As President and Creative Director for Studio North, Locke brings more than 20 years of experience developing award winning communications programs and strategic plans for clients across a broad spectrum of industries.

Locke works closely with senior level executives and management teams to craft positioning strategies and business systems for packaging, promoting and selling products and services in today's market. The former founder of a leading Bay Area communications firm, Locke created Studio North as an alternative solution for businesses seeking both traditional marketing tools and strategic consulting services. From product launches to internal communications programs, Locke approaches each challenge by solving the business problem first, then customizing solid tactical programs to execute the solutions.

Locke is the architect of hundreds of innovative programs for clients as diverse as ITT Mortgage Corporation, Apple Computer, HP, Bank of America, American Express, Kaiser Permanente and more. She's crafted company re-positioning plans, product and program introductions, branding strategies, advertising campaigns, and both internal and external communications systems.

Frequently, Locke collaborates with venture capital firms and independent entrepreneurs to mold their visions and ideas into market-viable products and services. Examples include a 7+ year relationship with Kaiser Permanente that involved a complete business overhaul and resulted in re-defining the corporate image and rolling out several new services; packaging and selling the first DSL company prior to first customer ship; re-positioning Smith and Hawken's image; and developing the business model for American Express to launch an insurance division.

Trained as an artist and curator, Locke studied in Europe at the Paris Art Academy including work at the Louvre, and the London Polytechnic Institute which included work at the Tate Gallery. She earned decorated degrees in graphic design and packaging from the Art Center College of Design, and her work was been recognized and honored with numerous awards including The Art Directors Club, CA Magazine Award of Excellence, The West Coast Show and The Art Center Award of Honors.

As technical strategist, multimedia programmer, and software designer for Studio North, Omland brings more than 17 years' programming, Web and multimedia development experience to the team. His skills range from software designer, pre-Windows, low-level graphics programming, to modern multimedia, Web-based applications and search engine ranking techniques.

Omland uses state-of-the-art techniques and technology in everything he does, whether it is programming Web sites, HTML e-mails, online surveys, interface design, or custom applications. He also provides the back-end technical know-how to get clients' Web sites highly ranked in search engines, integrate with online credit card processing, and other features such as online surveys and targeted e-mailing campaigns.

Omland has worked on diverse engineering projects including programming various PC products such as Sargon IV, a computer chess game; integrating multi-processor computer projects such as imaging PC to Wang main fame; designing innovative "next generation" product enhancements such as Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing; and managing software development teams. More recent projects include programming a multimedia educational CD-ROM for Dole Foods, which integrates flash, audio, Director and QuickTime technologies. This disc tracks the players progress and rewards points for completing sections and accomplishing goals in variety of interactive games, while subtly using behavior modification to promote health conscious habits.

Omland has written several portions of a PHP and mySQL database program for an online employee review system. Features include report generation, session tracking and analysis, feedback and e-mail messaging to coordinate both employer and employee pre-review and post-review documentation and process. Unique features of this software include handling both party's input and responsibilities throughout the process.

Omland earned his BSEE at Rochester Institute of Technology. He is a certified NLP Master practitioner and teaches Tai Chi.