The Synergize Team

Ever since Chris was a young lad, he had dreams of running an internet marketing company. "No one else knew about internet marketing in the 80's. In fact, no one else had even heard of the internet at that stage. But I did," he says with a glint in his eye. Chris founded the company in 1999, and has successfully molded a team of exciting individuals, known and feared throughout the land as "The Synergize Team".

Shaune could sell ice to Eskimos, at least he could if they weren’t so scared of his ginger hair. Having obtained a Degree in English & Communications Science he knows a good thing when he sees it and after being a client of Synergize he knew that he needed to be a part of the team. His passion for SEO and online marketing is tangible within the office and his frustration with Telkom is audible outside of it.

As head of SEO at Synergize, Robin manages the day to day activities and strategies for his team of SEO minions. Robin, who reckons he "puts the Goo in Google" is one of the original ninjas of search engine optimisation, having spent the last 6 years working for a leading London, UK based agency.  Coming from a programming background his passion for digital is outweighed only by his aversion to all things Apple.

Meagan is the "go to" person in the office, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, like a well-oiled machine. Or at least a machine that runs properly, it doesn't really have to be well-oiled to do that, it's just a metaphor we enjoy using. A keen sportswoman and coach, Meagan brings discipline and organisation to the office, and regularly prods us with her cricket bat if we step out of line.

Professor Weideman, head of department in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, is a Professor of SEO, (one of only a handful in the world). Affectionately referred to as "the prof" he keeps us updated on the latest developments in the ever changing world of search engine optimisation. His book 'Website Visibility' is a valuable guide to the often confusing world of search engines and SEO.

Marilie joined our group of marketers after deciding that her former job as a fire eater in a travelling circus was not exciting enough for her. She now gets her kicks as Robin's chief sidekick in marketing our clients sites and working with social media. Her hobbies include walking on the beach with her dogs and making the rest of us look bad by working too hard.

After graduating from UCT with a degree in Labour, Organisational Psychology and Human Resource Management (what a mouthful) and a post graduate diploma in Marketing Management, Sarah realised that online marketing was her true calling and is now happily part of the Synergize team. Her hobbies include drinking wine and horse riding… preferably not at the same time.

Mark fell in love with SEO after handling the marketing responsibilities for Six-love Online Music blog for some time. Six-love came in second place at the South African Blog Awards for best music blog in 2010; this is when Mark decided to get into online full time.  He is now an Account Manager at Synergize, having done his time working alongside the other AM's while learning the ropes.
 

Jo-Ann is an SEO strategist who once made it to the second round of Idols (the year that Karin Kortje won). In addition to that particular accolade, she is also well known for her abilities as an online marketing strategist, ensuring that her portfolio of clients are well looked after in the internet sphere. Jo-Ann's other great loves include socialising, dancing and her baby daughter. She is also fond of David Beckham, and actually bumped into him once, sending him flying into a nearby table.

Petrus joined our team when he burst into our offices one day shouting “Hide me!” We promptly shoved him in a cupboard and told the men in dark suits and sunglasses who were chasing him, that he ran the other way. To repay us for our kindness (and the fact that we never asked any questions) Petrus looks after our client's website updates.

Kimberley started as an intern at Synergize. She enjoyed learning about SEO and online marketing so much that she was offered a permanent position. A born and bred Capetonian, she recently graduated from UCT with a BA in Media & Writing, English, and Film Studies. She's also doing a part time course with the Writer's Bureau in London. Kim enjoys socialising, running, playing piano and cello, and being snap happy with her camera.

Kevin joined the Synergize team as an SEO strategist. His job is to do what we tell him and listen to our stories of how easy the kids in SEO have it these days, “…Why when we were young, you had to optimise websites using nothing but masking tape, wire and sticks, and that’s if you were lucky..." Through our gentle guidance and teaching he is sure to become the next great SEO wiz.

When Aislinn wandered into the Synergize offices we quickly recognised her unique writing talent, and after discovering that online marketing was in her blood, quickly put her to work. Some say she is the girl with the Dragon tattoo and that she can make a duck's quack echo. All we know is that she likes chilli poppers, hates cake and won’t tell us the name of her blog.

As a child of the 80’s Jason idolised Magnum P.I, Airwolf and Macgyver. His first love was a Commodore 64 and he has been a techno geek ever since. After graduating with a B.Com in Marketing and Postgrad in Enterprise Management he went in search of Leprechauns only to discover that he hated Ireland. He claims to fly helicopters and watch five-day cricket. All we know is that he looks like Tom Skerritt.

When Lindi told us that she had found her way from Vredeburg to Westlake without any help we knew she had exceptional search skills and possibly a knack for Google maps. She studied a B.Dram (drama) at Maties and when there was nothing left to drink in Stellenbosch she changed South African music forever by promoting aKING and Die Heuwels Fantasties. When Lindi isn’t conquering the world of marketing she goes back to her roots – way back. Her longing to live in the sea manifests itself in surfing and SCUBA diving.

Tim abandoned his life-long dream of becoming a ninja turtle when he discovered that it wasn’t all pizza and good looking news reporters. He decided to put his ninja skills to better use by joining the crafty online marketing team at Synergize. His skill in website design and his childhood fascination with computer games make him a valuable member of our dynamic online marketing machine.

After cutting her journalistic teeth during the SADF invasion of Lesotho and narrowly escaping a severe stomach bug from some under-cooked chicken’s feet, Marcelle decided to venture into the safer yet equally exciting world of online marketing. Taking her writing skill and PR aptitude to the next level, Marcelle has joined Synergize as an intern to prove to digital marketers all over the world that great things do come from Bellville.

Born and raised in Somerset West, Jade stumbled across our office in Woodstock at the beginning of the year. Interning with us for a month, she quickly landed the position of Junior SEO Strategist. With her passion and talents for SEO, she looks at her job "more as having fun". And when she finally manages to tear herself away from SEO, she can be found day dreaming of holidaying in London, walking on the beach and enjoying the outdoors. 

Unlike the stereotypical computer science graduate, Tony enjoys dancing and going to the beach. Very adventurous and always curious, Tony surprisingly manages to steer his gaze away from his desk view of Table Mountain and focus on learning the ropes of SEO and development, while impressing us with his mysterious design talents. To relax, Tony enjoys a good party and plays Playstation.

While studying software development at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Siyabonga adopted a passion for solving problems and a curiosity for online marketing. A true team player, when Siyabonga isn't learning the ropes of SEO and online marketing, he enjoys teaching others in his community about the internet, as well as playing football with the local kids. For fun, Siyabonga enjoys hiking, going to the beach, watching movies, and dancing.

Graduating from UCT with an English honours degree, Sam loves to curl up with a good book, and is passionate about writing. She loves her city, and in her spare time is a big fan of picnics on Chappies, experimental cupcake baking, happy snapping with her camera which is generally glued to her hand, painting, day dreaming and dawdling. With a bad case of wishful wanderlust, she is on the hunt for an adventure. 

Sandy began her life in Cape Town, but this girl was born with itchy feet and has been travelling ever since! She spent her childhood in Tenerife and on Ascension Island, and then rode giant turtles back to Cape Town, where she graduated from Ruth Prowse School of Art with a diploma in graphic design. She lived in London for the next 11 years, but now she’s back home, and we’re excited to be working with her at Synergize!

Growing up as a band geek at an all-girl’s school provided enough fodder for Tammy to fuel her writing skill. She soon gave up on the chef dream once she realised she couldn’t fry an egg and in no time found herself heading up the editorial team at the fastest growing web-company in history. Due to sleep deprivation and the awkwardness of wearing a constant caffeine drip, Tammy searched for greener pastures that would give her more time to knit and build model airplanes.

Born in Jozi, his parents soon realised the error of their ways and decided to raise young Shaheed in Cape Town. Armed with a degree in Information Systems Engineering, Shaheed is heading up the Development Department at Synergize. When not feeding his passion for new technology, he can be seen on the tri-lines or supporting some sort of martial art. Not wrestling though, that’s for sissies.

Joining us as an intern from Germany, Bastian is lending Synergize his design skills. When asked why South Africa, his response was that he likes the African culture and because there are too many Germans in Vancouver and Australia. Known as DJ Buzz in the electro clubs back home, Bastian is on the search for a good Dubstep club in the Mother City and is concerned about the driving skills of South Africans – something he experiences during his mini-bus taxi trips around town.

If you are keen to spend time within a hard working team in the world of Online Marketing, are enthusiastic, innovative and a team player we'd like to talk to you. Earn while you learn, with an entry level salary and the opportunity to become an expert in the field of online marketing.

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