Our

Team

OUR PEOPLE

Creative, Collaborative, and Specialized

A dedicated group of creatives and strategists ready to make it happen. We’re constantly finding ways to connect with each other and you.

OUR PEOPLE

Meet the Team

Our team of brand experts, artists, writers, multimedia specialists, and award-winning marketers are here to launch your thought leadership and bring your vision to life. And because we’re all remote, pants are optional.

Bryan Wish

Cofounder & CEO

Bryan Wish

Cofounder & CEO

He/Him/His

As CEO of Arcbound, Bryan Wish focuses on growth and business development, public relations, and executing the company’s strategic vision.

He has built his career around mobilizing communities and bringing unique voices and perspectives to the masses. From starting a content platform with 800+ contributors, to establishing an investment fund’s global community across 30+ countries, Bryan has seen firsthand the power of content and community in fulfilling one’s mission.

Bryan saw the opportunity to build a company like Arcbound while working on a book launch for The Creative Curve by tech CEO Allen Gannett. Bryan realized Allen wasn’t just launching a book; he was building a personal brand. With that in mind, Bryan set out to build an end-to-end service to create a sustainable platform for leaders who want to unify others with their message. Four years later, Arcbound has worked with 70+ clients, from Fortune 100 CEOs to global investors and bestselling authors.

When he’s not building the future of Arcbound, you’ll find Bryan hiking in Tahoe or Yosemite, building out his wardrobe piece by piece in local vintage stores, refining his newly found tennis game, exploring the world, or doing some deep introspection by a fire while listening to acoustic folk music.

Highbrow: Can’t go a day without 6 hard-boiled eggs and an avocado

Lowbrow: Sleeps with his socks on

Founder’s Corner

Carson Morell

Cofounder & COO

Carson Morell

Cofounder & COO

He/Him/His

Carson is COO and Managing Partner at Arcbound. In collaborating with mission-driven entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and CEOs, he implements strategies to streamline and optimize operations at the organization and beyond.

He has grown Arcbound’s team to nearly 20 full-time team members in just three years, and is working to scale the business and add service offerings, from PR to speaking opportunities, for a seamless personal branding experience.

Carson has extensive experience in operations and people and business development. His ability to adapt and embed himself into teams has amplified the efforts of startups and small businesses alike.

On the side, Carson is the co-owner of a comics and games store in downtown Fairfax, Virginia.

Blaire Kotsikopoulos

VP of Client Services

Blaire Kotsikopoulos

VP of Client Services

She/Her/Hers

Blaire leads Arcbound’s client services teams, ensuring that creative and account services are working together to build and amplify our thought leaders’ brands. 

Blaire builds and leads incredible client service organizations. Her signature is a premium customer experience supported by an operational engine that allows her teams to focus on what they do best. She’s done this three times over, establishing and leading the Customer Success and Professional Services organizations at TrackMaven, a marketing insights company, during its launch and high growth period. Through a merger, she took those skills Skyword, a content marketing organization, where she led the integration of the post sales teams and stood up the data and insights center of excellence. She then set up and led the customer success team at BERA.ai, a Saas company identifying and proving the causal connection between brand equity and business outcomes for the world’s most beloved brands.

Blaire lives in Washington, D.C. proper with her husband, Demetrios, their daughter Aristea, and two grumpy cats, Boo and Minette. She loves jogging on the National Mall, arranging cut flowers, and an annual re-reading of the two-volume translation of the Count of Monte Cristo. She is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Centre College. 

High Brow. Passed the Maryland Bar Exam one day after returning from a two week vacation in Greece. 

Low Brow. LOVES chili with Fritos, or Fritos with chili. 

Ariel Hubbard

VP, Content and Editorial

Ariel Hubbard

VP, Content and Editorial

She/Her/Hers

Ariel Hubbard is VP of Storytelling at Arcbound, where she oversees every aspect of clients’ book projects, from developing book plans to navigating the path to publication. She loves helping authors organize a career’s worth of powerful insights into an invaluable resource for their audience.

Prior to joining Arcbound, she was a freelance ghostwriter and editor, partnering with executives and thought leaders across a variety of fields to create books on a broad range of topics, including business, marketing, finance, health and wellness, and executive coaching, in addition to works of fiction and memoirs. Her authors’ work has been featured in numerous publications—including Barron’s, Bloomberg, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal—and has been highlighted in TED Talks and at SXSW and CES.

She has also produced a variety of other content, including speeches, web copy, articles, and marketing and fundraising material for individuals and institutions, including Columbia University, Stanford University, and The New School. Previously, she managed Columbia Business School’s development writing team, drafting content on the school’s advancements in entrepreneurship, social enterprise, real estate, finance, and more. Her personal essays have appeared on Salon and The Hairpin, among other publications.

On the weekends, you can find her trawling flea and farmers’ markets with her kids and plenty of iced coffee in tow. Ariel earned an MFA in Creative Nonfiction form Columbia University, and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Bates College.

Highbrow:
She once interned for an artisanal cheesemaker, where she learned how to make chèvre, brie, ricotta, and cave-aged cheddars.

Lowbrow:
During that same internship, she also learned she could fit at least eight goats in the back of her Subaru.

Brent Funkhouser

Head of Creative Multimedia

Brent Funkhouser

Head of Creative Multimedia

He/Him/His

Brent Funkhouser is Arcbound’s Creative Multimedia Specialist. Brent works directly with clients to bring their visions to life, producing client podcasts, editing social media videos, and conducting on-site shoots with the help of his team.

A lifelong creative, Brent’s interest in videography began when he started filming movies on his parents’ camcorder in third grade. Before joining the Arcbound team, Brent assisted country music YouTuber Grady Smith in creating content for his 170K subscribers and exclusive Patreon community. In 2019, Brent led the concert production team at the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, a summer concert series that featured such acts as The Beach Boys, the Travelin’ McCourys, and the Oak Ridge Boys.

Brent is an experienced musician and songwriter himself. He has played 400+ shows across nine states since 2015, opening for Judy Collins, Phil Vassar, and Danny Tamberelli along the way. His debut full-length album, The Next Karaoke Star, was featured in Whiskey Riff’s popular New Music Friday playlist. While music is the dominant force in his life, Brent is also passionate about history, film, literature, and the outdoors. While he currently resides in Reston, Virginia, Brent is most at home when he’s traveling.

Brent received his BA degree from James Madison University. He studied English and holds a double minor in History and Music Industry.

Highbrow: Brent owns a museum-quality collection of artifacts from WWI and WWII, which he occasionally displays in classrooms and at educational events

Lowbrow: Brent regularly attends “Saint Practice Day,” a Saint Patrick’s Day-themed event held in his hometown pub on the 17th of every month

Jake Robert

Short Form Video Lead

Jake Robert

Short Form Video Lead

He/Him/His

Jake Robert is the Short Form Video Lead for Arcbound, leading the virtual studio, and editing different types of audio and visual content. Prior to working at Arcbound, Jake was a freelance video editor, working with universities, filmmakers, and small business owners. Jake also worked in the Worcester Public School system as an autism specialist, teaching students with various learning disabilities.

Outside of Arcbound, Jake is an artist who enjoys creating short films as well as music, visual art and writing. He is located in North Hollywood, continuing to work on his various creative pursuits and collaborations. Jake earned his B.A. in Business Management with a concentration in Marketing and Studio Production.

High Brow: Creates short films in Los Angeles with his friends

Low Brow: Won’t stop quoting Tarantino movies

Puneeth Shenoy

A/V Specialist & Podcast Coordinator

Puneeth Shenoy

A/V Specialist & Podcast Coordinator

He/Him/His

Puneeth has a broad experience in A/V Production including, Short Films, Feature Films, Documentaries, Music Composition for Cinema, Music Production for Indie Artists, Narrative Shows, True Crime Podcasts, Interview Podcasts to name a few. Prior to Arcbound, Puneeth worked with YAP Media as an Audio Engineer – Editor handling the Audio Production for some of the Top Podcasts in the World. 

When he is not being a Producer, Puneeth trains in MMA, Strength and Conditioning; He is extremely passionate about Cinema and Music, and regularly Explores New and Offbeat Places, Hikes the Highest Peaks, and is ever curious about Reading, Experimenting, and Learning about the Mind and the Body to understand the Human Mechanism better. He also loves animals and feeds the stray dogs, cows, cats and helps local NGOs to rescue the ones in need. 

Puneeth dropped out of Mechanical Engineering to pursue his Passion for Cinema and Audio Production and now holds a Diploma in Audio Engineering from SAE Australia. 

Highbrow: His first ever trek was in the Himalayas to witness the first sunrise of a new year from the top of the world. 

Lowbrow: He is sometimes too spontaneous, but they almost always lead to some of the best moments in his life.

Pranaya Pandey

Creative Multimedia Specialist

Pranaya Pandey

Creative Multimedia Specialist

He/Him/His

Pranaya is a video editor and has extensive knowledge in mass media. Before joining the Arcbound family, Pranaya Worked remotely at Ekcel Academy as their Lead Editor. From learning content creation for media to crafting engaging content for clients to reach their goal, Pranaya has developed great habits that help him grow and continuously learn.

Video editing takes a toll on the body both mentally and physically, while people may find it hard to maintain a healthy physical routine side by side, Pranaya does defy those feelings and that is where his discipline kicks in. He has been active in the gym for last 3 years and is consistent with his diet and training outside of work.

Pranaya completed his college education in 2018 then further his education at Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, obtaining degrees in Journalism and 

Mass Communication at both institutions. During his education, Pranaya also performed raps at college events and really enjoyed that process.

Highbrow: Reached the peak on a trek to Rasol (Himachal Pradesh, India) in 5 hours.

Lowbrow: Pranaya thought he could do any trek easily and didn’t understand why people were so afraid of doing the trek to Rasol. After completing the grueling trek to Rasol, Pranaya now understands why people were afraid of doing it.

 

Khanak Maini

Graphic Designer

Khanak Maini

Graphic Designer

She/Her/Hers

As Arcbound’s Graphic Designer, Khanak Maini skillfully tailors a diverse array of graphics to meet the unique demands of each client. With an acute attention to detail and a creative flair, Khanak plays a pivotal role in shaping Arcbound’s distinctive visual identity. Her commitment to delivering high-quality graphics effectively communicates the brand’s message, showcasing her proficiency in the art of design.

Khanak’s journey in the world of art and design commenced as a hobby, with a passion for painting and illustrating. Through self-driven experimentation with various design software, she evolved into a self-taught designer. Her growth continued through collaborative efforts with a diverse clientele, enhancing her skills and fueling her relentless enthusiasm to craft extraordinary designs that make a lasting impact.

Beyond the pixels and vectors, Khanak finds joy in the art of thrifting, perpetually on the hunt for unique pieces that tell distinctive stories. This passion serves as a continuous wellspring of inspiration for her creative endeavors. Additionally, her leisure time is often spent immersed in the world of movies and TV series, recognizing the power of storytelling, whether visual or narrative, as a potent tool that shapes perspectives and fuels creativity.

Khanak is pursuing her Bachelors of Vocational Studies in Digital Art and Animation from Fergusson College, Pune, India.

Low brow: Might be seen hyperfixated on her 100th new hobby and forget to drink her first sip of water for the day.

Highbrow: can highly function on 2 hours of sleep and a cup of Iced Macchiato

Anton Langer

Head of Web Development & Tech

Anton Langer

Head of Web Development & Tech

He/Him/His

Anton is the Head of Web Development at Arcbound. He is primarily responsible for developing and maintaining client websites in addition to creating internal software systems for the company.

Anton brings 7 years of prior professional experience in the field of development to Arcbound. Before his time at Arcbound, Anton worked as an SEO and lead developer at the nationally-renowned marketing attorney agency, Nifty Marketing. His work included developing and maintaining websites for high-profile attorneys across the country, marrying his knowledge of web development with technical SEO to improve client marketing campaigns. He has worked with several non-profits and local businesses to create websites for their organizations as part of their overall marketing and branding efforts. 

When Anton isn’t working on a website, he is likely spending time with his wife and children, enjoying the outdoors of Idaho, or pursuing his artistic interests as a painter. At the age of 30, he learned how to swim for the first time and has since been swimming competitively, including a local triathlon called the Spudman. He also loves baking, especially sourdough bread, and during the height of the 2020 pandemic, he baked up to 18 loaves of bread a week that he would give to others around the community.

Anton graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.A. in Linguistics and a minor in TESOL. His love of languages naturally led him to web development, where is his proficient in English, Tagalog, HTML, Javascript, and PHP.

Highbrow: Anton is a completely self-taught programmer

Lowbrow: He can never remember where he put his keys

Kit Maier

Account Strategist

Kit Maier

Account Strategist

He/Him/His

Kit Maier is an Account Strategist for Arcbound, where he shapes clients’ short- and long-term strategy so they can meet their goals and make the magic happen. He brings a wealth of experience in digital advertising, management, and customer service to the table.

Prior to his work with Arcbound, Kit was a Facebook and Google Ads expert for Nifty Marketing, an advertising agency primarily focused on the legal and pest control verticals. Previously, Kit was a store manager for Sleep Number, spent time in route sales, and managed multi-million dollar retail stores.

Kit spends his free time with his wife, two kids, and a Goldendoodle named Theo. He enjoys going to concerts, playing Pokémon (the video games and the card game), shredding some tasty licks on the guitar, and dabbling in apparel design. He loves the movie Fantasia, long walks on the beach, and advocating for mental health awareness and more accessible treatment options.

Highbrow: He started an apparel company that donated 20–40 percent of profits to a mental health nonprofit, providing scholarships for those who needed counseling but couldn’t afford it

Lowbrow: His high school orchestra once placed fourth in a three-orchestra competition

Janine Lyman

Account Strategist

Janine Lyman

Account Strategist

She/Her/Hers

Janine Lyman is an Account Strategist, overseeing client relationships, client strategies, and the teams that execute those strategies.

Before joining the Arcbound team, Janine served as an operations strategist within several startup teams.  Janine has championed rebranding efforts, website launches, product branding, company-wide systems conversions, culture management, message refinement, product ideation/development, as well as behind the scenes data analysis, tracking, and development of systems and processes. While her experience spans numerous industries, her mission remains constant and unwavering… She never stops looking for the potential of opportunity.

In a COVID-ridden world, she decided to use her online teaching experience to help students and fellow educators during a very uncertain time. As a math professor, speaker, and mentor, she not only advocated for relevance in the classroom at all costs, but also coached her students to not aim high or aim low, but rather to “aim right”.  Janine then ventured into entrepreneurship to help set up Invata, which helps learners of all types build an educationally sound and hyper-personalized path to their goals.  

Janine is a highly motivated woman who came to the US as an international student (from South Africa).  She worked her way through 10 years of college, with 8 jobs at once, and no student debt. Her journey is evident of her resilience, but also her ability to trust herself when it comes to defining and achieving her success.  While she relishes the pursuit of humanizing every experience, she also finds peace and confidence while traveling, training dogs, or writing songs and poetry.

In 2009, Janine graduated from Georgia State University with a Master of Science in Mathematics and a Minor in Music (Cum Laude). Prior to that, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Magna Cum Laude), and also holds an Associates degree in Mathematics and Computer Science (Magna Cum Laude).

High Brow: She spoke to an audience of 4000 at an MLK celebration, with a standing ovation from James Earl Jones.

Low Brow: She will tackle you for the last piece of blueberry pie!

Darnah Mercieca

Account Strategist

Darnah Mercieca

Account Strategist

She/Her/Hers

Darnah Mercieca is an Account Strategist at Arcbound, overseeing and managing personal brand development, strategy, and execution for new and established authors and thought leaders through digital media, PR, speaking, book publishing, and podcast production.

Prior to joining Arcbound, Darnah managed the publishing journey of over ninety non-fiction authors—in categories spanning from business and leadership to self-help, wellness, and memoir—supporting them through the inception of their book idea, manuscript creation, publishing, and post-launch marketing. She helped publish seventeen best sellers and her authors have featured in the likes of Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Oprah SuperSoul100, TEDx, and SXSW. 

She also brings with her experience in business management and operations, website development, digital product and course creation, and social media marketing.

Outside of Arcbound, Darnah is a podcast host, a board certified health and wellness coach, and builder of her own brand and community in the women’s wellness space. She is also writing her first book.

On a personal note, she is lit up by delicious food, travel, the beach, music, being in nature, spending time with loved ones, and cuddling her maltipoo, Sassy!

High brow: Darnah was born in Australia, moved to the U.S. alone at 22, and has citizenship in three countries. Can you guess the third?

Low brow: She will show you it’s possible to love gluten free food.

Katie Falcone

Account Strategist

Katie Falcone

Account Strategist

She/Her/Hers

Katie is an Account Strategist at Arcbound, where she leverages her background in sales and account strategy coupled with her mission-driven focus to help clients identify and develop their personal brand.

Prior to joining Arcbound, Katie held positions in sales and strategic account growth roles in the media advertising industry, with a particular focus on the retention and optimization of TV and video advertising campaigns. Throughout her career, she has developed a deep understanding of client needs and her ability to build strong relationships, understand customer pain points, and develop tailored solutions has allowed her to consistently exceed client expectations.

Katie’s strategic mindset and problem-solving capabilities extends into her passion for working with purpose-driven brands who care about people, their products, and the planet. As a graduate of the institute for integrative nutrition, she is deeply motivated to solve the youth behavioral health crisis and to help individuals make thoughtful decisions when it comes to clean eating.

Katie is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Film and Media Studies.

Outside of Arcbound, Katie enjoys farming and making flower bouquets with her twin girls, designing spaces / renovation projects with her husband, hiking with her rescue dog, snowboarding in Vermont with her friends, and if she’s lucky, catching a Grateful Dead concert.

High Brow: She co-founded the RAD girls club, a non-profit organization in the dog rescue community that advocated for stigmatized breeds, elderly dogs, and dogs with medical issues.

Low Brow: She is a third-generation Philadelphia Eagles fan.

Ben Redmond

Account Strategist

Ben Redmond

Account Strategist

He/Him/His

Ben Redmond is an Account Strategist at Arcbound, working closely with experts in education, technology, investment, the arts, and other fields to identify the meaning in their messages, develop authentic and impactful brand identities, and design effective brand activation strategies to create lasting connections and expand opportunities.

Ben has lent his expertise to some of the entertainment industry’s most well-known juggernauts, including Showtime/Paramount+, Verizon, A24, Warner Bros. Discovery, Apple, and major sports leagues. Ben’s commitment to fostering brand connections is informed by a decade of experience at the intersection of content production, marketing, branding, sales, and creative consultancy. His work has reached over 80 million homes and appeared in digital-out-of-home displays, radio promotions, digital banners, and more. His journey traversed the marketing spectrum, evolving into an independent PR digital content specialist for clients in the music, arts, and entertainment sectors, both long-established and buzzing. Drawing from his own background, Ben works to ensure that the brands and content he is responsible for reflect a sincere commitment and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and he extends that work to the environment he seeks to create for his clients and teams.

Ben cut his teeth in the industry at iN Demand, a leading transactional VOD and PPV entertainment distributor, where he navigated the fast-paced and evolving landscapes of digital media and multichannel marketing. Working with entertainment companies and telecommunications titans, he gained a genuine appreciation and skill for fostering longstanding relationships based on trust, high-quality content, and results. He later brought these skills to Showtime Networks as a Key Account Manager, directing revenue-driving marketing campaigns and crafting targeted content strategies to drive awareness, engagement, acquisition, and retention. Ever level-headed, Ben has steered his clients steadily and confidently through turbulence and uncertainty, from educating consumers and teams through company acquisition, pandemic-related disruptions, reputation management, and more.

Ben earned a BA from Bennington College with a centralized focus on Critical Writing and Media through the lens of International Literature, Visual Arts and Film/Media Studies, and French. The college’s built-in internship term allowed him to gain invaluable firsthand experience with organizations such as the nonprofit Arts Council of Greater New Haven in CT, Scholastic Inc.’s Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmakers and production companies, and curators at New York’s iconic experimental art institution, The Kitchen. 

A lifelong music lover, Ben moonlights as the host of a very danceable radio show for a London-based station. Though not yet truly multilingual, Ben is fascinated by languages, and is currently working on his Icelandic. While some have a “spirit animal”, Ben has a spirit landmass, and he might be Arcbound’s resident Iceland expert. Ben calls the south Hudson Valley of New York home, nestled between the hustle of Manhattan and the misty mountains with his wife, his dog Nora, and his cat Kishke. While out of office, he can be found cooking, hiking, playing music, and looking for the next adventure, big or small, IRL or digital.

Highbrow: He can make a mean chicken provençale.

Lowbrow: He once DJ’d a friend’s silent disco wedding party.

Yukta Parikh

Account Operations Coordinator

Yukta Parikh

Account Operations Coordinator

She/Her/Hers

Yukta Parikh is an Account Operations Coordinator for Arcbound, responsible for client-service and administrative tasks. 

Prior to Arcbound, Yukta worked as a recruiter at Real Staffing where she helped life science and medical device professionals find their next opportunity. Additionally, Yukta was involved in her sorority’s national board, serving as the Vice President of Marketing where she managed social media accounts and content creation. 

Outside of work, Yukta enjoys reading, running, watching the newest TV shows, going to concerts, and always staying caught up with the latest Marvel movies. 

Yukta earned her BA in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and is going to be pursuing an MBA in Marketing at DePaul University. 

Highbrow: In her last semester of college, Yukta wrote and produced a podcast episode as part of her final research project on environmentalism called Location and History in Environmentalism.

Lowbrow: She has seen the Marvel movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 25+ times. 

Ana Arencibia

Account Operations Coordinator

Ana Arencibia

Account Operations Coordinator

She/Her/Hers

Ana Arencibia is an Account Operations Coordinator for Arcbound, where she is responsible for client-service and administrative tasks. 

Prior to her work with Arcbound, Ana has been a Business Developer for a biotech startup.

Her passion for languages, travel, and understanding different cultures made her live in 4 countries and follow a Double Degree in Translation and Interpreting, a Master’s in Marketing and International Trade, and another Master’s in International Business. 

Outside of her work, Ana continues to explore her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit with her own ceramics brand. She also loves the outdoors and never misses an opportunity to attend music festivals. A regular workout routine keeps her energized, and she shares her home with a cat and a puppy.

High-brow: She brings the same level of dedication and enthusiasm to both work and play.

Low-brow: When it comes to board games, let’s just say she’s a fiercely competitive player who hates to lose.

Jorge Chiliseo

Account Operations Coordinator

Jorge Chiliseo

Account Operations Coordinator

He/Him/His

Jorge Chiliseo is an Account Operations Coordinator for Arcbound, executing administrative and client-service tasks.

Prior to his work at Arcbound, Jorge held operations and marketing roles at several companies in different industries such as Marketing, Staffing, Accounting & Taxes and E-Comm. With a comprehensive background in the marketing business, Jorge has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to harmoniously integrate strategic planning with efficient execution, resulting in exceptional business outcomes.

Outside of work, Jorge enjoys outdoors and sports such as padel and mountain biking. He also has a passion for movies and tries to keep up with every movie available at the nearest movie theater. 

Highbrow: He’s a car enthusiastic and might know whatever you need to know about a car/model.

Lowbrow: He sleeps with his socks on.

Jordan Buntin

Community & Account Operations Coordinator

Jordan Buntin

Community & Account Operations Coordinator

Jordan works as a Community & Account Operations Coordinator at Arcbound, working directly alongside the CEO, Bryan Wish, as well as supporting various client initiatives. Jordan oversees a number of special projects and administrative efforts that support the organization’s growth.

Prior to joining Arcbound full-time, Jordan worked as a marketing and communications intern at a non-profit that specialized in economic development in his local community. After working at Arcbound as a sales operations intern for two semesters, he was invited to join the team in a fuller capacity.

When not at work, Jordan spends his time on the water fly-fishing and going out to local restaurants to unlock his inner foodie. Jordan grew up in north-central Wisconsin and is a die-hard Packers and Badger fan…. don’t try calling him when they are playing.

Jordan graduated from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse where he studied media communication and digital media design.

Highbrow: His senior year in college, Jordan wrote a 50+ page thesis examining male representations in hunting television shows that was nominated by his professors for two awards.

Low brow: Jordan skipped the award ceremony for his thesis: to go fishing with his dad.

Ellen Duffer

Senior Content Writer And Developer

Ellen Duffer

Senior Content Writer And Developer

She/Her/Hers

Ellen Duffer is a Senior Content Writer & Developer at Arcbound, where she helps clients share their expertise, stories, and vision with the world.

Prior to joining Arcbound, she was a freelance editorial, marketing, and publicity consultant, as well as Managing Editor and Blog Editor at Ploughshares, the world-renowned literary journal, where the work she edited was lauded with Best of the Net in Nonfiction and Best American Essays citations. Her own writing has been published in Forbes, Religion & Politics, and elsewhere.

In her freetime, she reads, writes, and hikes mountains. She has her BFA in Writing, Literature, & Publishing and her MA in Integrated Marketing Communications from Emerson College, and completed the Publishing Course at Yale University.

Highbrow: One of her articles was anthologized alongside work by writers, academics, and professionals so far her senior she couldn’t quite believe it.

Lowbrow: After a long hike, she likes to stop at Five Guys for a cheeseburger—ordered “All the Way”—fries, and a shake.

Kate Schweitzer

Director of Content & Editorial

Kate Schweitzer

Director of Content & Editorial

She/Her/Hers

Kate Schweitzer is a Senior Content Writer and Developer at Arcbound who believes that her tenure as a journalist and storyteller can help clients hone their authentic voice and share their unique message across platforms. 

Prior to joining the team at Arcbound, Kate spent a near-decade leading several high-impact verticals at POPSUGAR, a global lifestyle brand. More recently, she worked as a freelance writer, editor, and consultant, where she helped consumer businesses, media companies, and thought leaders alike build digital content strategies to execute their creative vision.

She has penned thousands of articles covering interest areas ranging from health, wellness, and parenting to culture, fashion, and entertainment for brands like Marie Claire, Well+Good, Mental Floss, Motherly, Glamour, US Weekly, Prevention, and Time Out Media. On any given week, she’d be conducting interviews with a spiritual medium, a veterinary behaviorist, the White House press secretary, a sleep doctor, and a Kardashian. Although she is adept at becoming an instant expert on virtually any topic, she is deeply committed to gender equity and has made it her mission to shine a light on issues facing women and mothers, in particular, through her words.

When she’s not working, she’s traveling—and it’s anyone’s guess if she’ll be splurging on a spa treatment or pitching a tent in the wilderness. At home, you can find her making a mess in the kitchen with her two children, searching for another Netflix series to binge instead of reading the ever-growing TBR pile on her nightstand, and trying to convince everyone she meets over Zoom to move to Chicago. 

Kate earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from University of Missouri-Columbia but maintains that a decade spent living in NYC is the best education money can buy.

Highbrow: She is a steadfast proponent of the Oxford comma, which she can proudly admit after a lifetime opposing it. That’s called growth. 

Lowbrow: Her iPhone is chronically one megabyte away from reaching its storage limit. But if she didn’t take 37 near-identical photos of her ice cream cone or her napping dog, did they even exist? (Yes, yes, they did.)

Nishant Batsha

Content Writer and Developer

Nishant Batsha

Content Writer and Developer

He / Him / His

Nishant Batsha is a Content Writer & Developer at Arcbound, where he helps clients share their thought leadership in a clear and cogent way.

Prior to joining Arcbound, he was a freelance marketing consultant and before that, the marketing director for Flair, a smart home startup based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also a published novelist, with novels published or forthcoming from Ecco/HarperCollins.

Nishant holds a PhD in history from Columbia University, a master’s degree from the University of Oxford, and an undergraduate degree from Columbia.

Highbrow: Usually can be found reading in his spare time.

Lowbrow: Thanks to having young children, has seen every episode of Bluey at least twice.

Jon Murphy

Senior Content Writer And Developer

Jon Murphy

Senior Content Writer And Developer

He/Him/His

Jon Murphy is a Senior Content Writer and Developer at Arcbound who helps clients effectively communicate their personalities, knowledge, and insights with their audiences. By leveraging his experience as a copywriter, natural curiosity, and a healthy respect for data-driven decision-making, Jon crafts compelling content and fosters a positive client experience. 

Prior to joining Arcbound, he was a B2B copywriter for a Chicago-based HR consultancy where he guided a rebrand and managed day-to-day and larger scale content needs. Before that, he held a similar role writing for the healthcare SaaS portfolio of EverCommerce. Jon honed his skills as a marketing writer and brand strategist across both roles, evolving into a lean but not-too-mean marketing machine. 

Jon holds a B.S. in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During college, he could also be found directing scenes behind a video camera or peddling jokes onstage in the backroom of a local bar. Now, he spends his freetime spinning yarns in the hallowed confines of his Google Drive. Jon is based in Chicago, Illinois where he lives with his wife, dog, and cat. 

Highbrow: He won a speech team state championship for his comedic, persuasive speech about nonlinear thinking and education. 

Lowbrow: He views all you can eat sushi as a personal challenge, but he always beats the house.

Ali Dondero

Content Writer and Developer

Ali Dondero

Content Writer and Developer

She/Her/Hers

Ali Dondero is a Content Writer and Developer at Arcbound, where she delights in blending her passions for writing, storytelling, and relationship building. Her background in literature and education prompt her to think in stories, and she is committed to helping clients tell theirs. 

Before joining the Arcbound team, Ali worked as a freelance copywriter and content marketer for clients in the health and wellness, education, and consulting industries. She spent much of the first decade of her professional career in the classroom, teaching English in Andover and Brookline, MA. There, she co-created and grew a feminist zine, served as an esteemed faculty advisor, and once even guided a hundred teenagers up a mountain. Mostly, though, she helped teach really talented students how to write effectively, persuasively, and most like themselves. 

Ali lives in Boston with her husband and two children. In her free time, you’ll find her reading, watching gardening shows, or humming quietly to herself while she dreams of her next DIY home improvement project. She dabbles in poetry and personal essays, and she’s been known to publish a piece here and there. She’s more comfortable in the background, though, wielding her clarity of focus and precision of language from the wings. 

She earned her BA in English from Connecticut College and her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Simmons University. 

Highbrow: She’s a classically trained first soprano. 

Lowbrow: Her musical repertoire has dwindled. Drastically. It’s mostly just Frozen at this point.

Marjie Shrimpton

Editorial Consultant

Marjie Shrimpton

Editorial Consultant

She/Her/Hers

Marjie Shrimpton loves people and words—what they tell you, where they take you, and how you craft their stories. She is an Editorial Consultant at Arcbound, writing and strategizing content on select client accounts and ghostwriting in the book division. She was previously the VP of Content & Editorial, leading the content division and managing our writing team.

Outside of Arcbound and her writing work, Marjie is a Brooklyn-based actor, dancer, and singer working in a range of mediums, from theatre and film to cabaret and voiceover.

Prior to her work with Arcbound, Marjie was the Communications Manager for the women-led law firm Reavis Page Jump LLP, a ghostwriter and editor for several brands across a variety of industries, and a performer, producer, and creative on several theatre and film productions. She formerly worked for Broadway Connection, a theatre arts education organization, and Human Rights Funders Network, a philanthropy network for grant-making organizations that fund human rights and social justice initiatives around the world.

Marjie earned her B.A. from Barnard College of Columbia University with a double major in Dance and Human Rights. When she’s not busy on stage or on screen (her laptop, that is), you can find her traipsing around Prospect Park or taking in some jazz.

Highbrow: She has worked alongside Tony Award–winning playwrights, actors, and choreographers

Lowbrow: One of her first gigs was as a dirndl-wearing, lager-slinging dancer at a Busch Gardens theme park

GUIDING, LEADING, & COLLABORATING

Meet Arcbound's Board of Advisors

Mike Porath

CEO & Founder of The Mighty

Mike Porath

CEO & Founder of The Mighty

I believe in the power of stories, the strength of communities and the beauty of the human spirit.

I learned the craft of storytelling as an award-winning journalist and executive at ABC News, NBC News, The New York Times and AOL. Traveling through nearly 50 countries brought me so much joy. But then I found myself on a more meaningful adventure when my young daughter was diagnosed with a rare disease, Dup15q syndrome. What helped my wife and me most was connecting with other people. We learned what community was all about.

We created The Mighty to help people find each other and share their experiences around their own health challenges. We began with three stories a day. Five years later, we have over 3 million members. Their stories have been viewed billions of times. Through research studies with Harvard University and others, we’ve shown that we’re having a real impact. We’re improving people’s health outcomes while gaining so much insight on how people experience more than 1,000 health conditions.

To help our efforts, we’ve raised more than $20 million from great investors who believe in the mission of The Mighty and have supported our efforts.

Building The Mighty has brought me so many opportunities. I have spoken to audiences around the world. I serve on several non-profit boards including Dup15q Alliance and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). I’m a member of the Global Commission to End the Diagnostic Odyssey for Children With a Rare Disease. And I have been fortunate to receive several awards including being named one of the world’s top 50 philanthropists by Town & Country in 2017.

When my kids grow up, I want them to have the courage to dream, the perseverance to build those dreams, and do it all in the service of others. I hope I can set an example for them.

Colleen O'Brien

Chief Communications Officer at Armoire

Colleen O'Brien

Chief Communications Officer at Armoire

Colleen O’Brien is an accomplished marketing executive with over a decade of experience leading strategic internal and external communications for companies of all sizes—from Fortune 50 corporations to early-stage startups. Currently, Colleen is the chief communications officer for high-end clothing rental startup Armoire.

Previously, Colleen led brand marketing, content creation, and communications strategy for Microsoft’s venture fund M12, which invests globally in early-stage enterprise software companies. She oversaw the fund’s digital channels and creative development, and served as an advisor to M12’s portfolio companies, helping them scale for growth through positioning, media engagement, and reputation management. She also led M12’s 2020 Female Founders Competition, deploying $6 million to four female-founded companies in partnership with Melinda Gates’s Pivotal Ventures.

Prior to joining M12, Colleen held several marketing and communications roles across Microsoft, most recently as the executive communications manager for the head of Microsoft Azure, while the team grew from 4,000 to 14,000 employees. Before making the shift to enterprise technology, Colleen led Microsoft employees to donate a record $142 million to nonprofit organizations as the communications manager for the company’s annual employee giving campaign. She also led product marketing initiatives for Windows and Office, driving consumer growth, lifecycle engagement, and partnerships globally. Colleen produced and hosted Microsoft’s Women in Business and Technology podcast, which has been streamed half a million times, and served as a spokesperson on the weekly YouTube series Microsoft Unboxed, which has been viewed over 150k times.

Colleen has an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business and graduated cum laude from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in film production and a minor in studies of women, gender, and sexuality. She is a certified executive coach and sits on the advisory board of Women in Cloud, a global organization influencing gender policy and practice to better support women-founded enterprise software businesses. Colleen is a member of the Forbes Communications Council and regularly publishes marketing thought leadership. She is also a sought-out speaker on the All Raise Visionary Voices speakers bureau, and has appeared at the PRSA Storytellers Series, the Women in Tech Regatta, and Ideagen’s Global Goals 2030 Summit.

Nir Eyal

Bestselling Author, Investor, Speaker, & Consultant

Nir Eyal

Bestselling Author, Investor, Speaker, & Consultant

Nir Eyal is the bestselling author of “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” and “Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life.”

He has taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Hasso Plattner Institute of Design. His writing on technology, psychology, and business, appears in the Harvard Business Review, The Atlantic, TechCrunch, and Psychology Today.

Nir blogs regularly at NirAndFar.com. Subscribe to his Free Weekly Newsletter at http://bit.ly/2VPgTmd

Nir is also an active investor in habit-forming technologies. Some of his past investments include: Eventbrite, Anchor.fm (acquired by Spotify), Product Hunt, Pantry, Kahoot!, Refresh.io (acquired by LinkedIn), Happy Bits, Presence Learning, 7 Cups of Tea, and Pana.

Zohra Damani

Author and Director of DEI&B at Newsella

Zohra Damani

Author and Director of DEI&B at Newsella

Zohra is the author of “Take it with a grain of salt,” released in May 2021. The book shares lessons that Zohra learned through experiences like a divorce, losing a parent, navigating her self-worth, managing a disability, and more. Since writing is her passion, Zohra is also working on two other books, titled, “If I was your mother,” and “Twinflames: Let go gracefully while holding on soulfully”. Both books will be completed by end of 2022. For details on the book(s) and regular reflection posts, check out www.zodamoney.com

While writing is Zohra’s passion, her purpose revolves around enhancing people’s experiences through programs, strategies, and initiatives. Her portfolio of experiences spans as a people developer, coach, program builder, board advisor, and leader who devises Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive plans that enable us to improve the lives of our professionals. As she builds enriching experiences through programs and initiatives, concepts at her core are growth mindset, being diverse in everyday actions, inclusive in everything we do, and making accessibility a must and not nice to have.

Finally, Zohra is a doctoral candidate at Vanderbilt, pursuing a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D) focusing on learning and leadership. Her goal is to take learnings from this degree and bring transformative changes that create higher productivity and enable people to bring their whole selves forward.

Stephen Taylor

Co-founder & COO at Hiptrain

Stephen Taylor

Co-founder & COO at Hiptrain

Experienced operator of high growth, category defining companies and consumer-facing marketplaces. Passionate about building and developing diverse, high-performing teams.

Began my career in the US Navy. After graduate school I spent 5 years in consulting and the last decade operating, advising, and sometimes investing in early stage tech companies.

Tyler Denk

Co-Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

Tyler Denk

Co-Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

Tyler is a University of Maryland alumni with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Technology Entrepreneurship minor. While in undergrad, he became a self-taught software developer and launched his first startup, VentureStorm—a web application that connected entrepreneurs and startups to talented software developers. Tyler joined Morning Brew as the second employee in a role that spanned engineering, product, and growth—responsible for building the renowned referral program and bespoke tech ecosystem that facilitated the company to scale to a successful $75m exit in 2020. He is currently the CEO and co-founder of  Beehiiv—a newsletter platform to fuel creators and publishers’ ability to create, monetize, and grow their audience.