Senior Team

Kim Lichtenstein – Co-Owner, Director of Public Relations and eMarketing

Kim is the founder and co-principal of k101 Agency. After graduating from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, she earned a position as senior editor of Jezebel Magazine, an Atlanta-based fashion and lifestyle publication where she began establishing long-term relationships with local and national media. She soon found herself on the other side of a microphone as an on-air radio personality for some of Atlanta’s top radio stations including 96 Rock, 99X and Q100. Her wide-ranging experience also includes hosting high-profile events that include ABC’s “The Bachelorette” casting and MTV’s “The Real World Tour” and acting as the official celebrity interviewer for the “GQ Fresh Dressed Awards.” To round out her on-camera expertise, Kim was the “Party Reporter” for UPN’s “Atlanta Tonight” and served as a trend expert for the TBS hit show, “Movie and a Makeover.”

She currently sits on the board of directors for Step Up Women’s Network, a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to strengthening community resources for women and girls. Kim also volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago and teaches youth members about entrepreneurialism and fiscal responsibility through a program she created called, “Young Tykeoons.” She is also a founding host of Stimulus Social Club, a network of socially conscious professionals in the Chicago area who help highlight the needs of both local charitable organizations and Chicago’s restaurant and nightlife venues on the first Wednesday of every month. Kim has been on the cutting edge of virtual marketing and emerging media since 2002 and continues to provide her clients with the most progressive media solutions available.

After graduating from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications, Tia headed west to Breckenridge, Colorado to hone her marketing (and snowboarding) skills working in the marketing department for Marriott’s Mountain Valley Lodge. After her stint in the snow, she headed back to sunny Atlanta to continue her work in the marketing and promotions industry working for companies like Strottman International, Austin Kelley Advertising and Eric Mower & Associates where she serviced accounts like Chick-fil-A, YUM! Brands and PepsiCo. She then served as Account Supervisor for Eastman Kodak, where she provided strategic marketing recommendations and creative direction and coordinated product launches and national promotions for Kodak’s Consumer Products division.
 
In March 2002, her entrepreneurial spirit took over and she helped launch Cover Magazine - the insider's guide to fashion, style, music and culture.  As Editor in Chief she was responsible for the content of the magazine, including copywriting and editing, feature stories, conducting celebrity interviews, arranging fashion shoots and directing the overall creative product. Tia currently specializes in brand development and integrated marketing strategies for k101 Agency.

Rebekah Iliff – Publicity Director, LA

After spending over 10 years in the entertainment industry Rebekah joined forces with k101 Agency as their LA representation and Publicity Director. To date, she has served over fifty entrepreneurs, artists, small business owners, community organizations, and non-profits across the United States. 

In January 2006, Rebekah relocated to Los Angeles from Chicago to serve as the Public Relations and Business Development Coordinator for XA, The Experiential Agency, a comprehensive Event Marketing and Public Relations Agency with full service offices in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Her responsibilities included new business development in the Los Angeles area as well as client representation through public and media relations consulting. Clients included USA network, Sports Illustrated, Snow Queen Vodka, and PepsiCo. Prior to her employment with XA, Rebekah was the Director of Marketing and Public Relations and Partner of Rockit Ranch Productions located in Chicago, IL. During her four-year employment with Rockit Ranch, Rebekah produced and managed numerous celebrity events and fundraisers throughout the Chicago area, while creating and developing company owned restaurants and nightclubs both in Chicago and South Florida.

Today, in addition to her dedication to procuring and promoting media opportunities for clients, Rebekah is a Graduate Student at Antioch University Los Angeles obtaining her M.A. in Organizational Management with a Specialization in Applied Community Psychology. She is also co-founder of Boxers & Ballerinas, Inc., a tween and teen dance and boxing studio located in Studio City, California. 

Betsy Helmkamp – Senior Publicist

After graduating from Ohio University with a Marketing degree and a brief stint overseas in Liberty of London’s press office, Betsy settled in Chicago and has spent the past eight years exploring the ins and outs of the city and its inhabitants.  A lover of fashion and design, she got her first job in Chicago with GHK, an architecture and design firm, where she marketed clients like Merrill Lynch, Quaker Oats Company and Bank One, alongside other Fortune 500 companies.  After four years, she made the move to a boutique PR consulting agency where she practiced PR on a more intimate level; when she wasn't managing a multi-million dollar advertising budget or leading her own accounts, LiLi Boutique and Squash U, she could be found writing radio scripts, copy for websites and print ads.  It was here where she truly honed her PR skills in the lifestyle industry.

Betsy joined k101 in 2008 and when not finessing her social skills at the latest hotspot, you can find her training along the lakefront for a marathon or taking Spanish class to prepare for her next trip abroad. She’s also a licensed Realtor with @Properties.

Bill Kaelin – Events Specialist

Since 1998 Bill Kaelin has been a mainstay in the Atlanta nightlife scene, having created some of the most unique and successful events and promotions in the city.  He began his journey in the events industry as the promotional manager for Jezebel Magazine before opening his first club, Fusion, in 1999.  In 2001, Kaelin took his experience to new levels as the Director of Marketing and Entertainment for Atlanta’s marquee hotspot, eleven50, where he sold and managed large scale events for corporations including: The Coca-Cola Company, Turner Broadcasting, Bacardi, Mercedes Benz, Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers and ABC Networks. His keen eye and penchant for music and fashion made his events the talk of the town as he multitasked all aspects of special events and promotions - from ideation and set design to staff and client management - all the while fostering relationships with “A list” clientele like Prince, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson and Lenny Kravitz. He also developed key relationships with booking agents and top international performers and DJs like Paul Oakenfold, Thievery Corporation, Sasha and more. In 2004 he became part owner and “face” of Bazzaar Atlanta where he was responsible for selling and producing marquee events - including art shows, CD release parties, product launches and charities/benefits for his long term clients like The Fox Theatre, Jerry Sienfeld, Sheryl Crow, The B-52’s and CNN.