Who we are

As a software engineering manager at Intel I could see the power of technology to make people's lives better. With the advent of social media and video platforms we could more easily connect with distant friends and family. We could connect with others sharing similar interests and pastimes. It became clear that digital marketing had the potential to make meaningful connections between business and customer in a way that traditional marketing could not.

 

I created Real Connection Media to help businesses make these types of connections, to truly express a business owner's passion and vision while building an online community around their business.

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And in the tradition of social media here is my dog Strider. He is waiting for me to throw the ball.

 

Today, Brian focuses on helping business owners cut through the marketing noise, choose the few things that actually matter, and turn them into consistent, real-world leads—not just clicks.

With over 20 years of experience as an IT leader, my passion has always been to leverage technology to enhance businesses and help them achieve their objectives.

While managing all aspects of an IT department, my strengths lie in technical project management and application development, providing me with a unique skill set to create innovative solutions that deliver value while meeting my client’s needs and expectations.

Some people play video games, but the best ‘video game’ for me is developing creative technology solutions for businesses that need to unleash the power of what they already own.

As a husband and father to an incredible and supportive family, I am inspired to pursue my passion for technology to make a difference in the world

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For our clients, Jon is the one who connects all the tech pieces—website, forms, automations, and tracking—so everything quietly works in the background while you focus on running the business.

Amber Smiley graduated from San Francisco State University in 2004 with a BA in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts. She gained valuable experience interning and working at Collective Eye Films in San Francisco, where she honed her skills in Photoshop, video editing, publicity and promotion, transcribing, and bookkeeping.  

 

After relocating to the Sierra Foothills with her young family, Amber transitioned into a new chapter, staying home with her three children before starting an Outreach and Marketing role at Live Oak Waldorf School where she worked for 9 years.  

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Amber's diverse background and passion for creativity led her to Real Connection Media, where she specializes in graphic and web design, digital/print marketing, social media & SEO, helping clients build strong visual identities to grow their brands.

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She’s especially good at taking a fuzzy idea like “we want to look more professional online” and turning it into clear visuals and messaging across web, print, and social that all feel like you.

Aidyn Buckle is a Web Solutions Specialist who helps local businesses look polished online and get found. She builds fast, clean Wix Studio sites, tunes up Google Business Profiles, and keeps an eye on GA4 so owners know what’s working. Aidyn brings an artist’s eye to layouts and UX, turning polish into clear paths that drive clicks, calls, and bookings.

 

She loves learning what people are passionate about and turning that into clear messaging and simple next steps. She holds a B.S. in Game Art (a digital art & interactive media program) and, outside of work, is usually juggling a book, a musical soundtrack, and at least one cat.

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Clients appreciate that she pairs a designer’s eye with GA4 data, so sites aren’t just pretty—they’re easy to use and built to drive calls, clicks, and bookings.