Our People

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 sees their primary responsibility as continuing to grow this Chicagoland marketing agency where cooperation, fun and creativity are encouraged in order to provide successful clients with the value they so much deserve.

Thomas Barcelona, 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 and COO

Juli directs client services and manages operations at Barcelona Creative. She bring serious organizational and creative planning skills to the company and its clients. Her concentration on website development and online communications has enabled BC to greatly expand its internet marketing and public relations service offerings. Juli also maintains relationships with important media and business partners. She also develops print and online advertising, publicity and social media strategies for several clients.

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 Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC), and a co-chair for the PCC Education Series Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Chapter of the Construction and Financial Management Association (CFMA). Juli is also a member of the Palos Heights, Orland Park and Tinley Park Chambers of Commerce, 85 Broads, and is 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 playing golf, spin class, running, cooking, reading and spending time with her husband Jeff and their Westie, Norman, family, and friends.

Carey Wise, Senior Art Director

As Senior Art Director at Barcelona Creative, Carey has designed websites, logos and various marketing and advertising collateral for a number of highly successful small businesses, including 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.

Drew Templeton, Social Media Guru

Drew holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Missouri - St. Louis and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Public Relations and Advertising at DePaul University. Drew holds well-rounded interests in social media, advertising, design and web development. Drew incorporates ambition, dedication and creativity in his work and aspires to soon be a successful professional within the advertising and marketing field.

Drew is the creator of Grind Online Paintball Magazine. He handles all aspects of the magazine, from the page design and photography to the end-product evaluation methods.

During his free time, Drew plays professional paintball and competes domestically and internationally. He also enjoys photography, staying fit, playing golf and spending time with family and friends.

Maggie DiMatteo, Social Media Sophisticate

Maggie graduated with a B.S. in Public Affairs and a minor in Psychology from Indiana University. She is currently studying for a M.A. in Public Relations from DePaul University.

Maggie grew up on the North Shore of Chicago. With three sisters, she says she perfected the art of diplomacy and word choice (which, coincidentally, has given her a one-up in her PR career). Maggie loves to write and would like to bring this into her PR career as a speech writer, particularly in the arena of Crisis Management.

Her interests center on the arts, having been a dancer from very early in life all the way through college. She is also an avid music fan, claiming to know and appreciate "every genre".

Monica Crites, Media Planner

In her longstanding role as Barcelona Creative'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.