Press Contact
Marsha Strickhouser
Public Relations Manager
727.399.3175 (office)
Cox Target Media Newsroom
Executive Bios
Michael Vivio
President, Cox Target Media
Michael was named president of Cox Target Media in December 2010. Within a year, Michael has taken Valpak and Valpak.com to new heights of digital success including a newly re-launched website that has seen online traffic increase 400 percent, and new partnerships that doubled the amount of online coupons to 40,000.
Michael is a firm believer in the power of collaboration and servant leadership. Upon arriving at Valpak, he and his leadership team embarked on a cross-country tour visiting Valpak franchise owners to promote open discussions and dialogue about accomplishing shared goals.
Before joining Valpak, Michael was the publisher at the Austin American-Statesman and CEO of the Statesman Co., owned by Cox Media Group. As publisher, he was responsible for all business and editorial operations at the Statesman and its affiliated publications, including the Statesman.com, which has the highest local reach of any newspaper website in the U.S.
Cox Media Group President Doug Franklin said Michael is "an innovative leader with an excellent track record in media sales, marketing and digital business." The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors named the Statesman as Texas Best Metro Newspaper last year.
Before joining the Austin American-Statesman, Michael was publisher of the Waco Tribune-Herald. He began his career as a newspaper carrier for the Dayton Daily News in 1978 and held advertising positions at the Marion Star (Ohio) and Suburban News Publications. He also has owned an independent marketing firm in Ohio.
Michael received his bachelor's degree from Ohio State University.
Meet the rest of the Valpak team ›
Loren Bendele
CEO and co-founder, Savings.com
Loren Bendele is CEO and co-founder of Savings.com. He founded the company in January 2007 with the mission of giving consumers the best deals on everything they want by leveraging relationships, social engagement, technology and intelligent product design. In less than five years, Loren has led the business to become one of the fastest growing private companies in the US, savings its customers more than $600 million.
Prior to Savings.com, Loren ran Teleflora's Partner Marketing business, selling through key relationships including USAA, UPS, American Express, Sears, JC Penney, American Airlines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, and other major communities.
Loren started his career with Dow Chemical, initially as a chemical engineer in Dow's Strategic Services group. He then joined the Dallas office of The Boston Consulting Group where he provided strategy and management consulting services for industries including airline, health care, software and telecommunications.
He has also worked as a consultant focusing on strategy, business development, fund raising, product management and M&A for companies ranging in size from emerging ventures to established companies such as Amgen, Earthlink and WeddingChannel.com.
Loren is passionate about giving back to his community. He sits on the board of KIPP, Los Angeles, which is a high performing charter school organization that operates in areas where 90% of the students are minorities and also face economic challenges. He also encourages employees of Savings.com to dedicate time to community service, and has developed programs to encourage involvement.
Loren graduated with honors in chemical engineering from The University of Texas A&M.
