Our Team
Julien Brandt
CEO: Cultivator of Excellence Online
In 2008, online marketing and social media were ‘all the buzz’ and businesses were looking for guidance on how to navigate this new frontier. As an official tech nerd that lived and breathed online marketing before it became mainstream, Julien soon became the ‘unofficial marketing consultant’ at the real estate office he worked in. Recognizing the growing need, in 2009 he took a leap of faith—as many entrepreneurs do —and channeled his SEO and Social Media expertise into an online marketing company he could be proud of — Organik SEO.
Julien founded Organik SEO on the belief that he would build strong business partnerships with clients, not just service them. His unwavering commitment to honest transparent work was a welcome change in a characteristically unethical industry, and it’s a difference that’s widely felt and appreciated by those who work with his team. Read more about Our Organik Story, Approach and Core Values. (link all those words)
In his spare time, Julien serves on the board for the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce, and he is a member of Accelerator, an Entrepreneurs’ Organization program that offers business leadership mentoring, accountability groups and continued emphasis on personal and professional development. He was recently honored as a nominee for San Diego Business Journal’s “2013 Most Admired CEO.” He also contributes as a thought leader in the online marketing space as a contributing editor for Examiner.com as “San Diego’s Online Marketing Examine,” and he regular speaks at industry events including San Diego Entrepreneur Summit, among others.
Words Julien Lives By: Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.
Hidden Talent: iPhone Photography, Googling Tactics, Singing in the Shower
The Cause Close to His Heart: A Second Wind (Anna Young)
On the weekend you’ll find him… “Always on the go – at a car event, on a weekend staycation, strolling down the farmers market or enjoying brunch with friends.”
He stays green by… “Running an eco-friendly and socially conscious business, supporting like-minded businesses, volunteering my time for the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce and other non-profits, and taking an active part in trying to support the local community and our environment.”
Robert Witt
Consulting CFO
A CPA since 1979, Bob Witt has worked extensively with a number of startups like OrganikSEO, helping more than 100 early stage companies launch their businesses.
Bob plays a key roll as Consulting CFO for OrganikSEO, helping with all aspects of the business. Everything from accounting and tax preparation to business forecasting and executive coaching.
Earlier in his career, Bob held key positions in leading multinational corporations as Chief Information Officer for Oracle Corporation and Sequent Computers (IBM), and that’s not a typo!
We were thrilled to have had Bob on board from the beginning and we attribute much of our success to his expertise.
DJ Shirley
SEO Supersleuth
Usually the first person in and the last guy to leave, DJ heads up the SEO and local search optimization team at Organik SEO. Through his keen leadership, industry expertise, and unique approach to online marketing, DJ dependably produces highly successful SEO campaigns for each SEO client across a myriad of different industries.
He is the go-to person when small businesses are looking to catapult their businesses to the next level. His team is able to enhance your online presence and position you in a way to be competitive in the small business landscape. His knowledge of the industry also includes website optimization, search optimization tactics, online marketing best practices, and social media trends.
A native to San Diego, DJ attended Point Loma Nazarene University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and started working at Organik SEO in 2010 to focus on his longtime passion of marketing and SEO.
Words DJ Lives By: “Quality over quantity” and “Do it meow”
Hidden Talent: Handstands, Sarcasm, Gardening
The Cause Close to His Heart: Pet rescue
On the weekend you’ll find him… “Nowhere…probably home sleeping.”
He stays green by… “Overall it comes down to trying to be aware of what I consume in regards to how and where it was made and trying to find the Eco-friendly equivalent or alternative. Driving a fuel-efficient vehicle, growing some of my own food, recycling when possible and disposing of non-recyclable items properly.”
Christina Dubiel
Special Opps / Operations Overloard
Whether it’s a quick change on your website, technology tutorials on-the-go, or an in-depth WordPress consultation, Christina is the person you want to have on speed dial. She is a true “ace in the hole” at Organik SEO, and serves as a project manager and operations manager.
A native to Solana Beach, Christina is familiar with local businesses and is passionate about helping them get on the “map.”
Over the course of her tenure at Organik SEO, Christina has honed her skills as an online marketer and client concierge. She’s devoted to helping her clients’ businesses succeed and to being a resource for clients who are looking to tap into the power of social media and SEO to grow their business.
With a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from San Francisco State University, much of Christina’s past experience has been focused on event management and business development. Using the strategic skills she discovered while working in San Francisco’s booming hotel & business industry, Christina is the queen of ‘calm under fire.’
Words Christina Lives By: To have the rainbow, you must tolerate the rain.
Hidden Talents: Napping, Driving stick shift, and being the all-time greatest board game player– and winner for that matter!
The Cause Close to Her Heart: The Flores Fundraiser (A dear friend’s mother, who’s a breast cancer survivor)
On the weekend you’ll find her… “Enjoying the outdoors, whether it be running on the beach, hiking, or barbecuing in my backyard.”
She stays green by… “Keeping things digital. Less paper is more!”
Maria Juan
Developer of Awesomeness
If you were stranded on a desert island and needed help with your website or SEO campaign, you’d want Maria by your side. Prior to joining Organik SEO, Maria was a freelancer working on online marketing, web development, programming design, and more. Her business was built on the foundation of building strong brands, cultivating online personas, and helping start-up companies and emerging nonprofits reach a broader audience by harnessing the power of the Internet. Now, she’s Organik SEO’s resident designer, developer and on-page search optimization specialist, helping clients enhance their online reputation and brand every day.
Maria began her career in performing arts administration after graduating from the University of South Florida. Quickly realizing the need for a stronger online marketing presence within the arts, she graduated from the University of California, San Diego with concentrations in digital graphics and web design.
Words Maria Lives By: Feed your creative beast!
Hidden Talent: I am fluent in Spanish, but to my father’s dismay, a little out of practice.
The Cause Close to Her Heart: Anything that helps fund the performing arts, especially non-profit dance companies and individual artists.
On the weekend you’ll find her… In a dance studio, on a stay-cation, or lounging on my deck overlooking the Pacific
She stay green by… obsessively recycling, finding ways to reduce my carbon footprint – no matter how small—and by educating myself and others on sustainability and how to incorporate it in everyday life.
Heather TJ-Palmer
Social Media Manager
As the newest member to the OrganikSEO team, Heather helps cultivate our clients’ social media campaigns. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram, Heather’s got her ears open and eyes peeled, seeking ways to reach new audiences, build relationships, and start new conversations for our clients. Her experience from a variety of fields such as marketing, PR, sales, customer service and merchandising, culminates into a solid foundation of knowledge on how social media should be managed. She firmly believes that persistence, patience, and a little bit of creativity are the keys to getting great exposure and establishing credibility.
Heather is originally from Washington state, where she served in the military and accomplished her college degrees. This summer she’ll be finishing her second–and last (according to her)– Master’s Degree which will have an emphasis in marketing.
Words Heather Lives By: “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.”- Amelia Earhart
Hidden Talent: I can say the zyx’s (the alphabet backwards) in under 5 seconds.
The Cause Close to Her Heart: Supporting no-kill animal shelters, and Women & Children shelters.
On the weekend you’ll find her… I’d like to say that you’d find me doing something wildly adventurous like swimming with sharks. In reality, I’m likely catching up on homework, laundry and napping with my pugs. (My husband and I like the beach and golfing too though!)
She Stays Green By… Riding public transit.
Karina Jensen
Content Writer
Karina is the resident copywriter and blogger for OrganikSEO. She has written hundreds of articles on various subjects from fashion to travel to real estate and truly loves what she does. With a working knowledge of SEO, Karina enjoys creating readable content and knows how to write about a product or service. OrganikSEO gives Karina an opportunity to focus on local and environmentally-friendly businesses, which is a passion of hers.
“I grew up in a small town where my family grew their own food and lived a very green sustainable lifestyle. I have that ingrained in me and apply that to my daily life.”
Karina has a degree from San Diego State University in English and Comparative Literature with an emphasis in Creative Writing.
Words Karina Lives By: Live well, laugh often and love much
Hidden Talent: I can make people smile even when they don’t want to. Oh and I can whistle through my teeth.
The Cause Close to Her Heart: Girls in Power. An organization dedicated to empowering and uplifting young girls, teens and women.
On the weekend you’ll find her… Taking my dog and/or kids to the beach, enjoying a mini vacation somewhere close by or sampling food from the latest and greatest neighborhood restaurant.
She Stay Green By…Teaching my children about the importance of our earth and its resources and working for a socially and environmentally conscious company.
Zack de Raad
Web Developer
Zack is the main web developer and does everything from custom web design to server-side coding and development. Originally from the east coast, Zack is currently studying computer science and is regularly creating new web-based software.
Zack is very passionate about creating clean code and is very detail oriented in all of the projects he takes on.
Mr. Organik
Company Mascot
Mr. Organik is a humble man. Until recently, he lived a simple life running an organic farm stand on the outskirts of his property with his wife and kids. A few months back Mr. Organik was approached by OrganikSEO to help deliver the company’s message about growing green businesses to the marketplace.
In addition, Mr. Organik’s property made a perfect backdrop for OrganikSEO’s homepage.
“After a few sleepless nights and a few days getting to know the team at OrganikSEO, I decided that I’d like nothing more than to lend my support to an environmentally conscious company made up of like-minded honest, fun, charming, professionals,” explained Mr. Organik. “It has been an amazing ride. Even in my wildest dreams I could not have imagined the fame and popularity that comes with being associated with OrganikSEO. These days it’s hard to walk into town or browse Facebook without seeing my picture or being approached by people that recognize me. I had no idea these guys had so many raving fans!”