Stephen Covey once said, “Successful people begin with the end in mind.” I believe no success is worth losing your integrity. I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I believe that trust is created with honesty, experience, and expertise, always in that order. I believe that value is in the eyes of the beholder and cannot be expressed in words. Our ULTIMATE end goal is to create results that meet, and hopefully exceed, our clients expectations.

• LinkedIn
• travis@glidedesign.com

Background:

• BA in Architecture from Texas A&M
• Early career Graphic Designer for internet start-up EverydayWealth
• Founded Pixona, an online real-time video communications company
• Founded Glide Design in 2003

10 Interesting Facts About Travis:

1. He taught himself how to juggle when he was 10 years old.
2. He could not bear to live in a world without queso and chips.
3. His dog soul mate is also a company employee… Molly (and he married his true soul mate Kristen in 2009).
4. He ran track for Texas A&M, is a four time All-American, and set a big twelve record in the 600 meter dash in 2001.
5. He secretly wants to become a professional kite-boarder but settles for a fulfilling life as a professional web marketer.
6. He has a passion for all things Apple and hugs his iPad daily.
7. He won a local community area contest for longest hand-thrown paper air plane in 3rd grade.
8. He is insanely passionate about the principles of a best in class web design.
9. While being right handed, he still writes, acts, and thinks like he’s left handed.
10. At age 4, he had planned to be a professional surfer and world renowned architect.

I believe that people in today’s society are bombarded with too much information, and that in order to be successful, simplicity and usability are key. I believe that less is more and that simple is beautiful. I also believe that anything worth being done is worth being done well. Each client is unique. My aim is to bring a distinctive design solution for each one of them. I want clients to be thrilled with and proud of their websites. I aspire to make each website user-friendly and intuitive to site visitors.

• LinkedIn
• marian@glidedesign.com

Background:

• Adopted interest in programming from older brothers
• Created first computer graphic images at 11 years old
• Freelance web designer for 8 years prior to co-founding GLIDE

I believe in listening before speaking. Listen with intent, speak with purpose. I see the big picture before I hurl myself headfirst into action. That said, once I know what the goal is, I come at it like a Tasmanian devil—well, a Tasmanian devil with considerably less rage and better business etiquette, but the energy is there. I take ambitious ideas and break them down into clear, bite-sized objectives. If you have a vision, I have a plan.

• LinkedIn
• brooke@glidedesign.com

Background:

• BFA in Theatre & Directing from Texas State University
• San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40
• Proficient in Spanish and Italian
• 10 years in full service branding, marketing, and advertising agencies
• Training and certifications in inbound marketing and search engine marketing
• Produced radio, TV, and online video content in English and Spanish
• Managed major retail and franchise accounts for print, digital, and media marketing

10 Interesting Facts About Brooke:

1. She is left-handed, but she bowls and cuts right-handed.
2. She can go back to sleep after a dream and start it up again.
3. She once slept and showered in Paris De Gaulle airport…not pleasant.
4. She has lived on a desert island where she experienced raining grasshoppers.
5. She once acted in a stage show as a nun who got pregnant, aborted her own child, and had stigmata.
6. She waited tables at an Irish Pub pretending to be Irish to make better tips.
7. She speaks Italian at home with her husband and children.
8. She enjoys riding dirt bikes with her family on the weekends.
9. She rearranges furniture constantly in an effort to suppress gypsy tendencies.
10. She has a really bad long-term memory.

I believe communication is everything. I know, cliché right? But really, that’s all “direction” of any kind comes down to—whether you’re making a website or movie or working in a busy kitchen. My job is to listen to what a client wants and translate that into a clear, executable plan for the site design. What appeals to each of us visually is subjective, but as long as we’re communicating well, we’ll get to the desired result—every time.

• drew@glidedesign.com

Background:

• BA in Communication from the University of Virginia
• Art direction & videography for independent TV station
• Professional copywriting at marketing startup in Austin
• Brand positioning and identity work after joining GLIDE
• Creative direction on GLIDE projects starting in 2014

10 Interesting Facts About Drew:

1. He likes every food except yellow mustard.
2. He lived in the middle of Brooklyn, in a van, for several months.
3. Yes, he also lived in a van down by the river.
4. Did he mention he shared said van with a cat and her litter of 5 kittens!
   (okay, we get it, moving on from the van…)
5. He’s never had a tooth cavity, and is soooo proud of it.
6. His last hair cut was in 2010 (okay maybe he’s had a trim or two).
7. He can hit a tennis ball like 1000 feet, he says.
8. He communicates telepathically with cats. And they talk back, of course.
9. He’s never seen Titanic. Not that he’s avoiding it. Really he’s not.
10. He carries library cards from at least a dozen different cities.

Stories are a big part of my life: bedtime stories, news stories, Instagram stories, etc. So when I started my career in digital marketing, it’s no wonder I gravitated towards content strategy. I believe that content is the key to telling your brand story, building customer relationships and creating a memorable experience. I put your content to work in a way that will fulfill brand goals and I will not quit until we have reached them.

• LinkedIn
• jessica.mcdaniel@glidedesign.com

Background:

• BA in Business Administration, Marketing Emphasis, Texas State University
• 5 years full service agency experience on digital marketing team
• Specialization in content marketing and social media strategy

10 Interesting Facts About Jessica:

1. She lived and studied in Limerick, Ireland for four months.
2. She went to college on a cheerleading scholarship.
3. Her collection of vintage/limited edition Barbies contains dolls purchased from stores in London and Paris.
4. Her go to Karaoke song is “You Ain’t Woman Enough” by Loretta Lynn but will butcher any song on request.
5. She sewed her own prom dress and still sews clothes, curtains and torn stuffed animals.
6. She loves cooking and her favorite meal is chicken enchilada casserole and sopapilla cheesecake.
7. She is a mother of two handsome little boys and can frequently be found cheering them on at soccer, basketball and t-ball games.
8. She is an avid reader and has a passion for writing.
9. She taught 9th grade girls Sunday School for 3 years.
10. Since joining GLIDE, she has enjoyed the benefits of being a stay at home working mom, able to continue her career while spending time with her babies and making it to every practice, game and school function.

I believe in trust and loyalty. Loyalty to our friends, our family, our clients, and ourselves. I believe that without trust, relationships can’t blossom. I believe everyone should have goals and should work hard to achieve whatever those goals may be. By setting goals and working hard, we can accomplish anything we put our minds to.

• LinkedIn
• joel@glidedesign.com

Background:

• Studied Entrepreneurship and Mechanical Engineering
• Worked with a tech incubator and live chat startup
• Google AdWords Certified
• 6+ Years of AdWords Management Experience
• Managed $800,000/yr in AdWords Spend
• Spoken at DrupalCamp Austin, RISE Austin, ProductCamp Austin, & DrupalCon Chicago
• Founded and sold an online marketing company
• Joined GLIDE to work with the best people in the world

10 Interesting Things About Me:

1. I have an obsession with tacos.
2. My favorite sports team is the San Antonio Spurs.
3. Whenever my teachers asked me what my hobbies were in an attempt to get to know me, I never had an answer.
4. I have to iron everything I wear.
5. I can recall what you were wearing and what you said on what day but I can’t remember facts.
6. I love comedy- especially stand-up.
7. I’ve been dreaming of home automation since I was 7.
8. I own a full-size, 3 foot robot.
9. I wrote the lyrics for my high school graduation song.
10. I’m happiest when I’m in a robe.

I am powered by authentic and transparent communication and meaningful interactions. I am an introvert who loves connecting with people one on one. I may not say much at first, but that’s because I’m staying present, observing and listening to what’s going on. My mind then goes a million miles per minute planning the next step, making a plan B and a plan Z, just in case. Being a planner by nature, I am flexible and open-minded in my planning, because unforeseen challenges may present themselves. Hence, why I make a plan B and Z.

Every interaction, whether internal or external, is an opportunity to cultivate something genuine.

• LinkedIn
• paola@glidedesign.com

Background:

• BA in Bilingual Communications from The University of the Incarnate Word
• Specializes in project and account management for digital marketing and video production
• Produced TV and radio spots for Hispanic audiences
• Managed video content for some of the biggest publishers on Facebook

10 Interesting Facts About Paola:

1. She loves languages. Her first language was Spanish, took 3 years of French in High School and currently she is learning Deutsch.
2. She’s a proud dog mom to a mini schnauzer named Guapo.
3. She enjoys taking personality tests. She is an INFJ.
4. She worked as an au pair in Germany for one year, and bonded with German kids.
5. Growing up, she spent every summer going to San Diego and Baja California to visit family.
6. Her first job at 16 was at Little Caesar’s pizza, and she never got tired of eating their pizza.
7. Heading to Berlin? She has lived there for 4+ years and will gladly give you some tips on how to experience the city and where to get the best döner kebab.
8. She is a Montessori alumni.
9. She is a former digital nomad.
10. She loves dino nuggets, chips and chocolate, but of course she also cooks real food and maintains a healthy lifestyle.

I’m constantly learning and firmly believe that one of the best ways to learn is through teaching. One of my biggest points of pride is when I’m able to synthesize complex info and explain it in a simple, story-driven way. I also believe building a strong foundation for creating something means getting your information from diverse sources–from end-users to stakeholders and from tried-and-true practices to cutting-edge innovations.

• LinkedIn
• ajia@glidedesign.com

Background:

• MA in English from Arizona State University
• Over ten years working in client support and CX
• General Assembly User Experience Design Immersive fellow
• Volunteers as Communications for projects like Austin UXPA and Austin Design Week

10 Interesting Facts About Ajia:

• Earned her 200 hr yoga teacher training
• Spent her life dancing, from tap to hip hop to ballet to lyrical
• Has a cat named Sylvester who loves to appear on company calls
• Knows how to make amazing smoothies and pretty decent espresso drinks
• Took college classes in animation history and 3D animation
• Studied French in high school and college despite living in Arizona
• Taught a summer course on Adobe AfterEffects and Final Cut Pro for ASF
• Has done stand-up comedy at open mic nights with middling success
• Loves to do karaoke, especially Regina Spektor, Mariah Carey, and Rilo Kiley
• Is so glad to have found GLIDE, where she gets to work every day on projects she’s proud of

Aesthetics are important but so are results. My goal as a designer is to create beautiful, intuitive experiences that are effective in achieving business goals. I feel very fortunate to work with the Glide team who value design that is both elegant and results-oriented. I love what I do, and I look forward to every new challenge.

• LinkedIn
• gretchen@glidedesign.com

Background:

• BA in Psychology from the Emory University
• Web Design & Art Direction at various agencies since 2008
• Web Design on GLIDE projects starting in 2017

10 Interesting Facts About Gretchen:

1. She loves exploring different cities on vacation. No lying on the beach for her.
2. She is a huge fan of stand-up comedy. Her favorites include Ricky Gervais and Sarah Silverman.
3. Her two daughters keep her laughing daily.
4. She swam competitively through college.
5. She loves hearing life stories.
6. She wishes she could have dinner with Larry David and Howard Stern (he’s the best interviewer there is).
7. She likes to hike, run, and be outside but hates bright sun. She usually can be seen wearing a hat, glasses, and 20 layers of sunscreen anytime she goes outdoors.
8. She believes in breaking a sweat once a day.
9. She will go head-to-head with anyone in movie trivia.
10. She is a savant for birthdays. If you tell her your birthday once, she will remember it forever.

Man learns his whole life, growing up and changing himself at the same time – that’s why I’m excited about what each new day will bring and at the same time wonder who will I become in the course of time and what I will be able still to learn. I know that the road to success comes through hard work, determination, sacrifice and passion for what one likes to do. That is why, in time, my job became my passion. I value professionalism, honesty and commitment in people – I work for GLIDE for the same reasons. High five!

• LinkedIn
• marcin@glidedesign.com

Background:

• Art Director and Product Designer experience
• UX conferences and courses participant
• Front-end development and SEO experience

10 Interesting Facts About Marcin:

• He was an accordion street player – and would like to come back to this very soon
• Organizes his work using Time Timer
• First using Photoshop with number 6
• Sometimes he spins his moustache (and his fiance doesn’t like it)
• He worked for many years designing for hotel companies – ask him something about hotels – he should know
• Doesn’t have any pets, but he would like to have one
• Likes any music genre – he makes listening choices depending what he is currently designing
• On average, he changes cities every 3 years
• He started designing and developing websites when he was 15 years old
• He likes “smart” gadgets – he always searches for ways to improve an easy-going life

I am a skilled project manager with a knack for connecting with clients and colleagues. My background in the digital agency world and dedication to bold creative branding has given me the experience to lead projects, spanning a variety of industries, and be a sounding partner for our clients.

• reena@glidedesign.com

Background:

• Studied Finance at the University of Missouri-Columbia. MIZ.
• Background in Production, Project/Account Management, Social Media, and E-Commerce
• Passion for photography, non-profit work, and content creation

6 Interesting Facts About Reena:

1. Live music & festivals are one of my favorite things.
2. I’m happiest when on an airplane, road trip, or hike.
3. Tacos and margs are my most important food group.
4. Taking photos is my jam.
5. Soloing travel is the best therapy – I notoriously will book a plane ticket in a days notice to one of my many bucket list destinations.
6. I live in the midwest and root for the best football team out there…Chiefs!

I’ve got that PMA; Positive Mental Attitude. I pride myself on being able to connect with people; by being kind, thoughtful and dependable. I want to help set up everyone on my team for success, that includes my clients, my colleagues and myself.
I’ve had the nickname Kimpossible for 20 years for a reason; because I want to help you in any way that I can and I plan to do so with a smile.

• LinkedIn
• kimberly@glidedesign.com

Background:

• 12+ years of Digital Marketing
• 10+ years of Project Management
• 10+ years of Event Management
• 7 years as a friendly record store employee

10 Interesting Facts About Kimberly:

1. Traveled the world in a van with multiple bands as a tour manager, photographer and merchandise manager.
2. Was on a MTV dating show. Can you guess which one?
3. Has a wealth of pop culture knowledge.
4. Started an e-commerce business 6 years ago and has traveled around the US for tradeshows, creator markets and panels.
5. Volunteers with the French Bulldog Rescue Network for the last 10 years.
6. Has a frenchie named Charlie Brown and a dachshund mix named Phoebe Buffay.
7. Has built websites on Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Weebly and WordPress.
8. Born and raised Dodgers fan.
9. Is right handed but was taught to bat left handed at a young age; now also golfs left handed. (Yes, it was very challenging to find clubs).
10. Collects Alice in Wonderland books and has over 80 editions/versions. It’s the best part of traveling, looking through old book stores for a new used editions she doesn’t already have.

I believe aesthetics have an impact on your life and in the energy around you. They can be sleek and simple elements, but with strong character. That’s what I’m amazed by. I love digital product design, but I am very passionate about interior design, architecture and also fashion design. I love exploring new brands, products and stories behind them. Basically, I just like to look at nice things.

• jakub@glidedesign.com

Background:

• Studied digital design and programming at high school
• Digital product and UI design for various clients and agencies since 2014

10 Interesting Facts About Jakub:

1. I love running.
2. I am a huge fan of old mafia movies and photography.
3. Cooking is the best way for me to relax.
4. I enjoy exploring new small restaurants and bistros with interesting stories.
5. I love traveling, especially to Scandinavia.
6. I never started working without having music blasting in my ears first.
7. I am passionate about old war books and clothing, I love the aesthetics.
8. I played tennis and football in my teenage years.
9. Everyone thinks I am about 5-10 years older than I really am.
10. I love dogs so much, but I’ve never had one.

As a creative, organized, and customer-service driven person, I strive to provide my clients with more fulfilling, quality lives by utilizing my skill-set. One of my favorite quotes is by Jay Danzie: “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark”.

• accounting@glidedesign.com

Background:

Providing office management, bookkeeping, payroll, and various accounting services for over 18 years. I currently support a local CPA/CFP by performing bookkeeping services for individuals, small businesses, and trust clients around the globe.

10 Interesting Facts About Marissa:

1. I am passionate about cooking, but rarely follow a recipe or measure ingredients.
2. Since I do not follow recipes, I am not a very successful baker.
3. Big time Packers football fan.
4. Lived in the beautiful mountains of Northern Arizona for over 26 years.
5. I enjoy adventures in nature with my other half and our adorable mutt as often as possible.
6. My favorite authors are J.R.R. Tolkien and Steven King.
7. Italy and Ireland are two places on my bucket-list.
8. In my free time I like to turn up some music and paint or work on various craft projects.
9. Animal lover.
10. I’ll never say no if offered chocolate, wine, or ice cream.

We tend to wear many hats and want to do “all the things.” Nothing is wrong with that but I fully believe in having a community of support. It 100% takes a village and I thrive on that encouragement, accountability, and motivation from those surrounding me. I too want to give that opportunity to others as well. All the positive vibes and helping others realize they are worth the effort and can live life to their fullest potential. And if I can share that through social media then even better!

• kristen@glidedesign.com

Background:

• BS in Textiles and Apparel with a minor in Business Foundations from University of Texas in Austin
• BS in Health and Wellness from Kaplan University
• Specializes in social media and taking care of tiny humans
• Passionate about holistic health: mind, body, and soul

10 Interesting Facts About Kristen:

1. Loves sports, especially basketball and volleyball.
2. Born and raised a Longhorn. #hookem
3. Married an Aggie. #housedivided
4. She is the worst at keeping up with laundry.
5. Had all her babies naturally at home with an amazing midwife.
6. She interned and backpacked overseas, and loves to experience the real life culture of each country.
7. Used to be THE pickiest eater and now loves all kinds of foods and trying new things.
8. Christmas is her favorite time of the year and loves to decorate all over the house.
9. Loves coffee, and taught her husband to love it too.
10. She is a natural night owl but really wants to be a “happy” morning person.