SMZ Advertising financial VP retires after rising from clerk there

     A Metro Detroit advertising veteran is wrapping up a career that straddles six decades and spans many industry transitions. Helen Charewych of Troy, who began as a billing clerk at a Detroit agency in 1956, rose to head the finance department at Simons Michelson Zieve (SMZ) of Troy. – which evolved from that first downtown employer, Simons-Michelson Co.

     Charewych is retiring from full-time responsibilities as a vice president at an agency that had just two executives – both women – leading the finance staff during its 83-year history.

     When she came aboard at age 20, Charewych worked for Olga Deutsch, who had been with the agency since Leonard Simons and Lawrence Michelson created it in 1929. The newcomer showed flair, began handling payroll and tax accounting, and took over financial operations for the growing business after Deutsch left.

     “Helen’s career and contributions reflect the same work ethic, attention to detail and integrity that are part of SMZ,” says Jim Michelson, chief executive and the co-founder’s son. He and Mort Zieve, son-in-law of Simons, purchased the original agency in 1977 and incorporated under the current name. They relocated that year to Troy -- as did Charewych, who had commuted downtown by bus from Hamtramck.    

     Through the past 56 years, Charewych progressed from noisy adding machines to silent electronic calculators, from carbon paper to color printers, and from intercoms to the Internet. She also was in the vanguard of notable social change as the “Mad Men” era faded.

     “Most women stayed home or worked part-time” in the 1950s and 1960s, recalls Charewych, who initially was the office’s only female manager. “One or two women were on account teams – reporting to men.”

     The Ukrainian-born financial executive who immigrated at age 15 succeeded through diligence, confidence and learning. Along the way, she became a role model and mentor as more women spread throughout the agency. “I’d say just do your best and don’t be afraid of new challenges,” Charewych explains. “And don’t let anybody push you around.”        

     Twenty-six women now are among SMZ’s 43 team members.

     The outgoing vice-president of finance, who married two years after joining the company, celebrated her 54^th wedding anniversary a few weeks after moving to “of counsel” status with SMZ in May. She works occasionally from her airy corner office, down the hall from president Jamie Michelson and executive vice presidents Pam (Michelson) Renusch and Debbie Michelson – third-generation members who weren’t yet born when their grandfather and Leonard Simons brought in a young billing clerk who now calls colleagues “my second family.”

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     SMZ Advertising applies a three-step approach to retail client marketing challenges: Listen. Think. Do. The agency has created award-winning campaigns for the Detroit Red Wings and other clients, which include the Michigan Lottery, Detroit Tigers, Automation Alley, Taubman Centers, SVS Vision, the Woodward Dream Cruise, Fisher Theatre and Michigan Dental Association. Learn more at smz.com.