Professional Biographies

   
 

Cheri Cross
Client Partner/Strategist

Cheri Cross is a communications professional with more than 30 years experience. She is recognized nationally for developing comprehensive integrated marketing programs, especially those that include new-media solutions.

Cheri served as a client partner at the international Internet consultancy, Viant Corporation, where she managed engagements with Polaroid Corporation and International Data Corporation. Cheri’s experience includes serving as national director of publications for Price Waterhouse and as an art director for Corporate Annual Reports (now Addison), where her accounts included Texaco and Salomon Brothers. She was director of communications for Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) and for Mount Holyoke College.

Cheri’s work at NMH and the Mount Holyoke programs garnered more than 25 national awards for their concept, design and effectiveness, including three CASE Grand Gold awards, which recognize the highest achievement among all educational institutions.

Cheri holds a Master of Science degree in Internet Strategy Management. For her thesis, she worked with UNESCO at their United Nations headquarters in Paris to restructure and, with Tim, to redesign their Communications & Information Sector Web site. Cheri has been very active in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). She has been a frequent speaker at national workshops and conferences; and, she was a faculty member of CASE's Summer Institute in Communications, a member of the National Communications Commission, a District I board member, and a CASE international board trustee.

Cheri’s personal interests include Texas Hold ‘Em poker (she’s won her share of tournaments—but, not enough to quit her day job), international travel, intensive organic gardening, creating multimedia projects for friends, and bread baking.

     

     
 

Tim Toffoli
Creative and Technology Director/Designer

Tim Toffoli is an award-winning designer who creates print and new-media communication resources such as websites, DVD interfaces, CDs, interactive maps and other forms of wayfinding tool and multimedia presentations that support institutional marketing strategies. Over the last 20 years, as an entrepreneur in both advertising and design, Tim has worked with many prestigous clients including Reebok, Hasboro, LVMH, Sheaffer, and the Concord Music Group.

A classically schooled designer and painter with a B.A. degree in art studio from the University of California at Davis, Tim was privileged to take instruction from preeminent California artists, Wayne Thiebaud, and Roy De Forest. Tim became interested in computer-aided design in 1984. His experience includes serving as publishing director for Mirage Studios, creator of the popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles phenomenon. At Mirage, Tim was responsible for the creation and publication of the company’s myriad identity programs, including their licensing style guides worldwide.

Tim was design director at Mount Holyoke College, where he was responsible for the design of all institutional communications, including direct mail publications; two periodicals, including a weekly newspaper; two Web sites; advertisements (print, television and radio); video; the institutional signage system; and a hardbound book—all of which totaled more than 250 projects annually. He also worked with the Women’s College Coalition and the Ad Council on a national campaign promoting the benefits of higher education for women through their “Expect the Best” Web site.

National awards include: CASE Grand Gold for the Mount Holyoke College Web site; and CASE Silver Award for the Campaign for Mount Holyoke Web site.

Tim’s personal interests include his dynamic family of wife, Rachel; four children Henry, Zoey, Mia, Lucia; their cat, Peach; and, turtle, Turtle. Tim enjoys collecting stamps, making maple syrup, and cultivating his extensive flower and perennial garden.