.
Career Highlights: Pharmacy OneSource Salesperson of the Year (2010).
Other Accomplishments: Division (I) 2nd Team Academic All-American (2005) at Coastal Carolina University, Drafted 33rd Round of 2005 MLB First Year Player Draft by San Francisco Giants.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: I absolutely shred on the guitar!

Dr. Mark Friederich

Dr. Mark, Senior Vice President Download vCard

Position: Senior Vice President
Current Location: Denver, CO
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Height: 5-11
College: BA Colorado College; MS Brown University; PhD Brown University
Previous Teams: COO & VP The Bonham Group Market Research Company; Research Director INVESCO Funds Group
Current Team Contributions: Heads the Navigate Market Research Department
Career Highlights: Research clients include Best Buy, Chick-fil-A, Ford, KeyBank, Medtronic, Miller Brewing, AAA, U.S. Cellular, Nationwide, O2, Regions Bank, Valvoline, Westfield Shopping Centers, Oklahoma State University, Penn State University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Virginia, the LPGA, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, USA Football, USA Swimming, AEG, ESPN, Madison Square Garden, Golden State Warriors, San Diego Padres, Seattle Seahawks, Toronto FC, Chicago Fire, Arsenal FC (England), Club de Futbol Monterrey (Mexico) and Chicago Cubs.
Other Accomplishments: Published author in multiple international scientific, peer-reviewed journals. Successful college and semi-professional (more semi than professional) soccer career.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: I am a German-Chinese American citizen with a Brazilian passport. Go figure that one out!

Stefanie Francis

Stef, Vice President Download vCard

Position: Vice President
Current Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Height: 5-13
College: BS George Washington University; MA University of San Diego; MBA Arizona State University
Previous Teams: Research International, Caremark Market Research
Current Team Contributions: Oversee all aspects of market research projects, from design to delivery. Enjoy the data analysis components most as well as communicating complex data in a simple way that makes strategic planning decisions easy for clients.
Career Highlights: Research clients include ESPN, Comcast, LG, AAA, U.S. Cellular, AEG, Memphis Grizzlies, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Galaxy, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Chicago Fire, FC Dallas, Farmers Insurance, Sacramento River Cats, GMR, IMG, Arizona Diamondbacks, Victory Sports Marketing, The Harlem Globetrotters
Other Accomplishments: President of the Phoenix Women’s Sports Association, Valley Leadership Class, volunteer at Florence Crittenton (INSPIRE) and Gabriel’s Angels, fundraiser for Lyn St. James’ Women in the Winner’s Circle, NAWBA Member, Women Unlimited graduate and guest lecturer for several MBA programs.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: My dog has a job (http://www.GabrielsAngels.org).

Shaelyn McCole

Shaelyn, Research Download vCard

Position: Director of Research
Current Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Hometown: Gardnerville, NV
Height: 5-2
College: BS W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University
Previous Teams: Research Associate for Research International; Research Manager for Blueocean Market Intelligence.
Current Team Contributions: Involved in all elements of the market research process, specifically research statistics and analysis, project management, and specializing in data visualization; I am deeply passionate about creatively transforming lots of numbers into simple, engaging visuals.
Career Highlights: Market research among season ticket holders for all MLS teams; market research analysis of LG exposure from NCAA sponsorship; ROI and sponsorship impact studies for ESPN, U.S. Cellular and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Other Accomplishments: High school graduate in three years; first place all-around in Silver State Gymnastics tournament; local coloring contest champion in Gardnerville, NV.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: I can hold a handstand for several minutes…

Dr. Melissa Kovacs

Melissa, Research

Position: Data Consultant
Current Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Hometown: Greenwood, IN
Height: 5-3
College: BS Purdue University, MA Duquesne University, PhD University of Maryland College Park
Previous Teams: Research for the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at the University of Maryland and Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College. Assistant Professor, Allegheny College.
Current Team Contributions: Involved in research statistics and analysis within the market research process.
Career Highlights: Faculty Associate and Research Associate at Arizona State University, and founder of FirstEval, LLC.
Other Accomplishments: Former Congressional staffer and former Fulbright professor, Universitat Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Completed numerous triathlons and marathons.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: I am not afraid of open-water swim races in mucky Midwestern lakes...

Matt Balvanz

Matt, Analytics Download vCard

Position: Director of Analytics
Current Location: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA
Height: 5-8
College: BBA University of Iowa, MBA San Diego State University Sports
Previous Teams: Financial analyst at GreatAmerica Leasing Company
Current Team Contributions: Sponsorship valuations, secondary research, demographic data collection, sponsorship ROI calculations Career Highlights: Collegiate projects: Ohio State University, University of Arkansas, Arizona State University, University of Cincinnati, Northern Illinois University, Indiana University, University of Washington; Other projects: NFL, LA Galaxy, DC United, FC Dallas, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, LG, MetroPCS, Silver Chalice, Best Buy, U.S. Cellular, Toronto FC, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jack Daniels.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: They say that life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon … and I have completed three of them. (Marathons, not lives.)

Jeff Nelson

Jeff, Analyst Download vCard

Position: Valuation Analyst
Current Location: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Height: 5-8
College: BA George Washington University, MSA Northwestern University
Previous Teams: Sports correspondent for The Washington Post.
Current Team Contributions: Conducts research, measurement and analysis on sponsorships for brands and properties.
Career Highlights: NFL, KeyArena, LG, Silver Chalice, Kansas City Wizards, Providence Medical Center, Columbus Crew, Big Brothers Big Sisters, University of Washington; also projected media rights revenues for collegiate conferences based on movement of schools and potential creation of networks.
Other Accomplishments: Member of two Wisconsin high school champion tennis teams; 12 articles on the front page of The Washington post sports section; undefeated in doubles pool (with partner Matt Balvanz) against other agencies.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: I can wiggle my ears upon request.

Dan Kozlak

Dan, Analyst

Position: Valuation Analyst
Current Location: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Evanston, IL
Height: 5-11
College: BA Boston College, MSA Northwestern University
Previous Teams: (Media Associate) Starcom, (Marketing Coordinator) G & J Marketing, and (Sophomore Football Coach) Loyola Academy.
Current Team Contributions: Conducts research, measurement and analysis on sponsorships for brands and properties.
Career Highlights: Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Rapids, St. Louis Rams ...more to come.
Other Accomplishments: Played two seasons of NCAA football (Tufts University), won an intramural championship in flag football and softball at Boston College, and coached the Loyola Academy Sophomore Football team to a Chicago Catholic League championship.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: I'm undefeated at Soldier Field...1-0 (Loyola Academy, Prep Bowl Champions 2003).

Wendy Conway

Wendy, Operations Download vCard

Position: Manager of Operations and Administration
Current Location: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Height: 5-4
College: Valparaiso University
Previous Teams: Robert J. Bobb Company, Ryan Enterprises Group, Six Degrees, Inc., and Smithfield Properties.
Current Team Contributions: Manage accounting, scheduling, client interaction, office design and decoration, as well as aid proposal development and delivery. Also plans the best networking happy hours in Chicago.
Career Highlights: Most are confidential, so I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
Other Accomplishments: I have assisted major athletes and celebrities appearing in some of the more recognizable ad campaigns of the past decade; I have visited over 120 cities on a total of four continents; I'm a docent at a famous Chicago landmark.
One Other Thing You Should Know About Me: I was part of the AV club in high school (but please don't tell anyone).