10 Pound Gorilla has been around since 2003—with no plans of slowing down. Over the years, we’ve built a team with deep experience across strategy, design, development, accessibility, and support—giving us the range to take on complex projects and execute them with clarity and confidence.
We’re committed to helping our clients succeed—and to continually improving how we work. That means showing up prepared, paying attention to the details, and staying invested long after a project launches.
We stay curious, stay informed, and stay involved. Our team actively contributes to the broader digital community through speaking, sharing, and ongoing learning—so we can guide our clients with confidence and perspective.
Excellence isn’t a one-time goal; it’s an ongoing practice. We regularly review our work, our processes, and our communication to make sure we’re delivering thoughtful, reliable results for our clients and for each other.
We believe good work should extend beyond the project itself. We’re committed to supporting our communities by sharing knowledge, time, and resources, and we see that impact as an important measure of success.
Agile, smart, and swinging into action—meet our team.
Owner
Founder, Consultant
Technical Manager
Director of User Experience + Quality Assurance
Director of Development + Business Analyst
Senior Front-End Developer
Senior Full-Stack Developer
Project Manager
Jay is the owner of 10 Pound Gorilla, bringing decades of experience in digital strategy, design, and problem-solving to every project. With a background that spans enterprise retail and specialized industries, Jay has built his career on turning complex challenges into smart, effective digital solutions.
As the driving force behind 10 Pound Gorilla, Jay sets the strategic vision and leads the team with a hands-on, thoughtful approach. Drawing on his experience at Lands’ End and in the dental industry, he blends big-brand discipline with real-world practicality—making sure every project is not only creative, but functional, scalable, and built to last. He’s deeply involved in strategy, UX thinking, and guiding clients toward solutions that actually make a difference.
When he’s not shaping digital experiences, Jay enjoys recharging away from the screen—spending time with family, exploring the outdoors, and tackling the kind of side projects that scratch his curiosity itch. Whether it’s learning something new or refining something old, he brings the same steady focus and craftsmanship to his downtime as he does to his work.
Cassidi founded 10 Pound Gorilla in 2003. She has distinguished herself as a leader in digital marketing and web development, regularly speaking at international and national technology and non-profit conferences. She proudly leads a team of top-notch professionals delivering A+ products and services. Cassidi excels in digital marketing, design, strategy and client management. She thinks outside of the box and finds unique opportunities to save money and maximize return on investment.
As the founder of 10 Pound Gorilla, she brings valuable institutional knowledge to every engagement, helping teams stay aligned, timelines stay realistic, and deliverables stay on track. In her current role as a consultant, Cassidi partners closely with internal teams and clients to keep communication clear, priorities focused, and projects moving forward smoothly—without losing sight of the bigger picture
Cassidi stays busy keeping up with her kid and spending time with her partner, Miles. When she’s not juggling family life, she’s most at home outdoors—mountain biking local trails, Nordic skiing when the snow hits, and generally finding any excuse to get outside and move. Whether it’s a quick ride, a long ski, or a day spent adventuring as a family, she brings the same energy and balance to life off the clock that she does to her work.
Mark is the Technical Manager at 10 Pound Gorilla, where he leads the technical direction of the company’s digital projects with expertise in engineering, architecture, and scalable web solutions. He plays a key role in advancing technology standards across the team and contributes to the company’s reputation as a trusted partner for web development and DNN-based solutions.
Mark serves as the technical backbone for our development efforts. He oversees architectural decisions, strategic engineering planning, and the implementation of complex systems that power client solutions. Mark collaborates closely with design, UX, and development teams to ensure that every project is not only visually engaging but also robust, performant, and maintainable. His deep understanding of both front-end and back-end technologies helps the team turn high-level strategy into elegant, efficient code that meets client needs.
Outside of work, Mark is based in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he spends much of his time on or near the water. A former bar owner who was deeply connected to the local music scene, these days his downtime looks a little quieter—in the best way. You’ll most often find him boating, fishing, and enjoying time outdoors, trading late nights for early mornings and calm water. It’s a pace that suits him well and keeps him recharged for tackling complex technical challenges.
Laura Pierson has been part of the 10 Pound Gorilla team since 2019. She has 15+ years of experience in design and front-end development, allowing her to combine a designer’s eye with a developer’s precision.
Laura leads our design team and oversees quality assurance across projects, playing a critical role in upholding the level of excellence clients expect from 10 Pound Gorilla. With a detail-oriented focus on usability and accessibility, she ensures every digital experience is intuitive, inclusive, and built to a high standard of quality.
Laura lives in Michigan with her husband, Noah, and several furbabies. She stays creatively engaged through music, playing flute with the Ferris State University West Central Concert Band and Community Summer Band. During the too-short Michigan summers, she’s happy to be outside gardening and tackling yard projects.
Chris is a versatile developer with deep expertise across tools, technologies, and languages. With years of experience as both a business analyst and development team lead, he ensures that technical solutions meet real business needs efficiently and effectively.
Chris serves as Director of Development and Business Analyst, guiding projects from concept to delivery while bridging the gap between business goals and technical implementation.
Chris lives in Rockford, Illinois, with his wife, two dogs, and two cats. He loves to travel, cook, and sample craft beers of any variety. His favorite foods include Jalapeno popper pizzas, a good charcuterie board, and Chicago dogs.
Paul is a Senior Front-End Developer who joined 10 Pound Gorilla in 2019. He focuses on developing web applications that integrate front-end interfaces with backend services and business logic.
As a Senior Front-End Developer, Paul works across web and mobile application projects, building and maintaining interactive systems and coordinating closely with teammates to translate requirements into practical, maintainable solutions.
Paul lives in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with his wife and daughter. Outside of work, he focuses on family life and creative pursuits, including writing and recording music. He values a calm, present approach to both his professional and personal life.
Paul is a senior front-end developer with a background in graphic design and more than two decades of experience building websites. He joined 10 Pound Gorilla in 2023, bringing a strong eye for design and deep front-end expertise to create interfaces that are both thoughtful and highly functional.
As Senior Front-End Developer, Paul focuses on crafting clean, accessible, and engaging user experiences—bridging design and development to ensure ideas are executed with precision and polish.
Paul is proud to call Akron, Ohio his home. Outside of work, he enjoys motorcycling, racing, watching hockey, and exploring cities, mountains, and anywhere in between. He shares his home with two dogs and a cat who keep things lively between adventures.
Benny is a seasoned Full Stack Developer and Software Architect with nearly 20 years of experience building scalable, high-performing systems. A builder at heart, he thrives on solving complex technical challenges and turning ambitious ideas into reliable, well-architected solutions.
At 10 Pound Gorilla, Benny designs and develops robust digital systems that balance performance, maintainability, and long-term scalability. His background spans programming, system architecture, and end-to-end application development, allowing him to guide projects from high-level technical strategy through precise implementation. He brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to every build — ensuring solutions are efficient, stable, and built to grow.
Outside the office, Benny enjoys spending time with his family, practicing archery, exploring immersive video games, and experimenting with 3D printing. His interest in both digital and physical creation reflects the same curiosity and craftsmanship he brings to his work.
Carrie is a strategic leader and project manager with over 10 years of experience partnering with businesses and mission-driven organizations to create clarity, alignment, and sustainable growth. Her background spans from nonprofit leadership, digital marketing, and business consulting, with a strong focus on team development, process improvement, and shared accountability among teams.
At 10 Pound Gorilla, Carrie collaborates with the team to turn vision into action by connecting daily operations to the company’s overarching goals, sales, and marketing strategies. Carrie is passionate about helping the team work more efficiently, stay aligned with their vision, and achieve measurable results through strategic planning and collaborative leadership.
When she’s not helping businesses thrive, Carrie can usually be found outside with her family, hiking trails, hunting for rocks, or trying to identify every tree along the way. She practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with her two kids and sister, mixing a little family chaos with plenty of laughs (and the occasional arm bar). Carrie enjoys exploring life alongside her family, partner and their dog, Cleapetra, who never misses an adventure. Nature, movement, and curiosity keep her energized and inspired.
Years
Clients
US States
Countries
You know those massive corporations that seem to dominate everything? We call them "800 Pound Gorillas"—they're so big they can pretty much do whatever they want and squeeze out everyone else.
But hey, that's where we come in!
We're 10 Pound Gorilla, and we're here to help businesses like yours take on those giants. We believe that with smart web design, great content, solid coding, and clever marketing, any business can not just compete with the big players, but actually beat them at their own game. So if you're ready to punch above your weight and make your mark, you're our kind of people.
Welcome to the Team! *High-Five*