Aimee Manis

Aimee Manis

Aimee Manis

Aimee Manis

Aimee is a Content Strategist, Writer, Editorial Director and Brand Storyteller with over 15 years of copywriting, editorial, content marketing, brand strategy and in-house agency experience. Creative and marketing expertise across a spectrum of industries, from start-ups to global brands in E-Commerce, Logistics, Tech, SaaS, Retail, Fashion, Beauty, Weddings and Entertainment.

Her expertise includes writing and editing all forms of digital assets across Marketing, Communications and Brand Strategy, from B2B and B2C marketing copy and long-form branded content to brand guidelines, web copy, thought leadership articles, video scripts, corporate responsibility assets and comprehensive messaging frameworks. Customer-first, data-driven approach to editorial direction and content strategy that supports and aligns with business and brand objectives with a distinctive voice, tone and style. Obsessive attention to messaging details that engage and inspire customers through holistic brand storytelling with cohesiveness, consistency, and connection across all digital channels.

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Chris Lewis

Chris Lewis

Chris Lewis

Chris Lewis

With over 25 years of experience with Verizon, Chris is a customer-centric sales and marketing leader experienced in the development and nurturing of customer relationships in constantly changing environments. He has shown the ability to close sales and penetrate new markets to ensure sustainable revenue growth through integrity, communications, and follow-through. He is proficient at leveraging existing networks to successfully close on new contracts while being skilled in account retention by utilizing strong rapport with staff, vendors, and clients.

Chris enjoys spending time away from work with his family, enjoying sporting events, playing golf, and going on boat rides through the different waterways in and around Tampa Bay.

Rakesh Arrabairu

Rakesh Arrabairu

Rakesh Arrabairu

Rakesh Arrabairu

Rakesh Arrabairu has 12 years experience in IT, in the areas of business intelligence and data analytics. He’s fascinated with data analytics, various visualization tools and technologies. Rakesh has implemented BI data solutions for various clients in finance, supply chain, sales, mobile security, communications, medical device manufacturing, banking and insurance. He aspires to learn upcoming technologies in data science, machine learning and AI. Rakesh received his Master of Science in EE from California State University Northridge. Outside of work, his interests are music, cooking, cross-fit, yoga, hiking and exploring the beach and nature.

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Sharon Walker

Sharon Walker

Sharon Walker

Sharon Walker

Sharon Walker is a results-driven marketing leader with a broad marketing background. Her digital experience spans from marketing strategy to branding, communications, product development, website/mobile app UX, e-commerce, content management and international marketing. She is a strong client advocate and is always looking for creative solutions to bring to the table. She has led marketing initiatives for a variety of enterprises from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and an MBA in Marketing. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys spending time with her husband and their three adult sons. She loves to travel, hike, bike, garden and listen to country music. Sharon volunteers with the Lone Star Wheelers giving bicycle joy-rides to seniors and loves watching them smile when they feel the wind in their hair.

Alma Mazur

Alma Mazur

Alma Mazur

Alma Mazur

Alma Mazur has more than 20+ years of experience in Marketing. Her specialties include experience in marketing communications, event planning and product management for various companies. This allowed her to master skills in project management, relationship building and leading cross functional teams. She enjoys collaborating with a team to drive positive results. When not working at Ascend, she enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys traveling and exploring new places, people and things. She also likes to attend sporting events, live music and volunteering.

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Sarah Ganbat

Sarah Ganbat

Sarah Ganbat

Sarah Ganbat

Sarah Ganbat has a variety of experience in content creation, digital and social media marketing, marketing analytics, and digital strategy. She loves to dig into the “why” of outcomes and decisions by using qualitative and quantitative data. She recently earned her MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas, where she focused on analytics, innovation, and digital product management. Sarah enjoys reading, nature, and spending time with her husband and family.

Melissa Shumaker

Melissa Shumaker

Melissa Shumaker

Melissa Shumaker

Melissa Shumaker enhances demand gen and lifecycle campaigns for clients ensuring a consistent and meaningful experience throughout the entire journey. With a diverse marketing communications background in B2B and B2C, she uses her strategic approach and collaboration skills to add value by finding and integrating the customer’s voice to produce campaigns that drive results. She has experience working in several marketing automation platforms, is certified as a Salesforce Marketing Cloud Email Specialist and is currently working to add Marketo certification to her credentials. She also enjoys using her journalism degree to contribute copywriting and content as projects allow. Melissa is married to Mark and lives ridiculously close to the Grapevine office. They have two grown sons and recently filled their empty nest with six chickens who live contentiously with two dogs named Maggie and Cash. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys tending her garden to attract more butterflies and hummingbirds and taking long Griswold-style road trips to vacation in the mountains or visit the boys out of state.

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Jason Duff

Jason Duff

Jason Duff

Jason Duff

Jason Duff is a web, UX and design lead at Ascend. His focus is on listening, learning, and sharing to help improve customer journeys and experiences. His peers describe him as someone who never turns down an opportunity to learn something new. Jason has his MFA in Art and Technology from the University of Texas in Dallas. He worked with PHD candidates to create educational games for children struggling with neurobehavioral disorders. He has worked in a variety of experience design roles on a wide range of platforms. Jason is married and has three children. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing the piano, woodworking, hiking, and traveling.

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Gabrielle Richey

Gabrielle Richey

Gabrielle Richey

Gabrielle Richey

Gabrielle Richey earned her B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Texas in Arlington. She graduated at the top of her class and was on the board of her sorority as the Academic Chairman. Before joining Ascend, she worked in various roles serving nonprofit, healthcare, e-commerce, and marketing research. Her passion is all things inbound marketing and MarTech. Her specialties include email automation, social media, and event promotion. What she loves most about Ascend? The culture of continuous self-improvement and innovation. Always up for a new challenge, she recently began kickboxing!

Gabriele Erickson

Gabriele Erickson

Gabriele Erickson

Gabriele Erickson

Gabriele Erickson has more than 25+ years of experience in project management. She started her career in television production and post-production in the 90’s. Where she gathered and mastered skills in managing projects, people, finance and resources. She loves learning new tech, problem solving and coming up with more efficient ways to accomplish her goals. Gabriele grew up in Atlanta and has spent much of her adult life exploring the world. She is a recent empty nester, who is eager to delve into this new territory with excitement. She shares a home with two dogs and a cat, who allow her to live there for free. In her leisure time she explores new places, people, experiences and food. She feels blessed to be working for a company that encourages a balance between work and family.