AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Familiar faces about town, Treebranch Group, LLC partners Jennifer Triplett and Denise Hightower can be spotted at many community events. Partner Nelsa Nichols completes the talented trio that transformed their IT, website and marketing business from a small operation to one serving 90 clients.
Treebranch Group provides independent businesses the creative marketing services they need to grow as well as web site hosting, development and design, eCommerce solutions and virtual event support.
The expanding company recently moved into new, larger offices at 8375 Jumper’s Hole Road in Millersville. Added studio space for photographic and video equipment and training is enabling them to work more efficiently. That wasn’t always the case.
Triplett, the founding partner, president and creative director, recalls running the firm from her basement in its earliest years.
“When my children were born, I left my corporate position of many years,” she said. “However, I’d enjoyed the work and using my creative skills so I didn’t want to leave it behind entirely. In 2011, I began working on something for St. Martin’s-in-the-Field School and started the company which I initially called TreebranchDesign.”
Triplett is ideally suited for the work. Her background includes degrees in commercial and advertising design as well as environmental science.
She soon began popping up at community events including a volunteer thank-you brunch hosted by SPAN, Inc., an early client. She simultaneously joined The Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce, supported their many events, and became involved with various committees.
Over the next couple years, Triplett increased her client base and moved into actual offices. By 2014, Treebranch was further expanding its horizons through clients like the Annapolis Film Festival. .She served on the PR committee led by the late Carolyn Sullivan and the Social Media and Web teams. During the event, she provided professional photography and video for broadcasting. She continues to support the film festival.
By 2018, Triplett took on two partners – Hightower, who’d worked with her in the business almost from the beginning, and Nichols who happens to be her mother.
Hightower’s outgoing personality in combination with a Management Information Systems degree and 23 years in the IT world made her a perfect fit as Web services director.
Like Triplett, Hightower has been part of the Annapolis Film Festival PR and Social Media Teams and co-leader of the Website Team.
Nichols handles marketing communications coaching. She served as marketing director for Hiac Royco, a division of Pacific Scientific, for over 20 years. Her responsibilities there ranged from producing national magazine ads and international newsletters to trade show management, web site development and support and writing patent specifications.
At the same time, she was a graduate advisor in the Computer Science Department of the University of Maryland where she participated in beta testing programs for the products that became the Mac and first IBM personal computers.
The staff at Treebranch Group is rounded out by graphic designer Ali George and Spanish translation consultant Paulina Aguilar Snow.
Considering themselves equal parts techies/creatives, the partners work with or support community organizations and various local charities. They do platform design, video production, Spanish translation services and production support for the Maryland State Child Care Association’s Conference By the Sea 2020 for 800 attendees on September 24 – 27.
Triplett has recently devoted time to several chamber of commerce programs.
Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League said Triplett is currently co-chairing a committee for the organization’s online program “Learn and Lead”.
The next program, “Learn and Lead with Todd Popham -Getting Things Done and Becoming a Productive Leader”, is next Tuesday, September 15 at 7:45 am. You do not need to be a member of the Chamber to attend and it is through Zoom https://web.gspacc.com/events/Learnand%20Lead%20%20Getting%20Things%20Done%20Becoming%20a%20Productive%20Leader-326/register .
“Jenn and her co-chairman Todd worked very hard to put the program together,” League said. “When COVID first started they were doing it weekly and did a great job helping people learn how to work in cyberspace and keep their businesses functioning.”
Triplett also volunteers for a new organization – the Life of Joy Foundation which is dedicated to promoting mental health and preventing adult suicides. She’s providing support with virtual event production for the organization’s upcoming livestream concert-fundraiser.
To learn more about Treebranch Group, visit https://treebranchgroup.com/.
Fall Learn to Ride Classes begin at Pedal Power Kids
Pedal Power Kids owner Rachel Varn said safe, socially-distanced small group Learn to Ride classes and Bike Clubs for the autumn season will start Monday, September 14 in Annapolis and Severna Park.
Varn noted that Pedal Power Kids kept lessons going throughout spring and summer as a safe activity. Classes are small and the children are out in the open air and distant from one another.
Bicycle riding is not only fun but is a very healthy form of exercise for children during a time when options for physical activity have been limited. For information or to register your child, visit https://pedalpowerkids.com/ .
