Ty Hallock - Founding Partner & CEO

As a founder and partner of TopFloorStudio, Ty has cultivated client relationships around the country that have not only exponentially grown the business of TopFloorStudio but have also raised the profile of the region and created new, permanent, full-time positions and countless freelance assignments for creative workers in Asheville, North Carolina.

Ty is someone who has an insatiable desire to learn about how the world works and how people relate and interact in that world. He has created a “learning culture” at TopFloorStudio, where each new project is an opportunity for the group to dive in and do something that has never been done before. TopFloorStudio clients are “innovation partners” who are concerned with evolving their business, not just growing it.

Ty serves on the boards of the IT council of Asheville, A-B Tech's Business Computer Technologies Department, and the American Advertising Federation of Asheville. A pivotal player on the HUB tech team, Ty works tirelessly to connect local media artists and tech workers as well as raise the national and international profile of Western North Carolina as a crossroads for creativity, technology, and economic development. Ty holds a degree in Digital Media from Full Sail.

Photo of Ty by Michael Traister from his book The Faces of Izzy's Coffee Den

Carlos Steward - E-Marketing Director

Carlos Steward has been performing Search Engine Marketing Techniques and Consultation since 1993. He was one of the first Certified Google AdWords Experts. He has managed SEO, SEM, PPC campaigns, and Google Analytics for retail shops, outdoor recreation, the National YMCA, touring, mining and manufacturing, AAA Auto Club, galleries, film festivals and clothing stores throughout the US.

Carlos holds a BFA from Florida State University, a MFA from the University of Guanajuato, Mexico and is a certified, Internet Engineer from Net Guru Technologies, in Chicago, since 1996. In 2007, he joined forces with Top Floor Studio to promote the SEEOM system of Search Engine Optimization. His book, “Recreating the Level Playing Field –using the SEEOM method of SEO” is currently scheduled for publication in July of 2008. He has been actively involved in environmental projects, working with the Center for Wetlands at the University of Florida and the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and is a member of FutaFriends in Patagonia, Chile.

Keoki Trask - Project Manager

Keoki Trask comes straight out of the retail manufacturing industry's tight production deadlines and shifting marketplace to assure that our client's products and services are delivered per spec, in budget and on time. A 15 year veteran of the music industry and media production business, Keoki specializes in digital audio with an emphasis on business.

Keoki is a graduate of Full Sail, one of the premiere Media Arts schools in the world. Starting out as an Audio Engineer and broadcast Video Editor, Keoki has since branched out into graphic design, software development and ultimately production and project management. He has been in the center hub of many fortune 500 company's Research & Development departments as both a technician and project lead, including Tony Robbins, Steven Covey, Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Ludlum, Martha Stewart, Macy’s, Bravo TV, Disney, Universal Studios, CVS, USA Drug, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, WWF, Ringling Brothers, and many more.

Forrest Livengood - Web Developer

Forrest Livengood is a web developer with a focus on the Drupal content management system. He moved to Western North Carolina to help his parents and grandparents run an inn and llama farm. As a "trekmaster" he lead guests on hikes with llama companions. A graduate of UNC Asheville, Forrest has been working with web technologies for the past three years. With a passion for web development Forrest is no stranger to tight deadlines and thinking on his toes. That mentality crosses over to his personal life where he is a member of The OxyMorons, Asheville's premiere improv comedy troupe.

Jennifer Harmon - Mobile App Developer

Jennifer Harmon is a web application and mobile developer with a passion for creating an interactive and engaging user experience. She started off as a Flash developer building user interfaces for AI-based simulations at the University of Purdue where she acquired her Bachelors Degree. She then moved on to New York City to work with Fi, an award-winning interactive design agency. While there, she polished her skills as a dynamic html developer building sites for companies like EA and Time Warner Cable before venturing into the exciting world of mobile app development. After working with EASports to build the Madden 10 Online Franchise iPhone app, it was clear to her that she had found a new passion in mobile development.

Ready for a change of pace from the Big Apple and having heard enchanting stories about a land far away called Asheville, she set out with her fiancé on an adventure to find this magical place. She devotes her free time to helping her fiancé with a business startup venture, painting, and playing with her joyful new puppy.

Tracie King - Mobile App Designer

Tracie's move to Asheville has brought her full circle with NC living. She grew up in the Outer Banks and got a BFA degree in Communication Arts from East Carolina University with a concentration on illustration. After graduation, she went to Washington, DC, where she worked as a designer for the Corporate Executive Board. From there it was off to New York City where she was a designer for both ELLE and ELLE Decor magazines. Then it was on to San Francisco where she was the art director for Pregnancy magazine.

Wanting to try something new (and being a self-confessed complete addict to her iPhone), she entered the world of mobile app design. Following her love for illustration and design it was a natural progression from the world of print. Her design process is a study of ease of use, brand aesthetic and functionality. She has designed apps for the movie Bottle Shock, Smarts Co., and 4 Square Labs as well as the Adventures of Lily & Stella, a children's book.

Her spare time is spent cooking, designing jewelry...or reading vampire books.

Kevin King - Business Development and Marketing

Kevin was born and raised in Kinston, North Carolina. He has spent most of his career chasing his passion and love of music in both New York City and most recently San Francisco. His love of music and the business surrounding it has happily branched Kevin off into the mobile, web, and social media aspect of the business. Through this involvement Kevin has been thoroughly immersed in the mobile application business, most recently with Apple. Kevin's relationship with Apple and understanding of the mobile applications platform as a viable next-generation content delivery device and life utility have proven invaluable. Kevin resides in North Asheville with his wife, two children, a pug, and a cat.

Jenny Greer - Creative Designer

Jenny Greer believes in the power of graphic design to communicate clear concise messages to a target audience. Jenny’s creative process includes gathering extensive information about a project to come up with intuitive ideas that communicate a message. Her visual concepts breed a distinct look for each project. Working in Atlanta, under major corporate branding systems like Coca-Cola, M&M Mars, Olive Garden and UPS early in her career, gives her a strong background in branding and an edge on coming up with ideas that are distinct and memorable as well as functional.