Jack Welch

Media Boss

Arbitrary Facts:

• Journalism Major
• Bluegrass Picker
• Worked in a Textile Mill
• Played in Top 40 Bands

Jack's experience spans a few decades in this business. He is also is a self-proclaimed "homeboy." It means he grew up just down the road in Spartanburg, SC. Keeping with the theme, he earned a degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Broadcast Production from the University of South Carolina. Who knows what he did after that, but what does matter is that he joined what would one day become Brains on Fire in July of 1988.

Jack is the man. No, really. In addition to his workload as our Media Boss and lending a helping hand on accounts from American Federal to Bon Secours St. Francis Health System to SCBT, Jack holds the key to all the logistics at BOF. But when he's not here, you'll probably find him practicing with his bluegrass band.

Old-Fashioned Contacts

864.676.9663
shannon (at) brainsonfire.com

Brains on Fire
148 River Street, Suite 100
Greenville, SC 29601

Shannon Kohn

Velvet Hammer

Arbitrary Facts
    •    Anderson University art grad
    •    Card-carrying soccer (and football) Mamma
    •    Just give the girl a microphone
    •    Nationally recognized recipe creator

   
Shannon is on her second tour of duty with Brains on Fire (they always find their way back home, don’t they?) after taking a few years off for domestic endeavors (a.k.a. mommy time) and to follow a few culinary dreams.

Born in Savannah, GA, and raised on the mean streets of Orlando, FL (think “The Outsiders” meets “Pretty in Pink”), Shannon came to South Carolina to attend college in 1990 and never left. She says it’s because of our wonderful weather and day-trip proximity to both the mountains and the beach, but we know it’s because her dream Guy (we’re not kidding, his name is Guy) was up here waiting to meet and fall in love with her. The pair now play house with their two bright, articulate, and athletic kids, Tanner and Loftin.

Professionally, Shannon has been involved with the delivery of creative expression since graduating with honors from Anderson University. Copywriting. Graphic Design. Photography. The woman’s multi-talented and mucho-terrific…and that’s why we love her, folks.

When Shannon’s not being a vocal ambassador for her clients’ brands, or helping build, elevate, and guide some of the most amazing communities on the face of the planet, she can be found teaching cooking classes, creating recipes for national publications, and starring in food-related cooking shows on well-known cable networks (again, not kidding…Google the girl).

Old-Fashioned Contacts

864.676.9663
ericw (at) brainsonfire.com

Brains on Fire
148 River Street, Suite 100
Greenville, SC 29601

Eric Whitlock

Design Wizard

Arbitrary Facts

• Visual Communications Major
• Former Professor
• Self-proclaimed outdoor freak

Eric was born and raised on fish and biscuits somewhere around here called Easley, South Carolina. We're not sure where it is, either. But from there, his story gets interesting...

One day he just up and left for the Atlanta College of Art where he majored in Visual Communications. He then bounced around the area for a while until the entrepreneurial bug bit him and he co-founded Fuel (based in Greenville) where he was also a Creative Director. Sure, the guy has won national and international awards for his design and has even been published in a few prominent rags, but do you really want to hear about that? Didn't think so.

The academic in Eric is alive and well. In 2005, he left Brains on Fire to take on the position of head guru of design at Anderson University where he raised the bar for their graphic design curriculum. And then he came back (they always come back). But he also can't stay away from school. In 2006 he was awarded an Artistic Honors Fellowship for Graduate study from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Eric has created compelling graphic identities for a range of clients, including BMW, Coca-Cola, Dunlop Golf, Perception Kayaks, Craftsman, DeFeet International and the Turner Broadcasting System, to name a small handful. And when he's not here, he's spending time with the fam, which is composed of the lovely Mrs. Whitlock and sons.

Eric is also the man who is our Director of Creative Resources. And that’s just a fancy-pants name for being the guy who sources talented folks outside of our doors on a as-needed basis. But don’t worry, he’s not as mean as he looks (mostly).

Old-Fashioned Contacts

864.676.9663
cathy (at) brainsonfire.com

Brains on Fire
148 River Street, Suite 100
Greenville, SC 29601

Cathy Harrison

Account Shepherd

Arbitrary Facts:

• BS in Communication, Minor in English
• Straight Talker
• Full-Time Weekend Sports Spectator
• Buys Wine Based Solely on the Design of the Label

There aren’t many people here who can remember Brains on Fire without Cathy, but she kept plenty busy before she graced our halls. She grew up in Florida. She graduated from University of North Carolina – Greensboro. She married a swell guy. She worked as media director and account director. She had some serious chops under her belt.

When Cathy arrived at Brains on Fire, she was looking for a more collaborative atmosphere than she’d had in her previous lives. Cathy’s years with Brains on Fire now number over a baker’s dozen and counting, so it’s not a stretch to say she found more than that collaborative atmosphere… she found a home! While here, she’s shepherded such clients as Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, Find Great People and Rage Against the Haze, to name only a very, very few. And somehow, she still manages to play Super Mom to Kate and Sam, two of the busiest kids on the planet.

Old-Fashioned Contacts

864.676.9663
megan (at) brainsonfire.com

Brains on Fire
148 River Street, Suite 100
Greenville, SC 29601

Megan Byrd

Whipcracker

Arbitrary Facts

• Wofford Grad
• Book Lover
• Pet Portrait Artist
• Twin (the younger)

Our Sherpa of Traffic was born and raised just to our south in Macon, Georgia. A graduate of Wofford College, Megan fell in love with South Carolina and was happy to make a home in Greenville with her husband Mitchell in 2005. But before we were lucky enough to snag her, Megan worked for an internet solutions company in Atlanta where she learned how to establish order in a world of creative chaos.

As the Director of Traffic and Production, Megan oversees the day-to-day details of every project that comes through our doors. She keeps Brains on Fire running like a well oiled machine. Yeah, don?t let the smile fool you ? she cracks the whip around here.

In addition to all of our current clients, she has also contributed on other accounts including Mitsubishi, BellSouth, Church's Chicken, US Healthworks, Boral Bricks and Georgia-Pacific.

Old-Fashioned Contacts

864.676.9663
geno (at) brainsonfire.com

Brains on Fire
148 River Street, Suite 100
Greenville, SC 29601

Geno Church

Word of Mouth Inspiration Officer

Geno Church is a quoted, sought-after and stalked thought leader in uncovering the DNA of sustainable word of mouth movements and building them from the ground, up. Seriously. Addys. Wommies. Forrester Groundswell Awards. A gold EFFIE, even.

Companies and organizations Geno's loved on include Fiskars Brands, the American Booksellers Association, Rawlings Sporting Goods, National Family Partnership, Charleston Parks Conservancy, the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, Ronald McDonald Children's Charities and Rage Against the Haze (South Carolina's youth led anti-tobacco movement).

He contributes to the top-ish-ranked Brains on Fire blog Brains on Fire Blog, speaks at events nationally and abroad (we almost lost him in South Africa last year - three times) including gigs with the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America, American Marketing Association, the New Comm Research Communications Forum, and the What Teens Want 2008 Conference. He is widely quoted in blogs and traditional print on a regular basis. Geno's Southern, approachable and probably one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. No kidding.

Old-Fashioned Contacts

864.676.9663
ramsey (at) brainsonfire.com

Brains on Fire
148 River Street, Suite 100
Greenville, SC 29601

Greg Ramsey

Designer Craftsman

Arbitrary Facts

• BA in Graphic Design from U of GA
• Nicknamed “Crash Ramsey”
• Son of a preacher man
• Writing the book: “My Life Fishtory”

Greg Ramsey (we call him "Ramsey" or “Ram”) is one of a kind. A true master craftsman of art and design, he has an innate ability to weave compelling, inspirational visual stories into everything he touches. At Brains on Fire, he is a principal and is intimately involved in all aspects of our client's brand identities and movements. His ability to bring to life the concepts and philosophies behind the movements and identities Brains on Fire creates is one of the things that bridges the gap where other word of mouth or identity companies fall short.

Just scratching the surface, Ramsey has designed the lion's share of exhibits in BMW’s North American museum, Zentrum. He’s also illustrated the children's book, The Red Ribbon: A Story of Hope, for the National Family Partnership, which received national acclaim and was used as a point of inspiration and backdrop for President Clinton's War on Drugs.

But here’s why we love Ramsey: straight from the horse’s mouth: “It used to be about being a design rockstar and getting my name and work in some prestigious design annual. But now it’s about being a part of this unbelievably talented team of designers and using our gifts to do nothing less than change the world – one little corner at a time.” ‘Nuff said.

Old-Fashioned Contacts

864.676.9663
cordell (at) brainsonfire.com

Brains on Fire
148 River Street, Suite 100
Greenville, SC 29601

Greg Cordell

Chief Inspiration Officer

Arbitrary Facts

• University of South Carolina Grad
• Married with children
• White Male - nothing I can do about that now
• Mid 40s
• Prefers not to talk about himself, though he likes to talk

Cordell (we think he’s been going by his last name longer than he’s been going by his first) was born and raised in South Carolina and stuck with that theme by attending USC (that’s South Carolina out here on the East Coast). He got involved in the ad biz soon after and never looked back. Concepter, writer, art director, screenwriter – the guy has done it all.

At Brains on Fire, Greg is not only a principal, but he’s also our conduit for inspirational energy. (We don’t call him our Chief Inspiration Officer for nothing.) He's a visionary. A philosopher. He gets employees and clients excited about what could be and then finds ways to make it happen. And Greg is constantly figuring out how to take the tired and make it inspired - across all industries and across all brands.

Cordell has developed creative solutions for companies that include Coca-Cola, Yakima, BMW, Don Pablo's Mexican Restaurants, Applebee’s, the brands of Confluence Watersports and Best Buy. His work has been used as the backdrop for an American President’s war on drugs and added crazy-big numbers to national brands' bottom lines. He also consistently gets high praise when he speaks at events like AIGA gatherings, statewide PRSA conferences and private corporate events.

Old-Fashioned Contacts

864.676.9663
robbin (at) brainsonfire.com

Brains on Fire
148 River Street, Suite 100
Greenville, SC 29601

Robbin Phillips

Courageous President

Arbitrary Facts:

• Arts Major
• Founder
• Evangelist of All Things Simple
• Boot Connoisseur

Robbin Phillips gets out of bed each morning inspired by a single-minded focus: to make a positive, meaningful change in the world. 

As one of the founders and Courageous President of Brains on Fire, Robbin has recruited a highly talented team of kindred spirits committed to the belief that marketing has the power to truly touch lives. Having begun her career as a graphic designer, Robbin remains involved in the creative development of client identities, while tapping into her keen business sense to facilitate strategy.

Inspired by the power of purpose, passion and people, Robbin and her team rally daily to deliver innovative, impactful solutions that elevate and celebrate a diverse range of clients including Love146, Foundation Recovery Network, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, BMW, DeVry University, GreenDot Public Schools, Fiskars Brands, Perception Kayaks, Ryobi Tools, Colonial Williamsburg, the National Center for Family Literacy and Best Buy.

During Robbin’s tenure, Brains on Fire has received numerous national awards including a GOLD EFFIE and the Word of Mouth Marketing Association’s WOMMIE Award. As co-author of the book Brains on Fire; Igniting Powerful Sustainable World of Mouth Movements, anda highly sought-after presenter, Robbin frequently hits the road to speak at conferences and private events around the country.  She has shared her insights on word of mouth marketing with groups big and small, including the Word of Mouth Marketing Association and the Association of National Advertisers.