Tom Rickert, President/Chief Executive Officer

For over 20 years, Tom Rickert has successfully launched, managed and represented media entities across a wide range of technologies and media formats. President and Founder of Minneapolis, Minn. based Rickert Media, Tom Rickert is considered one of the industry's leading executives in media research, strategic planning and development, brand positioning and market analysis, editorial content, media ad sales, sales management, operational management, circulation and other media / business disciplines.

Over the past eight years, he has expanded Rickert Media's consulting expertise to include media launches, emerging media, media research, media sales and media management outsourcing with a primary focus on consumer publications. 

In 1999, Rickert established his own publishing firm, Meetings & Events LLC, and launched four successful regional travel industry magazines in Chicago, Detroit, Denver and Dallas which he continued to publish and operate for five years with a staff of 44 people. The highly successful publishing firm attracted significant industry attention -- and a buyer -- in 2004.

Rickert continues to be a strong proponent for the development of cross media partnerships, integrated marketing and media packaging. Rickert’s consulting services have been provided to more than 40 media entities over the last 20 years including, but not limited to: Time Inc., Reuters International, AAA Auto Club Publications, Bayard International, Hearst Family & Lifestyle Group of Publications, McDonald’s Corporation, VOD Media, Amusement Media, Dasher Media, Unique Screen Media, Primedia Publications, New Parent Magazine Group…and many more.

Shawn McKeown, Vice President, New Business and Strategic Development

Shawn McKeown has served as Vice President of Strategic Development for the past six years. In this capacity, McKeown has focused on strategic planning, development, implementation, brand positioning and market analysis within the out-of-home, internet, and alternative media categories for Rickert Media clients such as Reuters Sign in Times Square, FocusIn Web Network, Amusement Media, Dasher Media, VOD Media, Unique Screen Media and Fearless Entertainment.

McKeown has sold and managed successful programs and services in excess of $5 million for companies such as Yahoo, Hewlett-Packard, Boeing, Clorox, Fox TV, and Anheuser-Busch at Rickert Media.

With 15 years of in-depth direct marketing experience, McKeown founded and was president of Apex Direct, a highly respected direct marketing consulting firm located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1996 to 2001. McKeown provided consulting services and strategic management activities for his direct mail clients including Fleet Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Microsoft where McKeown developed, implemented and managed multi-million dollar direct mail projects of up to 20 million direct mail pieces each.