G-Force Marketing Solutions

Kristi Griggs

The G behind the Force is none other than Griggs, Kristi Griggs. Kristi is a marketing veteran with in depth knowledge of all marketing communications practices, such as strategic planning, media planning and execution, Event-planning and web communications and creation of business development centers. If case you haven't guessed it already, she's also great at multi-tasking.

Kristi is a native of the Tarheel State. She earned her BA degree in Journalism with a concentration in Advertising from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also attended the Kenan-Flager Business School Executive Management Marketing Program at UNC-Chapel Hill and acquired Leadership Training through CAI.

Kristi's other full-time job is wife and mom.

Yep, she's one busy lady, but with great powers, comes great responsibility. Kristi is certainly a FORCE to be reckoned with.

Donna Welker

Legendary country singer Johnny Cash was nicknamed "The Man in Black", around the halls of G-Force; Donna is referred to as "The Lady in Black". With good reason, she's always immaculately clad in the dark hue. Though every once in a while, she'll throw some pink in there "just to stir the pot" as she puts it. Donna certainly knows how to keep things interesting, which makes her perfect for her job as Senior Account Executive at G-Force Marketing Solutions.

Donna loves style - and shoes. She's also been known to throw around the word "love" when she speaks of Michael Kors, a famous designer known for his show-stopping foot adornments. Which makes it sounds like she may have more in common with Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City) than any singer known for singing about prison and heartbreak.

Lynn Holloway

Lynn is the type of friend you need if you're having a really bad day. If her energy and enthusiasm don't raise your spirits, you may need to check your pulse.

After many successful years in Marketing, Lynn is now a Senior Account Executive at G-Force.

Since she walked through our doors, Lynn immediately became everyone's new best friend. She's the first one to congratulate you on a win, offer much needed encouragement or lend a helping hand. Yes, she offers all that and doesn't even charge us a co-pay (which we're thankful for).

Her philosophy is simple, "No one is better than anyone". And while that may be true, Lynn just may be an exception to her own rule.

Doug von der Lippe

It's hard to keep track of Account Executive Doug von der Lippe due to the fact that he's always running - literally. Not only is he always on the go at the office, he runs to keep himself in tip-top shape.

A graduate of East Carolina University, Doug has over 15+ years of Marketing and Marketing Communications, including experience in furniture, window coverings and automotive. When he isn't on the go, Doug loves spending time with his two children, Gabrielle and Grayson. And during the summer months, you're likely to find him soaking up the rays on some secluded coastal spot.

He also volunteers. For us mere mortals, that's a lot. But for Doug, it's just another opportunity to do what he does best - RUN!

Sally Kees

Sally is always on the go. She moves from project to project with ease and speed. While some may practice “take your time”, her motto is, “do it now.” How does she keep up that pace? Well, we wish we knew.

Maybe one of the reasons is that Sally is an Account Executive at G-Force. Taking care of her clients and making herself available when needed is very important. There’s also the fact that she’s a mother to 2 little ones. With life being so busy, who has time to sit down? When she needs a little extra motivation, her golden retriever Gracie is there to provide big wet, sloppy kisses.

When we finally figure out how Sally does it all, we hope to bottle and sell it. Until then, we’ll just remain quietly jealous.

Stephanie Reeser

Stephanie is our go-to person for advice. We should probably offer her some sort of co-pay for all the wisdom she’s administered over the years, because we’re feeling a bit guilty. Of course, it’s that same astute insight that makes her so good at being an Account Executive at G-Force.

When we’re not bending her ear over our dilemmas and dramas, Stephanie is busy taking care of her clients. No e-mail, phone call or text shall go unanswered when she’s on the case. Long days and nights are nothing new to her either; whatever it takes to get the job done. Plus, she’s a Mom, so we’re not sure when she squeezes in sleep.

Whether its advice, budgets or a case of the sniffles, with Stephanie, the doctor is always in.

Erin Haneline

Erin knows how to walk the straight and narrow, but she's at her best when she's coloring outside the lines. Erin is an Account Coordinator at G-Force Marketing Solutions.

This girl has never met a stranger. She's a proud graduate of Appalachian State, so think nothing of seeing her in Boone screaming, yelling and cheering on the Mountaineers. As a matter of fact, she's just as big a cheerleader of her friends, family and colleagues. That's just the way she rolls.

Erin believes in good music, a good pair of jeans and the church of baseball. No doubt about it, she gladly embraces her southern roots. It seems Mama certainly raised this child right.

Liz Babb

Liz enjoys the advantage of having 2 great full-time careers. She's an Account Coordinator at G-Force and at other times she's a dog sitter. Let's get one thing perfectly clear; she's no novice at either.

Liz developed her love for canines as a kid growing up in Connecticut. Even after she moved to NC to attend Elon, she continued to develop her skills as a "Dog Whisperer". Upon graduating, she moved to Greensboro and has since cultivated an extensive background in marketing and real estate.

Now, when friends go out of town, she's the first person they call to dog sit. We can't blame them, when something needs to happen around the office; she's the first person we call too.

Alex Kellner

Alex has a lot riding on his shoulders every day. He’s not only an Account Executive at G-Force; he’s a family man with a beautiful wife and 3 amazing children. So, how does he do it all? Simple. He keeps those shoulders big, broad and strong.

Alex is a CrossFit Trainer/Athlete. CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that incorporates gymnastics, sprinting and the bench pressing of small compact cars. OK, that last part was made up; but weight and power lifting is a big part of the routine. It’s a pretty fair assessment to say it’s…intense.

So, as full as his plate may be, you should feel no pity for Alex. With great responsibility…come very big shoulders. 

Avery McNeely

Avery is a highly organized person. He’s a firm believer in making lists and checking each task off one by one throughout the day. It makes no difference if it’s a weekday or a weekend or whether he’s at work or not.

Being that type of guy, it’s easy to see why Avery is an Account Coordinator at G-Force. His attention to detail and methodical approach to work & life makes him the perfect candidate for a job that requires lots of multi-tasking. His fiancé loves it too. Gone are her days of housework, cooking and gardening. Avery has it all under control – with time to spare.

All this evidence leads us to believe Avery could very well be a robot or some sort of alien life form. His secret is safe with us though. We wouldn’t want to be included on the wrong list with him. 

Eric Briggs

Eric's claim to fame around the office is that he's a Kentucky Colonel. He has a handsomely framed certificate to prove it. He also states he's the world's greatest soccer player, but the jury's still out on that one. There's no plaque to back it up.

Eric is an Account Coordinator at G-Force.

While he may have an affiliation with another state, Eric was actually raised in Greensboro, NC. He graduated from Appalachian State and married his high school sweetheart, Alexa, several years ago. He loves to read and routinely watches the History and Discovery Channels.

Plus, we've heard he has a finger lickin' fried chicken recipe. Oops, wrong Kentucky Colonel.

Kim Campbell

There's one thing Kim never leaves home without - laughter. Whether she's causing it or finding it; she seems to always be smack dab in the middle of it.

Even while busy being an Account Coordinator; you're bound to hear a burst of laughter erupt from her office after a few minutes. Her sense of fun spills over into her hobbies (which she enjoys with her family) as well, including being a self proclaimed "biker chick" and a technical scuba diver.

If laughter truly is the best medicine, Kim should cancel her insurance policy. We're forecasting a lifetime of good health...and good times.

Kenny Washington

Kenny would be a great contestant on Survivor. He enjoys sports, stays physically fit and even has a BA in Sports Management. His only problem would be giving up his two favorite indulgences, French Fries and Mountain Dew. Well, every man has his weaknesses.

Born in New York, but raised a southern gentleman in North Carolina, Kenny is an Account Coordinator at G-Force. When he isn't taking care of his clients and watching lots of reality TV, he enjoys Basketball, playing with his nieces and nephew and even finds time to coach a High School JV Boys Basketball team.

Heck, when you're this busy, who has time for Survivor anyway?

Shelley Garriss

Shelley is an animal lover. We're not only talking about the small domesticated ones that saunter around the house. We're talking about the big ones that live out in the wild; such as lions and panthers. Is it a coincidence that she's one cool cat herself? We doubt it.

Shelley is a Media Buyer at G-Force.

While she's not up to the task of lion taming just yet, she does have a kitty of her own, Trouble (a name he reportedly earned). Shelley also enjoys music, taking pictures and, of course, taking long cat naps.

Since she so ardently identifies with felines, we're thinking she may have nine lives too.

Lisa Tatum

Have you ever worked with someone who's smile would make you bend over backwards to help them? That's the case with our Media Assistant, Lisa. She truly can "turn the world on with her smile".

Lisa is a graduate of Appalachian State and holds a degree in advertising / merchandising. She's incredibly detail oriented and loves to keep us on her toes. When she's not dotting our i's and crossing our t's, she enjoys watching movies, spoiling her 3 dogs and spending time with her hubby, Bobby.

Think you can say no to Lisa? We seriously doubt it. One flash of that lovely smile and you'll fall under her spell...just like we did.

Bonnie Joyce

As an Executive Assistant at G-Force, Bonnie is the epitome of organization. She also has this uncanny ability to know what you're going to need before you need it.

Looking for a ROI report? It's already on your desk. Need a project status update? Check your e-mail. How does she do it?

When she's not reading minds or re-organizing the world, Bonnie enjoys spending time with her family, her pet terrier and reading.

With her special skills, we've often wondered if she could foresee any winning lotto numbers. But why ponder; with Bonnie on our staff, we've already hit the jackpot.

Jennifer Van't Wout

Originally from Greensboro, but also a former resident of London, England, Jennifer is the Office Manager of G-Force Marketing Solutions. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, but then decided to move back to the "Big Smoke" (aka London) after a summer school course caused her to fall in love with the city. Apparently that was the right decision, because that's where she fell in love again - this time with a Brit by the name of Chris. They soon married.

Afterwards, Jennifer shipped her furniture, cat and husband back to Greensboro to start the next chapter of their lives. She and Chris just recently added a new family member to the mix, a daughter named India.

She's now enjoying a truly American lifestyle with big house, big yard, big cars and - of course - lots of credit card debt.

Mandi Wagoner

The G-Force numbers runner, Mandi Wagoner, started her accounting career 20 years ago while attending NC State University. It was there she met husband Bruce as well. She now leads a very busy life as wife, mom to three sons (John, Bryce & Jake) and business owner.

When her head isn't buried in the company books they are buried in her sons' homework books. Mandi prides herself in being homework director, school volunteer, band booster, team coordinator and Treasurer of Northern Middle School PTSA. With all the men in her life, it's great that she loves sports. Her hobbies include fall tailgating & football games at NCSU, watching her oldest son play middle school football, younger sons play year-round baseball and soccer and Bruce coaching in all of the above.

Wilky Black

Wilky is the Creative Director for G-Force Marketing Solutions - and create he does. He spends most of his time "playing" in G-Force's in-house production suite. Well, he calls it playing, but everyone else calls it working, he just makes it look that easy. He's won just about every visual award there is - The Emmy, The Telly and The Addy. He's also Avid and After Effects Certified.

Wilky graduated from East Carolina University and since that time has acquired over 10 years of experience working in television, video and radio. Wow, that's pretty good for a fella that rides a skateboard to work every day. Pretty good, indeed.

Dan Nichols

Dan is a movie fanatic. Those great CGI scenes that most people take for granted, he views with delight and wonder. It's no doubt due to the fact that he knows the secret to creating those eye opening sights since he's Senior Video Producer / Editor at G-Force.

Creating mind blowing images isn't anything new to Dan; he does it on a daily basis. He's created highly successful commercial /promotional/marketing campaigns for 2 CBS affiliates, directed numerous newscasts and has won writing and directing awards from Greensboro's very own 48-Hour Film Festival. He was also nominated for a regional Emmy just a few years ago.

When Dan isn't honing his Spielberg -like skills, he's husband to the beautiful Amy and Dad to child prodigies Mac and Ina.

Ken Green

You’ve heard of the strong and silent type.  Well, that’s a fairly accurate description of Ken. While he may choose his words wisely, he has a certain self confidence that pulls that whole Clint Eastwood vibe off without a hitch.

Ken is a Video Producer/Editor at G-Force and it’s in creating these visuals that he speaks loudest. Even when he’s not perfecting his game, he religiously examines the moves of his favorite movie makers and peruses articles, forums and websites for further insight & inspiration.

He’s also a big fan of racing. And much like his favorite sport, it’s evident Ken’s wheels are always turning. That’s quite a skill too; one that few words can describe.

Mark West Bramlett

Mark plays on the internet all day and still accomplishes all of his daily tasks. How does he do it? Mainly, because it's his job. Talk about doing what you love.

Mark is our Social Media Editor and if there's something going on in the world, he's the man to ask. He also lives, sleeps and breathes Pop Culture. That's right, he revels in the latest Hollywood happenings, loves catching the latest theatrical blockbusters and keeps his DVR maxed out with his favorite TV shows such as True Blood, Breaking Bad & Mad Men.

Some people call it work. Some may call it play. In Mark's case, it's easy to see that the lines are clearly blurred.

James Dowd

If you were to Google our Senior Copywriter James Dowd, you'd see he had an illustrious Stanley Cup-winning NHL career. But if you Googled harder, you'd find out that it was a whole other person.

But despite James' mediocre hockey skills, we know that he won his first writing award at the age of six, but beyond that he is tight-lipped, so we spoke to a few people who might be able to shed some light on his past.

"He is the most brilliant boy in the world! But he should have shaved in his photo. He looks like a slob." - James' Mom

"He is a bum and has never worked a day in his life, and he should have shaved for his photo." - James' Dad

"I have no idea who that is, but he should have shaved for his photo." - Grizzly Adams

Bryan Smith

Bryan is a one smart cookie, which is a good thing. He's a Graphic Designer at G-Force Marketing.

Bryan graduated from Alfred State with a degree in Technical Illustration. Afterwards, he quickly discovered his passion for multimedia then went BACK to school and graduated with a degree in Digital Media. Since that time, he's contributed to numerous high profile projects around the world, winning 2 Thea awards - two years in a row - for the attractions Curse of Darkastle at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and London's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

His latest co-creation is a precious baby girl with wife Megan. We're sure the awards committee is standing by.

Amber Allen

Amber is a firm believer that you can have it all. Shortly after graduating from Appalachian State, she married her college sweetheart, had a beautiful baby daughter and is now getting set to buy her first home. That's a lot for someone so young, but Amber doesn't like to waste time.

She's also a Graphic Designer at G-Force.

Amber's never met a to-do list she couldn't whip into shape. She flies through her daily stack of tasks like a comic book heroine; applying her brilliance wherever it's needed. Then, it's back home to tend to her family, prepare recipes, read and catch up on all her favorite TV shows. Whew!

Certainly, Martha Stewart is just a little envious.

Erica Katz

Erica often wonders what life would be like as a comedian. She loves making people laugh, but doesn't like the idea of getting booed off stage. We seriously doubt that would ever happen, because at G-Force, we can't get enough of her.

Erica is one of our incredibly talented Graphic Designers.

When she's not imagining life as the next Chelsea Handler, Erica spends her free time cheering on her favorite football team, the Carolina Panthers or playing Putt Putt golf - a game she describes herself as "freakishly good" at.

We've decided Erica is "freakishly good" at anything and everything she sets her mind to. And that's no joke.

Katie Saunders

Katie's favorite book (and movie) is "The Princess Bride". She became one herself when she walked down the aisle and married sweetheart, Grady. Just recently, a new chapter began with the arrival of their baby daughter, Arrington.

Katie is also the Art Director at G-Force.

In her spare time (what little there is now), she's made it her personal mission to rid the world of homeless pups - especially Bassett Hounds and Boxers. Just ask her about Emmy Lou and Hank (her other "babies" as she calls them).

Katie's fascination with fairytales has led her to believe dreams really do come true. You know what? We're starting to believe her.

Joe Urana

Remember the 80's film, "Mr. Mom"? Joe played that role for 5 years, while the Mrs. made the living. He cooked, cleaned, shopped and tended to his young daughter's every whim. But when the time came to re-enter the work force, G-Force snapped him up quick. With good reason, he makes a mean chicken casserole, oh, and he's a terrific Graphic Artist to boot.

Joe, a South Florida native, has been a designer for over 11 years. He graduated from Barry University with a degree in Photography and also received a degree from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

When it comes to talent and creativity, this guy's got it in spades. Now, if only we could get him to cook more around the office. 

Jessica Byerly

There's no such thing as too much information for Jessica. To tell the truth, she thrives on it. She's a Facebook and Twitter junkie - and even while sleeping - she wonders what she's missing. Jessica has the perfect job for her inquisitive nature; she's Media Strategist at G-Force.

Working in Media is nothing new to Jessica. At the tender age of 4 (yes, 4) she started selling newspaper ads. Some years later she was shooting, editing, writing, doing layout, running the press and delivering papers. You may have noticed she's a bit of an overachiever as well.

With a lifelong desire to learn and a lifetime love of media, it's easy to see why Jessica has found her home away from home at G-Force.