YOUR NEW BEST FRIENDS
Get to know our team.
Chris Vendilli
Founder / CEO
Chris Vendilli
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”– Henry David Thoreau
Chris is a veteran of the United States Air Force where he led Security Forces Raven Teams on missions around the globe. Additionally, Chris served 8 years with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, where he spent the latter half of his time there as a detective in the Computer Crime Unit (CCU). Present day, Chris spends most of his waking hours “wearing all the hats” as the founder of Vendilli Digital Group. The company is a certified Veteran-owned business that primarily helps B2B manufacturers and professional services companies increase online visibility, improve sales processes, and delight their customers. Chris’s team at Vendilli has expertise in web design and development, SEO, inbound marketing, paid search, and sales and marketing automation programs. Vendilli Digital Group is certified in multiple Google programs and is a Platinum-tiered HubSpot Solutions Partner. A lifelong technophile turned entrepreneur, he currently resides in Wexford, Pennsylvania in a houseful of ladies, with his wife, Tracey, and their three young daughters: Natalie, Giulia (pronounced like “Julia”), and Nora. In his free time you’ll find him camping, fishing, or playing beer league ice hockey with a bunch of guys who refuse to admit they’re already over the hill.
Work Skills: Leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, advertising, technology, management, and consulting.
Rob Donaldson
Director of Client Services
Rob Donaldson
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it” – Ferris Bueller
Rob has been a part of the multimedia industry for over 30 years. After graduating from Penn State University with a degree in Broadcast Communications, Rob started his company, Media Post, with his partners in the early 1990’s. Originally a video production company, Rob was instrumental in the creation of the web design/development department within the company. He merged his company with Vendilli Digital Group in early 2021 adding additional talent and capabilities to the Vendilli team. Today, Rob plays a key role in the direction, strategy and management of his client’s web design and development projects as well as their video productions. Rob currently resides in Bradford Woods with his wife Natalie and their four children, Matt, Ana, Sara and Caleb and their crazy lab Kaya. You’ll find Rob shuttling his kids to and from sports and activities or somewhere in the outdoors skiing or mountain biking (if he’s lucky)…
Work Skills: Strategic Planning, Project Management, Account Relations, Video Production/Integration
Danielle Matthews
Director of Operations
Danielle Matthews
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are” – Kurt Cobain
A true artist at heart, Danielle studied Fine Art at the School of Visual Arts in New York, NY before graduating from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Graphic Design. As a Pittsburgh native, Danielle has a diverse body of work with a variety of clients from around the world. She has in-depth experience leading creative teams, serving as both an art director and mentor to other creatives throughout her career. She thrives on being able to think deeper and turn clever ideas and visuals into an effective, attention-grabbing solution. She’s a lifelong learner and is always exploring new ideas, art forms, technologies, and trends. When not taking on the world’s creative challenges, she dedicates her time to her family—chasing around and entertaining her kids and their 3 cats while keeping her house in order. Whenever she gets a minute to herself she enjoys binge-watching Netflix, reading, obnoxiously loud music, fishing, drinking obscene amounts of coffee, and being an all-around nerd.
Work Skills: Art Direction, UX, Branding, Concept Development, Print, Digital, Creative Strategy, Leadership
John Caruso
Director of Business Development
John Caruso
“The owner of the axe, as he released his hold on it, said that it was the apple of his eye; but I returned it sharper than I received it.” -Henry David Thoreau
John loves the opportunity to help others solve business problems with creative solutions, and so marketing and business development was a natural career path. For the last 7 years, John has helped foster new relationships and work in client services in the advertising industry, partnering with clients in a wide variety of industries such as financial, healthcare and consumer packaged goods to provide strategic planning, brand strategy, and a variety of other advertising solutions to help solve business needs. John has a BS in Marketing and Business Management from La Roche College where he was also a four-year athlete as an outfielder on the Redhawks baseball team. Outside of work, you can find him fishing, hunting, or canning vegetables from his garden.
Work Skills: Business Development, Sales, Strategy Development, Account Management, Marketing, Advertising.
Yusef Lockwood
Director of Web Development
Yusef Lockwood
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” – Richard Feynman
Since he was a child, Yusef always considered himself a builder and a tinkerer. To his parents dismay, this usually meant taking apart their electronics and appliances with no guarantee they’d be put back together. In school it meant crafting over 25 models of paper airplanes, designed for loops, boomerang flights, and even water bombs. Eventually though, it lent itself to computer. At 16 he built his first computer and 2 years later, his first website. Fast forward over 15 years, and Yusef has built hundreds of websites and written hundreds of thousands of lines of code. Since 2013, he’s been the “go-to” for all things technical at Vendilli Digital Group. He prides himself on crushing deadlines and squashing bugs with vigilance. Though his hobbies include running and frisbee, most of his free time is spent learning new tools and skills, improving his processes, and frequenting Github & Stack Exchange. The same attention to detail that enthused his paper aviation as a child, he now dedicates to keeping our clients' websites secure and running smoothly.
Work Skills: Server administration, Back-end code & API integration, front-end development, UX testing, deployment, maintenance, and support; Or in short, full-stack development.
Megan McGinnis
Account Manager
Megan McGinnis
“Keep dreaming like we'll live forever but live it like it's now or never” – Julie and the Phantoms Cast
Megan is a Pittsburgh native and Grove City College alumna where she graduated with a B.S. in Marketing Management and minor in Music. Thriving on spontaneity and her “gotta go fast” lifestyle, Megan has found that the crazy marketing agency life perfectly suits her personality and need for excitement. She loves a challenge and is constantly seeking new hobbies and ways to improve her work skill set. Good luck finding Megan after work - she could be out photographing a local concert, exploring a new city, sitting in with a jazz band, or trying not to hurt herself at the rock climbing gym. During the freezing Pittsburgh winters, she’s usually at home crocheting with her cat, Mabel, asleep in her lap. Please don’t ask her to go outside when it’s snowing, though, unless it’s to go for a drive on an unplowed Mount Washington hill in her Subaru!
Work Skills: Inbound Marketing, Social Media Management, Email Communication, Strategic Marketing Planning, Client Communications, Photography
Rob Brunskill
Web Developer
Rob Brunskill
"Don't be mean; we don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Banzai
Rob first started doing web development to create a portfolio site when completing a multimedia and animation degree, even though though web development wasn’t yet part of the curriculum at that time. Much of his server and administration experience comes from on-the-job work for various companies and projects, including a Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College research group dedicated to introducing internet technologies to arts organizations. Rob has worked with a variety of digital media over 20+ years and tries to be a flexible problem-solver even for technologies that he’s not yet familiar with.
Work Skills: Back-end and front-end development, animation, server administration, maintenance and support.
Brandon Dillon
Graphic Designer
Brandon Dillon
“There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food.” – Ron Swanson
As a lifelong creative, Brandon pursued the arts by attending Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) and graduating with a degree in Graphic Design. For the past 6 years, he has worked in the field and continued to develop his skills into what they are today. Starting as a Student Marketing Designer for PTC and working his way toward his current title at Vendilli Digital Group, Brandon has acquired and developed a variety of skills along the way. His areas of focus include business branding, print advertising and design, webpage layout, and more. Brandon currently resides just outside of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania with his cats Luna and Asteroid, and bearded dragon Ron. When he’s not in front of a computer screen, you’ll probably find him outdoors… unless it’s cold outside, the cold is one thing he hates! His favorite hobbies are ATV riding, mountain biking, kayaking, camping, and cooking. Other hobbies include video games, listening to music way too loudly, and woodworking.
Work Skills: Graphic Design, UI, Branding, Concept Development, Print Design, Digital Design, Page Layout, and Project Management
Josh Currier
Director of Search Marketing
Josh Currier
“There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.” - Unknown
Josh, aka “The SEO guy”, aka “The ads guy”, leverages his 12+ years of digital marketing experience to help our clients grow their traffic, increase conversions, and dominate their market. Being one of our veterans, Josh served in the US Navy as a crypto-linguist. He was born and raised in Alaska and refers to North Pole, AK as home (yes, it’s real). He currently lives in California with his wife and four daughters. When he isn’t engaged in digital marketing applications, he enjoys softball, cooking, and spending time with his family.
Work Skills: Content Strategy, Pay-Per-Click Advertising, SEO, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Reporting & Research
Erica Follette
Content Specialist
Erica Follette
“Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.” — Tyrion Lannister
Erica is a proud Edinboro University Alumni where she graduated with a B.S. in Strategic Communication and a Minor in Public Relations Branding and Imaging. Her passion is creating both new and engaging content that helps businesses tell their story and take their brand to the next level. In her free time, you can find Erica binge watching Netflix shows, practicing martial arts, drinking way too much coffee or tending to the needs of her spoiled dog and multiple reptiles.
Work Skills: Inbound Marketing, Social Media Management, Content Strategy and Content Creation.
Thomas Heckroth
Graphic Designer / Hubspot Consultant
Thomas Heckroth
“Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done.” -David Goggins
Thomas has always had a passion to create. Drawing and painting at a very young age, he knew he wanted to channel this passion into a career. He first was introduced to design in high school before continuing to further his skills at Pittsburgh Technical College where he graduated with a degree in graphic design. Thomas enjoys being the bridge between a creative problem and a solution. He is constantly looking for new inspiration to expand his creative knowledge and skills in design. Thomas resides in the South Hills of Pittsburgh where he dreams about warmer weather and owning a lakehouse somewhere down south. His favorite hobbies include fishing, listening to music, and working out.
Work Skills: Graphic Design, Page Layout, Branding, Print Design, and Digital Design.
Patrick Somers
Video Production Specialist
Patrick Somers
“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” – A Wise Fortune Cookie
Pat has been an artist his whole life, with parents and siblings who are part of his creative force. His drive/motivation to work in a field where being creative and doing what he enjoys has been key. Commercial Art was the right choice for him. Pat graduated with an Associate Degree in Visual Communications from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1986. The climb to where he is today has given him a good sense of the importance of communicating effectively. Knowing customers’ needs, understanding their goals and creating strategies for their success has led to positive personal and company growth. Pat’s interests outside of work have helped him become who he is today—a dedicated creative. In his free time, he likes to play/record music, get out in nature, paint and sketch.
Work Skills: Video/Audio Pre and Post Production, 3D Animation, Concept Creation
Mike Roe
Web Developer
Mike Roe
"It’s all fun and games ’till someone loses an eye, then it’s just fun you can’t see." - James Hetfield
Located in the frozen tundra known as Canada, Mike has been near constantly attached to computers from a young age. He graduated the "Interactive Media Design - Web" course in 2018 from Georgian College and has had experience working for multiple agencies over the past few years, picking up more skills and learning on the job. He finds the best way to learn new skills is though trial and error, and also has experience working in Photoshop and Lightroom from a past stint in Photography.
Outside of work, you can usually find him either keeping active visiting his parent’s place and using their home gym, or being lazy and lounging around his apartment. Depends on the day really. One thing that is a constant is music. Whether he is working, hiking or playing games, there is always music in the background.
Work Skills: Front-end development, Animation, Photography, Image Editing, Site Maintenance and Support.
Benjamin Ferguson
Graphic Designer
Benjamin Ferguson
“If it’s not fun, why bother?” - Reggie Fils-Aimé
Ben’s passion for creativity blossomed at a young age when he got absorbed by the world of video games. The colourful characters and unique art styles that varied from game-to-game not only helped shape his childhood, but also formed the path ahead into adulthood where he pursued a career as a designer. Ben is a proud alumni of Georgian College where he graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design. Since graduating, he’s worked in the field for the past 3 years collaborating with a wide variety of businesses elevating their brands to the next level. When he’s not behind the screen, you can find Ben spending his time in competitive ball hockey leagues, listening to podcasts, hiking with his camera, or hanging out with his friends.
Work skills: Web Design, Print Design, Branding, Project Management, Client Communication
Janelle Conner
Account Manager
Janelle Conner
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” - Mark Twain
Janelle is a jack-of-all-trades creative who never shies away from a challenge. After graduating from Slippery Rock University with a B.S. in Communication, she has spent her career getting a taste of everything the industry has to offer - and loving every minute of it. From copywriting to graphic design, and marketing to social media management, she has done it all. As your Account Manager, she is energized by both creative problem solving and her alarming addiction to caffeine. When not at work, you can find her serving as both a groupie and roadie for her musician husband A.J, hiking local trails, or taking road trips across the U.S. to see her favorite bands.
Work Skills: Inbound Marketing, Client Communications, Email Marketing, Branding, Copywriting, Graphic Design
Bree Nagel
HubSpot Specialist
Bree Nagel
“Tomorrow I’ll think of some way... after all, tomorrow is another day.” - Scarlett O’Hara
Bree was a nursing undergrad turned marketing graduate from Walsh University and has over 8+ years of experience in marketing. In a previous life, she worked in corporate America cross-functionally with product management, sales, and operations teams but truly found her niche in HubSpot. Her passion is to teach others how to harness the power of HubSpot and show them the world of automation. When she’s not tinkering in HubSpot she’s enjoying life with her husband and four kiddos probably off exploring the outdoors.
Work Skills: Inbound Marketing, Strategic Marketing Planning, Email Communication, Process Improvement
INDUSTRY LEADERS & EXPERTS
Leading the way to growth
When you work with Vendilli Digital Group, you’re not just hiring another company to “get the job done” — though rest assured, we will. As industry-leading experts in digital marketing, web design, SEO, and more, we are our best selves when we act as a strategic growth partner to our clients.
Our flagship service, the Growth-Driven Design approach to marketing gives our clients access to a wide-range of our capabilities, services, leadership, and expertise. Acting as an extension of your business, let Vendilli Digital Group lead the way through the complexities of digital marketing. Using a 5-step proven process as our guide, we aim to crush our clients’ marketing goals through hard-work, dedication, open and honest conversation, and many cups of coffee.
