I first started working in digital marketing 20 years ago as a part-time SEO Assistant. Now, I help businesses grow everyday by improving their digital marketing strategy and modernizing their tactics. I’m all about getting trackable results and helping businesses scale using SEO, Lead Generation, and better performing websites.
As a kid I grew up financially poor, but thanks to my mother and grandmother our home was full of joy and creativity. They taught me to love God and people.
Through applying biblical principles, building relationships, and learning new skills over decades, I’ve escaped poverty, but will always drive toward continual improvement.
Areas of Focus
Digital Marketing Specialities
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Ecommerce Marketing
- Lead Generation
Design Specialties
- Vector Illustration
- Graphic Design (Logo design, Music Album Cover Art Design, Ad Design)
- Website Design
- UX Design
- UI Design
Web Development Experience
- Front-End Web Development (HTML, CSS, JS)
- Back-End Web Development (Ruby-on-Rails, Python Django, PHP)
Work Experience
Role: Growth Director / Partner
Company: The Nine
When: Jul 2021 – Present
Description: Leading the growth team at The Nine. Mergers, acquisitions, and internal projects. We’re buying and building profitable businesses. I also help The Nine grow internally by becoming more effective and efficient at offering its existing services.
Role: Marketing Director / Partner
Company: The Nine
When: Jan 2020 – Jul 2021
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: I started the digital marketing department at The Nine, helped recruit and train the digital marketing team, and designed the initial service offerings. We started out focusing on Lead Generation and Ecommerce Sales. Now we offer SEO, Content Marketing, and Audit services as well.
Role: Advisory Board Member
Company: FlxTran
When: Jul 2022 – November 2022
Location: Remote
Description: Helping where I can to push forward FlxTran’s mission of reclaiming unused railroads for sustainable transportation.
Role: Co-Founder / Product Manager
When: Jul 2021 – Present · 1 yr 4 mos
Description: Leading the Trucking Labs team to build software, services, and products for the trucking industry. We serve trucking companies, truck drivers, and people that work in all aspects of the trucking industry around the globe. Our main site Trucking Industry Jobs (https://truckingindustryjobs.com/ ) helps trucking companies hire truck drivers, diesel techs, dispatchers, driver trainers, and and any other position they’re hiring for in the trucking industry around the world.
Role: Founder / President
Company: Paris Vega Media
When: Jun 2006 – Present · 16 yrs 5 mos
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: Paris Vega Media started as my freelance graphic design service in 2006. I served clients around the world with design, web development, and digital marketing. I’m honored for every business that trusted me with their brand. Later, I joined the trucking industry as a web designer, then a web developer, and eventually marketing director. Now PVM serves as a lab for all my side business ideas and explorations. If an idea makes enough progress it spins off into its own business. *All consulting work is now done through The Nine.
Co-Founder: Truck Driving Jobs Canada
When: Aug 2019 – Jul 2021 · 2 yrs
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: [Acquired by Trucking Labs]
We help trucking companies in Canada hire qualified truck drivers that match their hiring requirements and target areas. Post jobs for free: https://www.truckdrivingjobscanada.com/post-jobs
Role: Digital Marketing Director
Company: American Driver Network
When: Jul 2013 – Feb 2019 · 5 yrs 8 mos
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: Lead a small scrappy team of digital marketers at New Vision Interactive Marketing to help make big things happen in the truck driver recruiting industry for Jim Davis and The American Driver Network.
– Digital Marketing: SEO, SEM, Paid Social Media
– Lead Generation: Helped generate truck driver applications every day for over 5 years.
– Product Manager: Managed a great team and helped design & build the front-end for the website and internal systems.
– Business Development: Dabbled in sales and was able to help a few long term clients get on board and start hiring truck drivers.
Role: Co-Founder
Company: Limelight Performance
When: Jun 2013 – Dec 2016 · 3 yrs 7 mos
Location: Pensacola, Florida, United States
Description: Helped launch a hardware/software service that helped medical organizations collect patient feedback. Worked as a Prototype Designer, Front-End Dev, and Sales. https://www.idgroupbranding.com/thinking/how-one-healthcare-system-is-transforming-its-patient-experience
Role: Co-Founder / Design / Frontend Dev / Sales
Company: The Web Craftsmen
When: Sep 2012 – Dec 2014 · 2 yrs 4 mos
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Decription: Website Design, Website Development, & Website Hosting service. The Web Craftsmen focused on designing and building mobile-first/responsive websites as the mobile device boom took over the world.
Role: User Interface Designer
Company: Alden
When: Jul 2012 – Oct 2012 · 4 mos
When: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Description: Worked on UX Design, UI Design. Designed the UI for software that managed joint use assets (utility poles).
Role: User Interface Designer
Company: Teksouth Corporation
When: Jul 2011 – Feb 2012 · 8 mos
Location: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Description: Designed the UI and branding for CRIS, the financial analysis tool used by the US Air Force and Army.
Role: Web Design & Website Development Director
Company: SM Agency
When: Jun 2010 – Jul 2011 · 1 yr 2 mos
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: Worked on Website Design, Website Development, Website Hosting, User Experience Design, Visual/Graphic Design, Front-End Development (HTML,CSS,JS), WordPress CMS integration (PHP). Basically, I designed & built user-friendly websites.
Role: Digital Media Production Manager
Company: Randall-Reilly Publishing
When: Jan 2010 – Jun 2010 1 yr 8 mos
Description: Managed and maintained the production of over 50 digital magazines each month that focused on truck driver recruiting and trucking industry news.Managed and maintained the production of over 50 digital magazines each month that focused on truck driver recruiting and trucking industry news.
Role: Website Designer and Developer
Company: Randall-Reilly Publishing
When: Nov 2008 – Jan 2010 · 1 yr 3 mos
Description: Designed and Built SEO-friendly websites that helped trucking companies recruit truck drivers.
Focused on Website Design, Website Development (HTML, CSS, PHP)
Role: Web Designer / Developer
Company: eVision Marketing Group
When: Nov 2007 – Nov 2008 · 1 yr 1 mo
Description: Designed and built websites using xHTML, CSS, PHP, and even a little Flash to make ads.
– All websites and ads were focused on promoting truck driver jobs.
Role: Print & Web Designer
Company: eVision Marketing Group
When: Nov 2006 – Nov 2007 · 1 yr 1 mo
Description: Designed websites, banner ads, print materials, logos.
Role: Graphic Design Teacher
Company: Virginia College
When: Jul 2006 – Sep 2006 · 3 mos
Description: I taught Design Theory 101 to design students at Virginia College for the summer quarter. We covered topics such as the C.R.A.P. design principles, The Elements of Design, Color Theory, Semiotics, Typography, and Professionalism.
Role: Assistant Graphic Designer
Company: The University of Alabama
When: Sep 2004 – May 2006 · 1 yr 9 mos
Description: This job at UA was in the College of Continuing studies. My responsibilities were basically layout and editing of brochures and various publications produced by the college of continuing studies. I would occasionally received a design project. Everything I created was carefully scrutinized by a committee before being published.
Role: Musician / Bass Player / Singer
Band: Awaken (a christian worship band)
When: May 2002 – May 2005 · 3 yrs 1 mo
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: I played in a christian worship band called Awaken played at several events and churches around the USA, Central American, and South America. We recorded one album you can find here:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/awaken/75282617
Role: Musician / Bass Player / Singer
Band: A Fond Farewell
When: Jun 2003 – Jun 2004 · 1 yr 1 mo
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: A Fond Farewell was a christian punk/pop/emo/screamo/hard rock band I played bass and sang background vocals in with Jamey Hamm, Sean Lee, Matthew Way, and Delana Wood. We recorded one fun album you can find here:
https://soundcloud.com/hypertribalrecords/sets/a-fond-farewell
Role: Web Designer / SEO
Company: eVision Marketing Group
When: Mar 2002 – Jun 2002 · 4 mos
Description: Web Designer, Search Engine Optimizer, Email Marketing. Built simple gif banner ads. Built simple websites with Adobe GoLive. Built email lists.
Role: Assistant Electrician
Company: Ballard Electric
When: Jun 2000 – Aug 2000 · 3 mos
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: Installed electrical wiring in newly built houses during a hot Alabama summer.
Role: Construction Worker / Laborer
Company: Local Construction Company
When: May 1998 – Aug 1998 · 4 mos
Description: Worked as a general laborer for some guy’s construction company whose name I can’t remember.
Role: Bus Boy
Company: Chik-Fil-A
When: Apr 1998 – Jun 1998 · 3 mos
Description: Clean it. Stock it. Eat it.
Role: Musician / Bass Player
Band: Blind Man’s Caravan
When: Jan 1997 – Jan 1998 · 1 yr 1 mo
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: Blind Man’s Caravan was a hard rock band I played in during high school with Jamey Hamm, Ward Campbell, and Joel Smelley. We played on The Strip at place called The Station near the University of Alabama campus and other churches and local spots. One of our fan favorites was a light hearted song called “Joel’s Garage” about the place we practiced. My personal favorite was our namesake song “Blindman’s Caravan”.
Role: Musician / Bass Player
Band: Church Bus 7
When: Jan 1996 – Jan 1997 · 1 yr 1 mo
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: Church Bus 7 was the first band I played bass guitar in with Jamey Hamm, Ward Campbell, and Jamie Joyner. We played christian rock music at local churches and events.
Role: Ground Crew
Company: Durham’s Tree Service
When: 1995 – 1997 · 2 yrs
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Description: Landscaping and tree work. Helped my brother cut down trees. Serious manual labor. Pulling ropes and moving logs. Good times. Responsibilities:
– Don’t get hit by falling limbs.
Education
- The University of Alabama: Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art
- Focused on Graphic Design & Digital Media
- Minored in General Business Administration
- Shelton State Community College: Associate in Science in Psychology
Publications & Appearances
- My photo was used as the ancient biblical character Goliath in the book “Historical Tweets: The Completely Unabridged and Ridiculously Brief History of the World”, Villard, April 2010. Written by Alan Beard & Alec McNayr.
Associations & Memberships
- National Rifle Association (NRA)
- United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA)
- United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA)
Hobbies
My day job is more managerial and strategic now, but in my mind I’m still just a wannabe trying to figure out the tactical basics.
Some of my past roles turned into hobbies. I occasionally experiment and play as a designer, web developer, writer, artist, musician, athlete, outdoors sportsman, permaculture farmer, or survivalist prepper.
I don’t have much time for these other interests but I’m slowly learning more and practicing each discipline as I can. My goal is to always keep learning and growing my knowledge and skillset.