Anne Hartnett · Publisher | Email
As managing partner of Agent Publishing, Anne Hartnett is responsible for the company’s strategic direction, corporate alliances and marketing efforts. Prior to being a co-founder of Agent Publishing in 2003, Anne successfully founded and grew Luxe Marketing Communications LLC, where she developed marketing and advertising solutions for such leading companies as Hyatt Hotels, U.S. Cellular, Coldwell Banker and several real estate developers. Anne has been a guest speaker at the magazine publishing seminars Folio Magazine’s Folio Show and Folio’s Entrepreneurial Summit. An amateur cook and gardener, Anne likes to vacation on the slopes.
Marci Sepulveda · Publisher | Email
As co-founder and managing partner of Agent Publishing, Marci Sepulveda oversees day-to-day-operations, as well as the company’s product development and growth strategy. A veteran of the real estate industry, Marci is a recognized expert in real estate training, sales and marketing management with experience working with developers, brokerages and agents. With Agent Publishing she brings her market expertise to the media side of the industry. Prior to launching Agent publishing, Marci founded Circle Development, a condominium conversion firm and worked with various major marketing, development and brokerage companies in strategic development and training.
Emily Mack · Managing Editor | Email
Growing up in Chicago, Emily was always a storyteller. That passion eventually led her to Columbia University, where she studied writing, edited The Columbia Review and had some wild city adventures. Upon graduation in 2020, she earned the Ellis Avery Prize for Creative Writing. Since then, Emily has returned to her hometown and enjoys editing for Agent Publishing. She’s been with the company since 2021. In her free time, she’s working on a book of essays about — you guessed it — Chicago.
Kit McFarland · Art Director | Email
A graduate of Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, Kit studied fine arts and graphic design, and she interned with both The Bridge Journal and The Beverly Arts Center of Chicago. As Agent Publishing’s Art Director, Kit works as the primary designer, and also oversees the company’s custom publications and marketing efforts. A lifelong Chicagoan, Kit enjoys attending concerts, taking road trips and Instagramming.
Lauren Brocato · Assistant Publisher | Email
Lauren returned to Agent Publishing as assistant publisher after four years as a senior managing editor at Modern Luxury, where she oversaw the brand’s New York and Chicago markets, as well as its national interior design portfolio. She first worked with Agent Publishing as an editorial intern in 2018, and since then, has gained significant experience in the publishing industry, with a focus on real estate and interior design. In her free time, she enjoys reading nonfiction and keeping up with the latest trends in design, fashion and culture.
John Yellig · Senior Editor | Email
A native of Raleigh, N.C., John Yellig has been a journalist since graduating from New York University with a degree in journalism in 1998. During his career, he has written and edited for a range of publications both in print and online. His primary coverage areas over the years have included criminal justice, politics, government, finance, real estate and technology. A resident of Atlanta since 2014, he spends his spare time chasing after his young daughter, tinkering with old cars and reliving his glory days as a yellow cab driver in New York.
Emily Marek · Staff Writer | Email
Born and raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, Emily graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in political science and psychology. A lifelong writer, she spent countless hours in childhood typing novels into her parents’ desktop computer. Emily originally joined Agent Publishing as a freelance writer for the Who’s Who feature before coming onboard full-time as the editor for the Texas, Seattle and Phoenix markets. Prior to her work as a real estate writer, she worked as a TV/film writer for CinemaBlend. Emily currently resides in Lakewood, Ohio with her husband and two kitties, Poppy and Ivy.
Elizabeth Kanzeg · Editor | Email
Elizabeth loves communicating and helping others do the same — something she gets to do every day as a freelance writer and editor. While studying professional and technical writing at Indiana University East, she worked out of Glasgow, Scotland as an international research assistant. When she’s not poring over manuscripts and searching for misplaced commas, Elizabeth can be found reading in a cozy chair with her cats, performing onstage at her local community theatre or antiquing with her husband.
Jack Renfree · Digital Media Analyst | Email
A native of the Chicagoland area, Jack left for Ohio to study creative writing and media and culture at Miami University. Now back in his home state, he worked as an intern for Chicago Agent magazine for several months before being hired full-time as Agent Publishing’s digital media analyst. When he’s not working, Jack can be found painting, running, reading or writing.
Katie Burdick · Graphic Designer | Email
Katie lives in Michigan where she graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in advertising and studio art. She quickly found her footing in the creative industry and is motivated to continue growing her skills. As a graphic designer, Katie collaborates with the creative team to design graphics and layout Who’s Who features in all of Agent Publishing’s markets. In her spare time, Katie enjoys working on home projects and spending time with her pup, Ramsey.
Molly Brady · Junior Graphic Designer | Email
Born and raised in New Jersey, Molly graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in Visual Communication Design, where she first gained her love for editorial design. As a junior graphic designer, Molly collaborates with Agent Publishing and its clients to create a variety of graphics and visual designs. During her spare time, she loves watching tv, listening to music and spending time with friends and family.
Kim Jarosz · Special Features Director | Email
Kim Alessi graduated from Marquette University with a degree in advertising, and gained valuable marketing – as well as real estate – experience from her first job as an office manager and marketing coordinator for a start-up real estate company. As the Special Features Director at Agent Publishing, Kim manages each city’s annual Who’s Who in Residential Real Estate feature. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her family and friends, and playing with her rescue dog, Mavis.
Dan Machnik · Photographer
Dan Machnik photographed Chicago Agent’s first cover in 2003, and he has been working with the magazine ever since. In addition to covers, Dan also tackles Who’s Who features in all of Agent Publishing’s markets, as well as My Styles. A seasoned photographer, Dan specializes in shooting people on location. For Agent Publishing, Dan and the magazine work to create the publication’s visual appeal. Outside of work, Dan takes great pleasure in watching his daughter grow up.