AGENCY PEOPLE.

Miller Meester Advertising, Minneapolis, has hired Bernie Napolski as the group manager for its direct marketing division, Kurt Zellers as an account supervisor in its public relations division and Jim Melzer as associate creative director.

Napolski most recently was manager of customer relations with DirectAg.com. Prior to that, he worked as an online marketing manager for Case Capital (now CNH Capital). There he developed the first online credit application and credit approval process for the agricultural industry. He was also the marketing communication division manager for John Deere Credit. Zellers joins Miller Meester after working nearly seven years with former U.S. Senator Rod Grams, first as a campaign manager, then as the Minnesota communication director and most recently as a press secretary and spokesman. Melzer previously was creative director for Morgan&Myers. He also worked as a senior copywriter for Colle & McVoy.

Morgan&Myers, Inc., Minneapolis, promotes Karen Potratz to senior counselor, Jennifer Deppe to counselor, Judy Rupnow to counselor, Michelle Bartelt to senior associate, Heather Behnke to senior associate, Tracy Wedl to associate and Merrick Passanante to associate.

Potratz joined Morgan&Myers in June 2000 and is active on the Pharmacia Animal Health and Case IH accounts. Previously, she was involved with the management of Sargent & Potratz. Deppe serves the firm's agricultural accounts. Since joining Morgan&Myers in 1996, she has been a member of account teams that have been awarded the Public Relations Society of America's Silver Anvil Award for Excellence and The WORLDCOM Globe Award. Rupnow was previously a senior associate. She joined Morgan&Myers in January 2000. Bartelt joined the agency in January 2000. Previously, she served as a project assistant for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Behnke joined the agency in October 1999 after graduating from the University of Iowa with degrees in art and communication. Wedl joined the agency in June 1997. She previously was employed at PACER Center and Bankers Systems Inc. Passanante joined Morgan&Myers in February 2000. Previously, she was a sales representative for PrinTelogy in Denver.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, office of CMF&Z Marketing Communications hires Jane Hutchins as multimedia graphics designer, Rachel Franklin as Web program manager, Amy Hickey as Web program coordinator and Eileen Parker as senior Web program manager. Kathy Hepker is promoted to assistant manager, client services.

Hutchins was an independent broadcast designer for clients such as PBS, National Geographic Television and Discovery Digital Networks. Franklin previously was an online marketing manager for Mattel Interactive. Hickey was an executive assistant to the chairman/CEO of ATC Communications Group. Parker was an online channel marketing manager for Mattel Interactive. Hepker first joined CMF&Z for a short time in 1990 before moving from the Cedar Rapids area in June 1992 and recently rejoined the company in April 1999 after returning to the area.

Swanson Russell Associates, Lincoln, Neb., promotes Heather McCain to associate art director in its Omaha, Neb., office. McCain was formerly a graphic designer.

Terry Jochum joins Ayres Advertising/ Marketing, Lincoln, Neb., as an account executive. Jochum most recently was director of marketing and advertising for USA Roller Sports in Lincoln.

Kathy Krafka Harkema has joined Essman/ Associates, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa, as communications manager. In two decades of management experience, she has directed not-for-profit organizations, headed an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship division and managed consumer marketing and strategic sales programs for The Des Moines Register.

Essman/Associates is a 24-year-old full-service agency specializing in integrated marketing communications including marketing research and planning, advertising, public relations and collateral development for local, national and international clients.

Thomas C. Porter & Associates, West Des Moines, Iowa, hires Lori Strum as its media director. Strum brings 14 years of marketing and media planning experience to the Strum agency.