Nancy Schachtner

Partner / COO

Professional Background: Over 10 years in the packaging design industry. Graduated from Iowa State University with a BS in both Psychology and Sociology. Worked at Norwest Financial Service in Des Moines Iowa from 1992-1995. In 1995 moved to Hong Kong and held various positions within product companies and teaching English.

While still living in Hong Kong, Nancy co-founded The Jupiter Group Ltd. with Sean Murphy in late 1997. Nancy primarily handled operations, account services and customer management. Nancy moved to San Francisco in 1999 and helped open Jupiter Group in the United States where she is currently based and shares North American Operation responsibilities with Mitch Crews.

Outside the Office: Spending time with friends and family, going out to dinner, wine country, adventurous walks in all the various neighborhoods of San Francisco, wearing blue jeans to work, comfy quiet weekends in the winter and going to the lakes in the summer.

Sean Murphy

Partner / Managing Director Asia

Professional Background: Over 17 years in the creative arts industry. Following in both parents' footsteps, Sean Murphy attended the Kansas City Art Institute from 1984-1988 majoring in both Photography and Design. Hired in 1990 by Truepenny Incorporated in Des Moines Iowa, as a photographer's assistant, he was quickly promoted to studio photographer. In 1994, he opened overseas studios in Taiwan and Hong Kong and served as Overseas Creative Director in charge of all creative operations in Asia for Truepenny. He remained in charge of creative operations in Asia until he left Truepenny in 1997, at which time Smurfit Stone acquired the company.

While still living in Hong Kong, Sean co-founded The Jupiter Group Ltd. with Nancy Schachtner in late 1997. In the early years, Sean continued to work as a photographer, designer and creative director for Jupiter Group. Sean moved to San Francisco in 1999 and helped open Jupiter Group in the United States where he worked until 2005.

In late 2005, he moved back to Hong Kong to help manage the tremendous growth the company was going through in Asia. Sean helped to hire additional staff, expand the Hong Kong operations, open offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen and improving the many vendor relations Jupiter Group has throughout India, Turkey, Thailand, China, etc.

Currently, Sean serves as Managing Director Asia for Jupiter Group and lives in Hong Kong. He continues to travel around Asia and Europe to build relationships with vendors and customers as well as help manage daily quality control. Ultimately in his own words he is responsible for the quality of the design, photography and printing Jupiter Group produces for its clients.

Outside the Office: Not in any particular order... Interested in history and inventions. Traveling to anywhere new, Spain, Greece, Japan... Photography. Painting. Good food, wine tasting, and trips to Sonoma, Napa, Yakima, Columbia. Listening to one of over 600 CDs of music, mostly pop, rock and jazz. Always on the play list: Bob Dylan, Bruce Hornsby, Rush, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Older U2 stuff, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock and More Tom Petty. Cars, airplanes, boats, jet skis, motorcycles and about anything else you can drive, pilot, or fly... think James Bond. Watching movies at home on the big screen plasma with Sophia and Shaday. Favorite Movie idea: Samuel Jackson, Gene Hackman, Jodie Foster, submarines, guns, Russians, nuclear threats and lots of action. Missing most while living in Asia: NFL football.

Mitch Crews

Partner / CEO

Professional Background: 23 years in North America, European, and Asia based packaging industry. Graduated from Southern Illinois University ("Go Salukis!") majoring in Industrial Design and Graphic Arts. Hired upon graduation by Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation where he progressed through the ranks as Structural Designer, Sales Representative, Sales Manager, Director New Product / Business Development, Inventor and Director of the Cordeck Pallet program, Director Sales and Marketing Container Division, Chief Creative Officer Stone Global, Developer and Managing Director of the "Packaging Solution Center" division which included the opening of regional office located next to the worlds largest retailers in both North America, Europe, and Asia. Crews left Smurfit-Stone after 20 years in 2004 to become a partner with Sean and Nancy in the newly incorporated Jupiter Group BVI, Inc.

Mitch holds numerous patents in innovative industrial and retail style packaging and has worked extensively through the years with most consumer product sectors including: Automotive, Health and Beauty, Pharmaceutical, Beverage, Electronics, Toys, Appliances, Furniture, Hardware, plus most other Hard and Soft line consumer products. He has visited over 250 packaging facilities and 1000 customers manufacturing operation. If you want to know how something is made—just ask!

Today, Mitch is based out of Chicago, IL and shares North American Operational responsibilities with Nancy, as well as heads up the relationships with our key retail accounts.

Outside the Office: Enjoys not traveling! Spending time with his wife of 24 years and two almost grown children. Loves participating in almost any sport that involves a ball and physical contact. Says ping-pong and golf can be a contact sport if you try really hard enough. Very active at his local church where he serves as an Elder, Community Group Leader and Coach. In regards to music and food—he likes to keep it simple—his favorite in both categories is Meat Loaf. His iPod however, is a little more eclectic with lots of 70's pop; Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Jimmy Buffet, Nat King Cole, George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Elvis Presley Gospel Collection.

Ronald (Ron) Allen

President

Professional Background: Over 16 years of packaging experience including in-store merchandising, private label brand management, and pre-press management as a Senior Executive. Graduated from the University of Kansas in 1980 with a BGS in Political Science and Public Relations before starting his first career in campaign management and then financial services for 15 years prior to entering the packaging industry. In the packaging industry Ron has served as Vice- President of Truepenny International Operations in Hong Kong; Managing Director of Smurfit-Stone Packaging Solutions Centers, Hong Kong; Managing Director of Wilton Connor/Weyerhaeuser International Packaging Group, Charlotte, NC; Vice President of Kendal King Group Retail Merchandising, Kansas City, KS; prior to joining Jupiter Group in 2006. Ron started with Jupiter Group as Managing Director of the Hong Kong operations and President of China Pacific Paper Trading Company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jupiter Group, BVI. Since January 2008 Ron has served as President of Jupiter Group, BVI.

Ron has lived and worked in Taipei, Taiwan and Hong Kong from 1995-2000 and then in Hong Kong again during 2007. He has been an industry leader in developing Direct to Retail Private Label Packaging Management Programs and also developed the first In-Store Display Program completely manufactured and delivered out of China to a major US retailer. This program created significant savings in the method typically used for delivering displays.

Today, Ron is based out of the Chicago office and oversees Jupiter Group's other offices along with major accounts and account development throughout the company.

Outside the Office: Ron is very close to his family and actively involved with social and political causes. He is a private pilot, likes golf, and enjoys non-business travel with friends and family when time permits. Being a life-long Kansas Jayhawk he also likes to follow Jayhawk football and basketball.