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we’re branding experts

Our team of creative professionals is made up of a unique group of individuals with a diverse combination of skills and expertise ranging from marketing and communications, graphic, industrial, interactive and digital design, copywriting, business planning, psychology and research analysis.

we love a challenge!

We help organizations, brands and products thrive through strategic branding, marketing, design and creative services.

We are creative, talented, hard-working, experienced and humble.

From small projects, to large programs, we have the best team of people to find the most creative, cost effective and successful solutions.

New York City is our home.

The diversity of NYC inspires us and gives us insights every day as we interact with people from all over the world. If we can make it here, we can collaborate with any client, for any market, on any project, anywhere.

We understand entrepreneurs.

We’ve created, launched and sold companies and products for our clients, and on our own. These experiences, successes and even mistakes, give us unique insight to what is important to build value.

We are obsessed with the details.

We sweat the details of strategy, research, design, content and implementation. Our talented team manages, tracks and analyzes projects to keep them on time, on budget and on target to generate results.

Success gets noticed.

Project success is primary, but along with our clients, we have won awards, been on award juries, taught at universities, spoken at conferences, received patents, received press and been published globally.

We’re always learning.

Trends, technology, information, skills and goals are constantly evolving. We learn, explore and push the limits because the world does not stand still. Change creates opportunity—and opportunity means business!

meet our team

Julie Koch-Beinke | Partner : alternatives team member

Julie Koch-Beinke 

Partner

Thrives on being immersed in the creative process, being in the heart of the action (why I love NYC) and singing with Tini

Julie is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, Magna Cum Laude, and the Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders Program at the Yale School of Management. In addition to speaking and receiving numerous design awards, Julie holds several U.S. design and mechanical patents.

Julie is currently Chair of the Industry Advisory Board of LIM College for the Business of Fashion in NYC, and serves on the Fashion Advisory Board of Mercado Global. She has served on the Leadership Advisory Committee of the Dean of University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, on the Board of Directors of the Life Sciences Foundation and the Asperger Syndrome Research Foundation International. She has also served as a volunteer in the Mentor 2 Market program at the highly acclaimed Santa Fe International Folk Art Market and was a Founding Member of the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise at the Aspen Institute. She conducts a yearly International Brand Development Workshop at Austrian Marketing University, University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, and taught Design as an Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Purchase.

Mark Koch | Partner : alternatives team member

Mark Koch 

Partner

Interested in anything that enhances and enriches all of our lives. And cookies.

Mark graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.

Mark is a prolific inventor, holding numerous U.S. design and mechanical patents for products ranging from fashion accessories to medical devices. He has extensive knowledge and experience working with factories and manufacturers overseas and also holds trademarks in many product categories.

He has served on the Dean’s Leadership Committee at the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning and on the Board of Directors and as a Trustee of the Life Sciences Foundation and the Asperger Foundation International.

Daniel Acacio | Digital Project Manager : alternatives team member

Daniel Acacio 

Digital Project Manager

Creative problem solver. Human sponge who loves absorbing and sharing information.

Heather Johnson | VP of Marketing : alternatives team member

Heather Johnson 

VP of Marketing

Passionate about sharing creative ideas. Obsessed with Boston Terriers, shoes and NY Rangers Hockey.

Lynn Marfey | VP of Creative Services : alternatives team member

Lynn Marfey 

VP of Creative Services

Always in search of creative inspiration. Enjoys being the queen of her household and spending time with her family in the great outdoors.

Barbara McDermott | Bookkeeper : alternatives team member

Barbara McDermott

Bookkeeper

Native New Yorker and world traveler…and number cruncher.

Nitya Dhingra | User Experience / Designer : alternatives team member

Nitya Dhingra

User Experience/Designer

Creative thinker and observer. Passionate about creating sustainable, accessible and interactive design.

Mari Al-Midhadi | User Experience / Designer : alternatives team member

Mari Al-Midhadi

User Experience/Designer

Digital designer raised by the internet – passionate about pop culture and social impact design.

Allison Perrone

Office Manager

Nerdy mom-friend and podcast addict who loves all the food, theater, and culture that NYC has to offer.

Tini | Mascot : alternatives team member

Tini (short for martini)

Mascot

Lilac crowned Amazon Parrot who works as a greeter, singer and pop culture connoisseur.

we’re inviting

Our office features open spaces for interaction and collaboration that reflect our approach to working together as a team and with our clients. Our facilities include:

  • reception lounge and coffee bar
  • design and collaboration studio
  • private conference room
  • full service photo studio and small event space
  • model workshop with 3D printer

we’re strategic

Our creative and strategic process to integrated marketing communications:

  • Phase 1: Identification of goals and opportunities supported by research, competitive, market and trend analysis and experience.
  • Phase 2: Brainstorming, creative ideation, development of strategic approach and design exploration to create solution based concepts.
  • Phase 3: Analysis, review, collaborative evaluation and further development of visuals and messaging that support the overarching strategy.
  • Phase 4: Execution and implementation across various communication platforms, test, evaluate and measure results.
Alternatives is proud to be a Certified Woman-Owned Business and is a US Federal Government GSA Approved contractor for Web Based Marketing Services, Graphic Design Services, Marketing Consulting Services and Order-Level Materials (OLMs).
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