meet our team
Steve Hardin has been the CEO of VIP since 2016. Before taking on his role at VIP, Steve served as President of Worldwide Photography from 2011-2016 and was the co-founder of Insta-Plak (IPI) from 1985-2011. A graduate of The Ohio State University and father of 3 children, Steve and his family have spent the last 15 years in Texas after his 40 years in Ohio. Steve is also a National board member for AIM and has helped raise over a million dollars for his beloved charity.
Steve Hardin
Advisor to Joy CEO
shardin@viprec.com
John Kampschroeder
Group CFO, Joy
john@joy.co
Dawn is a Skilled Business Development leader offering over 26 years of experience in the holiday photo industry with leading operations and enhancing revenue. She brings expertise in client acquisition and contract negotiation, along with excellent interpersonal communication, relationship-building, and team leadership abilities. She is result driven and proactive with a demonstrated record of accomplishment in meeting and exceeding sales and revenue objectives.
Dawn Williams
Director of Client Services
dwilliams@viprec.com
Mark Dzuris is a results driven professional with over 15 years of all encompassing experience in business and sales, and 11 years of management in the holiday photo industry. He prides himself on the ability to build strong teams with excellent communication skills which are used to foster long term, mutually beneficial partnerships. As a father of 6 children, Mark has made a personal commitment to spread the magical wonder of the season and to keep Santa very busy with future visits from children.
Mark Dzuris
Director of Holiday Operations
mdzuris@viprec.com
(724) 456-1656
Ted started in the photography business at IPI (Insta-Plak) in 2000, and soon after in 2002, he and his wife opened a franchise with IPI in Wisconsin. Ted and Lisa continued with Event Photography Group/Iconic Group. They continued to service local clients with their photography services until moving to Houston in 2019 to help grow VIP Recognition.
Ted Kauffmann
IT, Logistics & Customer Service Director
tkauffmann@viprec.com
(281) 656- 6821
Jake graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Marketing in 2019 and has been with VIP since then. He started as a Marketing Associate and then ventured into a Regional Manager role for VIP Holiday Photos. Jake is now working on the business development and marketing side of our holiday photo division, while also acting as a liaison between Joy and VIP Holiday Photos. He loves improving ideas and operations within a business and truly enjoys finding new business opportunities and establishing relationships with clients.
Jake Hardin
Director of Marketing
jhardin@viprec.com
(419) 764-9979
With over 30 years of photography and management experience and 10 years in the holiday photo industry, Richard’s knowledge and leadership skills fuel his drive in providing unrivaled customer experiences. As the Director of Holiday Operations, Richard’s primary function is creating a team dedicated to bringing the magic of the holidays to our clients and our guests. With a focus on supporting employees and providing a top-notch work environment, he strives to help keep VIP the premiere holiday photography provider in the US.
Richard Ward
Director of External Ops.
rward@viprec.com
(412) 303-1701
Lisa has over 20 years of experience in the Event Photography business, including golf and corporate events and special occasions, such as working closely with the Native American community in a variety of settings. Lisa has also been instrumental in training and managing individuals in the holiday division that includes providing Santa Claus and Easter Bunny photos for major developers. Lisa has a mastery of the software and hardware systems used in event imaging. Lisa is currently the Production Manager for the Event division and the Warehouse Manager for VIP Recognition.
Lisa Kauffmann
Warehouse & Production Manager lkauffmann@viprec.com
(281) 656- 6716
Devin Romero
Customer Service Manager
dromero@viprec.com
(832) 932-4448
Lisa Considine
Director of Finance & Human Resources
lconsidine@viprec.com
Jennifer Roberts has been a leading role model in this industry for many years, but what brought her to VIP was her desire to make a difference in the lives of those around her. Jenn's utter devotion to providing the most memorable moments possible is not only meritorious, but it is also profoundly admirable. Her path to success has been arduous but that has never stopped her from launching herself forward into the possibility of MORE. As a regional manager, she has been instrumental in helping create future leaders in this field. The compassion and understanding that she treats each of her team with set her apart not just in this field but in many! The drive she exudes is exceeded only by her devotion to providing excellence while educating the next generation of upcoming photographers and managers.
Jenn Roberts
Senior Regional Manager
jroberts@viprec.com
(610) 390-0031
A professional photographer with over 25 years experience in event, holiday, product, bridal, concert and performing arts, and school photography, Kelly brings extensive technical and holiday set management experience to her role as District Manager. In her “spare time” she runs a food pantry in her community. She resides in Ohio with her husband of 34 years and her daughter, a college freshman.
Kelly Blecher
Regional Manager
kblecher@viprec.com
(740) 359-1811
Madison Lawson, a recent graduate with a bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University, was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. At 24 years old, she has been building her management and leadership experience since the age of 16. Madison joined VIP Holiday Photos three years ago, driven by her passion for creating memorable experiences for families at our Easter and Christmas sets. She eagerly anticipates the busy seasons and is always ready to expand her knowledge and skills for continued growth!
Madison Lawson
Regional Manager
mlawson@viprec.com
(469) 781-9651
Abbie Parker, a Communications Major at Texas Tech has previously grown her Management and Holiday Experience working with Edible Arrangements in the South-east US. Having worked in Photography and Management before Abbie joined the Team in Early 2024 as Regional Manager and looks forward to continuing to grow with VIP and live in the chaos for years to come. As an avid book lover and family woman her main mission is to bring some Magic to as many as possible each season!
Abbie Parker
Regional Manager
aparker@viprec.com
(407) 451-3115