Small in Size
Big on Talent

Meet Our Staff

Darren Fox Aaron Olin Cathe Stieg
Adam Kraft Haley Stralka

An Award-Winning Team

Idea Marketing Group is focused on helping brands grow and expand their reach through a planned and well-developed marketing campaign. A one-on-one approach is used to develop an understanding of needs as well as build a strong personal connection for a long-term relationship. With a deep understanding of your company, Idea can utilize current web-trends to produce a solid, competitive creative. Idea’s role is more than just a web designer or graphic designer but as a consultant and team member whose main job is to see that your business succeeds.

Idea offers cost effective solutions at award-winning levels. Honors received include those awarded by the American Design Awards—an international design competition with agencies competing worldwide—and Design Firms.

Community

Careers

Giving life to an idea

In 2009, Darren Fox fulfilled a life-long dream by founding Idea Marketing Group in Downtown Chicago. In what many have considered one of the worst economic times in the nation, Idea has continued its growth through prestige work and dedicated customer service. In 2011, Idea tripled its office space and moved its main office to Oswego, Illinois.

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Darren Fox

President

Idea's team leader and creative director, Darren, has been building web sites since 2000 and achieved SEO guru status before SEO was a marketing buzz word and web site necessity. Darren founded Idea Marketing Group in 2009 and continues to bring creative ideas to every project. He is actively involved in the community with memberships including: The Young Professionals of Chicago, Taproot Foundation, Oswegoland Optimists Club, the Oswego Chamber of Commerce, and is on the Graphic Design Advisory Board at Waubonsee Community College. Additionally, he frequently appears as a Guest Speaker at Waubonsee Community College and at other events. He holds degrees in both web authoring and graphic design. Honors include those awarded by American Design Awards—an international design competition with agencies competing worldwide—and Design Firms for his web site design work. When Darren isn't working on the next genius web design, he can be found spending time with his wife and daughter, unwinding on the mountain bike or kayaking on the Fox River.

Aaron Olin

Design and Development

Aaron, the "mad scientist" of Idea, handles the advanced programming including mySQL databases, PHP, Wordpress, mobile site and mobile app development. The beginning of Aaron's design and development career involved designing CD covers and basic websites for his bands and DJ business. His mad skills in complex development stem from the desire to create more dynamic sites that required less day to day maintenance. Aaron designed his first website in 1999 and continues to expand his development skills, moving into the realm of mobile web development. He has a perpetual thirst for knowledge and stays on the cutting edge of new technology. Keeping a close tie to his previous music career, Aaron can often be found at karaoke. Aaron received a BA in Visual Communication from Westwood College.

Cathe Stieg

Sales and Marketing

Cathe has been on the marketing side in several industries, including horticulture, manufacturing and publishing, working on everything from advertising sales to event planning & marketing to content management to public relations and author promotion. Her career began in 1997 training and marketing show horses and moved into account and communications manager positions for a leading publishing company and widget manufacturer. Her passion is in working with clients, brainstorming and advising on integrated marketing plans to help them achieve their goals. Feeding the PR side of her personality, Cathe is active with several local art groups and outdoor adventure groups – generating buzz for the artists and recruiting new runners and hikers. While not actively competing any more, she spends most of her free time with her horse. Cathe received a Bachelor's in English with a writing emphasis from North Central College.

Haley Stralka

Junior Designer

Haley is currently attending Waubonsee Community College and plans on transferring to Northern Illinois University to complete her Bachelor's in Graphic Design. Haley's design inspiration started with display boards for science fairs. Creating a visually appealing and winning layout carries through in her design work and website build outs with Idea. In addition to her work at Idea, Haley is responsible for training all of the referees in Illinois for First Lego League competitions. She volunteers her time and design savvy to the Batavia United Way and Karing for Kyla. Haley has been inducted into Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, Phi Theta Kappa and National Technical Honors Society.

Adam Kraft

Sales Consultant

Adam helps with business development and manages long-term relationships. Adam finished off his Bachelor's from the American University while studying abroad in London before starting his career in sales and marketing in 1991.

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Contact Idea Marketing Group today to learn more about web design, graphic design, and marketing services. Idea is proud to serve the Chicago area including clients who operate outside of Illinois. We provide on-site consultations within the Chicago area as well as set up phone consultations or travel rates for non-local customers.
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In 2009, Idea opened its first office in downtown Chicago. In 2011, we expanded our office space and relocated just west of Chicago in
the heart of Oswego, IL.

Idea Marketing Group
5 E Washington St
Oswego, IL 60543

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Hours of Operation
Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm
Friday 10am-3pm
Closed on Weekends