About PureDriven
Based along the shore of Lake Superior in the Northern Minnesota town of Two Harbors, PureDriven represents a new type of marketing firm – focused primarily online.
Today’s business managers know that customers are connecting online. We serve as your navigator through this rapidly evolving online digital frontier. PureDriven’s team of content creators, designers, developers, and Internet technology professionals will help you manage your Web presence online. Our seasoned professionals are expert at the core aspects of marketing online – from building or upgrading complex interactive websites and applications, to launching successful revenue-generating initiatives on the latest social media platforms.
Our relationship with you begins with an in-depth strategic planning session to map out your digital future. We know how to bring you the kind of visitors that are the most likely to buy. We have a deep knowledge of Web analytics so we can study how your customers move through your website, and can make improvements to your Web presence to help convince them to enter your lead funnel and buy your products..
Christopher Swanson
Christopher Swanson is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of PureDriven, a web presence strategy and digital marketing company based in Two Harbors, Minnesota. He leads the strategic growth of PureDriven including their rebranding in 2009.
Before his tenure at PureDriven, Mr. Swanson was Vice President of Operations for Wi-Fi Guys; a wireless Internet company that provides managed guest wireless Internet solutions for hospitality venues throughout the United States. He assisted with the launch and operations and was later named Chief Executive Officer.
In 2008, Mr. Swanson’s company was chosen by Lake County, Minnesota to assist with its strategy to secure a $70 million dollar ultra high-speed fiber-optic network project for the citizens of Lake County. This effort was successful and Lake County is currently in the build process of this network. In 2010, PureDriven was asked by the mayor of Duluth, Minnesota to lead the ongoing effort to bring Google’s ultra-high speed fiber network to Duluth. Through the strategy that PureDriven helped develop and online community efforts, Duluth ranked number one out of eleven-hundred communities for online presence, and number one in community engagement. Duluth is currently waiting for Google to announce which city Google will assist with building an ultra-high speed fiber network. Even though Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS have been initially picked the project continues as Duluth pursues Google.
Mr. Swanson’s prior business and leadership experience have been key in his current success. In 1999 Swanson assisted with the launch of The Computer Shop a computer hardware and networking company. Swanson also serves on the Two Harbors City Council. He was first elected in 2002 and won a re-election bid in 2006 and 2010.
He lives with his wife Rebecca in Two Harbors, where the couple has four children – three girls and a boy.
Sheila Leppala
Sheila Leppala, PureDriven’s Chief Operations Officer, has spent two decades assisting companies meet their online goals. As a senior IT project manager, she is an expert at guiding large and small teams across multiple departments and locations. With both a master’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, she is adept at discussing the technical aspects of projects with IT departments while translating the jargon into bottom-line figures for those in marketing and all levels of management.
In addition to leading PureDriven, Sheila is the co-founder of Betty’s Pies Distributing, the e-commerce business focused solely on selling Betty’s Pies products online. Prior to founding PureDriven and Betty’s Pies Distributing with business partner Chris Swanson, Sheila Leppala worked and consulted on projects at 3M, SMDC Health Systems, Wells Fargo, and many other companies. Some of her accomplishments include assisting Stearns County with creating a PMO unit; managing the initial stages for the deployment of a $2.5 million enterprise-wide materials management system for SMDC Health Systems; and directing a $3 million e-commerce project for Northwest Airlines in 1999 to develop MLT Vacation’s initial system to enable booking airline vacation packages via the Internet.
Sheila resides in Two Harbors, Minnesota with her husband Wayne Dahl. She maintains balance by enjoying many activities such as skiing, golfing, hiking, curling, and spending time with family and friends.
Patrick Garmoe
Patrick Garmoe, serves as PureDriven’s Content and Social Media Strategist. He joined PureDriven in 2010 and has a lengthy career in the realm of content creation, the core of what fuels successful company social media marketing strategies.
Before joining PureDriven, Mr. Garmoe spent 10 years as a newspaper reporter in three Midwest cities. During the latter half of his journalism career, he began blogging and using social media tools in his reporting. In early 2009 he exited the newspaper industry and began implementing digital marketing efforts harnessing the power of emerging social media tools. Thanks to his background in media, he has a particular knack for merging traditional public relations and advertising with the digital marketing realm, in an effort to help companies build brand awareness and increase sales.
Mr. Garmoe has executed online social media campaigns that ultimately helped clients receive attention from CNN, CBS, CNBC, MSNBC, the front page of the New York Times, and many other media channels. He has also helped clients receive attention on large and small blogs, in FastCompany.com, and on the front page of Digg.com. In addition, he developed a successful video for a client that gained more than 42,000 views on YouTube. Most recently, Garmoe has assisted clients in government, real estate, manufacturing, online sales, and the restaurant industry develop social media strategies and campaigns unique to their needs, business models and goals.
Mr. Garmoe resides in Duluth, Minnesota with his wife Marie, two cats, and enjoys hiking, reading, snowshoeing, and blogging.
David Scott
David Scott, serves as PureDriven’s Vice President of Business Development. David’s role is to champion PureDriven’s business relationships. He will also focus on revenue growth utilizing the company’s current product lineup, which includes Web strategies, Web analytics, Web design, e-commerce solutions, and social media services.
Scott has more than 10 years of experience in corporate leadership, sales, marketing, and business development. Scott recently worked for Verizon Wireless corporate, serving in their business channel. Scott also held multiple leadership positions with various retailers, including California Closets and Circuit City Inc. Scott graduated from Itasca Community College and attends Regent University. His education background is business management, information technology, and marketing.
