Our Talent Philosophy

Assemble the best and deliver the best. StarGroup International has gathered the best writers; editors; proofreaders; printers; Illustrators; marketers; brand builders; public relations professionals; web designers and web marketers, because we know that it is not how much you market, but how well you do it that counts. We take pride in creating competitive-edged programs that produce targeted results for our clients.

StarGroup International Staff

Brenda Star, President and Chief Executive Officer
Brenda Star is president/founder of StarGroup International. She began her career with a thriving Kool-Aid and cotton candy concession at the ripe old age of 6 and had a bank account before she could sign her name. From teen years on, she established a chain of ballet schools, designed and marketed a line of costume jewelry, authored a national syndicated cooking column and newsletter, established a successful commercial real estate company, a marketing firm and a publishing house. She has also authored numerous books.

At the age of 15, she opened her first ballet school for children and adults in the hills of Kentucky. Over the period of several years 23 dance studios were established in Louisiana, Texas and Florida.

While still in high school she designed and sold pop art jewelry. The business became so successful that by the time she entered college she had a half-dozen people employed in her new cottage industry creating and marketing her own line of jewelry to regional department stores and gift shops. Also, while attending Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, she spent two summers performing in summer stock productions in Kentucky State Parks.

In the 1980s she developed a Commercial Real Estate Company, single-handedly generating over $60 million in contracts. While raising two daughters as a single mother, she authored a syndicated cooking column and national newsletter called Kitchen Kapers and in the early 1990s, she co-authored Living with Live Foods, a book that attracted extensive media attention and publicity for the new author.

Observing that a book could be the magic key for free media exposure, she began studying book production. She served as vice president of the Florida Publisher’s Association and has served on numerous non-profit boards.

Realizing the influence that experts and authors have with the media, Brenda incorporated book production into StarGroup by establishing a book publishing division to help clients use the power of a book for marketing, media exposure, branding and fundraising.
Shawn McAllister, Head Writer, Film/Video Producer
Shawn joined StarGroup International in 1995. Prior to coming onboard as StarGroup’s head writer and producer in charge of film/video production, he worked as a professional actor, film producer and writer for more than 30 years. He was an officer with two independent Florida-based film companies, Macaw Films and Earth Productions, during which he co-produced several feature films and television programs. He was Assistant to the President of the Broadway Show Guild in New York for a year and he later founded and served as President of the Treasure Coast Film & Visual Arts Society in Florida. He also spent several years early in his theatrical career as a theatrical production stage manager.
His diverse background includes four years as a journalist with Gulfstream Newspapers and the Florida Sun, a subsidiary of the Toronto Sun Newspapers, and as the Director of Research and a co-founder of the financial directory publishing firm Money Market Directories in New York in the early 1970s.
Shawn is a Vietnam veteran. He served in the U.S. Navy as Admiral’s Writer and Operations Yeoman for RADM Richard G. Colbert, who was Commander of the Sixth Flotilla out of Charleston, South Carolina in the mid-1960s.
During his 13-year tenure at StarGroup, Shawn has ghostwritten and/or edited more than two dozen books, composed numerous articles and press releases, produced and directed several corporate videos for clients and continues to work closely with StarGroup’s president and founder, Brenda Star, to seek new horizons for the company in the 21st century.

Shawn McAllister, Head Writer, Film/Video Producer
Shawn joined StarGroup International in 1995. Prior to coming onboard as StarGroup’s head writer and producer in charge of film/video production, he worked as a professional actor, film producer and writer for more than 30 years. He was an officer with two independent Florida-based film companies, Macaw Films and Earth Productions, during which he co-produced several feature films and television programs. He was Assistant to the President of the Broadway Show Guild in New York for a year and he later founded and served as President of the Treasure Coast Film & Visual Arts Society in Florida. He also spent several years early in his theatrical career as a theatrical production stage manager.

His diverse background includes four years as a journalist with Gulfstream Newspapers and the Florida Sun, a subsidiary of the Toronto Sun Newspapers, and as the Director of Research and a co-founder of the financial directory publishing firm Money Market Directories in New York in the early 1970s.

Shawn is a Vietnam veteran. He served in the U.S. Navy as Admiral’s Writer and Operations Yeoman for RADM Richard G. Colbert, who was Commander of the Sixth Flotilla out of Charleston, South Carolina in the mid-1960s.

During his 13-year tenure at StarGroup, Shawn has ghostwritten and/or edited more than two dozen books, composed numerous articles and press releases, produced and directed several corporate videos for clients and continues to work closely with StarGroup’s president and founder, Brenda Star, to seek new horizons for the company in the 21st century.

Cecile Claire Benisti, Media Coordinator
Multicultural, Cecile was born in Tunisia, a small peninsula at the very tip of North Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea. While still a child, Cecile’s parents moved to France when Tunisia decolonized from France, grew up in Montreal, Canada, and now lives in the beautiful sunshine state of Florida.

Before Cecile joined the StarGroup team, she was an entrepreneur who owned and managed her fashion, jewelry and art glass import/export business. During this time Cecile traveled overseas sourcing new and interesting products for her business. Some of her exclusive art glass and jewelry pieces have been displayed in various exhibitions throughout the United States.

Today Cecile brings her business management expertise to the talented team at StarGroup.

Mel Abfier, Creative Director

Mel has worked in product package design for 40 years. He was previously employed by Chesebrough-Ponds USA where he was responsible for the design and packaging of products for Brut, Mentadent, Prince Matchabelli Fragrances, Rave Hair, Aqua Net, Q-Tips, and Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion. Mel also worked for Revlon, Inc. in New York City, NY as art director where he was responsible for creating all selling and promotional materials for product retailing. He holds seven U.S. patents for product design.

An accomplished photographer and art director, Mel created The Source, a quarterly magazine featuring nightlife from Greenwich to Westport, Connecticut. He served as creative director for Group Practice magazine. He has won numerous awards as art director from the Art Directors Club of New York. In addition, Mel holds one gold and four silver medals from the Point of Purchase Advertising Industry (POPAI) for product display designs.

Terry Van Rhyn, V.P. of Marketing

A brand marketing specialist with more than 20 years experience working with multi-national Fortune 500 companies around the world, Terry successfully built up his own advertising agency (Smith, Knox & van Rhyn) to the top 30 hot shops – with clients like Moet et Chandon, Hennessey, Malibu, Cinzano, Baileys Irish Cream, Jack Daniels. After 10 years he sold the agency to Young & Rubicam and remained as senior account director with them for 2 years. Relocating to America he joined Norwood the world’s largest promotional products company as business development director for the Global Marketing division and eventually head of marketing and creative services for the impressive Norwood publishing division. Working on corporate branding and marketing campaigns for clients like Ford, GM, Audi, New York Life, Met/Life, Dupont, Napa, Remington, Purina, Chevron Texaco, to name a few.

Jane Evers – Marketing, Media & Website Development

Jane joins the talented team of professionals at StarGroup International, Inc. bringing her 30 years of experience in advertising, multimedia, video, marketing, and corporate communications.

She’s an audio visual, video & multimedia producer. She was owner and creative director of Parallax Studio, Ltd., a radio talk show host (“Tribute”), a marketing director, with an MBA in marketing, a corporate communications director. She is President & creative director of The Karis Company, Inc., an Associate Webmaster (WOW) and Adjunct Professor of marketing & media at Florida Atlantic University (FAU).

Jane’s corporate experience spans 30 years working with corporations such as Sun Microsystems, Brookhaven National laboratories, Hazeltine, and Del Laboratories. She has traveled the world, produced & directed multimedia extravaganzas worked with the Federal Government and most recently co-authored My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy COOKBOOK.

Gwen Carden, Writer, Public Relations Specialist

Since graduating with honors from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a specialty in public relations, Gwen Carden has been very active in the public relations and journalism arenas. Gwen’s writing credits include Family Circle magazine, a year-long articles contract with the New York Times Syndicate for the international distribution of her feature articles, and a Silver Award from the Florida Magazine Association for an article she wrote on the redevelopment of Downtown Stuart for Palm Beach Illustrated Magazine. Several thousand of her stories have been published locally, nationally and internationally, and include a wide range of subjects from consumer issues to medical, human interest, celebrity and how-to’s. Gwen has become expert over the years at identifying interesting angles on otherwise mundane topics and turning them into crisp, enjoyable and informative articles as well as creative public relations opportunities.

Celina Klee, Public Relations Specialist

An accomplished writer and public relations/communications specialist, Celina has extremely strong global media contacts. Her clients have appeared in some of the following media outlets; CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNBC, Telemundo, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, Time magazine, variety, People Magazine, Town & Country, Harper’s Bazaar, Power & Motor Yacht, Harpers & Queen, Yachting, Millionaire, Modern Luxury, Good Morning America, Dateline NBC, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Lifetime, just to name a few.

Cheryl DuPree Kravetz, Writer, Researcher

Cheryl has written for numerous local, regional and national publications including: The Williston (Florida) Pioneer, The Manager's Report (National), Jewish World publications (National), Lake Worth Herald (FL) publications, Florida Police Chief Magazine, Police Magazine (National), Palm Beach Times Magazine (Palm Beach), The South Florida Newspaper Network, Seabreeze Publications, Suncoast Magazine and Entre Nous.

Her awards include: 1987 Phi Delta Kappa Media Award for Outstanding Service, 1988 First place in American Cancer Society Media Competition, 1990 First place in American Cancer Society Media Competition, 1993 Outstanding Service in Stimulating Better Citizenship Civitan Club, 1995 Distinguished Service Award for print media, Traffic Safety Committee of the Palm Beaches, and numerous certificates of appreciation and accomplishment. She is listed in first edition (1997) of 'Who's Who in the Media and Communications’ “because of reference value of outstanding achievements.””

Rusty Durham, Videographer/Website Designer

Rusty, is an experienced webmaster and videographer. He has been building websites since e-commerce was created. Rusty’s extensive knowledge of HTML programming, animated imagery, shopping carts and links, and online catalogs has made his websites not only functional, but also user-friendly.

Rusty began his graphics career working for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida where he specialized in multi-image slide productions for the number one tourist attraction in the world. An experienced graphic artist, Rusty later relocated to Fort Pierce, Florida where he was employed by the Fort Pierce Tribune as graphic artist and by WTVX TV as videographer. Rusty now brings his widespread technical experience to Star Group International where he specializes in website production.

Ruth Resnek, Internet Marketing Coordinator

Ruth was raised in Boston and graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Sociology-Anthropology. She has spent the last 16 years working in the healthcare industry in Boston and New York. The internet has always been her favorite and most successful way to "get the information into the right hands."

She brings to us her expertise in developing organizational systems, procedures and strategies which helps to generate interest utilizing the internet as a marketing tool. As the Internet Marketing Coordinator, she knows exactly how and who to contact at national and local talk shows, magazines and newspapers.

Sam Smyth, Media Specialist

Sam Smyth was born near the Himalaya Mountains in western Napal, the son of missionaries, in 1971. He traveled extensively as a young man throughout Asia and Europe before coming to the United States in 1990. He spent the next eight years as a college student, going from community college to community college and trade school before eventually finding a job in the media. He worked for seven years as a disc jockey and talk show host at WISS in Greenbush, Michigan before escaping the cold northern climate in search of a warmer environment. While heading for San Francisco in 2006, Sam decided to sightsee as much of the country as he could and began travelling off the interstate highway system into the back roads of rural America. After several weeks of meandering his way around the countryside, he found himself crossing the state line into Florida. He decided to change his destination to Key West and proceeded southward down the Sunshine State along I-95. He ran out of gas in West Palm Beach, where he spent the night. The next day he discovered StarGroup International and, after meeting Brenda Star and her creative, off-beat staff, he decided to end his journey there when she offered him a job. The mysterious and enchanting Sam Smyth has been StarGroup’s media specialist and contact for the past year and a half.