Senior Management Team
Nan Dawkins - Serengeti Communications, CEO
Nan is an online communications strategist with over 20 years’ experience in marketing. She began her career at J. WalterThompson/Washington, working on the national advertising campaigns of retail and consumer products accounts such as Burger King and Ford Motor Company. In the 1980’s Nan launched a conventional ad agency in Washington, D.C. where she created many of the original TV campaigns for Acura. In 2001, Nan opened RedBoots Consulting, one of the early search engine optimization firms. In January 2008, she re-branded the company as Serengeti Communications, a full-service digital marketing agency serving clients in both the nonprofit and commercial sectors.
Nan is a frequent public speaker on brand and reputation management, social media, and other topics of interest to her wide range of clients. She is an ironman triathlete; along with her staff, she enjoys raising money for Serengeti’s nonprofit clients by competing in extreme endurance sports events. Nan’s favorite online destinations include several triathlon training communities, a long list of Blogs about social media and Web 2.0, and the Consumer Generated Media group on Facebook.
Joy Brazelle - Serengeti Communications, Vice President
Joy has over 8 years experience in Internet Consulting with a strong focus on analytics. Knowing that you cannot improve what you do not measure, she has made analytics a priority during her years helping clients build and grow their online presence. As Director of Professional Services for a leading web analytic software company Joy worked with hundreds of customers helping educate them on how to understand their analytics and use the information to improve their online marketing. Joy has been a member of the Web Analytics Association since its launch in May 2006. She stays plugged into the current world of analytics by participating in Facebook groups from ‘Web Analytics World’ to ‘ClickTracks Addicts’. When not working she can be found playing with her two dogs or hanging out with her husband on the beach, unsuccessfully trying to learn to surf.
Simon Heseltine - Serengeti Communications, Director of Search
Simon has close to a decade of integral experience in developing and marketing web sites for a vast variety of clients. For seven of those years, he delved in the local search field working on sites and applications for, amongst others, 4 of the 5 largest telecommunication companies in the US.
Simon’s astute knowledge of the immense and complex internet landscape has enabled him to excel in a myriad of technical formats. As a consultant, he has flourished in online application and site development as well as online yellow pages application, development and marketing, progressing from senior software engineer / technical lead to the senior manager of search engine marketing.
Simon writes on a variety of Search Marketing topics for his own blog, SearchEngineTigers, as well as for several industry leading sites. He also speaks at numerous national and international conferences on topics ranging from Social Media to Reputation Management to general Search Marketing issues. He is the founder of the Virginia SEM meetup group, and currently serves as the Vice President of Public Relations for the Manassas Community Toastmasters. Since traveling across the pond, Simon plays on several local soccer teams - as although he still persists in calling it football.
Nathan Linnell - Serengeti Communications, Analytics and Campaigns Manager
Nathan joined the Serengeti Communications team in the early years as the PPC Manager. As the company has grown and the clients have prospered, so have Nathan’s integral contributions. His priorities now lie within the Web Analytics Department where his successful completion of the UBC Award of Achievement in Web Analytics program has helped him develop additional skills that are critical for his work within the department.
Nathan has the keen ability to decipher and interpret the vast amount of available data and continually deliver optimal results for Serengeti clients. He successfully develops comprehensive online marketing campaign strategies - per client. Each campaign is analyzed on the impact of the clients’ goals and the effects individual campaigns have on a complete marketing mix.
Prior to Serengeti Communications, Nathan worked for a noted marketing agency which focused on “experiential” face to face marketing. Nathan is an avid New England sports fan and thrives on mountain biking, hiking, and running. He routinely competes in distance races ranging from 5Ks to marathons. He is still on his ultimate quest to qualify for the Boston marathon.
Nathan’s favorite online communities include the forms and discussion boards on: http://www.runnersworld.com, http://www.dcroadrunners.org, http://www.boston.com/sports, http://sonsofsamhorn.net/, and http://tech.groups.yahoo.com.group/webanalytics
Stacy Moren - Serengeti Communications, Business Operations Manager
Stacy has a Bachelor of the Arts with a focus on Business Administration & Marketing from Bridgewater College. Prior to joining the Serengeti Team, Stacy enjoyed over two decades of success in the technology arena. She divided her time between technical consulting, conducting software and computer training classes, account management, and extensive customer support throughout the U.S. and Europe. She has now chosen to focus on business operations to couple her vast technical experience with her account management skills - to best support the Serengeti endeavor. Stacy is integral in ensuring that each client’s vision becomes a concrete reality through the power of the internet and Serengeti strength.
Stacy has participated in dozens of triathlons and is currently training for her second Ironman. When she is not competing, she makes the sidelines, courtsides, and bleachers her second home while cheering on her two teenage sons in their various sports. Her plump Labrador, Bella is not currently training for anything or interested in the aforementioned.
The Web sites that keep Stacy connected to her various communities are those regarding teen news and issues; school Web sites that foster interaction with teachers, staff and coaches; triathlon sites; online marketing news and research; and other sites having to do with inspiring and empowering those around her - family, staff and friends alike.
John Rhea - Serengeti Communications, Creative Services Manager
John, an award winning writer and web designer, joined the team after completing a Masters of Fine Arts in Film and Electronic Media at American University. He’s somewhat of an eclectic soul and also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Sciences. This strategically places him on both the technical and artistic sides of the web/media design fence, allowing him to create designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but technically sound as well.
John has a special love for animation and film making and utilizes skills in Flash and visual storytelling to liven up and deepen the media he creates. You can check out John’s personal portfolio website at www.johnrhea.com and see some of his skills in action.
In his free time John fiddles on the Internet, reads comic books and the classics (I told you he was eclectic), plays with his kids, and attempts to write movies, children’s picture books, and young adult novels.
