Paul Slack, President of Splash Media U
Paul Slack joined Splash Media with more than 20 years of direct marketing experience. He got his first taste of web marketing consulting in the 1990s as the internet began to make its presence felt in the business world. Those early days gave him a strong foundation in search engine marketing/search engine optimization (SEM/SEO). Paul built on that as CEO of WebDex Media Group, a Dallas-based firm founded in 2000 that provided strategic planning, SEM, web-based lead generation, online public relations and customer acquisition programs. WebDex developed proprietary solutions to help clients exceed their Internet marketing goals, and it counted Microsoft, Tupperware, Zales, GE Medical Systems and Isuzu Trucks among its satisfied customers. Paul and WebDex also quickly became expert in the use of social media tools to help connect clients to customers – an effort that continues with the acquisition of WebDex by Splash Media in 2010. Paul’s experience has put him in demand as a speaker on search engine marketing trends and developments, most notably at the leading SEM industry conference, Search Engine Strategies, where he has been a featured speaker for the past five years. Paul also discusses strategic planning with top executives of Dallas-Fort Worth-based companies that are members of the CEO Advisory Board.
John Larsen, National Social Media Instructor
All the significant milestones that John Larsen hit in his previous careers – software innovation, entrepreneur, successful financial broker and trader – have proven to be the best preparation for his new role as a Splash Media national social media instructor. John works the podiums at our Social Media for CEOs Boot Camps; armed with the latest survey information and statistics, he provides a 90-minute crash course for audiences of executives on how web marketing, social media and video content can help their companies boost their brands. It’s a way for John to combine his backgrounds in public speaking, technology and knowledge of business strategies. John started as a licensed securities broker and member of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and has seen action on trading floors and trading desks around the world. As a trader, he has managed a wide range of investment products and has been on the leading edge of charting and electronic trading platforms that helped democratize Wall Street for a new generation of investors. John took his two decades of market experience and parlayed that into the entrepreneurial realm with the launch of Larsen Capital Partners, LLC. He was president of GlobalTec Solutions’ “Wizetrade for Options” (Options Made Easy) software division and served as its chief software architect, chief strategist and lead trainer. In that role, he regularly spoke to large audiences of investor groups and also started sharing his market knowledge in broadcast; he was featured on the USA Radio Networks’ financial talk radio station, Wizetalk Radio, and appeared on Traders Television Network (TTV) and Wizetrade Television Network (WTV).
Adam Robinson, Social Media Manager
Adam Robinson has spent his entire career working in the world of marketing. His experience in sales, social media, search engine marketing, and video production have prepared him well for the position of Social Media Manager. Originally from Oklahoma, as they say, he got to Texas as fast as he could and attended the University of Texas. He understands the small business owner through his three years working in both traditional and digital marketing, and is well versed in navigating a hectic and often times unscheduled environment. Adam’s business passion is social media, and he believes that it is a great way for businesses to truly not only interact with customers, but gain sales and create long-term, revenue-producing relationships. He is a father of two and is married to his best friend, residing in the suburb of Dallas, Little Elm.
Holly Rountree, Social Media Manager
Holly Rountree combines eight years of media experience in Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations and Audience Development. After graduating from Baylor University in 2004, Holly began her career in Dallas within the cable TV software industry, and quickly developed her professional passions for monetized content strategies, lead generation and reputation management. Positively energetic, she then moved to New York City where she became responsible for the advertising marketing success of three industry leading b2b publications and their websites; including Chemical Engineering, ChemicalWeek and Power magazines. During this time, she was exposed first-hand to the evolutions of SEO and social media, as well as heavily involved in the movement of converting traditional printed information into optimized digital content. As a seasoned media professional and former consultant, she is an expert in facilitating long-term customer loyalty by building engaged communities through information services. Originally from Plano, Texas, Holly is an avid runner, and she also enjoys reading and gardening. Holly is a professional member of the Business Marketing Association, Specialized Information Publishers Association, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the Baylor Alumni Association.
Dennis Wilson, Social Media Manager
Dennis Wilson joins Splash Media after spending more than10 years in hospitality management, followed by a transition into consultative sales and the continuously evolving world of Internet marketing. He has most recently managed local and national Internet marketing campaigns for a wide array of businesses. During his tenure in the digital media marketing industry, he has implemented and observed various Internet marketing plans. He believes marketing strategies producing no results need to be promptly edited or removed, and those producing positive results must be continually refined, updated and focused, or they will soon become stagnant and unprofitable. He has, most importantly, come to one clear conclusion: if your business shows no interest in adjusting to the trends or exploring the new and innovative, then someone else is inevitably taking your share of the market. Dennis brings a balanced and practical approach to even the most complicated problems. His years of client interaction have ingrained a desire to uncover what makes a customer sincerely happy, and he understands loyal customers are an integral part of a successful business.
Melissa Ruggles, Social Media Manager
As a sixth-generation native Texan, Melissa Ruggles has eclectic experience as a nonprofit Communications Director, small business Social Media Manager, Graphic Designer, and Copy Writer. Her passion for personal growth and learning has earned her a Masters Degree while raising her three beautiful children. She is focused on results-driven strategies, while prioritizing the importance of creating true relationships with clients, her team, and the target audience of her accounts. Her path to social media management has taken her through such diverse fields as design and technical theater, art, and alternative healthcare. Her unique background enables her to view projects from many viewpoints simultaneously, blending her diverse skill sets to truly catch the vision and voice of the brand she is representing.
Stephanie Williams, Social Media Manager
Stephanie Williams has a unique marketing background in a variety of industries. Her experience spans from social media consulting and branding to event coordination and project management. An early interest in marketing trends led her to the world of Internet marketing and social media. Stephanie is passionate about delivering outstanding service with the highest level of integrity and recognizes the extraordinary effort necessary to focus intently on each client. Prior to joining Splash Media, Stephanie led the social media team and its initiatives and authored internal best practices for a major manufacturer of class rings, yearbooks and letter jackets. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is an avid follower of the American Marketing Association and the Social Media Club of Dallas. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, blogging, traveling, ethnic foods, and anything that provides an artistic outlet.
Matt Anderson, Social Media Manager
Matthew Anderson’s passion for all things social media and the entertainment industry are what drive him toward success. Matt says the most rewarding part of his work is being able to create unique marketing campaigns, seeing his clients acquire new customers and, ultimately, getting results. Matt earned his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California with a double concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. While at USC, he performed and served as a Senior Teaching Assistant for the Trojan Marching Band, gaining valuable entertainment industry knowledge and experience along the way. Prior to joining Splash Media, Matt worked in Los Angeles for Cross Coast Interactive as a Social Media Specialist, creating marketing strategies for films, television shows, artists, and various social media websites and applications.
MacKenzie Garfield, Social Media Manager
MacKenzie Garfield is a Dallas native who has a broad range of experience in implementing integrated marketing goals with a focus in social media. After receiving her BBA in Marketing at Texas A&M, she became Director of Marketing for a retail firm in College Station. Here at Splash Media, she is fully immersed in her favorite part of the marketing industry: social media. Throughout her career, she has valued the compassionate professionalism she learned at her first internship at TOMS Shoes. She is fully versed in social media and loves helping clients reach their goals through creative social strategies. When she’s not blogging, tweeting, posting, poking, or commenting, you can find her drinking too much Diet Coke, over-accessorizing her cat Nia, curled up with a book at home, or trying new restaurants around town.
Johnathan Sellers, Social Media Manager
Johnathan Sellers comes to Splash Media from Oklahoma City. He joins Splash after working in sales and marketing in the television industry for the local ABC affiliate. At KOCO, he managed a large client list and developed new business for the station by focusing on strategies that delivered results, while also building strong relationships with his clients. Johnathan earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His passion for social media and marketing brought him to Splash where he hopes to help his clients develop quality campaigns that connect them to their target audiences and generate new business leads. Johnathan’s hobbies include being a huge basketball fan, especially when it comes to the NBA. He also loves all things media . In his spare time, he enjoys working out, engaging in social media, listening to music, playing with electronics and spending time with his friends and family.
Jennifer Sokoloff, Social Media Manager
Florida native Jennifer Sokoloff began her professional career in the marketing field over a decade ago. She ventured off into other avenues of marketing by traveling nationwide on a weekly basis marketing real estate, cash flow, and financial market trainings for a direct to consumer marketing firm based in Orlando, Fla. A few years later she worked in radio, co-hosting a morning show in Florida. Jennifer’s direct experience with social media stems from the Radio/Entertainment industry, reaching listeners on other platforms other than on-air. While working in radio she also provided social media services to small businesses in her area.
Having no prior radio experience, Jennifer scored a radio gig for a widely recognized radio station in Gainesville, Fla., by using Facebook to promote herself and having the entire market vote for her. As social as Jennifer is online, she is equally social outside of work. Sporting events, live concerts, relaxing with family, and visiting friends are a few of Jennifer’s favorite activities but the one she is most passionate about is Florida Gators football! She bleeds orange and blue, and her favorite season is … football season, of course!
Duncan Gilman, Social Media Manager
Duncan Gilman has developed online profiles for clients ranging in size from a dozen volunteer members to one thousand full-time employees. His diverse writing experience includes traditional public relations, online editorials, and documentary television. A graduate of the University of Texas College of Communication, Duncan comes from a background in video production, and his Telly Award-winning work can be seen on networks such as A&E and Discovery Military.
