about me
My Expertise
AGENCY OWNERSHIP
In 2001 I began dabbling in agency ownership, finally leaving my full-time job in 2005 to go all-in with ProtoFuse. For 13 years I’ve lead a small team of salaried employees, contractors, and partners and worked for 250 different businesses — ranging from 1 Million to 1 Billion in revenue.
Entrepreneurship provided a raw platform to rapidly hone my leadership, sales, and business management skills.
DIGITAL MARKETING
I was first exposed to digital marketing nearly 20 years ago as a fledgling Web Designer. Since then, I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolving digital marketing landscape and how businesses (from the Fortune 500 to Mom & Pop Shops) benefit from smart plans and measurable results.
I love setting a vision of a digital marketing plan, but also getting in the weeds with my team and helping with execution. I’m data-driven, can see the forest for the trees, and squeeze every penny out of a budget.
UX
I continually strive to learn and implement best UX practices, including an emphasis on creating and using qualitative and quantitative data. Jacob Neilsen was once my enemy (“Flash is 99% Bad” – Circa 2000), but now his research is fundamental in how I approach UX.
Spearheading the UX on 100+ websites over the last decade not only sharpened my creative and technical skills, but honed my ability to bring together Founders, C-level, middle-management, and tactical resources to form and execute a vision.
More thoughts on UX: What is a UX Designer?
CONTENT CREATION
For over 10 years I’ve been producing content on the ProtoFuse Blog and grew traffic organically from nothing to nearly 10,000 sessions/month and 200+ different keywords on the 1st page of Google.
I founded and host the 1 to 10 podcast to deepen my expertise within B2B marketing, connect with like-minded professionals, and grow a listenership. Every week I interview a Founder, CEO, VP, Sales or Marketing Leader at a B2B Tech company.
I also created the Old Man Dunk Contest — it’s early in development but I’m basically already an Instagram star.
What Fuels Me
COLLAB
PROCESS
DISCIPLINE
EXECUTION
DEADLINES
RESULTS
A Few Select Clients






Humble Brag
ProtoFuse ranks #1 for “website consultant'”
I redesigned the main website of a $2B company
I pitched Stanford University – and won
My clients see at least 50% increase in quality leads
Influence
resume
EXPERIENCE
Sep 2001 – Present
Founder & CEO
ProtoFuse
I started ProtoFuse (formerly named A2M Interactive, Inc.) in 2001 simply to do freelance work, and I’d design a website for anyone with $300 in their pocket. (Seriously.) As I refined my UX and digital marketing skills and gained business acumen, I went all-in with ProtoFuse on Jan. 1, 2005.
Over the next decade, my team designed websites and inbound marketing strategies for a variety of companies like Stanford University, Dixon Ticonderoga (remember the #2 pencil?), Carefree Communities (acquired in 2016 for $1.68B), and B2B Tech companies. Today, I concentrate on exclusively on helping mid-sized B2B tech companies use digital marketing to grow revenue and improve their sales efficiency.
Aug 2018 – Present
Founder & Host
‘1 to 10 Podcast’
‘1 to 10’ is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of B2B tech companies that have scaled, or are currently scaling, from $1M to $10M and beyond.
I interview leaders of B2B Technology companies about the strategies and tactics used to grow from small to mid-size, catapulting their companies to the next level.
Jan 2005 – July 2013
Co-Founder & Lead Strategist
Caxiam Group

I helped found this agency (the roots of what would become ProtoFuse) in a quaint townhome with a childhood friend and grew it steadily to a team of 10 salaried employees. I operated ProtoFuse as a division of Caxiam Group from 2005 to 2013.
We serviced over 75 very different clients spanning all types (B2B, B2C, Non-profit) such as Bahamas Electricity Corporation, Dixon Ticonderoga, Parrish Medical Center, Herff Jones, Inmark Packaging, and multiple startups.
As the brand of Caxiam Group grew, positioning and vision challenges surfaced because of its infrastructure, lack of positioning, and saturation of too many services. In early 2013, my team (and our clients) amicably left the umbrella of Caxiam Group, and the brand of ProtoFuse was officially born.
June 2003 – Dec 2004
Creative Lead
WildCard Systems
Lead a small design team in the creation of turnkey e-commerce website solutions and interactive training for all the major US Banks at the time, along with companies such as AAA, Visa, & ADP. I also collaborated with the CFO and Communications Director to design keynotes, sales presentations, and tradeshow displays. WildCard was eventually acquired by FIS, Inc. in 2005 for $228M.
Dec 1999 – May 2003
Web Designer, Flash Designer
WildCard Systems
Designed and developed custom websites for small businesses from the ground up. Also was the lead Flash animator for multiple interactive applications that were used as training materials for companies like AAA & Visa.
Jun 1997 – Aug 1997
Mechanical Engineer Intern
Illinois Force
I was awarded a 3 month internship program right after High School at a local forging company. I shadowed the Engineering department, helping adjust and plan CAD drawings for over 50 unique parts being shipped throughout the US.
The internship, along with my first semester at the University of Wisconsin Platteville, was enough exposure to the Engineering field for me to realize my pursuit wasn’t backed by passion and I needed to shift my educational focus.
EDUCATION
2011
EntreLeadership Master Series
Dave Ramsey’s Leadership Training & Coaching
EntreLeadership is focused on small business entrepreneurs who are seeking to grow and lead with intentional leadership. The Master Series was a week long intense training held in Orlando, FL in 2011.
1998-1999
AS, Digital Media
Full Sail University
I graduated at the end of 1999 right smack dab in the middle of the dot-com boom. While at Full Sail, I learned the basics of Web Design & Development, Interactive Media (the medium was CDs at the time), Design Theory, and Animation. I was also exposed to Audio and Video Production and collaborated with other students in that discipline to create multiple productions (e.g. TV Shows, Commercials, etc.).
My final project was an interactive CD-Rom built in Macromedia Director — a Led Zeppelin Documentary that took 500+ hours of research, planning, asset gathering, design, programming, and testing.
1997
Mechanical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
It took just a single semester for me realize Mechanical Engineering wasn’t my passion. So, I surrendered a 4 year scholarship and a sport I loved to play (Football), and moved myself half-way across the country to Orlando, Florida to attend a tech school (Full Sail University).
I have zero regrets. (Though I do miss tackling running backs).
1994-1997
High School Diploma
Sterling High School
National Honor Society, All-Conference Football, All-Area Football, All-Conference Academic, Baseball, Intramural Basketball, Choir, Fine Arts.
Digital Marketing Tactics
Search Engine Marketing (Organic)
Lead Generation
CRM
Conversion Optimization
Search Engine Marketing (Paid)
Social Media Marketing
Marketing Automation
Email Marketing
Podcasting
Digital Marketing Services & Tools
Google Analytics
SEO Rush
Ahrefs
Hotjar
Google Tag Manager
SharpSpring
Google Search Console
Google AdWords
Website Planning
Slickplan
Axure
Invision
Content Mgt Systems
WordPress
Contao
Drupal
Software
Photoshop
Illustrator
Camtasia
Business Tools
Slack
Teamwork
Dropbox
Google Docs
LastPass
GoToMeeting
Uber Conference
Hangouts
Grammarly
Harvest (Timesheets & Forecasting)
Organization
Evernote (My digital brain!)
TESTIMONIALS
James Carbary
Founder & CEO / Sweet Fish Media
I first met Eric by finding his company through a Google search, and I’ve been impressed since our very first conversation. He combines deep expertise and knowledge with an extremely approachable and down to earth demeanor.
Stephanie Martin
Marketing Manager / Sun Communities
When it comes to creating professional, attractive, and effective websites — there is no one else I would trust.
Steve Larrivee
VP of Sales & Marketing / Cactus Technologies
Eric’s work on our digital marketing had a ROI within 4 short months. Our website continues to generate quality leads EVERY WEEK for us.