our team : the gardeners
The Juniper Group was founded in 1997 by June Kirchgatter, a marketing communications strategist with more that eighteen years of experience. The principles of The Juniper Group are simple: provide clients with creative, reliable, and cost-effective solutions to their employee communications needs. And do so with an emphasis on customer service.
The Juniper Group represents a collection of communications professionals dedicated to doing their best for the client. Our clients interact directly with these professionals; experts with at least 15 years of experience each in their specific field ranging from measurement to strategic planning, and from creative design and copy writing to program implementation.
June Kirchgatter, President
Lisa Korte, Director of Training
Amy Kuhn, Creative Director
Martin Kantor, Copy Director
Debra Steele, Production Manager
June Kirchgatter, President
As president and founder of The Juniper Group, June is realizing her dream of delivering targeted communications through superior creative and customer service. With more than eighteen years of agency experience servicing a number of clients, June has written award-winning communications plans, developed numerous internal communications programs, and managed multiple projects for a number of Fortune 1000 clients.
During her six years at Harris Advertising (Ann Arbor, MI), working with a number of clients that were suppliers to the automotive industry, she was promoted through the company ranks from intern to vice president. In her five years at Meindl & Associates (Oak Brook, IL), June refined her strategic planning and account management skills by working with a number of national and international accounts.
She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with degrees in political science and English. June has been a presenter for the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). When she is not managing The Juniper Group, June can be found golfing, jogging with her dog, or attending U of M football games.
Lisa Korte, Director of Training
A member of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and the International Society for Performance & Instruction (ISPI), Lisa has more than thirteen years of experience in developing training programs for corporate America. Most recently working with Carlson Marketing Group (Detroit, MI) for their Automotive Division, Lisa prepared national training programs for a number of automotive dealerships. She also developed training programs for a number of employees holding corporate positions with the auto makers. She has also held positions at Valassis Communications and Andersen Consulting. Lisa holds a sociology degree (with a minor in marketing) from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in organizational communications from Western Michigan University. She is an avid golfer, gardener, and swimmer.
Amy Kuhn, Creative Director
With nearly seventeen years of experience in designing publications and printed materials, Amy has a bachelor’s in fine arts from Wittenburg University. She has held various design positions at agencies in Ohio and Illinois. Amy has designed employee communications materials for some of the leading employers in Chicago and Minneapolis. She has attended the Studio Arts Center International in Florence, Italy and enjoys gardening and traveling.
Martin Kantor, Copy Director
During his twenty-two year career, Marty has written annual reports, speeches, newsletters, videos, brochures, and advertisements. He spent ten years working with Rotary International, managing a staff and projects for the service organization’s 1.2 million members in more than 160 countries. Marty also has significant technical writing experience, having been the physical sciences writer for Northwestern University from 1977 to 1981. A speech major at the University of Iowa, Marty sings Brazilian music and loves cinema.
Debra Steele, Production Manager
Debbie brings a wealth of design know-how to The Juniper Group. Prior to moving to Chicago, Debbie worked at Village Presbyterian Church (Kansas City, KS), as associate director of communications. There, Debbie gained valuable experience writing and designing newsletters, brochures, and advertisements. Debbie earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from University of Kansas. In her free time, Debbie enjoys exploring her surroundings in her new hometown -- along with her dog. She also enjoys traveling, cooking, and exercising.