Ingrid Ricks
Principal

Ingrid Ricks worked as a journalist for several years, writing for The Seattle Times, The Advocate, Ladies' Home Journal and various other publications before shifting to marketing in the mid-90s. After helping to build a startup prepaid telecom company into a $300 million annual revenue business, Ingrid launched her own marketing strategies firm in 2001, tackling the digital entertainment space and helping clients to develop innovative promotions that capitalize on the growing force of digital entertainment and the Internet. In 2009, she launched RC Strategies Group to help companies of all sizes leverage the combined multi-pronged capabilities of digital promotions, social media and online marketing to grow their businesses. Utilizing her extensive expertise in digital promotions, online marketing and PR, Ingrid develops integrated marketing campaigns that harness the viral power of the Internet and social media, catapulting clients into the digital age.

Ingrid also keeps a hand in the journalistic world, continuing her work on social justice issues. Twice in her work she has traveled to Africa to document the plight of AIDS orphans and children impacted by civil war, famine, disease and poverty on behalf of The African Children’s Choir.

Ingrid lives, works and plays in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle with her husband, John, and daughters Sydney and Hannah.

Alan Hornell
Director, Strategic Marketing

As the Director of Strategic Marketing, Alan Hornell develops digital web-based solutions for clients that capitalize on a company’s strengths through the integration of new media technology marketing strategies. With 25 years of experience as the founder and CEO of a top 10 Pittsburgh marketing agency, he has designed programs for clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 firms and has worked with many major US marketers, including Proctor & Gamble, IBM, Phillip Morris, AT&T, Siemens and Bayer Corporation.

A clear industry leader, Alan has won national awards for high performance in marketing, public relations and video production. Wanting to share his expertise with his fellow colleagues, he also creates and directs professional seminars, and for the last ten years has written for several industry trade publications.

But it’s not ‘all work and no play’ for Alan, who in his spare time indulges in some of his many passions – running, photography, design and political science. On a daily basis he works to maximize every experience, relationship and opportunity to the fullest, living by the credo: “Do what you have fun doing and the results will be awesome.”