James B. Warren, President
Jamie Warren was destined for this business. As a kid, he read the ads in magazines more than the articles. He founded Forte’ in 2003 after a decade of agency, production, radio, and television work. He’s responsible for company wide strategy, account supervision, and business development. He currently serves on the Board of Directors United Cerebral Palsy of Birmingham and Parent Advocates Down Syndrome. He is also a member of Vistage—the world’s largest CEO roundtable organization.
In 2008, his peers in the American Advertising Federation-Birmingham honored him with the“Ad Man of the Year” Peak Award. The same year, The Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce honored him as a finalist in the Small Business Person of the Year awards. He was named to the 25th Class of The Birmingham Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2009.
He holds a B.A. in English from Furman University. Outside of work: Iron Tribe Fitness, a musician, a foodie, a family man to an amazing wife and three energetic sons.
Throughout his career, he’s increased the volume in these industries:
- Retail (upscale positioned)
- Healthcare
- Consumer Products
- Real Estate, residential
- Business to Business Services
CHRIS P. GOLDSCHMIDT, CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Energy and fresh thinking is what marketing is all about. As Creative Director, Chris brings all this to Forte’s creative process—and much more. A former agency owner himself, Chris has won two different Best of Shows in the Birmingham Addy Awards for his creative work, as well as Best of Shows in several other markets around the country. In addition, Chris’s work has been featured in AdWeek, Millimeter, and Print Magazine. However, if you ask where Chris’s passion lies, he’ll tell you it’s in helping clients achieve objectives in new and innovative ways. When he’s not at the agency, Chris rides herd on his three kids or flogs away at his newest novel.
Throughout his career, Chris has had a profound impact on the marketing success of a broad array of clients, including:
- Retail, including franchise operations
- Manufacturing
- Financial, banking and insurance
- Media
- Healthcare
- Interiors
- Real Estate, commercial and residential
Emily L. Tyler, Media Buyer
Emily began her career at Lewis Communications in 2005. While completing her public relations internship, she assisted on projects for clients in the healthcare, food service, and recreational vehicle industries. She then joined the media department at Strong, LLC. Working as the Media Assistant/Print Buyer for automotive dealers, she handled business in 15 different markets. In 2008, she joined Forte’ to negotiate and coordinate media for its clients in retail, non-profit, and healthcare. Emily holds a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from the University of Alabama. When she’s not negotiating media buys, Emily enjoys spending time in her hometown on beautiful Lake Martin, finding new “hot spots” around Birmingham, running, listening to good music, and, of course, cheering on the Tide.
Gray Richardson, Art Director
Gray brings more than 15 years of creative experience in the advertising and publishing business. He is a former vice president and creative director of publishing for a large healthcare company where he oversaw marketing, design and editorial efforts. Gray has also lived and worked in Phoenix, AZ, and Durham, NC, where he was responsible for editorial and marketing design for the Arizona Republic and Durham Morning Herald Newspapers. He has also spent a number of years working independently with clients such as Southern Progress Corporation, Meadowcraft Corporation, the King’s Ranch and Hannah Homes, City Stages and Music Midtown. Gray holds a B.F.A. with honors from the University of Alabama—a double major in photography and graphic design. He lives in Homewood with his wife and two children.
John Richardson, Digital Strategist
John brings a personal touch to our digital world. After many years of playing the drums in rock n’ roll bands, he realized other career paths seemed more promising. His next stop as a buyer for a large specialty outdoor retailer fit better with his B.S./B.A. (with focus in Marketing) from Samford University. His retail experience provides very valuable knowledge for our team and clients as well. Again, diving into a different arena, John worked as a account executive for a regional agency that specialized in digital services. John brought all of this and his passion for social media to Forté in March, 2010 as our digital strategist. He lives in Birmingham with his wife and daughter, but wants to note that he’s still a Texan at heart, and he does NOT like hot weather. John does however like music, the outdoors, football, motorsports, racing his cooler around the neighborhood, mountains…..his list is very long.
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