Founded in 2003 by Jeffrey Friend, Forward Media Group is a team of professionals that specializes in website development and long term relationships with our Clients. Putting years of experience in marketing, business and customer service to work for small to medium sized businesses, we deliver unique, findable websites and web marketing programs that help move your business objectives forward.
Let’s work together.
| Jay Herndon | Ray Monell | Lee Ann Yahle | Amin Nelson | Jeffrey Friend | Debra Friend | Abby Ramos | Jason Moore |
As Creative Director and Project Manager, Jeff directs Forward Media Group’s creative and technical expertise to develop a powerful Internet presence for each client. Known as a “musician’s musician” who is proficient with drums, keyboard, guitar and percussion, Jeff began his career as a jingle writer and audio producer for leading advertising and marketing companies. Among other things, this gave him the opportunity to work with such diverse artists as Doc Severinsen, BB King and Florence Henderson. For 10 years Jeff ran his own recording studio providing audio tracks and original jingles for TV and radio commercials, and for corporate video productions. In the late 1990’s he became interested in Web site development, learned the tools and techniques, and built his first commercial site in 1998. In 2003, with wife Debra and good friend Ben Callahan, Jeff founded Forward Media Group to focus full-time on applying the latest Internet-related technology to helping customers achieve their organizations’ goals.
Debra’s business acumen was honed through 30 years serving in national and regional companies. Her responsibilities ranged from purchasing and department supervision, to quality assurance management. The latter included implementing ISO compliance processes and developing continuous improvement programs. The essence of Debra’s business philosophy is to focus on team building within an organization and establishing and maintaining long-term relationships with customers. To this end, Debra seeks to learn all she can about client companies and help them find new ways to achieve their goals. Internally, some have likened managing a team of highly creative designers, programmers and writers to herding cats. Fortunately, Debra is adept at efficiently directing this array of talent to serve the needs of the clients. When not working on customer issues, Debra enjoys creative cooking and staying in close touch with her two adult daughters.
Since 2002 Amin has provided the back-end code for Web sites ranging from very simple to highly complex. As a Web developer, Amin loves to take on challenging issues and come up with practical solutions. This spirit also serves him well in his passion for playing and coaching football, and working toward a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. It’s the same drive that made him a three-letter athlete (football, track and wrestling) in school. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Amin is a consummate family man. His wife and two sons are the center of his life, around which his love of Web development and sports revolve.
After serving in the US Air Force as a combat photographer recording highly classified subjects (if he told us more he’d have to…well, you know), Jay established himself as an independent commercial photographer working with such companies as Harley-Davidson, Nissan Motors, Morgan Stanley and the University of Dayton. He also spent a number of years covering motor sports and local rock bands. Jay has photographed products, architectural details, and people – including celebrities for Time-Warner Cable. In addition to photography as a both profession and personal passion, Jay is an avid model railroader, dog lover and inveterate home remodeler.
Ray began his career in TV broadcasting but soon moved into the realm of corporate video. In 1995 he started his own company to produce video marketing tools for business clients of all kinds and sizes, and has earned a number of local and national awards for his work. For Forward Media Group, Ray is a scriptwriter, director, producer and editor who bring video impact to customers’ Web sites. When he steps out from behind the camera, Ray is a serious bicycling enthusiast, participating in such events as the 106-mile Cheat Mountain Challenge through the punishing twists and turns of West Virginia’s high country. He refers to this as “relaxation.”
An honors graduate of the School of Advertising Art, he has earned numerous awards and accolades for his multi-faceted work. Jason’s talents in digital design, illustration and animation enhance the Web sites of Forward Media Group’s customers. In addition to his design work, Jason has authored five books, published articles in national magazines and teaches production techniques for houses of worship throughout the US.
Stringing together the right words for a Web site is no easy task. Fortunately, Abby has a wide range of experience addressing diverse audiences for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Abby earned a BA in Urban and Public Affairs from Wright State University and certification as a residential interior designer from St. Mary’s University. Abby’s unique strength is her ability to understand and articulate customer issues for the Web audience. She dedicates her non-working time to her husband, two children, and to her passion for capturing and artistically interpreting the world’s beauty through photography.
Lee Ann has been an independent professional photographer for 10 years, after stints as a staff photographer for Kettering Hospital, the AVTECH Company and a fashion studio. Her photos reflect a broad spectrum of subjects in industries and professions such as medical, manufacturing, corporate executives, building trades, pet foods and consumer products. A graduate of the Art Institute of Atlanta, Lee Ann got the photography bug at age 15 and has never stopped shooting cameras through 22 years of marriage, raising 2 children and volunteering in her community.