Chris has been in advertising, public relations and media since his college days. He has over 40 years of experience working in radio, television and video production. Chris started SPI 37 years ago as a traditional advertising agency. During that time, he has created a distinctive, storyteller-style video format that’s been adopted by many of region’s most recognizable brands to share their.

As clients’ needs evolved, so did SPI. Chris embraced digital and programmatic media in its earliest days and made significant investments in training and technologies to ensure SPI was a leader in the digital space. In fact, SPI was one of the first advertising agencies in the country to have its own in-house programmatic media traders. Under Chris’ watchful eye, SPI has grown to be well-known and appreciated for its creative, media and digital expertise.

When Chris isn’t writing or directing an edit session, he’s relaxing with his family, chilling with his two dogs, baking bread or whipping up a new pizza creation.

Rick’s career in marketing spans 36 years. During that time, he’s done it all – print design and production, brand and promotional development, writing and directing award winning radio and TV spots, designing websites and creating animated banner ads. He specializes in retail advertising with extensive experience in automotive, home furnishings and medical advertising. Rick is also a professional mechanic and spent years racing cars that he built.

Valerie is a self-proclaimed digital nerd. She’s SPI’s go-to person for planning and implementing digital media strategies. In addition, she has a wall full of certifications from Google, The Trade Desk and Bing. On top of that, Valerie understand HTML5 coding, can repair computers and loves connecting with clients. When Valerie’s not in front of a computer screen, you can find her in the kitchen cooking up one of her grandmother’s Czech recipes or reading a selection from her classic book collection.

Kelly is SPI’s “wearer of many hats.” She coordinates all things production related, manages our client’s jobs from beginning to end, handles the logistics of our video shoots and still has time to assist in our social media efforts. Kelly also has an extensive background in content marketing and working with real estate, event and sports clients. Speaking of sports, Kelly has passion for volleyball… both as a player and coaching the next generation of players.

Rebel specializes in customer relations with extensive experience in napping and dishing out high-fives in exchange for snacks. This senior German Shepard found his way to SPI after being rescued from the Norfolk SPCA. Most days, you can find Rebel in our Creative Director’s office brainstorming (which looks a lot like sleeping) or barking out his demands… for treats.

Lesli brings over 20 years of experience in marketing plan development, research, media negotiations and buying to SPI Collective. She oversees accounts with a dedication to careful and responsible management of client assets in a transparent manner.  Lesli effectively plans and executes media placements in markets across the United States and manages media budgets ranging from $20,000 to over $18 million. When not crunching numbers or following Nielsen TV trends, you can find her escaping for a quick Peloton class and spending time with her family at the lake, the beach or supporting her kids in all things volleyball!

Sarah Beth has 11 years of experience in videography, editing and marketing. She also holds a Masters of Business Administration – Marketing degree. In 2012, Sarah Beth founded Dualstone Productions, LLC and has produced award-winning work that’s been seen locally and nationally. When she’s not in the edit suite, you can find Sarah Beth on the dance floor where she competes competitively or enjoying time riding her horse.

Videographer & Director of Photography, SPI Collective Partner Dave is renowned for his ability as a director and his skill at painting with light and shadows. Dave has 34 years of experience creating beautiful imagery and telling memorable stories through the camera’s lens. He’s directed for several national networks including Travel Channel, Learning Channel and HGTV, as well as, many of their shows including A Haunting, FBI Files and Extreme Homes. Clorox, McDonalds, Marriott, the State of Virginia Tourism, Luray Caverns, Monticello, The Greenbrier and Mauna Kea Hawaii are some of the companies.

Dave has been professionally writing music for radio and television since he was 16 years old. Not only does he play several musical instruments, Dave also composes music digitally with the use of several computer programs. Some of his most recent clients include Call of Duty, Nintendo, Blizzard, Microsoft, Overwatch League, Magic the Gathering, NBC, The Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, truTV and the NFL. Dave’s motto is to, “Let’s keep it drama-free and work together until the job is done.”