Principals

Michael A. Barlow is an award-winning journalist, seasoned media relations professional, management consultant, and celebrated ghostwriter of best selling business marketing books. In his role as chief generator of new content, Mike created the intellectual capital that fueled the meteoric rise of Peppers and Rogers Group, the world’s preeminent customer management consulting firm. During his tenure at Peppers and Rogers Group, Mike played critical roles in a variety of client engagements, including Ford Motor Company, Oracle, Bertelsmann, Bentley Systems, Convergys, Wolters Kluwer NV, and LifeWay.

Before joining PRG, Mike managed public relations at Oxford Health Plans during the depths of its financial crisis, skillfully setting the stage for company’s eventual recovery. During a 20-year career as a newspaper editor and reporter, Mike won practically every major journalism award for his coverage of crime, politics, and government in New York State.

Since the formation of Cumulus Partners in 2001, Mike’s client list has expanded to include Aetna, Avaya, CPM Associates, CarePath, Conclusive Logic, Hunter Management Group, Perimeter, SAS Institute, the NeuroTrauma Foundation, and other world-class organizations.

Mike graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Hamilton College.

Jay Helmer is a respected authority on affiliate marketing, consumer promotions, direct marketing, and Web-based business enhancement programs. Jay developed a passion for creating fully integrated communications strategies during his tenure as Internet Business Manager at Oxford Health Plans, one of the first large corporations to embrace "one-to-one" marketing disciplines. At Oxford, Jay was responsible for a wide range of consumer and business-to-business communications initiatives, including a highly effective member newsletter.

Jay also supervised the successful relaunch of Oxford’s Web site, overseeing a large team of developers, designers, and content management specialists. The relaunched site won the Web Business 50/50 Award by CIO Magazine for the top 50 Internet and top 50 intranet sites that demonstrate a keen ability to blend technology and Web design with the needs of the target audiences.

After his stint at Oxford, Jay founded MyPetHealth.com, a Web-based insurance brokerage designed for pet owners. Before joining Oxford, Jay was a highly praised advertising executive, holding key posts at several agencies, including Merkley Newman Harty; Waring & LaRosa; Lord, Dentsu, and DMB&B. Among his top accounts were BellSouth, Montblanc, Valley National Bank, TDK Electronics, Kraft, and Maxwell House.

Jay graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Vermont.

Sarah Van Dyke-Ewan is founder and president of Sunset Graphics, an established website and graphic design firm based in Connecticut. Sarah’s work is respected throughout New England, where she is considered a pioneer in technology-driven marketing. She brings an extremely valuable set of design and technology capabilities to the Cumulus Partners portfolio of services.

Sarah’s long list of clients include top companies in publishing, healthcare, retail, agriculture, entertainment, recreation, leisure, sports, education and finance. She has designed and developed hundreds of websites, ranging in complexity from purely informational to robust transactional. Sarah has extensive experience in graphic design and production. Her portfolio of work also includes corporate logos, high-end brochures, 3D point-of-purchase displays, glossy magazines, catalogs, directories, office forms and practically every imaginable type of ink-on-paper product.

So whether the client is a small gardening supply store or an online retail catalogue, Sarah has the skill and experience to apply the right level of technology and expertise to achieve the client’s business objectives – quickly, elegantly and cost-effectively.

Before founding Sunset Graphics in 1995, Sarah was a creative director and design specialist at several prominent firms in Connecticut. A graduate of the University of Connecticut, her affiliations include the Golden Key National Honor Society, the Connecticut Women's Council, the National Law Firm Marketing Association and the American Association of Dental Editors.