About Us
Honoring the Legacy and Vision of Our Founder
Before founding THE MEDIACENTER (now Media Group Online, Inc. [MGO]) during 1989, Barbara Zeiger was a longtime and highly respected broadcast professional at TvB. She was also a pioneering female entrepreneur at a time when there were fewer than today and many people were skeptical of her likelihood of success.
Nothing makes us prouder than she was able to prove her skeptics wrong, as she applied her professional experience, energy and moxie to launch THE MEDIACENTER, and see her vision grow and succeed.
We are still saddened by Barbara’s passing during 2016, but under the new leadership of her sister, Carol Massaro, and the support of the dedicated staff, Media Group Online, Inc. is moving forward to honor and expand on Barbara’s legacy and vision.
We also honor and treasure our many loyal members, who have worked with us through this transition. Many have discovered the information that has expanded their knowledge of their prospects and clients’ industries and businesses, creating an advantage for themselves in their highly competitive local media markets.
Local Search Association Co-op Directory – As of July 24, 2017, we became a member of Local Search Association (a not-for-profit local advertising association). MGO members have access to thousands of co-op resources in a quick-and-easy-to-use directory LSA is constantly updating. You can help your prospects and clients grab their share of the $30–$35 billion in co-op funds unused every year. This is THE premier co-op database on which advertisers, media, agencies and others have relied for many years. It now includes guidelines for all media types, including digital.
- 8,043 brand records
- 1,998 formal co-op programs
- 1,722 specially arranged programs
- 1,200 TV eligible programs
- 934 digital eligible programs
- 1,541 brand records with sample artwork
Please click here for more information and to view samples of LSA co-op program sheets.
News Stories – For many years, THE MEDIACENTER included a curated media and retail news repository, but it was only available to members. With our new Website, we’ve made our News Stories section a prominent feature on the top portion of the public home page.
You’ll find two News Stories sections: Marketing, Advertising, Media, Retail and the Economy and Digital Media and Technology. We invite you to visit the site regularly, as we add new stories daily. We are confident there is no better source for you to learn the latest developments in the world in which you work.
Not only will you find news about major retail chains and local retail happenings, but also stories that introduce you to the most cutting-edge digital media advances as well as future technologies. You’ll discover an emphasis on augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence and robotics, which are about to have profound effects on retail, media and our lives.
Sales Training Aids – This section includes new articles, book recommendations and other content to help sales managers train their sales teams. In addition, we are adding personal development, financial and health information to improve our members’ lives, wellbeing and professional success.
Website Users Guide – We’ve also created a Users’ Guide to make it easier for Website visitors to view the sections of the site (which we are confident will convince you to become a member). MGO members will also find the guide useful to find the exact content to help them impress prospects and clients with their knowledge and expertise and close more and bigger contracts.
The Media Group Online Team
Carol Massaro
Owner/President
Having been a close confidant of her sister, Barbara Zeiger, and with more than 30 years of experience in small business management, Carol Massaro has the complete skillset to assume the leadership of Media Group Online, Inc.
She and her husband, Thomas Massaro, have operated Action Plumbing & Heating, Inc. for more than 30 years, which has provided her with a clear understanding of the small business owner mindset and challenges, as they are the end beneficiaries of Media Group Online’s mission.
Carol earned an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, a master’s degree in Educational Technology and a two-year business degree. Her career arc has included valuable experiences in banking, sales, teaching and business management. When she is not overseeing these enterprises, Carol enjoys fishing, crafting, card making, scrapbooking and any kind of creative activities.
Shawn Whelan
Operations Manager
Shawn Whelan has been a professional graphic designer since 2002. Shawn has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and has completed graduate course work in art education at Montclair State University. Shawn has worked for THE MEDIACENTER/Media Group Online, Inc. since 2007.
He specializes in the design and development of the Website as well as some of the day to-day-operations of the company. When Shawn is not working for Media Group Online, Inc., he enjoys reading and studying the latest trends in technology, watching movies and NBA basketball, exploring the world and creating art. Shawn resides in Landing, NJ with his wife and two children.
Darlene Mollov
Office Administrator
Darlene Mollov graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University. She worked for Aramark services in retail management, food service management and catering management. She also worked in sales and was an office manager for Wyndham hotels.
After moving from Chicago to New York with her family, Darlene left the workforce to raise her children. She joined Media Group Online, Inc. during September 2016 as the office administrator. When not working she likes to read, cook, garden and hike.
Bob Sillick
Sales/Marketing Consultant, Senior Content Research and Writer
Bob Sillick brings more than 45 years of experience in marketing, advertising and many allied fields to his role at Media Group Online, Inc., having started with THE MEDIACENTER during late 2011, as a contract researcher/writer. Bob was in ad-agency partnership for 10 years and held senior roles in a number of others, all of which served primarily local businesses, thus adding immeasurably to his understanding of small business owners’ marketing and advertising needs.
Bob attended The Ohio State University and now lives in Tampa, FL, enjoying the time he can spend with his 98-year-old father. Bob is an avid reader and a serious student of classical and jazz music.
Adelle Dittman
Associate Graphic Designer
Adelle Dittman has been a professional graphic designer since 2002. Adelle has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts/Graphic Design from Portland State University and is the principal of Dittman Design (www.dittmandesign.com) since 2007. She specializes in print and publication design, with a focus on brand management and the development of design campaigns.
When Adelle is not working on client projects, she enjoys all the Bend, Oregon area has to offer, including running trails, paddle boarding lakes and snowboarding mountains with her husband and two children.
Jennifer Dublino
Associate Content Researcher and Writer
Jennifer Dublino has been using research to inform marketing strategies for more than 20 years. As the owner of Pro Creative Marketing Group, she has created business and marketing plans and industry analyses to help clients identify and benefit from market trends, competitors’ weaknesses and unmet customer needs. She believes that a well-informed and fact-based approach to marketing and sales will produce outstanding client results.
Jennifer earned a BBA in marketing and an MBA in finance from the University of Miami. A Florida native, she lives in Boca Raton with her husband, five children, three dogs and a cat. In the rare moments when she is not working or caring for her family, she likes to read and attend live music performances.
Mark Carolla
Associate Graphic Designer
Mark Carolla has been a professional graphics designer since 1990 and has served as a contract/associate designer with Media Group Online, Inc. since 2009. Mark has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts/Graphic Design from The Pennsylvania State University and has operated his own business, Presentation Design Inc. (www.presentationdesign.net), since 2001.
He specializes in PowerPoint projects for his major clients, Philips, McKenzie Management and Zatkoff Seals. When he is not working on his client’s projects and those for Media Group Online, Inc., Mark enjoys music, landscaping and following the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Mark’s resides in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife and daughter.