Ann Byne is Principal and founder of the The Byne Group. Ann is involved in all aspects of her business, from leading an active client list from around the tri-state area and beyond to mentoring and cultivating her creative staff. Her honest approach allows her to create strong bonds with her clients.

A graduate of Pratt Institute, Ann began her career working with top designers on accounts including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Macys. While raising her children she freelanced for various fortune 500 companies including Pepperidge Farm, Novartis and Imax. Motivated by a strong need to create her own vision for her career and to be in control of it she started her own agency in 1998. That vision has grown organically, matching each stage of her life. Constantly reinventing The Byne Group has allowed Ann to continuously challenge herself and in turn her staff, giving her the opportunity to mentor the next generation.

At the center of Ann’s corporate philosophy is her desire to serve and believes that by giving back, she is able to move forward. Her firm provides Pro Bono work for non-profits through out the Hudson Valley. She also guest lectures at the Pace Graduate Center and speaks regularly at various business and non-profit events through out her community.

Ann is easy going, enjoying all the gifts of her life. Her desire for ‘no drama’ is apparent in how she conducts her business and the relationships she has made over the years. Outside of the office, Ann enjoys spending time at home with her family, tending to her gardens and playing with her young grandchildren.

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Jennifer Bannan is Managing Director at The Byne Group. Jennifer is responsible for the implementation and development of the processes, tools and resources that enable us to deliver outstanding work for our clients and she does it with great efficiency. Her insight and out of the box approach provides strategic guidance to the entire team.

An honors graduate of New York’s famed Fashion Institute of Technology where she studied advertising and marketing, Jennifer has contributed to the success of several instantly recognizable brands. In her first position with Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners, Jennifer worked with many big names including Rolex, Liberty Mutual, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Jergens and Masterfoods to name a few.

Jennifer left Kirshenbaum Bond to establish the Account Management department at Splashlight, an up-and-coming New York-based imagery studio. In her role, she oversaw the operations of the department and managed a variety of projects for major online and offline retailers.

She is proactive and driven while also maintaining a sense of humor. She tries to always leave things better than she found them. Jennifer’s ability to adapt is evident in all facets of her life. At home, she is surrounded by boys – her husband, two sons, and Mac, her oversized Bernese Mountain Dog. She and her family are hard at work restoring their historic 1912 home located in Cornwall on Hudson.

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Melissa Behrens Lipovsky is the Creative Director/Social Media Strategist at The Byne Group where she delivers impactful design solutions in print, digital and social. Approaching every new challenge with ingenuity, her work garners multiple awards both tri-state and nationally.

In addition to her responsibilities as Creative Director she is also a social media strategist providing direction on how technology can provide the greatest communications benefits for clients. In her dual role, Melissa manages everything from determining a project’s resource requirements, to executing the project and initiating the project’s social media buzz.

Melissa graduated with honors from Farleigh Dickinson University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program and is pursuing a Masters at Kean University. Before joining The Byne Group she worked at Partners In Design, a NJ design firm specializing in healthcare marketing. Melissa’s creative vision has influenced brands including Seton Hall University, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Novartis and Becton Dickinson.

Melissa lives in NJ where she furthers her love of art through painting. She enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities including geocaching and is the owner of two cats, including a 20-pound Maine Coon with a severe eating disorder.

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Helen McVeigh is the Financial Manager of The Byne Group. Holding various positions before joining The Byne Goup she understands the nuances of the firm and its clients. Her natural curiosity and appetite for solving business problems make her a perfect fit for the job. She brings an infectious, positive attitude that continues to impact everyone she meets.

Prior to coming to the states Helen worked as a Studio Manager for Northern Ireland’s premier entertainment magazine. She has also held managerial positions in the hospitality industry.

Helen received her degree from The University of Ulster, in Belfast and returns home to Northern Ireland for visits with her family each year. She lives in Sugar Loaf, NY with her husband and two young children and relishes her rare moments of quiet time. She is also a self -proclaimed news junkie.

Chaya Herman is a Designer at The Byne Group where she develops creative ideas and concepts by matching the appropriate style to the client’s brand in order to meet objectives. Combining her artistic talent with an uncanny ability to manipulate words, Chaya contributes to the overall success of multiple Byne Group clients. 

A graduate with honors from SUNY Purchase College's School of Art + Design Chaya’s work received awards and was published in Design School Confidential. Both a designer and entrepreneur, Chaya created, designed and marketed her own greeting card company, “Dented Can Greetings.” Her cards are sold both nationally and internationally at local shops and big retailers including Target and Wal-Mart. 

Chaya lives in Nyack, NY (loving her short commute to work) where she pursues her affinity for pop-culture and random YouTube videos. In her free time, Chaya enjoys traveling and satisfying her food obsession by trying out new restaurants or frequenting the free sample aisle at local grocery stores. Never taking herself too seriously, Chaya’s laid-back approach to life relaxes everyone she meets. 

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Faye Sfugaras is a Designer at The Byne Group where she is responsible for creating design solutions with a high visual impact. Faye thinks strategically in order to produce innovative concepts for all client projects. Hard working, enthusiastic and an all around nice person, Faye’s genuine demeanor shines through all aspects of her work.

A graduate from Rutger's Mason Gross School of the Arts, Faye received a BFA in Visual Arts with a concentration in Design. Before joining The Byne Group Fayed worked in the Custom Media department at M. Shanken Communications, where she managed print, digital and mobile projects for Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado magazines. 

Faye lives in northern NJ with her husband, where they are slowly making their first home their own. A strict vegetarian who has jokingly replaced meat with chocolate, Faye enjoys spending time with friends and family, spinning, and like most women, loves to shop.

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