WHO WE ARE >

Steve Governale | SVP/Director

At the helm of SMG Search, Stephen Governale is responsible for guiding agencies and clients through the quickly-evolving search marketplace. As one of the thought leaders behind sister agency Starcom IP, the award-winning digital and online media agency of Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG), Governale has been leading SMG’s search expertise and innovation within the agency since 1999.

In his tenure at SMG, Governale has worked with several clients that rely heavily on search advertising. He leveraged those experiences to build an agency expertise from the ground up, focused on delivering world class search strategy and execution. Under Governale’s leadership, SMG Search has grown into a profitable, innovative search company, recognized by engine partners, industry publications and clients for it's commitment to trailblazing.

Prior to focusing on search, Governale was a Media Director in Starcom IP. During his tenure in IP, he and his teams earned consistent recognition for strategic media planning both within the agency and industry-wide. Governale is the recipient of both agency and industry awards, including recognition at Cannes for Media Innovation.

Governale earned his Bachelor of Arts in marketing from Arizona State University. He is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies’ Board for Search Marketing.

Kevin Lange | Operations Director

As one of the founding members of SMG Search, Kevin Lange recognized the power and potential of search long before the industry even begun to contemplate its marketing importance. Along with SVP/Director Steve Governale, the two forged the way for SMG Search to become a viable marketing services company, leading blue chip clients such as GM, Disney and Kellogg into this rapidly growing space.

As Operations Director, Kevin has taken a lead role in establishing the necessary process and groundwork for launching General Motors’ search campaigns in 22 countries outside of the US. Kevin is also a key contributor to the agency’s new business growth and pitch strategy. In his years spent working with GM, Kevin has contributed to a number of award-winning search campaigns including Google Pontiac and Who Killed the Electric Car, both of which have been lauded by the industry.

Prior to spearheading SMG Search, Kevin worked at sister agency Starcom IP, fostering the agency’s unparalleled search expertise through its work on behalf of client Network Solutions from 2001-2004, establishing the early foundations for SMG Search. Kevin received his B.S. in Advertising from Bradley University in Peoria, IL.

Michael Melone | Director

In his current role at SMG Search, Michael Melone provides clients with strategic counsel in paid and organic search marketing. As director and a member of the SMG Search executive committee, he leads implementation team workflow and deliverables and helps plan organizational direction for the agency. He currently directs search programs for clients such as ESPN, Miller Brewing Company, US Cellular, Metromix, and National Car Rental.

With more than a decade of interactive marketing experience, Melone has worked on both the client and agency side of the business. Prior to joining SMG Search, Melone helped to develop the emarketing division and program offering for Boulder-based interactive advertising agency, texturemedia. He also developed the ecommerce and online marketing backbone for the world’s #1 best-selling 3D home and landscape design software company, Punch! Software.

Melone graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature and received his master’s degree in global marketing communications and advertising from Emerson College in Brussels, Belgium.

He currently lives in the south suburbs of Chicago, with his wife Monica and daughter, where he spends his leisure time enjoying soccer. He also speaks Spanish and typically spends vacation time traveling and visiting his vacation home in Medellin, Colombia.

Melinda Mavers | Associate Director

Melinda Mavers boasts 10 years of management and marketing experience, making her a tremendous asset to SMG Search. Joining the agency in May 2006 Melinda manages paid and natural search initiatives for clients such as Disney Mobile, Disney Studios, ditech, da Vinci Surgical and Philip Morris. Most recently, Melinda has been working with Starcom Los Angeles to develop a search campaign for Disney Studios, which will incorporate PR, TV and print components. Additionally, she is working on paid search and accompanying offline integration efforts for Disney Mobile and Philip Morris and building natural search campaigns for ditech and da Vinci Surgical.

Melinda holds expertise in search engine marketing and search behavior, management, public relations and branding. Prior to joining SMG Search, Melinda spent three years working as Senior Interactive Marketing Manager at international search marketing firm MarketSmart Interactive in North Carolina, where she managed 70 accounts across a variety of industries, such as the U.S. Army National Guard, Alaska Airlines and Brookstone. Melinda also spent four years at American Airlines as operational supervisor.