OUR TEAM
RJ Walker
FOUNDER | CEO
Ryan J. Walker is a 20-year marketing professional who currently serves as President | Chief Strategist for Matrix MKTG. In this leadership role, Ryan oversees a team of innovators and executors who cultivate and craft very meaningful relationships between “culture”, brands, and consumers. As a visionary, he spearheads long-range planning and business development and is responsible for overseeing the planning, the development, and the execution of the organization’s marketing and advertising initiatives.
John Hinkson
COO
John is a hands-on marketing and operations executive with more than 20 years of experience in Strategy, Experiential Marketing, Operations, and Program Management. Having led multiple integrated marketing agencies as an operational leader, he guides and aligns cross-functional teams in the areas of Brand Strategy, Client Services, Digital Marketing, Creative Designs, Video Production, and Operations for client programming across various sectors.
John specializes in leading, developing, and executing complex, strategic programs, and marketing initiatives with a focus on brand growth for businesses of all sizes from startups and Fortune 500 organizations. As a dedicated leader, he is committed to customer-centric strategy and operational excellence.
Stephanie Eason
Head of Client Services
Stephanie Eason is a bilingual marketing strategist with 16 years of experience in marketing, sales, and public relations for Fortune 500 firms in the sports, entertainment, retail, automotive, non-profit, and tobacco industries. Stephanie’s expertise includes developing and executing consumer strategy, with a big emphasis on experiential marketing and positive relationship cultivation.
Afrika Lander
HEAD OF BRAND AND COMMUNICATIONS
Afrika Lander is a brand marketing executive with 25+ years driving cultural impact across entertainment, media, publishing, spirits, and events. Renowned for strategic innovation, she transformed CIROC Vodka into a global lifestyle brand through marketing and partnerships. She held senior roles at VIBE, ESSENCE (producing the Music Festival Main Stage), Sony Music, and J Records. As GM/Head of Marketing for NE-YO’s Compound Entertainment, she led global operations and consumer programs.
She executive-produced the BET Awards Media House for three years and Prime Video influencer campaigns (Lizzo, Mary J. Blige, Riches, Harlem). Afrika serves on the boards of Disney Dreamers Academy and Grit Before The Gram Alliance.
Chad Smith
Creative director
Chad Smith, a Creative Director with expertise in culture strategy, experiential design, filmmaking, and marketing, blends storytelling and strategy in his work. As Executive Creative Director at Joyful, a Portland-based agency, he shaped brands and produced award-winning campaigns for clients like Dutch Bros Coffee, Daimler Truck, Nike, and Grant Thornton. Previously, at For Good & Co., he built a profitable film division, working with adidas, Tillamook, and Aviation Gin. Chad prioritizes authenticity and relatability, creating impactful campaigns. In his free time, he enjoys good food, vinyl records, hip hop, and playing with his toddler son.
Briana Bigham
Director of Merchandise Development & Design
Briana Marie is and Atlanta native and third-generation seamstress, with a career that spans over two decades in the fashion industry. A design graduate of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Briana’s expertise spans design, technical design, 3D design, graphics, production, and supply chain management.
Briana has thrived at leading fashion companies such as Victoria’s Secret PINK, ESPRIT, Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, and Barney’s New York, where she honed her design and product development skills. Her broad experience from an assistant designer through executive leadership has enabled her to bring innovative, high-quality products to market with a focus on speed-to-market production.
Lacey Medina
Director of HR
Lacey Medina is a high-impact HR Director with over 12 years of experience driving transformative results across diverse industries. She possesses a unique blend of strategic vision and operational excellence, with a proven track record of success in strategy, engagement, and leadership development across diverse demographics and dispersed workforces. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Certified Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-CP).
Lacey thrives in fast-paced, innovative environments and is deeply passionate about fostering high-performing, inclusive cultures. She is known for championing a people-first approach, empowering talented individuals to reach their full potential and deliver exceptional results.
Olivia Stilwell
Director of client services
Olivia Stilwell is a seasoned marketer and client services leader with over ten years of experience driving integrated campaigns and fostering brand partnerships for clients like Walmart, Ally Financial, Diageo, PepsiCo, and P&G. She excels in translating bold ideas into impactful, insight-driven campaigns across digital, experiential, and traditional channels, with a focus on culturally resonant, award-winning multicultural platforms. Liv’s strategic and executional expertise allows her to navigate complex projects with clarity and collaboration, delivering solutions-oriented results. Known for her hands-on approach and commitment to excellence, she inspires teams to create work that connects, performs, and shapes culture.
Tijuana Harvey
Sr. Creative Producer
Creativity runs through her bloodline, as a third-generation seamstress and designer. After receiving a degree in Fashion Merchandising, Tijuana ran the halls of Glamour and InStyle magazines in NYC before planting her roots in Event Marketing. She enjoyed 8 successful years as a Marketing Manager in luxury retail marrying her two passions, fashion and experiential marketing, before stepping away to globetrot. She enriched and immersed herself in other cultures, cuisines, textiles, and architecture. Her motto is, “the experience is everything” and she lives by that when creating engaging visual experiences for our clients.
Kiayanna Washington
Brand Strategist
Kiayanna Washington is a dynamic Brand Strategist with over five years of experience crafting data-driven strategies that create meaningful connections between businesses and their audiences. Prior to Matrix MKTG, she led brand and campaign development for industry leaders like Blanchard, Spotify, and Regions Bank, earning a reputation for delivering impactful results across diverse sectors. With a background in communications and social sciences, Kiayanna seamlessly blends actionable insights with creative storytelling to help clients elevate brand perception and drive engagement. Kiayanna holds a BA in Political Science from Georgia State University and a Masters in Communication Management from the University of Southern California.
Caroline Quandt
Brand Strategist
Caroline is a brand strategist driven by the belief that data without a story is boring, and a story without data is meaningless. This philosophy shapes her approach, enabling her to act as the connective tissue between analytics and creativity while leveraging research to inspire impactful work. Passionate about advocating for the consumer, Caroline has a knack for humanizing brands in regulated industries. She has led creative platform campaigns, developed positioning strategies and brand architectures, conducted market research, and built rich audience profiles – all while measuring brand impact. Her experience spans diverse brands, including Rivian, Regions Bank, Little Debbie, Panama City Beach, Visit Baton Rouge, the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, Southern Company, and more.
Darren Nesbit
DIGITAL STRATEGIST
A Senior Strategist with a decade of experience with top creative agencies, turning cultural insights into actionable strategies that connect brands to their audiences in authentic ways. My background spans from community management, up through strategy-development, and a deep understanding of how brands can meaningfully exist in the attention economy.
I’m somewhere right now spotting cultural opportunities, identifying niches and subcultures, vetting Creator partners and ensuring campaigns are rich in narrative and relevance. Recently, I’ve been exploring generative AI to enhance creativity and streamline workflows, bringing a tech-forward approach to our strategic work.
Jessica Buck
DIGITAL STRATEGIST
Jessica Buck is a seasoned digital marketing and copywriting professional with over a decade of experience creating content that connects and converts. She brings deep expertise in SEO, multi-channel marketing, and data-driven storytelling, crafting strategies that boost brand visibility, drive audience engagement, and fuel business growth. Throughout her career, Jessica has led cross-functional teams and delivered high-impact campaigns across digital platforms, from blogs and emails to landing pages and ad copy.
With a BA in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University, Jessica blends journalistic insight with marketing strategy to deliver content that resonates.
Donna Brown
SR. PROJECT MANAGER
Donna Brown is a seasoned project management and marketing leader with over 15 years of experience driving results at global agencies and iconic brands. Her career spans impactful roles at AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, Microsoft, and 22squared, where she led cross-functional initiatives across the beverage, communications, and retail industries.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and an MBA from the esteemed HBCU, Clark Atlanta University. Donna thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments where creativity and strategy meet—and she’s genuinely excited to bring that energy to her new team.
James Waites
Sr. Creative Designer
James Waites is a graphic designer with more than 15 years of experience supporting small to medium-sized businesses. Throughout his career, Reese has managed all aspects of the creative design process. While leading projects, Reese spends time consistently cultivating, collaborating, refining, and crafting graphics. He has developed 400+ graphic design projects (logos, brochures, advertisements, infographics, motion graphics, websites, etc.) that increased clients’ brand awareness and recognition.
Gayle Smith
Executive Support
Gayle Smith is a dynamic and results-driven professional with a strong background in project management and business development. She studied Communications at Tennessee State University and has built a reputation for successfully delivering project objectives that drive profitability and organizational growth. Gayle is known for her strategic analysis and expertise in improving security processes, risk mitigation, and stakeholder management.
Throughout her career, Gayle has excelled in client service and team leadership, building strong, transparent relationships with clients to ensure success. Her problem-solving and decision-making abilities, combined with her expertise in IT services support, have contributed to her success in creating impactful solutions. Gayle’s resourcefulness and dedication to going above and beyond in her duties ensure optimal outcomes for both clients and teams. She is always eager to connect with like-minded professionals and explore new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Nadia Stevens
Operations Manager
Nadia Stevens has over 10 years of event marketing and consumer engagement experience in the tobacco, alcohol, automotive, sports, and sales industries. Nadia began working in the tobacco industry in 2012 as a Brand Representative for Al Capone Cigarillos thereby gaining knowledge of the rules and regulations of the tobacco industry. Nadia has since worked with several tobacco brands including KOOL, Backwoods, Dutch Masters, and Phillies Cigars. Nadia specializes in Tobacco Licensing and Event Management.
Shawneé Owens
Content Manager
Shawneé Owens has over a decade experience in digital marketing, creative production, and content strategy. She graduated from the illustrious Howard University, where her passion and proficiency in Fine Arts led to a career in directing, marketing, and digital content production. Shawneé has operated as a key contributor for how both SMB and Fortune 500 companies have maintained and marketed their business online through content production, strategy integration, and social media management. With the proper strategy is in place, she recognizes both content and social media platforms as digital marketing tools that any business can leverage to amplify their goals.
Lamar Vason
Creative Designer
Lamar is a Graphic Designer with over 7 years of experience, specializing in activations, marketing campaigns, brand development, packaging design, and illustrations. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, he has contributed to more than 30 client projects across agency and in-house roles. Lavae’s work includes campaigns for Red Bull Symphonic, BET Awards, Puma x Balmain, and Twitter CultureCon. Guided by the motto, “The best response to good work is more work,” he strives to create impactful visuals and memorable moments, currently collaborating with Matrix MKTG.
Ryen Cooper
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Ryen Cooper is a skilled Digital Content Manager and Creative Strategist with over a decade of experience in project management, production, marketing, and social media management. She has led creative workshops and developed innovative go-to-market solutions for global clients, including Coca-Cola, Habitat for Humanity, and Capital One. A Spelman College graduate with a degree in International and Cultural Studies, Ryen also studied marketing and filmmaking in Belgium, blending cultural insights with creative storytelling. Her work is driven by a passion for using media to build connections and celebrate diversity.
Porcherria Huff
Project Manager
Porcherria Huff is a powerhouse Project Manager blending over 12 years of experience in operations, film and television, and event management. With a Master’s in Professional Communication and Digital Media from Texas Southern University, she has contributed her expertise to industry giants like CBS Radio, Tyler Perry Studios, and Revolt Multimedia Company where she’s mastered the art of building seamless workflows and systems for teams of all sizes. Guided by the legendary words of a beloved professor, “What we do, we do well. What we don’t do well, we don’t do at all,” Porcherria delivers excellence with precision and passion. Her unmatched versatility and creative energy make her a driving force in any project she touches.
Erin Kim
SOCIAL MEDIA coordinator
Erin Kim is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Communications Studies. She has a wealth of experience in tracking data, garnering engagement, and measuring the success of different marketing campaigns for Warner Bros. Discovery and other local businesses. She has experience in creating social campaigns, tracking user engagement, and working cross-functionally to ensure successful launches. Erin has a passion for collaborating with other creators to find innovative ways to help brands and companies get their messages across to their target audience, and her passion for social media is driven by her love for content and community.
