People

Jeff Hirsch, Founder & Partner, co-directs innovation and research efforts, and is responsible for creative development.

Prior to starting The Right Brain Studio, he worked at DKG Advertising, Brown-Forman, Campbell-Mithun and Chiat/Day.

In addition to being an avid reader, gym rat, golfer, filmgoer and music lover, Jeff’s rock band, “Geezer,” performs every chance they get at local clubs and events. He still hopes to play center field for the New York Mets.

Jeff earned an M.S. in Advertising and B.S. in Communications from Northwestern University.

Mark Demuro, Partner, co-directs innovation and research efforts and takes the lead in business strategy.

Formerly, Mark was a marketing executive at PepsiCo and a CMO in private equity. He has also held leadership positions at global research & consulting firms.

In addition to being an outdoor enthusiast and world traveler, Mark is the father of two talented daughters. While not working on behalf of clients, Mark aspires to be a professional kite-boarding instructor.

Mark earned a B.A. in Management & Psychology with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Pennsylvania.

Tom Lazaroff heads up B2B projects for The Right Brain Studio in addition to providing his strategic counsel on B2C assignments.

Tom is an accomplished professional with expertise in a broad range of categories. His career has encompassed senior level marketing positions at Disney and the Hard Rock Café. With his advertising agency, Lazaroff/Dundore, Tom’s strategic direction has helped generate leads and close deals for NetSuite, Transamerica, Trend Micro and many other companies.

Among Tom’s passions, not necessarily in this order, are his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins and Steelers, his wife and three kids, golf, and discovering new Pinots and Rosés.

Tom earned his B.A. at Stanford University and his M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson.

Michael Laskin is the Director of the Right Brain Studio Creative Panel, bringing his far-reaching contacts in the creative community to develop great ideas for our clients.

His experience in twenty feature films, thirteen made-for-TV movies, countless guest-star and recurring roles on television series, and thousands of radio and animation voice-overs gives him an insider’s comprehensive knowledge of the entertainment business. He’s also an acting coach, film producer and co-founder of Working Artist Films.

Michael is the recipient of a Bush Fellowship in theatre, and holds a B.S. degree from Northwestern University, and an M.A. from The University of Minnesota.

Susan Robinson works on marketing strategy and account management. Sue brings over 20 years of market research and product development experience to RBS, having worked on notable product introductions such as Unilever’s Bertolli Dinner for Two, P&G’s re-launch of its entire portfolio of ultra-concentrated laundry detergents, and DiGiorno Rising Crust Pizza.

She finds inspiration from competing in national agility competitions with her three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. She is a board member of “Sit, Stay, Read” a non-profit group dedicated to improving reading and literacy by using trained dog and handler teams to help children learn to read and speak in front of groups.

Sue earned an MBA in Marketing from Wayne State University and B.A. in Psychology for the University of Michigan. She is based in Chicago.

Linda Jackson works on marketing strategy and account management. A former SVP, Group Account Director at McCann Erickson, Linda brings a wealth of packaged goods experience to RBS, including Nestle, ConAgra, E&J Gallo Winery and Bumble Bee Foods.

Linda is an accomplished baker with a major sweet tooth and is currently writing a cookbook on meringue desserts, to be published by Gibbs Smith in fall 2012. She and her family, along with renowned germaphobe, Howie Mandel, are also a YouTube sensation starring in a “reality” commercial for Red Baron Pizza.

Linda earned an M.S. in Advertising from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Sociology from UCLA.

Rio Phior is RBS’s Principal Design Consultant. Her day job focuses on her responsibilities as Partner and Chief Creative Officer Partner at her award-winning advertising and design firm, Sagon-Phior, working with clients such as Sony, Disney, The Ford Foundation, DreamWorks and Microsoft.

Before starting Sagon-Phior, served as Creative Director for George Lucas and Steven Spielberg where she was responsible for developing the worldwide branding, advertising and merchandising for icons as the Star Wars and Raiders Of The Lost Ark” series of films. The Force is with her!

Rio earned academic scholarships to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), California State University, L.A., and to the prestigious Art Center College of Design as the youngest person accepted.

Bryce Maddock co-heads all things online with an emphasis in social media metrics.

He comes from the big bad world of New York City investment banking, where he worked at Rodman and Renshaw.

He’s a Yoga enthusiast, and can be spotted frantically racing from the office to the studio to get his zen on.

Bryce earned a B.A. in Business and International Relations from New York University.

Jaspar Weir co-heads the online division and focuses on creative web strategies.

Before working in online marketing, Jaspar ran an nightlife production company in Los Angeles, throwing Hollywood’s best parties for 4 years.

When he’s not working, Jaspar risks his life “shredding the gnar,” which apparently means snowboarding.

Jaspar earned a B.A. in Communication from the University of Southern California.