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Meet the team
Whether you're a small, local company looking for some help with your website or a Fortune 500 company looking for a top SEO consultant, we can help! Our team is comprised of over 40 experienced and incredibly passionate people on the cutting edge of all things Internet marketing.
A passionate entrepreneur with more than ten years of experience in the digital marketing and analytics industry, Ben and the Blue Corona team have helped hundreds of companies accurately track and optimize their advertising campaign performance and get more leads and sales from the web.
After starting his career in online media, recruitment advertising, and software sales at HotJobs.com, Ben spent time in the telecommunications industry and later went on to become the East Coast regional manager of an advertising and marketing agency. Shortly thereafter, Ben met Bob Perini. Together, they developed the concept that would become Blue Corona.
In his role as president and CEO, Ben is responsible for the strategic direction, marketing, and growth of Blue Corona, as well the day-to-day operation of the company. Under Ben’s leadership, Blue Corona has grown at an exceptional rate. In 2012, Blue Corona made its debut on the Inc. 500|5000 list as the 174th fastest growing, privately-held company in the country (#23 in the advertising and marketing category, and #1 in advertising and marketing in the MD, DC, VA, WV region).
Today, Blue Corona continues to grow and expand. Recently, the company made the Inc. 5000 for the fifth consecutive time. The recipient of a number of awards, Blue Corona has developed a reputation for providing top-shelf, premium web marketing and analytics services at an affordable price. More importantly, many of Blue Corona’s clients have also been featured in Inc. Magazine as members of the Inc. 500|5000. Blue Corona’s clients range from small, local companies to large, publicly traded firms. Many are recognized leaders in their industry and have won awards such as the National Comfort Institute (NCI) Contractor of the Year.
A recognized expert on topics ranging from inbound marketing, PPC, SEO, social media, analytics, small business growth and management, Ben enjoys writing and is also a dynamic, high-energy, and entertaining speaker. Ben frequently participates in industry events and guest lectures at colleges including Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business and is a regular contributor to a variety of websites and blogs. Currently, Ben is the HVAC website expert for ACHR The News’ Net Results column. Read more of Ben’s ACHR The News contributions here.
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About the Team
Blue Corona has over 40 employees split between our corporate headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland and our office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our team is comprised of Internet marketing professionals with expertise ranging from analytics, conversion rate optimization, content marketing, email marketing, inbound marketing, pay per click (PPC) advertising, reputation management, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, website design, website development, and more.
Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation!
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Katelyn Palacorolla 1About MeAbout Me
Favorite Thing About Working at Blue Corona
Easy—our team. I’ve never worked anywhere else with so many great people. Everyone cares about our clients and their success; everyone cares about helping Blue Corona grow; and everyone cares about each other. The atmosphere that fosters makes coming to work every day not feel like work.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Whether it’s working with the team to create a new process that better serves our clients or digging through data to help set strategy, I love using numbers to solve problems. Any day I get to bring numbers to life and use them to tell a story is a good day.
What do you do outside of work?
With a new baby at home, my hobbies have shifted from fine dining and traveling to spending time with family and exploring the world through my daughter’s eyes.
Katelyn Palacorolla
General Manager -
Alex Perini 2About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
Hard to choose a favorite so I'll share three. First, there's the client who told me that they had hired 4 additional HVAC technicians in the last few months because of all of the additional leads they were getting from Blue Corona. Another client was able to cut almost $200k/year in directory book advertising just by tracking exactly how many leads they were getting from it. And another client booked a $400k project from a pay-per-click ad (that he's spending $1,500 per month on).
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role has to do with transformations - both in terms of our clients and our team at Blue Corona. I LOVE getting to play a part in helping transform our clients from not knowing what they are getting from their various advertising channels into data-driven marketers who know their numbers. And the same goes for our entire team at Blue Corona - it's incredibly rewarding to see my teammates learn, grow, take on new challenges and succeed!
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I love traveling and hiking, I'm working on my golf game, and love spending time with my family and friends.
Alex Perini
Account Director -
Erin Whetham 3About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
What I like best about my role is helping our clients grow their business. Through the Smart Selling program we help our clients improve their customer service and turn more leads into booked appointments.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is helping CSRs improve their customer service skills and teaching them how to better connect with their customers.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I love to travel and spend time with family and friends.
Erin Whetham
Smart Selling Lead -
Chase Wolf 4About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
As a project manager, I have the opportunity to simplify a technical and design heavy process into something a business owner can feel comfortable talking about. Having candid conversations about a client's business goals that ultimately translate into a functioning website is fantastic experience.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
When I receive an email after a new website is launched from a client who is so excited with their new site and is genuinely appreciative of the customer service we provided during project, it truly is the most rewarding feeling.
What do you do outside of work?
When not at work, I am an avid sports car enthusiast and during the summer I love to play as many competitive sports as I can fit into my schedule.
Chase Wolf
Director of Web & Media -
Alanna Potosky 5About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I love that we help small businesses and how visible that is to the team. It's awesome when clients send us emails saying they bought another truck and hired 3 more people because it goes to show just how much of our work makes a difference in these people's lives.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Making sure the quality of our clients' websites is good so we can continue making them raving fans of Blue Corona.
What do you do outside of work?
When not at work, you can find me cheering on the Washington Capitals, reading a new book, or trying out a new local restaurant (most likely Italian food).
Alanna Potosky
Content Marketing Specialist -
Michelle Allen 6About MeAbout Me
What is your favorite thing about working at Blue Corona?
The team atmosphere is, by and far, my favorite thing about working at Blue Corona. Working with a group of people that is always looking to build you up is something you just don't find everywhere. We work hard together, we struggle together, and we succeed together. We're always a team first.
What do you like best about your role?
What do you like best about your role? On a daily basis, I'm presented with all sorts of problems, from simple to complex. I love untangling them and making the result something that improves life for our team and our clients. Solving all of the problems that crop up in our office is my favorite thing about my role.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I love to hang out with my husband, read, play video games, hike with my dogs, and sing "Wild, Wild West" at the top of my lungs in my car.
Michelle Allen
Operations Manager -
Tyler Yost 7About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
2012 - Hurricane Isaac is bearing down on Louisiana and we've got a newer client that provides restoration services to residential and commercial customers. I recommended that they run a limited time paid advertising campaign to try and capture the demand that's going to happen. We watched the leads start pouring in and the client and I worked feverishly for a few days straight (working around the clock) listening to the phone calls and triaging which ones we should go after. When the storm passed, they not only had more business than they knew what to do with, they also got some big commercial on-going agreements in place and were sold on the value of digital marketing.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing real impact on our clients, every single day. I love that the work that we do, whether it's content marketing, paid advertising, email, social, new websites, etc. are all focused on making a real impact to our clients' business growth. I also love the "hive learning" that happens here, where as soon as we have one person learn something about improving a client's particular results, we share it to see if we can amplify that effect across all of our clients.
What do you do outside of work?
I have a family I love to spend time with - we all really enjoy being outdoors, whether that's gardening, long walks, or at the pool, we all have a good time together. When we're trapped inside, we're big into making great meals and enjoying that with friends.
Tyler Yost
Director of Client Services -
Dana Berry 8About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
My favorite client project was migrating our biggest clients' websites to a new hosting environment. These sites were getting hacked beyond belief (and repeatedly) and we wanted to help them fix this quick! Over a weekend we "unhacked" and migrated over 80 websites to a new hosting plan. The sites were never hacked again (knock on wood)!
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I like that I can handle a web emergency for a client in lightning fast time (and so can the other webmasters). When there's a client in a panic about something wrong on their site and I've fixed it within minutes, it makes me happy to show the client my responsiveness and how important the client is to me.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I love to smother my two boxers with love, watch documentaries and play video games!
Dana Berry
Lead Webmaster -
Hannah Nelson 9About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
One of my clients has been with Blue Corona for 5+ years, but every year we continue to improve their online marketing, I'm able to help them increase the number of keywords they rank on Page 1 for. For some of their keywords, they now rank #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7! Talk about dominating the SEO in their market!
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I love keeping up with digital marketing and content trends! It's fun to know coming in to work each day, we'll think on our feet and monitor the industry to ensure we stay up with best practices and deliver the best strategy and execution for our clients to help them grow their businesses.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I'm always seeking the next book to read, the next Mexican-restaurant-patio to eat chips and salsa on, or the next place to add to my travel bucket list.
Hannah Nelson
Content Team Lead -
Sean Coleman 10About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I love understanding a new potential client's starting point, goals, and situation - and then customizing a solution based on what I would do if I was in their position. Seeing the plan I put together reap such positive results over time is an amazing feeling, especially having grown up in a family of business owners. I know how critical our work is for the livelihood of our clients.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is receiving emails and phone calls from clients I've helped onboard telling me how happy they are with a certain person and/or situation now that they're working with our team.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to play basketball, watch football, hang out with my family/friends, and watch my two young sons have a blast together.
Sean Coleman
Director of Business Development -
Zack Perini 11About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
One of my clients came to Blue Corona with aggressive growth goals and a solid existing digital marketing engine from their previous vendor - but also a Google penalty that had just come down and a need to pivot away from a purely link building strategy. We were able to address their penalty quickly and effectively, and also profitably scaled their paid search program budget up to 10X their previous budget while taking their cost per lead down by half, playing a large role in their hitting aggressive growth goals each of the past few years.
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
My role is definitely behind the scenes for most clients, but I've always appreciated that I play an active role in acquiring and presenting the data that our clients use to make marketing decisions, including the decision to continue using our services month to month. Digital marketing data doesn't always translate smoothly to real world data, so keeping our reports targeted to what our clients care about is very important!
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I like keeping up with my Duke Blue Devils, running (okay, jogging), and training for the day when the Olympics finally approve competitive Bananagrams as an official sport.
Zack Perini
Analytics Lead -
Tara Gasparovic 12About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I love being a trusted adviser for my clients! Prior to Blue Corona, I worked in financial services where I learned a lot about building trust and guiding my customers through unfamiliar concepts. As an Account Manager, I get to not only educate my clients on digital marketing, but also make their lives easier so they can focus on what matters most to them.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
One of my clients once referred to Blue Corona as the "secret sauce" that has helped him grow his HVAC business. I once went out to his office to see they had doubled their office space since my last visit. Knowing that we played a part in creating jobs and helping people achieve personal success is extremely rewarding.
What do you do outside of work?
I am a die hard Clemson football fan and dedicate my weekends every fall to cheering on the Tigers! I also love to take Pure Barre and cycling classes, go hiking, and I try to visit a new state or country every year.
Tara Gasparovic
Senior Account Manager -
Amanda O’Dell 13About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
My favorite project has to be the creation of a complex e-commerce website for one of our local Charlotte clients. We developed a more modern, responsive website design with a custom product/price builder. This new functionality now allows their customers to purchase products directly through their website (which they were unable to do previously). Although this client had already witnessed strong growth over the past couple of years, this new site better represents their real world authority and sets the stage for even more future growth in the digital space.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is being able to witness first hand the growth of my clients' businesses. The best thing in the world is hearing a client talk about how they've increased their revenue, how they've been able to hire more people, or how they've helped increase the livelihood of their families and their employees families.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy pretty much anything outdoors - hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding - you name it! I also love traveling and exploring new places - some of my favorite past adventures include a cruise to Alaska, road tripping to the Florida Keys, and exploring the North Carolina mountains.
Amanda O’Dell
Senior Account Manager -
Bailey Stoner 14About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
My favorite client success story is one that I've actually witnessed a few separate times. I've had a few clients sign on with Blue Corona whose businesses were not yet profitable. As a result, they were very conscious about spending more money on marketing (as anyone would be!). Seeing these client's hit their first month, first quarter and then first year of consistent profitability - and the effect our marketing had on them reaching that goal - is an awesome experience!
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
As an Account Manager, my favorite part about my role is getting to know and understand my client's businesses. I am obsessed with understanding their goals and priorities and then bringing that back to the team so we can customize a marketing plan to help them achieve their goals and grow their business.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I love binging the newest Netflix series, hugging every puppy I see, cooking with a glass of wine in hand and spending time with my friends and family!
Bailey Stoner
Senior Account Manager -
Brandon Doyle 15About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
My favorite client success story is Jaffe Electric. When Jaffe partnered with Blue Corona 3 years ago the company had 4 full-time employees (including the owner). Fast forward three years and Jaffe has 15+ employees and several more trucks!
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is building a personal, yet professional relationship with my clients. I learn the ins-and-outs of their business, acting as an extension of their internal team, while also developing a personal relationship. Seeing my clients' businesses win on the web, in their community, and in their personal lives is incredibly fulfilling.
What do you do outside of work?
When I'm not at work you can most likely find me enjoying the outdoors with my fiancée and our two dogs, Jax and Kona. Whether it's grabbing dinner and a beer at a local brewery and bringing the pups or taking a stroll through Uptown Charlotte, you can most likely find me out and about around town!
Brandon Doyle
Senior Account Manager -
Betsy McLeod 16About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I love seeing the personal impact of when companies grow. This includes when they're able to hire more people as well as the customer feedback in reviews.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
By far the best thing I love about my job is listening to business owners talk about how our work has impacted their business. And not only the numbers—my favorite part is hearing the personal success stories and seeing companies able to grow and provide more jobs to those that need them. We work with many small businesses, and it’s when those small businesses succeed that really makes me proud of what I do.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I read, A LOT. I read everything from Harvard Business Review to George R. R. Martin. I love discovering new perspectives on the human experience, so YouTube and social networks play a large role in my on-the-go downtime. I’m always on the lookout for new inspiration from everyday life, so when I’m not reading or letting my curiosity run away with me, I’m unplugged—hiking, travelling, or urban exploring.
Betsy McLeod
Digital Marketing Specialist -
Ethan Batson 17About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I'm lucky enough to be a first touch point for many of our prospects that turn into clients. Many business owners come to us either without a clue what they're doing with their marketing, or at a loss as to why what they're doing isn't getting the results they're looking for. It's fantastic to introduce our team, knowing that we go above and beyond to deliver outstanding results.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
I love seeing how much clients grow, sometimes in a short amount of time. Taking a company's marketing from a mess to a well-oiled machine - and seeing the business owners and employees reap the benefits - is incredibly rewarding.
What do you do outside of work?
I enjoy all things entertainment - sports, movies, TV, music, you name it. Outside of the office, chances are you'll find me at a game, enjoying a concert, or playing beer league softball.
Ethan Batson
Business Development Associate -
Spencer Chang 18About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
I love when clients come to us doubtful about PPC from having been burned by a previous agency and we're able to show them how much business we've been able to generate by the detailed and thoughtful way we run campaigns.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Watching clients' attitudes toward us shift as we demonstrate how our expertise, care, and drive sets us apart from other agencies is incredibly rewarding.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to cook, eat, and plan travel adventures, to go eat some more.
Spencer Chang
Paid Search Team Lead -
Edgar Serrano 19About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
Educating our clients about how design really impacts their bottom line through conversion rate optimization is probably the best part of my job. It's always an eye opening experience for them when we begin to connect the dots between design and possible revenue from services booked online.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Raving fans. When clients are truly excited about the work we provide it means that we are matching and exceeding their expectations and that's what we strive for.
What do you do outside of work?
Easy! Netflix, dogs, beer, and football.
Edgar Serrano
Digital Designer -
Katie Birkbeck 20About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
One of my clients sells and rents various types of industrial equipment, but they really wanted to shift their focus to dominate the market for one specific product—blind flange rentals. After the creation and execution of our strategic plan, organic traffic to the related product pages increased by more than 400%! It's been extremely rewarding to watch the numbers of organic visits AND leads increase over the past year and I'm excited to witness their continued success.
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
Not a day goes by that I don't see my teammates thinking and acting like owners for each their clients. It's refreshing to work with peers who truly care about their clients' success as if they were the CEOs. Our ownership mindset is what really sets Blue Corona apart and helps us to provide the best results for our clients.
What do you do outside of work?
When not at work, you can find me doing one of three things. 1) Binge-watching my latest Netflix obsession. 2) Traveling for a weekend getaway. 3) Looking for the best nachos in Charlotte.
Katie Birkbeck
Senior Content Marketing Specialist -
Christen Gregory 21About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
I have an HVAC client that ran a giveaway for a free air conditioner this spring and they advertised about it on various channels including in their monthly email newsletter. In one month while this giveaway was running, they received 432 leads just from the email newsletter – that was pretty cool to witness!
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
First of all, I LOVE my clients and getting to know them plus their businesses more. Secondly, I love being part of helping my clients grow their online presence – especially those that are new to SEO. It is so fun presenting their monthly reports detailing how their organic traffic and leads have grown since our SEO services started.
What do you do outside of work?
I have recently taken up ice cream making as an after work hobby. I like to create one new flavor a week and share that flavor with family and co-workers. Thus far my favorite ice cream flavor has been my coffee with brownie chunks
Christen Gregory
Account Manager -
Alicia Filson 22About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
After restructuring a client's pay-per-click campaigns and drafting new ads we saw click-through-rate double, costs cut in half, and achieved a greater impression share.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
We have a really great paid search team… well the whole company is kind of awesome! Everyone is really supportive of each other, proactive and responsive, and in sync with working towards our clients’ goals.
What do you do outside of work?
When I’m not going on hikes and nature walks on the local trails with my dog, you’d probably find me reading sci-fi/fantasy books.
Alicia Filson
Paid Search Campaign Manager -
Jenny Mott 23About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
I have had several clients that had been engaging with SEO for several years already, switched to services with Blue Corona, and saw their SEO investment ROI increase by large margins. It's so rewarding to see my efforts paying off and their business becoming more profitable due to our team's exceptional playbook and peerless passion for growth—both for us and our clients!
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
It's rewarding to be part of something much larger than myself at Blue Corona. Our team is certainly much more than the sum of our parts when we are aligned, united in the goal of helping businesses grow. It is inspiring to be part of a team environment where everyone is excited and motivated every day to perform at our best to create the best results possible for our clients.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love listening to podcasts and audiobooks, being a homebody with my husband and cat, and trying new fitness classes.
Jenny Mott
Competitive Intelligence Analyst -
Bethany Coats 24About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
My favorite project so far has been creating a logo and website for a local home builder. They have a young market that I can relate to and I've really enjoyed creating a modern brand for them. I can't wait to see what more we can do for them as they continue to grow.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
I love seeing the direct impact that my designs or research have on a client's success. It's fairly simple to make something pretty, but to make something that is both appealing and conversion-friendly is a challenge. So, when I see that success, it's a really rewarding feeling.
What do you do outside of work?
When I'm not at my computer designing things, I'm still a pretty artistic person. I have a huge passion for music, so you'll find me singing and playing my guitar or piano. I also enjoy crafting, painting and hand lettering.
Bethany Coats
Digital Designer -
Jared Webb 25About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
My favorite project I have worked on has been site speed for our clients. I love watching the load time decrease so vastly by from the work I do on the sites.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing a site work seamlessly.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I coach on ice hockey for Montgomery County Youth Hockey. If I am not doing that, you can find me out cheering on the Buckeyes with my family!
Jared Webb
Webmaster -
Mary Davin 26About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
I recently took over PPC management for a new client that had a poor experience with their previous agency's management style and campaign results. Within the first two months, the client was very vocal about how much she loved our approach, responsiveness, and most importantly the results we were driving for her business. Being able to exceed expectations like that and offer value to our clients is really rewarding!
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I like tweaking ad copy and designs to see the impact it has on a campaign's results. Sometimes something really minor can have a big impact!
What do you do outside of work?
When I'm not at work, I enjoy hiking, photography, yoga, and visiting art museums.
Mary Davin
Paid Search Campaign Manager -
Jamie Rosen 27About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
Coming from working in customer service, I know how exhausting it can be to navigate the unpredictability of interactions with customers. It is so cool to be on the other side, shedding light on both sides of the conversation between the customer and the customer service rep, and helping to make customer service teams jobs easier.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
When the client sees the direct result of better, more thoughtful customer service- through customer feedback or from seeing their lead closed rate increasing.
What do you do outside of work?
Rock climb, go to concerts, cook/eat all of the foods, drink all of the coffee, and hang out with my dog.
Jamie Rosen
Marketing Coordinator -
Jill Singhaus 28About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
When I was an account manager, I was managing one client that did not know anything about online marketing. His website was left aligned and acted like a brochure. Today he has a new modern website that acts as a virtual sales rep. He is now one of Blue Corona's biggest cheerleaders and has seen an 1,000%+ increase in organic leads!
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing how the work we do directly increases website traffic and leads. Learning that our clients are busier, making more money, and hiring more employees is extremely rewarding!
What do you do outside of work?
Nothing will compare to the sound of little toddler footsteps and a sweet little voice yelling, "mommy, mommy" as I walk in the door. On the weekends you can find me at one of the local farm breweries surrounded with my best friends, our husbands, and our kids.
Jill Singhaus
Business Development Manager -
Jenna Spackman 29About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
My favorite client success story is about Industrial Supply & Rental. In May 2017, they closed $2MM worth of orders in one day!
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is witnessing our clients get excited about data. I love knowing that the data, reporting, and the analyses that we provide helps our clients make informed, data-driven business decisions.
What do you do outside of work?
While outside of work, I spend my time cheering on almost all Cleveland sports teams (minus the Browns), hiking, and walking my dog, Tito.
Jenna Spackman
Account Manager -
Becca Starkes 30About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
We've been working with a large fire protection company since 2016, and their results are so good that the company actually told us they didn't want to grow in 2017. But by July 2017, we had already almost doubled their goal for SEO leads for the year. It's exciting to watch companies sign on with us and then start to grow exponentially as a result!
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
The best part about being a Content Marketing Specialist is the breadth of knowledge you gain. You learn a lot more than just how to help a client rank for certain keywords—you learn about the importance of local citations, the code and structure of a website, and how to put everything together to create a cohesive plan of action that can get clients real results.
What do you do outside of work?
When I'm not at work, I mostly enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and pets. I love trying new restaurants and breweries in Charlotte, as well as hiking the many different mountains that are within a short drive of the city. And you can never go wrong with Charlotte sporting events. #keeppounding
Becca Starkes
Content Marketing Specialist -
Maeve Ginsberg 31About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I love taking advantage of my own passions (like sustainability) and applying to my clients. Being able to work with solar panel companies and eco-friendly home builders is such a cool way to combine my work with my personal interests.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
I love seeing our long-term SEO efforts pay off. Our results are rarely immediately, but the moment when the client starts to see the improvements, both in terms of sales and user experience, really puts a big smile on my face.
What do you do outside of work?
You can usually find me lifting at the gym, cooking something up in the kitchen, or climbing up any mountain I can find.
Maeve Ginsberg
Content Marketing Specialist -
Kyle Shane 32About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I like working with clients in different industries. It not only keeps my day-to-day fresh but I enjoy talking to small business owners along with hearing how much they appreciate Rank First Local.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is getting calls/emails out of the blue from clients thanking us. They mention how they ranked low on Google pages and how much different that is today since that they started with Rank First Local. Watching our client's calls, leads, and sales increase motivates me to do more everyday.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, you can find me at a brewery, restaurant, or traveling back to Chicago to visit friends and family. If not that, anything related to sports is most likely what I'm doing.
Kyle Shane
Account Coordinator -
Katie Hetrick 33About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
A client who came to us after having prior negative experiences with other digital marketing companies. She was hesitate to trust another marketing company, but through taking the time to get to know their business and asking their goals, she has opened up to trust us. Their results have been improving and she lights up when we come to visit. She even brings her dog to attend the meetings with us!
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
My favorite part about my role is building those relationships and connections with the clients. This helps the client view us as more of a partner relationship and not just a vendor, which makes a big impact.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love to spend time with friends and family, and cheer on any Pittsburgh sports team!
Katie Hetrick
Account Coordinator -
Joanna Nagle 34About MeAbout Me
Favorite Client Success Story
My favorite types of projects are ones that involve competitive research. I love to see what the landscape for different industries are in different locations.
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
The best part of my role is the amounts of data available to us and how it all assists in making the right decisions for our clients when managing campaigns.
What do you do outside of work?
When not optimizing and maintaining digital campaigns, I enjoy playing ice hockey and coaching at local youth hockey leagues.
Joanna Nagle
Paid Search Campaign Manager -
Mackenzie Roberts 35About MeAbout Me
Favorite Video Project
My favorite videos have consistently been the ones that focus on company culture and the specific reasons why our clients strive to provide the best services to the people in their area. Whether it's highlighting a training program, their emphasis on customer service, or the customized benefits that they offer their employees, I've been humbled to capture these elements on camera for our clients.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
This role allows me to meet and interact with our clients in a way that provides a unique, firsthand glimpse into not only the operations of their companies, but also the culture. By learning more about the people behind the services and the goals behind the actions, I'm able to more accurately translate and portray their core values through video.
What do you do outside of work?
When not at work, I love to play tennis, sing karaoke, and explore all the wonderful coffee shops throughout Charlotte!
Mackenzie Roberts
Videographer -
Danielle Duggan 36About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
What I like best about my role is that the work I do can directly impact a client’s life. My day-to-day work isn’t just a to-do list, it’s tactics I can use to boost a client’s revenue and give them the opportunity to hire new employees or send their kid to college.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is watching the combined effort of everyone working on an account pay off. It’s always a team effort. Without the help of our web, design, sales, PPC, and account management team, I wouldn’t be able to accomplish what I’m able to for my clients.
What do you do outside of work?
When I’m not at work you can find me talking about music to whoever will listen, searching the city for a new sushi restaurant, or watching The Office.
Danielle Duggan
Content Marketing Specialist -
Meredith Ross 37About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
As a former small (more like teeny-tiny) business owner, I know how tough it is to get a brand's name out there and enable it to thrive. Blue Corona's mission as a company is to do just that, and I'm able to play a part in that bigger picture. Experiencing client success authentically drives us to pour our skills and passion into the work we do every day.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Working at Blue Corona has shown me how crucial it is to have a selfless, cohesive team of people who are focused on a common goal. We are all here to help our clients grow and develop, and that can't happen without knowing that our work extends far beyond ourselves.
What do you do outside of work?
When I'm not writing or dancing around the kitchen while baking cupcakes, you can find me eating at local restaurants, performing at poetry slams, and watching a movie or reading a novel with my cats. Plus, after spending three months in Italy for my final semester of college, I definitely have the travel bug and love to explore new places.
Meredith Ross
Content Marketing Specialist -
Chloe Munch 38About MeAbout Me
Complete this sentence – I love data/analytics because…
...it allows us to take calculated risks on behalf of our clients. We are able to push the envelope and take our client’s campaigns farther and farther because the data continually compounds as time goes on and allows us to be proactive instead of reactive.
Where would your dream vacation be?
Travel to Phuket, Thailand to Sea Cave Kayak, feed the elephants in an Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, and travel to the Phi Phi Islands.
What do you do for fun?
I love all things outdoors and sports. Running, Hiking, Slack Lining etc.
Chloe Munch
Account Coordinator -
Lynn Sheng 39About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role?
I enjoy learning all the nuances of each client’s business. It not only helps tailor our training curriculum, but as a consumer I now have a better appreciation for these businesses that operate within the service industry.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing firsthand, a CSR transform from someone who simply answers phone leads into a salesperson who is comfortable managing objections and adding value to the client’s business.
What do you do outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Outside of work you can usually find me at one of my kids’ games or looking for a great place to eat.
Lynn Sheng
Account Coordinator -
Kevin Hull 40About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I love helping clients tell their story through different mediums. Clearly articulating a company’s expertise and passion not only helps the client—it also helps the consumers who are looking for what they have to offer! When a client can be found and understood easily that ultimately leads to an increase in business.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing tangible results: increased traffic, leads, and sales.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love playing, reading, or eating with my wife and two sons, hanging out with friends, or anything music or sports related.
Kevin Hull
Content Marketing Specialist -
Sophia Ege 41About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
We make intentional, data-driven choices that directly impact the small businesses we serve. With analytics by our side, the results we generate as a team are creative and informed, and our clients receive the very best solutions for their businesses to grow and flourish.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
What we’re able to do here every day supports the small businesses that our communities so often rely on. It is so rewarding to be part of a dynamic team that truly puts our clients first and strives to help them succeed.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work you’ll often find a cat in my lap and book or journal in hand. I also love to travel, explore nature trails and attempt to fish.
Sophia Ege
Content Marketing Specialist -
Christina Ainsworth 42About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
My favorite part of my role is building lasting relationships with my clients and seeing the direct impact of my work on the lives of small business owners. It’s really special to know that you are a part of helping someone else succeed and grow their business!
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
It is most rewarding to me to see how well each team member at Blue Corona works together to achieve certain goals, whether they are personal goals or for our clients, we work well together and are passionate about growth.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work you will most likely find me spending time with my sweet Goldendoodle, Bentley or cheering on the Carolina Panthers at most home games! Having grown up in Charlotte, I love seeing the city continuing to grow and trying out new restaurants that open up. I also love to travel, whether it is a quick trip to the beach or somewhere abroad – I am down to go!
Christina Ainsworth
Account Coordinator -
Abby Kelly 43About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
One of the things that I like best about my role as a content marketing specialist is seeing the direct impact our work has on our client’s business. When you make data-driven decisions, it’s easy to ensure that everything you do helps your client generate leads and grow their business.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
I am absolutely passionate about small businesses. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is knowing that whenever I do work for a client, it’s helping them to increase their revenue and grow their business. When small businesses are successful, they create jobs and grow the economy for everyone. I’m happy to help them achieve that success!
What do you like to do outside of work?
I am a true foodie, so whenever I’m not at work I love to cook, bake, and explore new restaurants around town! I also love watching movies, knitting, and researching new places to travel!
Abby Kelly
Content Marketing Specialist -
Alec Bartek 44About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
I like that, as a Project Coordinator, I have a hand in the process every step of the way and help ensure that the client’s experience meets or exceeds their expectations. I think it’s important to have someone be involved throughout a project to not only push things to the finish line, but to make sure that these expectations are kept in mind every step of the way.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
One of the most rewarding things is having a project be completed and knowing that we’ve gone above and beyond what the client expected – nothing is more satisfying that having a satisfied customer!
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I love to play guitar and make music, but also enjoy going to see live bands and concerts as well. When I’m able to I also like to get out on the golf course or the driving range.
Alec Bartek
Project Coordinator -
Todd Gilbert 45About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
The best part of my role as an Account Coordinator is having the opportunity to work directly with our clients. I enjoy getting to know each and every one so I can better understand their businesses, and goals for growing their businesses. When we meet and exceed client expectations and see they are satisfied, I’m satisfied.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is seeing a customer visibly happy with the results we provide through our work. At Blue Corona, we each think and act like owners. Because of this mindset, I’m just as excited as our clients when we see positive change.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy going on long, scenic drives, anything related to Star Trek or Star Wars, winning fantasy football leagues, and eating tacos.
Todd Gilbert
Account Coordinator -
Sam Campbell 46About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
One of my favorite things about my role is that it allows me to research and learn about different companies and industries every day. The more we learn about our clients, the more effective we can be when it comes to creating quality content.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The biggest reward is actually seeing an increase of leads, sales, and other metrics that comes from the work we do. When you're able to make a client happy, you're happy.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, watching TV, and spending time with my girlfriend and friends. I also love trying different breweries in the DMV area.
Sam Campbell
Content Marketing Specialist -
Ashley Dischinger 47About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
To me, a creative role is always like a puzzle. How do you apply best design practices while still meeting the client’s needs? I love that I can use my role to marry these two challenges in a way that continues to improve the client’s business and their bottom line.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
My favorite part of my role is that I’m able to do what I love on a daily basis. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been passionate about creating things… and what’s better than being able to come to work every day and do what makes you happy?
What do you like to do outside of work?
When I’m not in front of my laptop, you’ll find me buried in a good book, hiking the Whitewater Rafting Center, brewery-hopping, and practicing yoga.
Ashley Dischinger
Senior Digital Designer -
Widya Susilo 48About MeAbout Me
What do you like best about your role and the impact it plays on our clients?
The best part about my role is that we are constantly contributing to the improvement of our clients’ website. Whether it be as simple as changing the color of a button, or a behind-the-scenes update like installing a tracking script, all changes help make the websites become more effective!
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Seeing a well-optimized website and knowing that we have made data-driven decisions to achieve that.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, you can find me at a concert or music festival at least once of month! I also enjoy spending time with my three-legged miniature poodle.
Widya Susilo
Webmaster
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