About Us
Dot2.Studio is your one stop shop for all your marketing needs. From strategy to implementation, we are there every step of the way. Check out our services tab to see how we can help you achieve your marketing goals. Whether its website design, creating a new logo, or anything in between we’re here to help you. Scroll down to learn more about Dot2.Studio and our members!
Cheryl Russel
Owner.Mom
Cheryl has over 30 years of experience in marketing, branding, design, and sales strategy. She has provided marketing services for several Fortune 500 companies and has an impeccable reputation in the industry. She started one of the first SEO companies in Houston, TX. Cheryl is also an award-winning visual artist whose work includes oil, acrylics, watercolors, sculptures, and graphic design.
… That’s my professional bio. The real me? I get excited when I get to dive into the issues my clients are facing and help them discover creative and profitable solutions. You can literally hear the excitement in my voice. I know it is a sickness, but I’ve come to accept it. I also have paint on my hands most of the time.
Interesting Fact:
I’m a woman of 3 cities and my primary activities revolve around the specific charm of each one. If I’m on Galveston Island, I’m probably riding my bike around town, perhaps headed to Mod to grab an iced mocha. If I’m in Houston, I’m most likely in the museum district. And I’m home, in Austin, it’s a safe bet you’ll find me hiking around Town Lake, at a gallery opening, or doing homework! (Don’t feel bad for me, my homework mostly consists of painting!)
Favorite child:
I’ll let them sort it out as they do…
Your team
Meet the family
Matt Hoyler
Program Director.Oldest Son
I worked directly with Facebook’s marketing team and created a learning curriculum for both the launch of the Portal Device, and the Marketing Service and Sales teams. Working there earned me invaluable experience with Instagram, WhatsApp, and the FB Audience Network. I also have worked in the Learning Experience industry, and created training material still used by Facebook, Instagram, MailChimp, Disney+, Coinbase, Ting, Bell-Boeing, along with multiple government entities. I have an extensive background in instructional design in adult education.
Michael Yang
Creative Director.Chosen Son
Working with major companies such as NASA, HP, LG and more have given me invaluable insight about what is effective and how visual communication and visual problem solving are unseen hurdles for businesses in the digital age. Being a technical creative allows me to take abstract concepts, ideas and bring them to life. I bring my expertise and knowledge to strategy, branding, marketing and design. Each business has different needs and different goals. We are dedicated to helping you meet or exceed those goals and will continue to support you. We are in the business of building relationships.
Jessi Floyed
Brand Director.Daughter
As the youngest member of the Dot2.Studio, I pride myself in bringing my adaptability and a fresh perspective to each new project. I love utilizing my honed creative skills such as graphic design, social media marketing, research & reporting, and more, while streamlining business efforts. Whether it’s designing flyers, redesigning branding materials, boosting client engagement, or creating events – I am prepared to bring value to your business.
Dot2.History
Growth
While in Austin, the education bug bit Cheryl yet again. This time to get her Bachelors in Fine Arts. She recruited her children (or what she calls her children) to join Dot2.Studio to help alleviate the workload while she attends school. Her oldest son, only daughter, and her chosen son.
Caregiving
After moving back to Houston, Cheryl received word that a very close family friend was terminally ill. She moved to Austin to help take care of her friend in 2019. She still continued to serve her Galveston and Houston clients, while also growing her clients in Austin.
Hustle and Bustle
After 3 years of enjoying island life, she missed the hustle and bustle of the big city. She relocated herself back to Houston. Since she was no longer in Galveston, she felt the need to change the name again, this time to Dot2.Studio.
Life’s a Beach
In 2014, after many years in Houston, Cheryl wanted to start a new chapter of her life in Galveston. She renamed Talica Design to Design Galveston to embrace the laid back spirit of living on the island. Taking advantage of her time there, Cheryl went to Galveston Community College and got her Associate’s Degree.
Web Design Development
Cheryl started with Notepad to design websites, but as technology advanced and matured, so did Cheryl. Notepad coding evolved into software like FrontPage, and subsequently Dreamweaver which she dived into head-first. Dreamweaver gave her unprecedented control over the design, which was a welcome change. Then, as the great battle between Joomla and WordPress began, Cheryl caught herself in the middle, but finally ended up choosing WordPress in 2012 because of the functionality. The deciding factor? WordPress made it easier to educate clients on how to edit their new website.
Birth of Search Engine Optimization
Cheryl saw the writing on the wall, yet again. This time it was SEO. Cheryl quickly self taught herself what SEO was and how to use it. She knew SEO and web design would go hand in hand, and both would play a pivotal part of the reshaping of the internet.
Fun fact, Cheryl was able to organically keep Talica Designs on Google’s “Top 3” on the front page for almost 10 years.
Clients
Cheryl’s first real client was a Baptist Church that needed a website. Thanks to that catalyst, Cheryl was able to build her client list by word of mouth. Cheryl’s determination and dedication to her clients helped her business grow. Her long lasting clients have been with her for years. Tommy Schults and Lois Wetzel (both clients for 20 years), and Jeannette Waldie and Kristen Galik (both clients for 10 years) to name a few. Along with many more, ranging from an internationally recognized tennis tournament to a local industrial tire firm ready to take their business to the global market.
Talica Designs
With $150, Cheryl threw caution to the wind and bought the name, set up the domain, and ordered business cards. At first, Cheryl took any job that she heard about to build a portfolio.
The Beginning
Established in Houston as Talica Designs, by two friends Cheryl Russel and Lynn McLeland, who met through mutually serving on the board of the 1960 PC User’s Group. Both with backgrounds in graphic design and fascinated by the Internet, they were quick to jump on the newest technological phase, web design. However, Lynn fell sick and was unable to continue with Cheryl through this new adventure.
