Murad Sabzali - Founder, Managing Partner

Murad is the firm's resident wannabe scientist. For him, it's not enough to just get an overview on our clients; Murad wants to be in the lab. Outside of his random science knowledge, Murad brings strong marketing communications experience from both start-up and established companies to Chempetitive Group. Prior to founding Chempetitive Group, Murad held key marketing communications positions with chemical companies including Kaltron-Pettibone, fobchemicals.com, and MSDSonline. Murad has also held marketing agency positions at Slack Barshinger. Murad is experienced in the development of effective advertising, public relations, and customer-generation programs. Murad serves as the director of communications for a local charity. He received his B.S. from Northern Illinois University.

Jeff Bergau - Co-Founder, Managing Partner

Jeff is the firm's chief morale officer. He is not bothered by much. Unless, that is, it involves exploitation of the trite, like the word "solution" in marketing materials. He offers Chempetitive Group clients a solid mix of corporate and agency experience. Before co-founding Chempetitive Group, Jeff held corporate communications positions with life sciences companies including Monsanto Company, and Calgene, Inc., and marketing agency positions with Slack Barshinger and Cramer-Krasselt. Jeff also served as Vice President, Communications, for the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (IBIO) and is a past biotechnology contributor to I-Street. Jeff has significant experience in the development and execution of strategic marketing, issues management, and crisis communications programs for life sciences companies, and has served as a company spokesperson in both print and broadcast media. He received his B.A. from Columbia College, Chicago and his M.A. from Syracuse University.

Jessica Baer - Partner, Creative Director

Jessica brings balance to the force. A gifted artist with keen business savvy, Jessica helps keep campaigns on strategy with a powerful creative bond. Her experience in creative marketing development, backed with a strong fine arts background, provides Chempetitive Group's clients with a solid resource to creatively and effectively bring visual clarity to their marketing materials. She worked for marketing design agencies in both Chicago and New York before joining Chempetitive Group. Jessica uses each client's business goals as the foundation to direct all of the company's print and online creative initiatives. She received her B.S. from Roberts Wesleyan College.

Ken Li - Public Relations Director

Ken escaped from a lab several years ago by disguising himself as a public relations professional. Since then he has been delivering award-winning programs for start-up and Fortune 500 companies. Ken offers Chempetitive Group's clients media relations expertise coupled with a science background. Prior to joining Chempetitive Group, Ken headed the technology/B2B practice at public relations agency Dome HK. Ken has a strong track record generating both trade and national media. He started his career as a research scientist who studied cholesterol metabolism. He received his B.A. in Chemistry and B.S. in Biochemistry from Cornell University.

Steve Johnson - Senior Vice President, Director of Client Services

Steve is that guy that you want on your squad. Not because of his .470 OBP in high school baseball, but because he’s that ego-free guy who always seems to have the right answer.  Of course he understands what it takes to create strategic marketing programs that generate high returns on our clients’ marketing investments. But he also has an uncanny ability to take a challenging situation and find a simple and effective course of action. Before bringing his skills to Chempetitive Group, he spent 18 years at Slack Barshinger, where he was a partner, directed a host of client services, and played the role of staff psychiatrist.  He was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Business Administration from Illinois State University a very long time ago.

Tommy Torres - Creative Director

Tommy, the silent ninja, brings a diverse skill set to the Chempetitive Group. Trained in martial arts, RC racing, track motorcycle racing and creative design, Tommy serves as the Kato to Jessica's Green Hornet. Although he will never let you know it, or you may not hear him, he has quietly won numerous awards for his work over the past decade. His deeply thoughtful creative approach ensures that Chempetitive Group clients get strategically sound and visually impactful communications, every time. He's amassed communications experience with agencies such as Slack Barshinger and DoubleTake Design and has also run his own design firm. Tommy received his B.A. from the Illinois Institute of Art.

Michael Yared - Director of Online Marketing

The Force is strong in Michael. After building one of the internet's most popular gaming networks, forging an alliance with LucasArts, and then founding his own online marketing agency, Michael traded in his light saber for an opportunity to lead life sciences companies through the information super highway. Michael keeps the Dark Side of marketing at bay through building and optimizing Chempetitive Group clients' online activities. He developed his powerful combination of business, foosball and computer science skills at Indiana University where he received his B.S.