Ethan Giffin
CEO, Groove Commerce “I've done some things.”

Groove Commerce is the brainchild of CEO Ethan Giffin, an industry expert in eCommerce, e-marketing and the dynamic technologies behind them. For years, Ethan has lived and breathed conversion rates, search engine visibility and web analytics. Ethan is regularly invited to speak at the industry's top conferences, including: Internet Retailer, SMX West, PubCon and SES.

When you're not at Groove, what are you up to?

I go to the beach, enjoy Canadian whiskey and travel.

Why did you start Groove?

To create a great boutique agency that provides excellent service.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Which are your favorite?

18 pairs. My Black Ferragamo slip-ons.

What's your favorite social media platform?

I love Facebook because of the ability to stay connected to a large number of friends and family that I don't normally get to see due to busy schedules. But 4square is an interesting concept, the ability to locally check in and connect with your customers on a much more one on one basis. (And no, you can't share my Flickr feed with everyone).

Mack McGee Vice President of Sales & Marketing “Don't tell me how rough the water is, just bring the ship in.”

Mack joined Groove Commerce in January 2009 to lead its Business Development efforts. Currently, Mack oversees all sales and marketing efforts as well as heads Groove's ongoing partnership with Magento. As a graduate of the University of Maryland, Mack earned a B.A. in Communications. Mack is also a three-sport coach with Baltimore County Special Olympics.

When you're not at Groove, what are you up to?

Outside of Groove Commerce there's nothing better than watching Alabama Football, the Baltimore Ravens, playing golf or hanging out at Mamma's on the Half Shell.

Why did you come to Groove Commerce?

I came to Groove because I like the industry, I like what we do and who we do it for and it's constantly changing. What we offer clients, what we do for clients and ultimately the results we see are constantly interesting and evolving.

Do you believe that you are the "Coyote" to PJ's "Roadrunner?"

You know, I am much younger than P.J.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Which are your favorite?

12 pairs and my favorite sneakers, PJ & Ethan give me a lot a crap about. My newest? Plaid Chucks.

Why are you involved in Special Olympics?

Special Olympics is an opportunity to give back with something other than just your checkbook. It's a way to get out of the office during the week, run around, and really remember that certain things are only so important.

Bob Gillespie Creative Director “Everything gets designed.”

Bob joined Groove Commerce in April 2012 as Creative Director. When he's not pushing pixels or mixing color palettes he's running, working around the house, playing with the dogs, drinking beer or grillin'.

Why did you come to Groove Commerce?

Opportunity. You have goals in life and you have goals in your career and it's rare that you can achieve two things at once. That you can get into a place where the sky’s the limit and hard work is rewarded. To actually be hired to do a job where my ideas and my thoughts really matter. Being around design firms with limited scope. Huge opportunity. A small company that is on the tipping point of big things and to be part of making that tip happen is a dream come true, really.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Which are your favorite?

Around a dozen. Chuck Taylors. I got married in Chuck Taylors. All my groomsmen wore Chucks.

Describe your ideal client.

Someone who comes in with an idea and they come to us because they are experts in something they can't do and allow us to build a relationship that is built on trust. There is a mutual respect. You set a foundation of trust and respect and they want to be part of the process which is important to get to the deliverable which is best for them.

What Social Media platforms are you on? Which is your favorite?

FB, Twitter & LinkedIn. I use Twitter for design things. Facebook is not the real world so I like to mess with people that take it so serious. Twitter is my favorite. I like how much information I can scan to choose to read and explore. Also, FB is cool because I keep in touch with people I went to high school or college with.