Movers & Shakers

Knock, knock. Who's there? More thunder::tech news already? That’s right; we weren’t kidding when we said we’re always on the move, growing and evolving as a team. In chapter 2 of our Movers and Shakers blog, we’ll be covering the stories of two t::team members who have been paving their way here since day one and will continue to move in their new roles. Then we have the honor of introducing the new, bright and shiny face of the latest member to join our Communications Department. 
 
Let’s kick things off with the iconic Abi Warrell! 

 

Abi Warrell – Manager of Social Media and Influencer Marketing 

Tell us about yourself! How have you enjoyed your time here at thunder::tech and what does your new role entail?   

I began working at thunder::tech at the start of the pandemic when everyone was working from home. At the time I was the lone social media role, but since then our team has grown to multiple t::team members and specialties, from organic and paid social media to influencer marketing.

In this new role as Manager of Social Media and Influencer Marketing, I'll be overseeing both teams and putting client education as one of our primary focuses to start; traditional influencer marketing is sometimes overlooked because so many brands just don’t know all the opportunities that come with working with creators. We’re striving to show clients just how impactful it can be for any industry.
 

What are you looking forward to in your new position?   

We've been offering influencer marketing services for years, but this new role kicks the service up ten notches by focusing on quality partnerships that drive customer action. I’m really excited about everything we’ve got in the works, so stay tuned!  
 

What was your first job?   

I lived many lives before my professional career, starting when I was just 15. My journey included working as an office cleaner, post office mail sorter, nanny, accessories manager at Forever 21, telemarketer and I even spent time working at a “take and bake” pizza place.   
 

What is your favorite mid-afternoon snack?   

Oh, I love a soft pretzel. I could build an altar to Auntie Annes.
 

Do you have a go-to work playlist or do you prefer the quiet?   

Music is a must-have while working, but no podcasts otherwise I’ll end up just sitting there listening and getting nothing done. When I want to get motived, I put on Motown or female rappers. 
 

What’s your best dad joke?   

What did one lawyer say to another lawyer?  
We're both lawyers.

What wakes you up in the morning? Coffee, tea, other?    

I start off the day with a hot coffee, which is then followed up by an iced latte in the afternoon to keep me going. I’ve got an espresso machine and an obsession with different coffee syrups, so I essentially have my own mini-Starbucks at home.  
 

What is your learning style?   

Hands on. I need to be in the trenches to understand something which helps me optimize and make things better down the line.  

What are some of your talents? Work and unrelated?   

I do a really good Shakira impression. Don't ask me to do it!

On the clock, I have an insane attention to detail and can spot an Oxford comma or off-center logo in a social graphic from a mile away. It's my superpower.
 

Do you have any pets? If so, please share everything about them!  

Kirby is my one-eyed three-year-old St. Bernard poodle mix I rescued last year. Her name comes from Jack Kirby, the comic book artist who illustrated Cyclops. She’s my entire world and loves to sleep, eat bananas and stop by the t::t Cleveland office.
 

So far, what has been your favorite t::t moment?  

Hot::t Ones! It was super funny to film, and we got to see our team members in their truest form, aka who they are while in pain from really spicy hot sauces. (Also, follow us on TikTok to see the clips!) 

 
A massive thank you to Abi for sharing a snapshot of her life. We can’t wait until we get to see Kirby next time she’s in the office! Next up we get to know a bit more about the wonderful Kate Pixler. 
 

Kate Pixler – Group Portfolio Manager 

Kate, what should we know about you! How have you enjoyed your time here at thunder::tech ?  

The first thing you need to know is that I love thunder:::tech! I legit love it. When I was the client, I wished I was at an agency like thunder::tech so when the opportunity to work here arose, I was thrilled! 

The sheer amount of talent here is incredible. I love the people I get to work with every day, from t::team members to our clients.  
 

What are you looking forward to in your new position?   

I’m most excited to see the company continue to evolve. You make your own path here and my step is the Group Portfolio Manager. With the multiple directions everyone is headed, I get to help provide flexibility for our clients.  

The Client Services team continues to evolve, and there are so many really cool things in the works that I get to be a part of, it's all very exciting!  
 

Outside of work ~stuff~, what will you be bringing to the t::team?   

I’d say my passion for people. When I work with my clients and teammates, I genuinely care about them and not just saying it. I’m also a little weird, a little quirky which makes every project fun.  
 

What was your first job?    

My first job ever was washing dogs! It was super cool because I’ve always loved dogs. However, my first “adult” job was as a mortgage loan processor which was the worst job ever. I spent six months after college doing boring and tedious work before the housing market crashed.  
 

What wakes you up in the morning? Coffee, tea, other?    

I love black coffee, but either a hazelnut or vanilla blend.  
 

What is your learning style?   

I learn by doing. The hands-on method is definitely the best way for me.  
 

What’s your best dad joke?   

Why don’t monsters eat ghosts?
They taste like sheet!  
   

What are some of your talents? Work and unrelated?   

Some say my ability to talk is a talent! I could talk to a brick wall if I have to. I can also whistle and bake. One of my favorite recipes is one from my grandma; a chocolate angel food cake with a chocolate frosting.  

What is your favorite mid-afternoon snack?   

Cheese and crackers! My real favorite is a sharp white cheddar cheese which fortunately no one else in my household likes so I get it all to myself. 
 

Do you have a go-to work playlist or do you prefer the quiet?   

I need background noise while working but have no preference as to what style of music because silence really drives me crazy. I jump around a lot from classic rock like Bob Segar to Taylor Swift, just not heavy metal.   
 

Do you have any pets? If so, please share everything about them!  

I have two dogs! Elvis is our 2-year-old French Bulldog. He is itty bitty, teeny tiny but full of personality.  
Kodi is our 1-year-old German Shepard, Kodi, who is 95 lbs. And full of energy.    

So far, what has been your favorite t::t moment?  

The first day in the office and physically meeting people was the highlight. I had never met them in-person, even though I had tons of conversations with them every day. I even got to partake in my first t::t pumpkin carving competition. 
 

To wrap up chapter two of Movers and Shakers, please let me introduce you to Joey Geither! 
 

Joey Geither – Digital Marketing Strategist 

Joey – tell us about yourself! What are you doing here at thunder::tech?   

Before joining thunder::tech, I went to try out the Coast Guard, but after six weeks of the eight-week training I realized that it wasn’t for me. As I transitioned back home, I had to figure out what to do. I knew I wanted to be challenged every day, I wanted to be surrounded by mentors and peers that would help me grow as a professional.   

My passion is photography and videography, and I even run an e-commerce site that sells photography equipment. Through that experience, I found that I really loved the marketing side of business and wanted to explore that more. As a Digital Marketing Strategist, I have the opportunity to work in paid advertising and analytics where I know I’ll be learning every day. Additionally, digital marketing has a ton of potential and I’m excited to see where it goes and where I can go with my career here at thunder::tech.  

What are you looking forward to as the latest thunder::tech team member?  

I’m looking forward to not only being surrounded by some amazing people that will teach me new skills, but I also hope to be able to take what I’ve learned from my previous experiences and share it with my team. Thunder::tech has the best employee culture I’ve seen, it’s truly exceptional and I’m excited to add to it.  
 

Outside of work ~stuff~, what will you be bringing to the t::team?  

I’m a part of an intermural soccer team which is so much fun and I’m hoping to encourage some of the t::team to join in and make our own thunder::tech soccer team!  
 

What was your first job?   

I had two jobs in high school, the first being a camp counselor at a rec center. At 17 years old, I, along with 14 other counselors, were in charge of taking care of about 90 kids aged three up to 12 years old. It taught me a ton about responsibility.  

My other job was working at Dairy Queen with a bunch of other high schoolers which was super fun. I’d always make myself a cookie dough Blizzard that was half ice cream and half cookie dough, so good!   
 

What wakes you up in the morning? Coffee, tea, other?   

Oh, so much coffee. I drink at least two cups a day – black.   
 

What is your learning style?  

I’m a hands-on learner. I need to do it myself and implement the process I just learned in order to truly understand the concept.   
 

What is your favorite mid-afternoon snack?  

Takis! While they may stain my fingers, I love them! I'll eat a whole bag at a time, preferably the originals.  
 

Do you have a go-to work playlist or do you prefer silence?  

It depends on what task I’m working on at the time. When I’m crunching numbers and working on analytics, I’ll go for EDM. If I’m doing something more creative that requires open thinking, I like turning on podcasts. My favorites right now are DnD podcasts!  
 

What’s your best dad joke?  

My favorite is the classic:  
Me: “I'm hungry”   
Dad: “Hi Hungry, I’m Dad.”  
   

Do you have any pets? If so, please share everything about them!  

I currently do not but have been thinking about getting a little fish tank.   
 

So far, what has been your favorite t::t moment?  

While I’m still pretty new, my favorite moment so far definitely has to be going out for some pizza and beer with a group of coworkers. I love how welcoming everyone has been and being able to develop relationships with the people I work with. 



It’s people like this that give thunder::tech its wonderful culture filled with talent and welcoming people. As we grow, staying connected as a company is vital and we encourage communication between all departments so that we can foster those strong relationships. We can’t wait to see you in the next issue of Movers and Shakers! 


Want to join this group of cool cats and kittens? We’d love to have you! Check out our careers page with all our current open positions!