The Interactive Resource helps companies of all sizes avoid time-consuming and costly mistakes of choosing the wrong developer, public relations agency, executive hire or strategic partner. We believe that the appropriate match of capabilities and expectations, skillsets, personalities, and company cultures is crucial to establishing a successful and long-lasting professional relationship. That is why we've met and interviewed all of our agencies and can pass our knowledge and experience to the client.

The Interactive Resource was founded by Christine Harmel in 1998. Since then, we've consulted on and placed many Web and interactive projects ranging in size from $25K to $10M. Although our initial business consisted of providing interactive agency reviews, frequent client demand for additional assistance soon led us to expand our services to M&A and strategic partnership consulting, recruiting, real estate referrals, and event planning.

Team

Christine Harmel, Founder and CEO
Prior to launching The Interactive Resource, Christine Harmel was the Director of Business Development and Client Services at the professional Web services firm USWeb/CKS (now MarchFIRST) in Los Angeles, where she managed client acquisitions, strategic planning and development, interactive media planning and buying, and integrated marketing and publicity. Her clients included DirecTV, Transamerica, Kaiser Permanente, Universal Pictures, Paramount Studios, 20th Century Fox, Disney, The Guggenheim Museum, and Bugle Boy.

Christine started her New Media career in 1995, when she founded a Santa Barbara-based ecommerce and Web development firm. In 1996, she moved to W3-design, Inc., one of the top interactive shops in Los Angeles, which was later acquired by USWeb. Christine received a B.A. in Communications and Spanish from Rutgers University and a Master's degree in Bilingual Elementary Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Meet Christine Harmel

Jason Schommer, Director of Operations
Jason Schommer brings strong operational, project management, and finance experience to The Interactive Resource. His entrepreneurial background includes Prime Health, a home health care provider, and Prime Systems, a comprehensive health services company, where he served as the COO. After negotiating a successful acquisition of the Prime Health Systems network of companies, Jason turned to the real estate management and financial management industries as the CEO of Infinity Investments. In 1998, Jason negotiated the acquisition of a large Texas-based commercial contracting company, Walker Mechanical, Inc., where he served as President. Under his management, Walker Mechanical formed a new retail consumer division and launched a new media portal. Jason holds a B.A. in Psychology and Chemistry from the University of Kansas and Wichita State University.

Katy Witkowski, Account Director
Prior to joining The Interactive Resource, Katy Witkowski was an Adjunct Professor at the Center for European Studies at New York University. She has also worked as a freelance Research Analyst at the Educational Development Center, where she evaluated the success of international training programs, and as Assistant Coordinator at the World Affairs Council in Memphis, Tennessee. Katy has a background in International Relations, with a specific focus on Europe. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Lewis & Clark College and a Master's degree in European Studies from New York University.

Lisa Heberley, Consultant
Lisa Heberley started her career with Ernst & Young, where she gained experience working with both entrepreneurial and public companies. She subsequently joined Bell Atlantic, where she focused primarily on operational consulting with the company's wireless communications ventures in various domestic and international markets. Lisa's recent work projects include the development of Internet marketing strategies for American Express. Lisa holds a B.S. in Accounting from St. Joseph's University and an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business.

Jalina Stewart, Consultant
Jalina Stewart comes to The Interactive Resource with a background in journalism, which includes contributions to Fox News Online and magazines such as Worth, Corporate Board Member, Equity, Civilization, and American Benefactor. She has extensive experience working within the music and entertainment industries, where she handled media relations, artist development, and video production and management services. Jalina has also worked as a freelance analyst for the marketing research firm Find/SVP. She holds B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University.

Board of Advisors

Nick Rothenberg, Managing Partner and Entertainment Practice Leader, MarchFIRST Los Angeles

James and Matthew Roche, co-CEOs, Fort Point Partners

Chris Paine, President, Western Division, AppNet Systems

Paul Taormino, Vice President, Advertising, InfoSpace.com

Mark Hurst, President and Founder, Creative Good

Jeanine Parker, President, The JParker Company

Fran Pomerantz, CEO, The Pomerantz Group

Charities Supported
Five percent of our profits are donated to the following charities:

Habitat for Humanity
An international non-profit organization that builds affordable housing for lower-income people.

AIDS Ride
A bicycle ride that raises money and awareness for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and contributes to AIDS prevention programs in Boston and New York.

The All Stars Project
A volunteer project that sponsors the largest inner city youth anti-violence program in New York City.

Count-me-in for Women's Economic Independence
An organization that makes small business loans and gives training scholarships to women.

Nature Conservancy
An international conservation group that preserves habitats and species by saving the lands and waters they need to survive.

Compassion International
A worldwide Christian relief fund for children living in poverty.

New York Restoration Project
A non-profit organization that uncovers, reclaims, and maintains New York City's neglected public spaces.