"The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." – Mark Zuckerberg

Kenny Ridgell

Kenny Ridgell is the founder of Ridge Media, LLC. Ridgell began the company while attending the College of Charleston in 2014 where he graduated with honors and gained a BA in Business Administration with a focus in entrepreneurship after beginning his college career as a Biochemistry major.

Today’s age of data-driven marketing offered the unique opportunity to merge his love of innovation, art, and science into a digital marketing firm that practices the scientific method daily through setting up experiments that use modified variables to impact the outcome based on hypotheses.

WHAT IS THE MOST ANNOYING HABIT THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE?

Not refilling the ice trays in the freezer.

WHAT IS ONE SONG YOU HAVE COMPLETELY MEMORIZED?

Lil Wayne “Sky is the Limit”

WHAT GAME OR MOVIE UNIVERSE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO LIVE IN?

Star Wars

Sarah Tate

Sarah joined the Ridge team in 2017 as a graphic designer after graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Visual Communications. She is now the Vice President and her responsibilities include: social media content planning, developing brands, website design, creating creative content that is consistent with the client’s brand, video and photo shoot planning, interviewing internship and job candidates, meetings with clients, and debriefings with the CEO.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO START THE DAY?

A good breakfast and coffee

WHAT TV SHOWS ARE YOU INTO?

I love it all. Anything from Reality Tv to classics like The Office to Game of Thrones.

WHERE DO YOU USUALLY GO WHEN YOU HAVE TIME OFF?

Anything outdoors – whether it’s running, hiking, or wherever that allows my dog.

Laura Mazzola

Laura is a proud Greenvillian and Gamecock! With over 28 years’ experience in creative marketing in industries from sports to retail to healthcare, she brings her open mind to each opportunity. Laura cheered for the Gamecocks all 4 years she attended the University of South Carolina, and those who know her know her cheerleading days continue for her family, her friends, and her work.

Having a creative eye and a passion to see brands succeed Laura will bring a big smile, a dose of happy, and a morale-boosting edge to each project.

When Laura is not working, she adores being with her husband Jeff traveling to see their children: Annie Hope – a senior at Indiana University, and Fletcher – a junior at Roanoke College.

IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE? IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?

If I could live anywhere, honestly it would be right here by the Saluda River where our little house sits. I have peace like a river!

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE SMALL?

When I was little, I dreamed of being a professional cheerleader! I might not be professional, but I still cheer on my people & passions!

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW MORE ABOUT?

I would love to know more about plants and gardening so I could have an abundance of seasonal flowers at my fingertips.

Erin Danfy

Erin is from Greenville, South Carolina and graduated from the College of Charleston in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. She joined the team in November 2020 and is now the Digital Marketing Analyst. Before working at Ridge Media, Erin gained experience in Google Ads at RelayPM helping to budget and manage companies’ SEO and SEM.

Do you prefer mornings or nights?

I prefer mornings! One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is go out for coffee in the morning and walk around downtown.

Who was your childhood actor or actress crush?

My childhood actor crush was Zac Efron. High School Musical is a cinematic masterpiece.

If you could take 3 things to a desert island what would they be?

If I could take 3 things to a desert island, they would be: Netflix, my cat Benji, and soap.

Sam Slaughter

Born and raised in New Jersey, Sam attended Elon University for his BA and Stetson University for his MA. He is the author of the cocktail book Are You Afraid of the Dark Rum: and Other Cocktails for ’90s Kids and his food & drink writing has been published in Maxim, Bloomberg, The Bitter Southerner, and elsewhere. Guy Fieri once told him he had the coolest name ever.

What’s your favorite hobby?

Checking out new breweries or wineries and talking to the owners about what they do.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Run the Iditarod.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

The Gaslight Anthem’s “The ’59 Sound”

Charles Richardson

With a Master’s Degree in English and passion for language, Charles is a natural storyteller—and a true left-brain, right-brain thinker: analytical, strategic, and research-oriented on the one hand, and creative and conceptual on the other. Well-versed in both traditional and digital disciplines, he’s worked with a number of national and international brands to engage prospects and customers at each stage of the sales funnel. Charles has more than two decades of experience working with several national agencies, including DMB&B and IMI Living. He has spent his career working on national and regional B2C, B2B, and Resort/Hospitality accounts.

What song do most associate with your childhood?

Ticket To Ride (Beatles)

What major historical event took place when you were born?

The dinosaurs became extinct

What’s your favorite joke?

There are 3 kinds of people in the world: those who can count and those who can’t.

Michael Roberts

Bio coming soon.

Justin Merrell

Justin has over 20 years in the digital marketing and traditional advertising industry. He can take something as complex and involved as web development and make it seem easy. Of course it’s not, but he has a unique gift for communicating clearly with clients so that they understand the dynamics of the process and the end result. He creates user-friendly and mobile-friendly web designs that effectively showcase our clients’ offering with targeted audience segments. He is relationship-oriented and works well with clients in a wide cross-section of industries to create optimized online experiences.

What was your last song on your spotify?

Highly Suspect, “Canals”

Do you prefer cats or dogs?

Definitely dogs

Would you rather be able to run at 100 miles per hour or fly at 10 miles per hour?

Run at 100mph

David Garrison

David is the consummate professional and web developer extraordinaire. He has 15+ years of experience working in the fields of website design, web development, and graphic design. During that time, he has launched more than 500 websites and finalized over 50 branding campaigns. He has extensive experience working with luxury resorts, high-end real estate communities, technology companies, dentists, attorneys, schools, state parks, local government events, non-profits, worldwide e-commerce stores, and distribution companies. His work was even featured in the HBO Film Mary and Martha starring Hillary Swank.

David met his wife Nan in April of 2018 through a long-time Greenville friend. But there was a catch – she lived 9,000 miles away in Bangkok, Thailand. David devoted countless hours dealing with Government paperwork to help Nan get home to South Carolina. During this time, David flew to Bangkok five times between July of 2018 to January of 2020 – staying about a month every time. In June of 2019, David and Nan were blessed with the news that they were going to have a daughter. She was born in February of 2020 in Bangkok. In March of 2020, just as David and Nan were about to finalize her visa and come home, COVID-19 locked down all American visas – leaving David and his family trapped in Thailand from March of 2020 until August of 2020. David rallied resources and thanks to the help of Senator Tim Scott and Representative Will Timmons, David and his family got clearance to fly home in early August of 2020. David says he was never more happy to see his front door than in August of 2020.

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?

EveryDollar – a budgeting app that I use religiously. I’m a very strong believer in personal finance.
Spotify – Because who doesn’t love music?
Photos – At least once a day I find myself scrolling through photos of my family

John Townsend

Bio coming soon.

Bain Stewart

Bain Stewart is a professional Photographer & Videographer based in Greenville, SC. He is a Cum Laude graduate from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts and a minor in Studio Art & Photography.

If you could be a kitchen appliance, what one would you be and why?

If I could be a kitchen appliance I’d likely be an Air Fryer because I’m so prone to getting sunburnt.

What is your favorite strange food combinations?

There is no doubt in my mind that pineapple belongs on pizza.

Are you a back seat driver?

I am most definitely a back seat driver, so I just prefer to be the driver.

Cameron Easler

Cameron Easler is a content creator with a burning passion to create quality, unique content for a diverse range of clientele in a consistent fashion. He is currently finishing up his last year in the Graphic Communications program at Clemson University. Cameron plans to be a full time photographer and cinematographer freelancer when he gets his degree from Clemson University.

You’re going to sail around the world, what’s the name of your boat?

Open Road

If you had a million dollars, what would you buy first?

Most definitely a RED camera.

Brian Faulkenberry

Have you ever been mistaken for someone famous?

Not really…but in the whole, “you know who you remind me of…” scene, I get Jack Black. So….there’s that.

What song describes your life right now?

I wouldn’t say it describes my life…but my daughter (4) has Alexa playing The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” on a pretty constant loop…so it’s pretty much my soundtrack these days. but to be fair, with a 4-year-old girl, it could DEFINITELY be much worse.

What’s your favorite hobby?

If I’m being honest, it’s really whatever’s in front of me at the time. But a safe bet, if I had to pick one, would be drawing…which I’m not even sure counts as a hobby because it’s basically my job too.

Erin Francese

Erin is a rising senior at Clemson University from Boston, Massachusetts majoring in Graphic Communications with a double minor in Brand Communications and Business Administration intending to graduate in May 2022.

You have your own late-night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?

If I had my own late-night talk show, I would invite Dabo Swinney as my first guest because I love Clemson Football and would love to meet him and hear what he has to say.

What is your favorite TV show?

My favorite type of TV to watch are sitcoms and my favorite show is New Girl.

Bryson Bishop

Bryson is a content creator as well as a licensed drone pilot. He enjoys spending time outdoors as well as traveling in his Jeep. He is a senior at Clemson University and will be graduating in August after his internship with us.

If you had a million dollars, what would you buy first?

You have your own late night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?