Our creative strength at KD&E is derived from extensive experience on some of the most demanding accounts in the business. We know what works... and we know what doesn't.

A quick look at our principals gives you some idea of the volume of experience we bring to every account:

Erik Dochtermann, CEO
Erik has bought all media from shopping carts to network television and draws on his experience to pull effective techniques from one medium and apply them to another. Some of his contributions to the industry include revolutionary applications of clustered frequency research and accumulation of the largest independent database of media costs. Previously, he was a Senior Associate/Account Executive at Vitt Media International, where he managed L.A. Gear and Eureka Vacuums in their network and syndicated television efforts. He began his career in sports marketing for Visa.

Doc Dochtermann, President
Most recently a Senior Vice President/Creative Director at J. Walter Thompson (for more than 20 years), Doc has art directed on television, newspaper, trade and consumer magazines, direct mail, all types of collateral material, and has produced more than 100 TV commercials. His versatility and skill are the result of working at five different-sized agencies (including Needham, Harper & Steers, and Levine Huntley & Schmidt) on more than 100 different accounts ranging from the $300 million Ford account to the Public Service Red Cross account. He has created notable advertising in virtually every category, including automotive, direct response, financial, fashion/beauty, package goods, retail, and travel.

Howard Epstein, Exec. VP/Chief Creative Officer
Howard has won a Clio as a writer for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, A Clio as a TV producer on Ford, and a Clio as a music producer on Kodak. He was Senior Vice President/ Creative Director at J. Walter Thompson, and for more than 20 years has written and produced advertising for Ford, Republic National Bank of New York, Goodyear Tires, Alberto Culver, Kodak, Burger King, and many, many others. He has also acted as Music producer for Ford, Kodak, Mennen, RCA, Goodyear, and countless others. He is a composer/lyricist member of ASCAP.

Hal Katz, Chairman Emeritus
A professional media man since 1965, Hal worked at major advertising agencies (Grey and BBDO) and buying services (Vitt Media International, where he finished his tenure as Executive Vice President). He ran one of the largest broadcast negotiating groups in the country and is the architect of Cognitive Based Advertising™. Over the last few years, he has become one of the foremost media consultants working on behalf of both retailers and some of the nation's Fortune 500 companies. Hal was one of the pioneers in the development of short-form programming, being the first to use five-minute network television political commercials. His account experience ranges from the very largest (P&G, General Foods, Pepsi, Dow Chemical, RCA, etc.) to smaller accounts (NBO stores, Saratoga potato chips, and Homestyle Family Buffet). Over his career, he has planned and purchased more than $10 billion in media time and space. Hal was an original member of the "Inside Media" Editorial Advisory Board and a founder and current board member of the Scleroderma Federation.

We don't have the space to list all of the vast experiences and many achievements of our entire staff, but you can check out our portfolio to see some of our recent work.

245 Fifth Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212.686.0006Fax: 212.686.6991
Contact Us