People. Our most important feature.

At Rise, we believe there’s nothing more important to our success than our people. On this page you’ll find our family. Not just their names and titles, but what they do, what they believe in and how they've helped to make us great. Feel free to click-in and say hello.

Stephan Barrett
Stephan Barrett

Designer, Dad, Runner, Soccer Player, and CEO of Rise

Stephan formed Rise in 2002, when his passion for web design hit him like a laser. Today, he oversees a dedicated staff and the digital marketing for some of the area’s most prestigious clients.

Stephan’s experience spans over a decade in all areas of design and technology. He is an untiring advocate for quality and has earned a reputation for building trust and loyalty with clients who so often become repeat clients. Today, his passion is launching sites that do more than sit: they communicate, connect and continue a conversation.

Stephan lives in Baldwin Park, Florida with his dogs, Gooch and Lexi. Stephan doesn’t believe in sweating the small stuff.

Dawn Borglund
Dawn Borglund

Transmedia Director, Window Gardener, and Brand Manager of Rise

Dawn brought her diverse and impressive skills to Rise in July of 2010 and performs a range of vital tasks from brand and client management to consultations and sales. She believes in falling in love with customers and doing everything in her power to see their ideas come alive in the digital marketplace.

Dawn forged an interesting and unique path to Rise, including earning her MFA in Film and Digital Media from the University of Central Florida - only the second to ever complete the program - and directing interactive broadcasts from India. When she’s not helping you make the world rock, Rise-style, you’ll find her developing creative mojo and building connections throughout her field by leading workshops in topics such as Social Media Marketing, Transmedia, and Search Engine Optimization.

When out of the office, Dawn shares the love with her two Shih Tzu companions - one a record-setting 26 pounds of fluff and devotion - window gardens herbs and veggies, and enjoys being active in her community, participating in the Susan B. Komen 5K Race for the Cure and Orlando Fringe Festival.

You can be sure that your digital needs and dreams will be met when placed in Dawn’s caring and capable hands.

Frank Candamil

Visual Designer

Our resident visual designer and jack of all trades - Frank is our go-to guy for just about everything. His experience spans the board from project management to web development to design. Having worked in so many key roles, Frank's understanding of how a design will interact with and appeal to a website visitor is second to none.

Ken Ingraham
Ken Ingraham

Brand Manager

With a career spanning several industries and positions of leadership, Ken brings a wealth of management and subject matter knowledge to the table. Whether it’s music, film, car-racing, interactive theater or digital media convergence, Ken is comfortable in the discussion and hungry for information. He's handled multi-million dollar accounts and developed completely new forms of entertainment. His unique blend of results-oriented management and effective communication style makes him a great Account Executive for your project.

Audra Montgomery
Audra Montgomery

Account Executive Assistant

The newest addition to the rise family, Audra brings sparkle, warmth, and professionalism to her role as Account Executive Assistant, courtesy of her past life in the world of theatre, where the show must go on and with a smile, no less. Whether pulling from her skills of improvisation onstage or her near-Herculean multitasking abilities honed from years as a House Manager, she takes on the daily whirlwinds of rise with a deft hand and an effortless sense of calm. Whether she's handling communications with prospective and established clients, greeting every new face with a broad smile, or buttressing the endeavors of all her teammates with the utmost earnestness, Audra makes the collaborative journey of seeing your vision through to completion a smooth and enjoyable sojourn for all involved. In addition, she is the only person at rise in her right mind... that is to say, she is the only lefty in the entire bunch.

Ian Sholtys

User Experience Strategist

Hailing from Cornell University with a background in Human-Computer Interaction, Ian is the first stop of any project in the rise labs. His knowledge of how we interact with technology helps lead the charge in the battle against bad design and poor functionality. As our coveted User Experience Strategist, he's making your sites work better for your users and inspiring perfected design and functionality.

Albert Volkman

Developer, Barefoot Runner, and System Administrator of Rise

Albert has a proven record of making technology work for his clients. Earning his first degree in computer science and his second degree in computer science-focused business management over a decade ago, he has been developing and applying an impressive set of skills ranging from computer repair to an expertise in Drupal and using multiple programming languages to deliver high-quality, customized functionality.

Hired on in February, Albert brought these strengths to your service at Rise. He holds the position of Developer and System Administrator, the responsibilities of which consist of developing ideas with you in the early stages of site creation, building your site, and then customizing modules within it to meet your needs and specifications. In this way, Albert brings his clients' ideal visions of a well-functioning website to the realm of digital reality.

Albert came to Florida from Illinois five years ago and shares his new home with his wife, whom he says constantly awes him with her love-without-bounds approach to life. Albert is inspired by people who do what they do well and take pride in their accomplishments. When not at work, he is a graphic novel aficionado and barefoot runner - he even owns the running shoes with individual toes!

From Apache to OS X and CSS to XML, Albert's got you covered. Rise is psyched to have him on board!