About ZakGraphix, Our Development Team

About ZakGraphix.

Founded in 2004, ZakGraphix is a family owned and operated web development and graphic design company. Owners Micah & Melissa Zak know the importance of successful business relationships, having both been in the service and product delivery industry for many years. With over a decade of design experience, their combined skillset is overshadowed only by their commitment to their clients.

ZakGraphix Team Members (Click on a Team Member to View Their Bio)


Micah [Owner/Designer]	Melissa [Engineer/Copywriter]	Alexis & Natalie [Being Cute]

Micah Zak

Illustrator, Web Developer, and Graphic Designer
micah@zakgraphix.com
www.micahzak.com

Micah has been involved in the design field for over eleven years. With experience ranging from Web Development, Digital Illustration and Graphic Design to Conventional Mural Illustration and Outdoor Sign Creation, he has a God-given expert skillset that sets him apart in the web design industry. Having worked extensively as a Customer Service Representative and Escalation Designer, Micah is very aware of the challenges that business owners face when dealing with large design/service companies. Because of this, he is dedicated to providing a level of service that helps his clients easily bridge the gap between business and the convoluted struggles of developing a successful online presence.

Micah Zak and Trip Goodloe at Juggle.com's Moving Celebration

His background includes Marketing and Sales, Offset Printing, Publication Graphic Arts, Print Management and Printing/Computer Hardware Support and Maintenance, and Web Design/Logo Development, all of which give him a dynamic and unqiue point of view into developing successful strategies for web-based business growth and marketing success.

Micah lives in Belleville, Illinois with his beautiful wife, Melissa, and their twin daughters, Alexis and Natalie. He enjoys writing, teaching, illustrating and traveling.

Micah's Resumé

Previous Employers

Network Solutions, LLC (networksolutions.com)
Positions Held During Employment: Web Design Account Manager, Web Designer/Developer, Escalation Designer, Logo Supervisor, Logo Designer, Proprietary Software Engineering Consultant & In-House Marketing Illustrator/Designer.
Employment Details: Micah worked 1 on 1 with hundreds of clients from around the world developing logos and websites that set him apart as an employee and designer. His tireless efforts to assist in streamlining productivity resulted in an over 30% increase in production profitability and over a 60% reduction of development time. Micah worked 1 on 1 with the engineering department to create new software advancements for clients that gave them more streamlined, user-friendly, and flexible web-based tools to grow their business. Micah worked with the human resources department every month to deliver eye-catching in-house marketing and promotional material. He also developed the branding for international company marketing initiatives, including logos and promotional materials.
Awards: Olympian of Service And Performance, Designer of the Month, Website Design of the Month.

Micah at Work - Olympian of Service and Performance

FedEx Office, Inc. (fedex.com/us/office/)
Positions Held During Employment: Branch Assistant Manger, Shift Production Supervisor, Shift Senior Production Operator, Production Operator, FedEx Shipping Specialist.
Employment Details: Micah was head of FedEx Office's production department, including personnel, inventory, production workflow, team member training & development. He was the lead center technician and hardware/software troubleshooter. Micah handled daily and monthly finances, assisted in team member hire & release as well as discipline. He also substituted for and assisted with any of the positions in the store.

Micah at Work - Assistant Manger of Fedex Office

The Everest Group, Inc. (No Longer In Business)
Positions Held During Employment: Senior Sales Representative, Sales Representative, Marketing Assitant, Cold-Call/Door-To-Door Sales Associate.
Employment Details: Probably the most enlightening and stretching experience of his career, Micah worked with The Everest Group, Inc. based in south St. Louis to help promote and market local fortune 500 companies in the midwest area. Most of the work was hands-on, dealing directly with the clients and then with their marketing demographic. Micah worked cities from Kansas City, MO to Louisville, IL as a Senior Sales representative, Cold-Call Marketing Associate, and a Door-To-Door Sales Associate.

The Advanced Training Institute (ati.iblp.org)
Positions Held During Employment: Lead Curriculum Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Print Layout Assistant.
Employment Details: Micah was head of research and production of illustration and design work for many of the company's publications, including curriculum development. He worked among multiple departments and did design training and consulting in all. Micah also worked with selected out-source printshops to assure excellence in production quality.

The Institute in Basic Life Principles (iblp.org)
Positions Held During Employment: Press Operator, Press Assistant, Pre-Press Assistant, Bindery Assistant.
Employment Details: Micah began his career as a pre-press assistant and moved up quickly to Press Operator, running his own shifts on 5-Color & 4-Color Offset Heidelberg Speedmaster printing presses. He also worked with the in-house graphic design department to ensure the highest print quality.

Formal Education

Associates: Emphasis in Fine Arts (Southwestern Illinois College [SWIC])
Graduated: GPA 4.0 - Dean's List / Highest Honors & Phi Theta Kappa.

Bachelor of Arts: Emphasis in Graphic Arts (Embasy University, Inc.)
Graduated: GPA 3.88 - Dean's List / Magna Cum Laude.

Melissa Zak

Customer Service Specialist, Engineer, and Editor
melissa@zakgraphix.com

Melissa launched her experience in the business world at the age of 15 and was helping to organize and run a full-fledged publishing mailroom by the age of 18. Her later experience as a customer service manager made the importance of quality customer care and the need for a competent listening ear evident to her, and she is now committed to providing such service to customers of Zakgraphix. She has since gone on to engineer SQL databases, develop Windows applications, and program websites.

Her development and copywriting skills are tremendous assets to ZakGraphix and make her a reliable support system for ZakGraphix, her clients, and her fellow business associate and husband, Micah.

Melissa lives in Belleville, Illinois with Micah, and her twin daughters, Alexis and Natalie. She enjoys designing jewelry, complicated card games, playing the piano, and spending time with her family.

The Zak Twins

Cute, Loud, Adorable, and Always Smiling

Okay, so Alexis and Natalie don't work, but they are the inspiraton for pretty much everything we do. Basically, we make sure we treat our clients like our family, giving them the best we can afford. It is our goal to build high-quality business relationships that will last, just like the ones you have with your family and friends - except that we won't steal your hairbrush or take the car without asking.

Your satisfaction is our number one priority!

Though ZakGraphix is a web-focused company, they are also commited to referral-based business. They personally recommend their business associates and their affiliates, especially those who share their commitment to business relationships through organizations such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Business Network International (BNI), and Rotary International.

ZakGraphix History & Team