Management Team
Tom Howell
President/Co-owner
Tom Howell is responsible for directing company planning and policy making. He also provides senior counsel on accounts. With more than 30 years experience in communications – including five years in broadcast news and 11 years in the state capital – he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to brand development, media relations, community programs and public/governmental affairs consulting.
Tom’s clients come to him to advance political issues, build coalitions, and communicate complex technical information. He specializes in helping companies facing environmental challenges.
Becky Simpson
Chief Executive Officer/Co-owner
Becky Simpson directs company planning, marketing and day-to-day agency operations. She has more than 25 years of experience in media relations, government relations, public affairs, consumer branding and advertising.
Becky’s received particular acclaim for her work on airport branding and relocation issues. In addition, she has specialized expertise in education issues and health care communications and marketing.
Tom Kokai
Chief Operating Officer
Tom Kokai leads the agency’s account service and creative teams. He brings more than 25 years of experience in advertising from both the creative and the account supervision side for a wide range of clients including, tourism, utilities, entertainment, healthcare, financial, consumer products and business-to-business services.
Tom’s recent specialty has been creating destination brands, most notably, “Kentucky Unbridled Spirit.” He’s also instrumental in developing a variety of high profile health care and tourism brands, including logo, messaging and ad creation.
Joe Lilly
Executive Vice President
Joe Lilly brings to the table more than 30 years experience in reputation management, crisis communications, media relations, government affairs and destination branding. He’s also responsible for much of the agency’s media training efforts.
As a former gubernatorial press secretary, Joe’s expertise is in dealing with communications issues involving states and communities, ensuring that coalitions are built through effective communications. He has been responsible for the implementation of the “Kentucky Unbridled Spirit” campaign in Kentucky, one of the most successful destination branding efforts in the country.
Bruce Huninghake
Vice President, Graphic and Environmental Design
Bruce Huninghake plays an integral role in all creative design projects for New West, relying on more than 30 years of experience in the design profession. Before he joined New West, Bruce was a principal and co-founder of Abney/Huninghake Design Group. AHDG earned an outstanding reputation through its specialization in brand image, environmental graphics and way finding work.
Bruce has a unique ability to create a branded environment in which messages are creatively communicated. That includes directional way finding, environmental graphics, copyrighting and overall design.
Maria Ladd
Vice President, Events
Maria Ladd has nearly 20 years of experience taking a client’s concept for an event and turning it into a reality. Maria is in big demand, having created events from Kentucky to Aichi, Japan. She handles every detail of an event, from facility oversight and catering to agenda management and gifts.
Events are Maria’s specialty and creativity is her trademark. She has planned and executed events ranging from product launches, conferences and media events as well as events internationally. She leaves no detail uncovered.
Phillip Booth
Vice President, Graphic Design
Phillip Booth is responsible for designing and producing a wide range of materials for New West clients. With over 20 years of experience, he has produced annual reports, corporate identity and communications packages, brochures, logos, newsletters, invitations, posters, advertising campaigns, displays, Web sites, PowerPoint presentations, and virtually every kind of visual communication imaginable.
Phil’s specialty is listening to a client’s dream – and then making that dream come alive creatively. His work has graced national and international publications. His designs are on the walls of some of the country’s most prestigious companies. His team has won many awards for creativity in design. You’ll often find him in his New West office at nights and on weekends, ensuring his clients get a perfect product.
