Our Team
James apRoberts
CEO • Founder
James, who usually goes by Jimmy, can design a logo in the time it takes to brush his teeth. Actually, he can design a logo while brushing his teeth. When Jimmy isn’t designing, he’s busy designing. And when he’s not designing, he’s expanding his social network. There isn’t anyone he doesn’t know. That may be a double negative but it’s positively true. And it’s the main reason Subplot Studio got started. Jimmy has always been surrounded by artists; his parents owned a stained glass studio in Southern California, his brother is a painter and musician and most of his friends are artists. Jimmy studied at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Ox-Bow campus), where he also taught glass blowing. Think you know him now? Hardly. Jimmy is a contradiction. He thinks too much, but he acts prematurely. He likes to run, but wears sandals all of the time. His desk is a mess, but his Google calendar is perfectly arranged. He loves designing wine labels, but has never had a hangover.
Little known fact about James
Jimmy hijacks Brian’s Netflix account every night to secretly watch anything with Zach Galifianakis in it. It’s uncertain whether Jimmy really appreciates Zach’s humor that much or just likes his beard.
Ryan Miller
Director of Technology
In Ryan’s spare time, he zip-lines through jungles, organizes drag shows, teaches Aikido to kids and throws mean parties. When Ryan’s not out on a crazy adventure, he’s busy creating online marketing strategies for some of the most respected healthcare providers in the United States. He knows more about search engine optimization and social media than I know about breathing and I’ve been breathing my entire life. When Ryan’s not giving us his full attention, he’s busy running Etna Interactive, a Web marketing consultancy that offers advice and executes online marketing campaigns to connect doctors, healthcare networks and medical device manufacturers with interested patients and business prospects. Ryan isn’t selfish with his understanding of the web and marketing. Last year he gave 46 lectures on those topics throughout the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, he couldn’t take the zip-line, he had to fly.
Little known fact about Ryan
Ryan travels a lot. Ryan also likes to be ready for any situation. In order to be a prepared traveler, Ryan has created a spreadsheet that he uses to determine which clothing to pack for trips. It takes into consideration location, season, length of stay and the business-to-pleasure ratio. Think we found the right person to build our database?
Laura Howell
Design Intern
Laura’s middle name is Lain. Laura Lain. Sounds pretty close to Lois Lane, if you ask me. This makes me think that she knows Superman and is keeping that little fact a secret. It’s either that or she’s somehow related to LL Cool J. Herein lies the dilemma. Do we call her Lois Lane or LL Cool H? It’s really all very complicated. Whether she is dating a superhero or hiding the fact that she’s really a rapper turned actor, Laura is our design intern and she’s rockin’. She has a great sense of typography and a really strong work ethic. Laura is dedicated to showing up to work. In a town where public transportation isn’t always easy, Laura takes the bus three days a week to come work with us. Not sure why she just doesn’t ask Superman for a ride. It would probably be a little faster.
Little known fact about Laura
When Laura sneezes, you can barely hear it. This might be the reason that it is a little known fact. How would you ever know that she’s sneezing if you couldn’t hear the sneeze? Maybe it’s just one of the tricks that Superman has been teaching her. One thing’s for sure. She’s not talkin’.
Brian Christopher
Creative Director • Founder
Yesterday, Brian said that if he had to describe himself as a clothing company, he would be American Apparel. I’m not quite sure what this means and I’m not sure he knew either, but it struck me as funny. Brian is a very talented designer, illustrator and painter. He studied art at the Rhode Island School of Design, Ringling College of Art and Design, the University of Miami and the University of Wisconsin. He’s been drawing since he was in the fourth grade and he has the sketchbooks to prove it. Brian lives on the coast with a pit bull named Sunny, a girl named Laureen and a kid named Chase. Sometimes he rides his scooter to the office - that might be when he looks the most American Apparel.
Little known facts about Brian
Brian rarely finishes sentences. Brian has a healthy artist’s crush on James Jean. Brian likes to jump. Brian really likes wasabi. Brian loves 80’s English rock music. Brian wants to be a gangster. Actually, these aren’t really little known facts at all. If you spend any time with him, you’ll quickly learn all of these things.
Jennifer Porcher
Director of Operations
Jennifer drives a modern-day muscle car, listens to Whitesnake and really loves her iPad. She’s pretty much a bad-ass. She’s got tattoos all over her arms and swears like a sailor. So, if you know Jennifer, you’ll know that she’s not a bad-ass, she isn’t covered in tattoos and doesn’t swear. The rest of it is true though. Jennifer has a gift for observing and gaining insight from the people around her. She studied International Business at the University of San Francisco and attended a University in Venezuela where she learned about communication, team dynamics, and individual workplace strengths. Jennifer utilizes her natural abilities and education to implement processes that improve customer service and user experience. We feel lucky to have her working with us. Now if we could just get her to turn down the Whitesnake - just a little.
Little known fact about Jennifer
Apparently Jennifer has healing powers. Not only can she balance a budget, but she is also trained in the traditional art of Japanese Reiki. Reiki involves channeling one’s vital energy and transferring it to another person in order to restore physical and emotional well-being. This process is accomplished by gently laying your hands on a patient. So, naturally, when our designs are in need of some positive energy, we just ask Jennifer to walk over and touch the computer screen. It’s amazing.
Nicole Younger
Marketing Intern
So, Nicole is like a great big ball of energy. When we received an email from her that went into detail about all of the reasons why we would be crazy to not bring her on as an intern, we knew that she was the one. She had a ton of great experience, she was very active in theatre in high school and her excitement for what we’re doing here at Subplot Studio was unmistakable. We’ve only been working with Nicole for a short time, but we’ve already learned quite a bit about her and a lot from her. She’s a Communications Major at the University of San Diego but she grew up in Cambria which is just about a half hour north of San Luis Obispo on the coast. We’re thrilled that we get to work with Nicole and grateful to her that she’s willing to make the drive down the coast to spend a few days a week with us.
Little known fact about Nicole
Well, we haven’t known Nicole long enough to really have any good dirt on her but here’s what we do know. She’s a great writer, but she’ll never admit to it. On the weekends she works at a local winery and she says that she might be able to get us a deal on a few bottles. Not too bad. Oh yeah, she likes to hike, drives a Volvo and love love loves theatre.
