The Team
Dean Katz, President
Dean Katz worked in Corporate Communications at Microsoft for eight years as director of editorial strategy. He was chief writer for Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for five years, and also wrote for Chairman Bill Gates and other senior executives. Katz launched two of the company’s longest-running public policy communications initiatives: the Microsoft advertorial program, microsoft.com/issues, and the Executive E-mail program, microsoft.com/mscorp/execmail. Katz began his career as a reporter for the Associated Press and was an award-winning journalist at The Seattle Times newspaper for 10 years, including four years as Washington, D.C. correspondent. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College, a master’s degree from Antioch University, and was the recipient of a year-long Gannett Fellowship in Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii.
Barry Mitzman
Barry Mitzman’s career has taken him to nearly every corner of the communications business. As a journalist, he was the Peabody award-winning producer and host of two Northwest public television programs, editor of Seattle Weekly and Northwest correspondent for the Chronicle of Higher Education. As vice president at Shepardson Stern & Kaminsky, a New York-based marketing and PR agency, Mitzman’s clients included Microsoft, Nike and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mitzman spent six years at Microsoft, where as director of strategic communications he wrote for Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer and managed various public affairs and citizenship programs. Mitzman currently divides his time between projects with Katz Communications Group and teaching at Seattle University, where he is a professor and director of the Center for Strategic Communications. Mitzman earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Simon Fraser University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon
Michael Fisher
Michael Fisher has more than two decades of professional writing experience in journalism, public relations and marketing. He spent eight years as a senior writer, project manager and account executive at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Inc., one of the largest independent public relations agencies in the world. Fisher wrote extensively for clients at Microsoft, Vignette, MasterCard, SAP and numerous other companies. Previously, he worked as a reporter and editor for several community newspapers in Oregon, and covered topics ranging from business, government and education to history, leisure and the arts. Fisher earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from the University of Oregon.
Ina Chang
Ina Chang has had a varied career in publishing and journalism, including 15 years as a freelance editor of nonfiction books. She has edited dozens of developer titles for Microsoft Press, including books on Windows, SQL Server, and several programming languages. Her other Microsoft projects have included editing the book InsideOut: Microsoft—In Our Own Words and conducting research for The Road Ahead by Bill Gates. For other publishing clients and authors, she has edited scholarly books as well as popular titles. Ina has also worked as an Associated Press reporter based in Beijing, a freelance journalist, and a nonfiction writing instructor. She won the Washington State Governor’s Writers Award for her 1992 children’s book A Separate Battle: Women and the Civil War. Ina earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Brown University.
Marian Wachter
Marian Wachter’s extensive graphic design experience includes print and Web projects for a range of corporate and non-profit clients. She also has more than two decades of experience in newspapers creating compelling visual experiences with words, photographs and graphics. Wachter spent 16 years at The Seattle Times, where she was art director, overseeing a team of 15 artists and leading a complete redesign of the paper. She is the recipient of numerous design awards and is also a fine art printmaker. Wachter earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Kutztown University and a certificate in Web design from the University of Washington.
Cami Peloza
Cami Peloza is a seasoned designer, art director and project manager. During the past decade, Peloza has worked on a wide range of projects, including integrated marketing campaigns, branding systems, direct mail, annual reports and event collateral. She has experience in TV, print and digital media. Peloza worked for nearly 10 years as a senior designer at GA Creative in Bellevue. Peloza earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Central Washington University and a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Washington.