Meet Our Team
Jesse Holder – Owner/Founder
Jesse’s knack for offering technical solutions and developing websites comes naturally – and it is no surprise. With many years of Fortune 500 software development experience and IT consulting under his belt, Jesse’s deep interest in the Internet and love for the creative led him to found LocalWise.
Jesse’s vision for LocalWise is to be a catalyst for small and medium-sized businesses needing to expand their reach online - to tap into new markets, to reach new audiences, and to grow their businesses like never before. Jesse’s deep appreciation for small business and entrepreneurship coupled with his love for IT ultimately led him back to the classroom. In late 1999, he received an MBA from Georgia State University. He now enjoys offering clients his technical perspective combined with a no-nonsense approach to successfully building their businesses online.
Jesse is a devoted husband, father of four children, and a volunteer leader for the Boy Scouts of America.
Mike Madsen – Internet Business Consultant
Mike is a well-traveled Army man who’s always got your back. He is certified in combat lifesaving and served as an operations manager in Kabul, Afghanistan with the International Security Assistance Force. As a former flight operations officer and instructor, Mike began sharing his years of teaching and customer relations experience with LocalWise in 2011.
When he isn’t busy fighting for his country or consulting LocalWise customers, Mike’s interests are wide and varied. He speaks conversational German, enjoys Tae-Kwon Do and Nihon Goshin Aikido, and serves as the Senior Vice Commander at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12111 in Jackson, Georgia. He is also President and Founder of the “Not All Is Lost” (N.A.I.L.) Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports divorced men through Ministry and Advocacy.
Mark Bingham – Sales / Customer Service
Mark is a self-described “simple man” whose career knowledge makes him a valuable addition to the LocalWise team. He worked in the printing industry for over thirty years, and has 25 years of professional experience in customer service and sales. Mark's easy-going approach, attention to detail, and genuine style of serving customers helps keep LocalWise grounded and focused on building long-term relationships.
A native of Decatur, Georgia, Mark and his wife, Donna have been married for 32 years, and have lived in Newton County for the past 17 years. He enjoys playing cards and board games with his family, exercising, and roller skating in his free time
Kari Apted – Staff Writer
Kari joined the LocalWise team in 2011. She is best-known as an award-winning columnist whose work has appeared in The Covington News since 2006. Her writing has been featured in various national publications, including Angie’s List magazine and Southern Families magazine.
Originally an artist by trade, Kari holds a degree in Visual Communications from the Art Institute of Atlanta. While working at an advertising agency as a graphic artist, she began assisting with copywriting projects and further developed her love of creative writing. Kari brings several years of web copywriting experience to the LocalWise table, and blogs at www.kariapted.com.
She married Donnie Apted in 1991 and together they homeschool their three sons, Zach, Eli and Jonah. In her microscopic bits of free time, Kari enjoys painting, cake decorating, reading, and traveling with her family.
Megan Studdard – Intern
Megan began her internship at Localwise in May of 2011. She is a student at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia where she is studying mass communications and community journalism. She is originally from Monticello and graduated from Jasper County High School in 2010.
Megan is an editor of The Navigator, Piedmont's student-run newspaper, and also pitches for the Lady Lions softball team at Piedmont. Megan became interested in web design during her sophomore year in high school. She has taken several web design courses and manages the web sites for the campus newspaper as well as the mass communication and social science departments.
She enjoys working at LocalWise because it's a great environment, close to home, and allows her to work on something she loves. When she’s not on the field, in class, or working at LocalWise, Megan enjoys running, bargain shopping, writing, and spending time with family