About Us

Aspen’s senior management team has over 100 years combined retail experience at the automotive dealership level. The automotive industry has undergone several changes over the years, yet Aspen continues our unprecedented growth and remains one of the world’s top 10 direct marketing companies. Because we have walked in your shoes, we understand your daily routine and what it takes to execute a successful direct mail promotion.

John Tufo
Senior Vice President
jtufo@aspenms.com | 630-562-5364

How long have you been with Aspen?
22 years
What is your automotive experience?
15 years at a large Cheverolet and Nissan dealership - worked every department. Started as a porter and worked up to General Manager.
Are you married?
Yes, to Lilly
Do you have any kids?
No kids, 2 Jack Russell Terriers
Where do you currently reside?
Wayne, IL
What is your background?
Northwood University in Midland Michigan - Degrees in Automotive Marketing and Advertising. Also attended Ryan Finance and Insurance Training in Chicago, IL, General Motors Sales Management Academy in Naperville, IL and Nissan Future Dealer Academy in Marina Del Rey, CA
What are your hobbies?
Golfer, exotic travel enthusiast, fine wine, dining, sports fanatic.

Doug DiCanio
Senior Marketing Director
ddicanio@aspenms.com | 630-562-5379

How long have you been with Aspen?
Over 10 years
What is your automotive experience?
Working with dealerships in the Northeast and successfully executing direct marketing events.
Are you married
Yes, to Stacy
Where do you currently reside?
Oswego, IL
What college did you attend?
Northern Illinois University, B.A. Corporate Communications and minor in Marketing
Did you serve our country?
Yes, Medic in US Army
What are your hobbies?
Golfing, fishing, snowmobiling and snow skiing.

Juan Bravo
Western Regional Director
jbravo@aspenms.com | 714-338-1611

How long have you been with Aspen?
14 years
Are you married?
Yes, happily to Vicki
Do you have any kids?
2 beautiful girls, Sophia and Isabella
Where do you currently reside?
Laguna Niguel, CA
What is your educational background?
Northern Illinois University, B.A. Corporate Communications / Marketing
What are your hobbies?
Spending time with my family, golf, golf and more golf!

Rich Wells
Senior Marketing Director
rwells@aspenms.com | 630-562-5349

How long have you been with Aspen?
13 years
What is your automotive experience?
20 years wholesale with Nissan and Volvo, retail as General Manager for 2 years.
Are you married?
Yes, to Laura
Do you have any kids?
4 kids, Matt, Lindsay, Brittany and Jenny
Where do you currently reside?
Inverness, IL
What is your educational background?
Illinois State, B.A. in Marketing and M.B.A. in Marketing Concentration
What are your hobbies?
Coaching my son in travel baseball, football and travel basketball and collecting old Corvettes.

Jason Clauer
Senior Marketing Director
jclauer@aspenms.com | 602-317-0284

How long have you been with Aspen?
9 years
What is your automotive experience?
Producing marketing results for my clients by solving problems for individual store needs.
Are you married?
Yes
Do you have any kids?
No kids yet, but have an English bulldog named Grace
Where do you currently reside?
Austin, TX
What is your educational background?
Arizona State University, Business Marketing
What are your hobbies?
Anything that involves being outdoors.

Ryan Zamora
Senior Marketing Executive
rzamora@aspenms.com | 630-562-5376

How long have you been with Aspen?
10 Years
What is your automotive experience?
Worked 2 years at the dealership level.
Are you married?
Yes, to Elaine
Do you have any kids?
Yes, daughter Ella
Where do you currently reside?
Oswego, IL
What is your educational background?
Northern Illinois University, Corporate Communications
What are your hobbies?
Running, biking, playing sports.

Jeff Ritter
Senior Marketing Executive
jritter@aspenms.com | 630-562-7397

How long have you been with Aspen?
4 years
What is your automotive experience?
5 years Automotive Dealership Sales and Management experience, 20 years Fortune 50 Brand Marketing and National Account Sales Experience at PepsiCo and Procter and Gamble.
Are you married?
Yes
Do you have any kids?
Yes, 3
Where do you currently reside?
St. Charles, IL
What is your educational background?
University of Wisconsin - Madison, Business and Economics
What are your hobbies?
Waterskiing, wakeboarding, boating, sailing, snowboarding, skiing, golf, road biking, swimming, vintage and classic car restoration, private pilot flying, art and travel.

Eric Rowell
National Account Director
erowell@aspenms.com | 630-562-5371

How long have you been with Aspen?
11 Years
What is your automotive experience?
Working, with individual dealers on custom direct marketing events, automoative lenders and their dealers.
Are you married?
Engaged to Emily (Wedding in Fall of 2011!)
Where do you currently reside?
St. Charles, IL
What is your educational background?
University of Iowa, majoring in Business Marketing
What are your hobbies?
Playing sports and being outside, love college football and watching Iowa Hawkeyes! I also enjoy cooking and spending time at home with my friends and family.

Shawn Murray
Senior Marketing Executive
smurray@aspenms.com | 630-562-7347

How long have you been with Aspen?
5 years
Are you married?
Yes, to Erica
Do you have any kids?
Yes, Ian and Kayla
Where do you currently reside?
Chicago-land area
What is your educational background?
Elmhurst College, Business Communications
Did you serve our country?
Yes, Sergeant in the US Army
What are your hobbies?
Playing hockey and spoiling my children.

Dennis Knott
Senior Marketing Executive
dknott@aspenms.com | 630-562-5345

How long have you been with Aspen?
18 months
What is your automotive experience?
20 years as a GM for multiple franchises including, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, Oldsmobile, Lincoln, Mercury and Suzuki
Are you married?
Married 17 years to Jackie (my college sweetheart)
Do you have any kids?
Yes, daughter Madison
Where do you currently reside?
Elgin, IL
What is your educational background?
University of Iowa, Business Degree
What are your hobbies?
Golf, racquetball, boating at our summer cottage in Wisconsin.

Mike Cristino
Senior Marketing Executive
mcristino@aspenms.com | 630-562-5508

How long have you been with Aspen?
7 years
What is your automotive experience?
I have been in the auto retail industry since 1991. Sold cars and ran a large special finance department at a major Ford dealership.
Are you married?
Yes, to Barb
Do you have any kids?
Yes, son Frank and daughter Isabella
Where do you currently reside?
St. Charles, IL
What is your educational background?
Ryan and Associates, F&I School
What are your hobbies?
I like to golf, although I'm not very good at my short game, exercising/biking, swimming, cooking, and playing poker/Texas hold 'em. Mostly, I'm all about my kids and their sports, I love to help their coaches any way I can.

Jeff Smelko
Senior Marketing Executive
jsmelko@aspenms.com | 630-562-5380

How long have you been with Aspen?
5 years
What is your automotive experience?
Working closely with dealerships and executing successful direct mail campaigns.
Are you married?
Yes, to Kristen
Where do you currently reside?
Aurora, IL
What is your educational background?
Northern Illinois, Corporate Communications
Did you serve our country?
Yes, Specialist in US Army
What are your hobbies?
I like to spend time with my wife, two dogs, my family and friends. I like to go to Bears, Cubs and Bulls games.

Adam Adamczyk
Senior Marketing Executive
aadamczyk@aspenms.com | 630-562-8200

How long have you been with Aspen?
3 years
What is your automotive experience?
3 years at Aspen executing direct mail campaigns and 1 year as a newspaper advertising representative in automotive ad sales
Are you married?
Engaged to Adrienne (Wedding this summer!)
Do you have any kids?
Yes, daughter Alivia and son William
Where do you currently reside?
St. Charles, IL
What is your educational background?
Elgin Community College, Associates in Marketing and Community College of the Air Force, Associates in Accounting and Finance
Did you serve our country?
Yes, Senior Airman in US Air Force.
What are your hobbies?
Spending time with my kids, playing poker and shooting pool.

Kyle Kutchey
Senior Marketing Executive
kkutchey@aspenms.com | 630-562-8216

How long have you been with Aspen?
Since 2011
What is your automotive experience?
Grew up in Detroit, the Motor City, so the automotive industry has always been a part of my life. 9 years with a full service advertising agency as a VP, Account Supervisor working with Ford Dealer regional associations and individual Ford Dealers throughout the country.
Are you married?
Yes
Where do you currently reside?
Austin, Texas
What is your educational background?
Western Michigan University, Marketing
What are your hobbies?
Spending time with my wife and two English Bulldogs and of course, working on my golf game.

Dan McGreal
Senior Marketing Executive
dmcgreal@aspenms.com | 630-562-8332

How long have you been with Aspen?
Started May of 2010
What is your automotive experience?
Working closely with dealerships and executing successful direct mail campaigns.
Where do you currently reside?
St. Charles, IL
Are you married?
No, single
What is your educational background?
Michigan State University, B.A. Advertising/Integrated Marketing
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include playing hockey, spending quality time with family and friends and enjoying summer weekends outside by the pool.

David Finnigan
Senior Marketing Executive
dfinnigan@aspenrms.com | 630-562-5544

How long have you been with Aspen?
I started with Aspen in 2011
What is your automotive experience?
I sold cars for a large Chevrolet dealer, which was the largest special finance dealership in Chicago.
Are you married?
Yes, I have been happily married for 3 years.
Do you have any kids?
Yes, I have a one year old daughter Ava. My wife and I are also expecting a baby boy in July.
Where do you currently reside?
Bartlett, IL
What is your educational background?
I graduated from Glenbard North High School in June of 2002.
What are your hobbies?
I love to golf & play hockey.






Aspen IA Support Staff (from top to bottom)
Joyce Iden, Nicole Cadena, Sarah Rejnert, Cory Blane, Kristy Bahnik, Lexie Anderson, Donna McCune, Kurt Schoenfielder, Francoise Gardner, Susan Silvestri, Jackie Knott, Franco Mininni and Dawn Rice.