The Team
HighRock is powered by people that possess a wide array of expertise and skills that can rise to the challenges of diverse markets. It’s all about the right breadth of experience—and the willingness to climb the mountain together.
HighRock is powered by people that possess a wide array of expertise and skills that can rise to the challenges of diverse markets. It’s all about the right breadth of experience—and the willingness to climb the mountain together.
In 2005 Rich Daughtridge partnered with friend and graphic designer Dave Schleigh launch a new marketing firm, HighRock Studios. Together, they assembled a talented team of creatives, marketers, and problem-solvers to work as an extension of our client’s team. As a storyteller and entrepreneur at heart, Rich saw HighRock’s success in launching brands for our clients as a unique opportunity to continue launching new companies, all connected by the marketing, technology, and entertainment industries. In the following years, Rich co-founded several ventures including Warehouse Cinemas, Warehouse Tap Room, Leitersburg Cinemas, Waynesboro Theatre, and LeftBrain Technology. With each new venture, Rich leveraged emerging technologies as the catalyst for success, all with HighRock's foundation in marketing and brand strategy.
While his hometown is Hagerstown, Maryland, his home team will always be the Baltimore Blast, where he played professional soccer for five years, winning three national championships with the team.
Dave is a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), with a degree in Physical Geography and minor in writing. After college, he went to work for the City of Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) where he was the Art Director. In 2005, Dave partnered with friend and entrepreneur Rich Daughtridge to launch a new marketing firm, HighRock Studios. Together, they assembled a talented team of creatives, marketers, and problem-solvers to work as an extension of our client’s team. In the following years, Dave co-founded several ventures including Warehouse Cinemas, Warehouse Tap Room, Leitersburg Cinemas, Waynesboro Theatre, and LeftBrain Technology.
Now president of HighRock, Dave still enjoys helping to craft creative and innovative solutions that elevate our customers businesses, as well as ensuring that HighRock is as a great place to work for employees. Dave resides in Howard County, Maryland with his wife Jaci and daughter Evelyn.
Jeremy joined the HighRock team as our Creative Director shortly after HighRock was founded in 2005, and became a partner in the business soon after. He enjoys using his creative talent to build new brands, and promote those brands with his award-winning logo, print, web, and specialty designs. He graduated from Frostburg State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design with a focus in Graphic Design and a Minor in Art History. Before joining the HighRock team, Jeremy worked as a graphic designer/creative director for a firm in the region and pursued personal business ventures. He currently resides in Pennsylvania with his wife Jess and their four children.
From marketing and strategy to 3D computer software and video game design, Len's extensive experience in leading business strategy, content marketing, and strategic marketing is vital to HighRock’s consultative approach. As co-founder of Pylot Studios with our Director of 3D Technology, Yavuz Goncu, Len has made a career out of using innovative techniques to drive engaging marketing solutions and brought this experience to HighRock when they joined our team in 2014. Today, Len lends his experience and skill set to create marketing strategies for our clients. In his spare time, Len maintains a large stack of books he wants to read but never manages to get around to actually reading.
Our Emmy-winning Video Director, Josh Youngbar, has been with HighRock almost since the beginning. From initial concept through all aspects of a client’s video, he oversees our video department to create TV spots, animations, corporate videos, and anything in between. Josh is passionate about telling stories through motion and loves the challenge of creativity and technology that video production brings. With a background in graphic design and computer technology, Josh brings over ten years of video directing experience to HighRock. When he’s not holding a camera Josh can be found spending time with his wife Robin and five children.
As part of our 3D team in Baltimore, Steve uses his sharp eye for detail to create stunning solutions for our clients using 3D technology during the day. At night, Steve transforms into an alternative/hard rock monster bassist with gaggle of screaming fans. He spends quite a bit of time in Brazil (his wife is a native), and enjoys cruising the streets of Baltimore in his jet black (appropriately so!) Mustang GT.
As a HighRock Marketing Executive, Pieter works with our clients to identify solutions, enhance their brand, and align their business goals with a comprehensive marketing strategy. With a rich background in journalism, and close ties to community organizations, Pieter enjoys working with customers to tell a story that captures the essence of their brand. From his days in journalism to now, Pieter is inspired by interesting stories and exceeding client expectations. His favorite part of his job is getting to know the motivations of the people behind the brand.
Pieter’s involvement in the community is deep, having worked with a number of nonprofits throughout the years and currently serving on the Washington County Board of Education. He lives in Hagerstown, MD with his wife, Stephanie.
As a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a degree in English Literature and Journalism, Niki's passion has always been storytelling and all the forms it can take. As such, her professional experience has ranged from working in cable news to holding communications and marketing director roles in the nonprofit sector. She enjoys connecting with audiences through strategic branding and marketing approaches and believes a good story will almost always win someone over for a new product or experience.
Outside of work, Niki is an award-nominated fiction and creative nonfiction writer, as well as a manuscript editor and creative writing coach for new and young writers. She enjoys traveling, eating good food, supporting indie bookstores, and combatting writer's block, among other things.
Shanna Mueller, Marketing and Brand Strategist, manages social media and digital marketing strategy and is the gatekeeper to all things related to brand integrity and development. A former creative brand strategist and news producer, she is a seasoned storyteller. She has a fine arts degree and brings over 15 years of managing and developing brands from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. She finds inspiration in art, music, and human psychology to help wield the power of authentic storytelling and genuine content creation. When she is not researching and nerd-ing out on the latest marketing, pop culture, and social trends, she spends her time moonlighting as a local philanthropist, amateur coffee critique, and photographer.
In his role as IT & Web Support Coordinator, Kyle Petrie works with our clients to develop websites that elevate their brand, and continues to work with them after launch for longterm support. A Waynesboro, PA native, Kyle has been part of the HighRock Group family for many years. Prior to joining the HighRock team, he worked for sister company Leitersburg Cinemas - even before it was Leitersburg Cinemas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Shippensburg University, majoring in Management Information Systems, and joined HighRock’s technology team developing websites for our clients. Kyle lives in Hagerstown with his wife and daughter, and enjoys performing in local theatre and camping with family along the Potomac River.
Alex’s interest in web development and technology began in online gaming, where she learned the basics of HTML and CSS. She studied web design and development at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, then continued her education as an intern in the HighRock University program. After joining the HighRock team full-time, she moved to Hagerstown, and in the rare moments she is offline, she enjoys watching reality tv, reading murder mystery and true crime novels, and spending time with her family.
Jacek has 14+ years of experience as a full-stack web developer with a keen focus on building scalable systems. He holds two degrees -- a bachelor of business administration and a master of science in information technology. A fan of continued growth and development, Jacek also enjoys reading about psychology and the importance of having strong soft-skills. Jacek lives in Poland with his family and when not online bringing new sites to life, he enjoys being outdoors to ski, run, mountaineer, play basketball, or doing Freeletics.
From making home movies with his friends as a kid, to first discovering various video editing software in high school, Phillip jumped headfirst into the art of creating stories through the video lens. Graduating in 2019 from Webster University with a degree in Film, Television and Video Production, Phillip pursued his career with an emphasis in the post-production field though various freelance and marketing roles. As a video editor, he believes that the edit is where you will always find the heart of any story.
Outside of work, Phillip enjoys 35mm photography and even developing his own film in the comforts of home. He also enjoys cooking, tinkering with computers, and planning adventures with his longtime best friends in their Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
A former marketing director and events manager at a local Maryland winery, Devan went on to become a Wine Specialist for DMV Distributing prior to joining the HighRock team. She now acts as sommelier for her family, friends, and coworkers. Have a question about wine? She’s here for it!
Devan is also the communications director of the JFK 50 Mile ‘America’s Oldest Ultramarathon.’ Handling promotion, merchandise, public relations, and day-of duties, Devan works year round with her fellow race staff to continue the tradition of the event and support the growth of the ultra running sport and local athlete scholarships.
When she’s not spending time with her twin sister and nieces, you can bet that Devan is out enjoying live music, visiting a local winery, or enjoying a movie at the cinemas.
Jade is a graduate of the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines with a Bachelor's Degree in Management Accounting in 2008 and had her first job was a bank bookkeeper for a local development bank. In 2012, just a few years after the U.S. mega bank, JPMorgan Chase, opened its Global Service Center in Cebu, Jade was hired as an account specialist in Consumer and Community Banking. She loves reading web novels, specifically manhwas, but most of her spare time is devoted to her 6-year-old twin daughters, spending time with them working on arts and crafts projects.
Jean began working with WordPress after working in IT for about one year and seeing the WordPress market rapidly grow and start to demand more qualified professionals. With 6 years of experience, Jean is constantly studying to further his expertise in full-stack development and make sure clients get the very best. Jean has a keen eye for detail and finds satisfaction in fixing things and making sure everything goes smoothly for clients.
Besides work, Jean likes to lead a simple life. He loves animals and walks his dog every day, he also loves to spend quality time with his loved ones.
“We cannot lower a mountain therefore; we must elevate ourselves”
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