Our team
Vortex’s work is the product of incredibly talented people. Everyone on our staff has an important part to play, because each contributes different abilities and expertise. When
you work with Vortex, you’re getting the combined experience and creative thinking of our entire team.
Thomas Weinkle | principal
tweinkle@vortexmiami.com
"THE VORTEX PROCESS IS SOMETHING LIKE CRAFTING A QUILT. BRILLIANT CREATIVE, SOUND MARKETING STRATEGY, AND THE CONSTRAINTS OF TIME AND BUDGET ARE CAREFULLY STITCHED TOGETHER TO ASSURE OUR CLIENTS' SUCCESS"
It was Weinkle’s clarity of vision and natural design skills that, teamed with partner Michaala Speijers’ business and marketing acumen, lay the foundation of Vortex more than two decades ago. Back then, the firm was known as Thomas Weinkle & Associates. As it evolved into a full-service design business with major local, regional, and national clients, including many of the area’s advertising agencies, it just made sense to change the name to Vortex Communications.
Today, Weinkle continues to contribute his strengths to the creative development process while shaping complex information into engaging and powerful messages. He graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1982 with a B.S. in Industrial Design, and worked as an industrial designer in Pittsburgh before accepting a position as senior designer in a Miami-based full-service design firm that worked with regional and national clients. In 1984, he formed his own design firm and the rest is history. He continues to maintain his creative and technical edge through ongoing seminars and workshops.
Weinkle is a past president of the Miami chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) as well as a founding member of the organization. He has contributed his services to several non-profit community and arts organizations including Miami-Dade College’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Tigertail Productions, Temple Israel of Greater Miami, Arts & Business Council of Miami and Royal Palm Tennis Club.
Michaala Speijers | principal
mspeijers@vortexmiami.com
“OUR SUCCESS LIES IN OUR ABILITY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR CLIENTS. WE'RE ALWAYS READY TO EXPOSE A CONCEPT TO INTENSE SCRUTINY, AND REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING BETTER. WE'RE KNOWN FOR ACHIEVING SUCCESSFUL RESULTS, ALWAYS WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED BUDGET.”
Michaala ("Miki") Speijers is a design and advertising industry professional with more than 25 years of experience. She began her career with Supertype, Miami's legendary typography and pre-press production company. She later joined a Miami-based design firm and helped grow it from a two-person shop to a 15-person full-service agency. In 1984, Miki and partner Thomas Weinkle formed Vortex Communications. As a partner and co-founder, she oversees the daily business of the firm, including management of all production, special projects, client relations, financial matters, and business development. She also serves on the boards of non-profit organizations. She has served as chairperson of The Arts & Business Council of Miami, Treasurer of Access Now, which provides for the disabled, and Vice President of The Rotary Club of Coral Gables, where she was voted Rotarian of the Year 2004-2005. In 2003, she was an F.I.U. finalist for small business entrepreneur of the year.
Miki holds degrees in Business Administration from Miami Dade College and English Literature from Florida International University.
Paula Dare | senior designer
pdare@vortexmiami.com
“AT VORTEX, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A WEB SITE AS A STRATEGIC BUSINESS TOOL. WE COMBINE WELL THOUGHT OUT DESIGN WITH A FRIENDLY INTERFACE, CREATING A USER EXPERIENCE THAT BOTH STIMULATES AND ENGAGES THE VIEWER.”
Paula Dare joined the Vortex team in 1995 as a senior print designer. Prior to moving to Miami, she was a designer for Houston-based JetFill, where she managed the design and production of all marketing and packaging materials for the company and its strategic partners, including Xerox, Nu-kote, Nashua, and others. She also held senior design and marketing positions with such leading technology firms as Microcomputer Power, also based in Houston. After joining Vortex, she expanded her skill set to keep pace with the growing importance of the Internet, and now is responsible for the development of web sites for our clients.
Paula holds a degree in Communications and Marketing from Loyola University in New Orleans. She continues to update her skills with ongoing workshops and professional seminars in technology and web marketing. An avid sailor, Paula spends as much time as she can on the water and enjoys exploring the Caribbean. When she is not launching a website or her boat, she is creating wheel-thrown pottery at the Ceramic League of Miami, of which she is a member and enjoying time with her family.
Frank Begrowicz | senior designer
fbegrowicz@vortexmiami.com
“MOST CLIENTS ARE TRYING TO CONVEY THE SAME MESSAGE - QUALITY, SERVICE AND VALUE. THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL DESIGN SOLUTIONS IS TO PRESENT THAT MESSAGE IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS, WHILE STILL KEEPING IT UNIQUE TO THAT CLIENT."
Frank Begrowicz is considered by industry peers to be an expert in print design and production. He rounds out the Vortex team, with a background that includes corporate identity, collateral and marketing communications, annual reports, and packaging design experience. After working in New York, he moved to Miami in 1991 and joined Vortex Communications, producing award-winning materials, publications, and books for museums, universities and foundations, including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundations, and the Wolfsonian Museum.
A graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York, Frank was awarded the Chairman’s Commendation for Excellence in Graphic Design (Lubalin Award). He also studied at Otis/Parsons in Los Angeles and The Cooper Union in New York. His work has earned numerous regional and national awards. In addition, he has served as a guest critic at Parsons School of Design in New York, the University of Miami, the New World School of the Arts and the Miami Ad School.
Michael Langer | designer
mlanger@vortexmiami.com
“IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MARK, YOU MUST BE OPEN TO DISCOVERY. POINT YOURSELF IN A NEW DIRECTION AND SEE WHERE IT LANDS YOU. YOU'LL DISCOVER A WORLD OF CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES.”
Born in Altdöbern, Germany, Michael Langer is fluent in German, Russian and English. After completing his rigorous primary education in the former East Germany, he spent ten years in Osnabrück, West Germany. For five years, he worked as a senior graphic designer in the renowned and respected German agency, System-Werbung Blavius GmbH, where he supervised a staff of five and developed several highly successful, award-winning corporate identities.
In 1998, Michael moved to the United States, expanding his broad-based knowledge of design and global communications. Some of his most notable work includes designing the marketing materials and even the flight crew clothing for Grupo Taca, a consortium of Central American airlines. He also created the corporate identity for Vestrust, a leading Latin American investment and securities firm.
Michael joined Vortex in 2000, and is responsible for developing design and identity strategies for a variety of corporate clients, particularly those either based or doing business abroad. He spends his free time indulging in his passion for clothing design and interior design, and is an avid music collector.
Product Promotions
that Rocket Sales
A promotional package that was more irresistible showcase, than mere shipping container for Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a division of Johnson & Johnson.
Annual Reports that
Change Perceptions
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Annual Report — the website and printed report started an image shift, from that of stodgy grant-maker to innovative and energetic supporter of community and communication.
Strong Branding
Lifts Marketing
Standards for messaging,
graphic guidelines, and a
simplified process that
reduced costs, and significantly strengthened brand presence
for Cordis Neurovascular, a division of Johnson & Johnson.
