Michael Ford
| Job Title: |
Director of Marketing & Sales |
| Company: |
Web Ascender |
| College: |
Wayne State University, Master of Arts, Sports Administration, Detroit, MI
|
| High School: |
Woodhaven High School, Flat Rock, MI
|
Web Ascender is a Michigan-based website design, development and internet marketing firm. Our philosophy is to work side-by-side with clients, enabling them to leverage Web Ascender's talents and skills as their own. With a plethora of experience in IT software consulting, we see the big picture for each project and help clients integrate their website into their business as an effective sales and marketing tool that works 24 hours a day.
With our headquarters in the East Lansing/Okemos area, I’m in the process of creating a presence for us in the Detroit market. We have provided solutions for municipalities, financial institutions, retail outlets, legal firms, medical and dental offices as well as movie production companies. I’m starting to gain traction as more and more people find out how Web Ascender can improve their presence on the web.
My job is great because I’m helping businesses either discover a completely new resource or teaching them how to better utilize one that they already have. The variety of clients and vast array of requests keep each day unique, so I always have to be on my toes! I learned a lot working for Palace Sports & Entertainment and I’m trying to apply some of those practices and strategies to what we do, which is definitely challenging.
Since all of us at Web Ascender grew up in Michigan, we feel it’s important to give back to the community. In Lansing, we sponsor the Give Camp, which is a weekend-long event where software developers, designers, and database administrators donate their time to create custom software for non-profit organizations. This custom software could be a new website for the nonprofit organization, a small data-collection application to keep track of members, or a application for the Red Cross that automatically emails a blood donor three months after they’ve donated blood to remind them that they are now eligible to donate again. The only limitation is that the project should be scoped to be able to be completed in a weekend.
I will be spearheading similar efforts in the Detroit area and started it by sponsoring a recreational basketball team in Troy. I’m definitely looking forward to giving even more back to the Metro-Detroit area!
Jake Callery
| Job Title: |
Flash Developer |
| Company: |
Hook Studios |
| College: |
College for Creative Studies, Digital Media and Animation, Detroit, MI
|
| High School: |
North Allegheny High School, Pittsburgh, PA
|
I develop applications, systems, and websites for major advertising firms.
Susanna Brennan
| Job Title: |
Employee Culture Manager |
| Company: |
Media Genesis |
| College: |
University of Oregon, Colleges of Law and Business, JD/MBA, Eugene, OR
|
| High School: |
Lumen Christi High School, Jackson, MI
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I'm a hybrid of recruiting, human resources, and legal counsel. I find the project managers, salespeople, programmers, designers, and technical people who are good fit with us. Our projects range from web design and development, e-learning, SEO, intranet software, and content management systems. I work with our human resources team on initiatives to help employees' personal and professional growth, including retention, training and planning fun events! I also advise management on legal matters that come up on a day-to-day basis. I'm very thankful to work with group of creative, dedicated and intelligent people with a great sense of humor.
Jessica Teal
| Job Title: |
Web Designer & Strategist |
| Company: |
Jjomedia, LLC |
| College: |
Boston College, Communications, English, Chesnut HIll, MA
|
| High School: |
Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson, MN
|
As a freelance designer and strategist, I work closely with clients to develop their online presence by making the most of new media technologies. Though website design and development is a large part of establishing yourself and/or your organization online, it is also important to leverage social media and other tools to fully utilize your online space. Many of my clients are from the nonprofit, government, and political sectors who are anxious to make a difference -- on a budget.
Prior to establishing my own business, Jjo Media (www.jjomedia.com), I served as Design Manager for the Obama presidential campaign. Now that I'm back in Michigan, I'm looking to work with local clients to craft high-level, meaningful solutions that will help push our state forward.