Culture Pilot, a Texas-based growth strategy, brand development, and marketing firm, has announced that Susan Renaud and Geoff Nelson have joined as Principal Partners, effective July 2026. This leadership expansion signals the firm's commitment to deepening its expertise in digital marketing and strategic consulting while reinforcing its client-centric approach. The move is significant as it recognizes the long-standing contributions of two key leaders and positions Culture Pilot for continued innovation and growth in a competitive landscape.
Susan Renaud, previously Director of Digital, has been instrumental in shaping Culture Pilot's digital practice. Her diverse background spans psychology, public health, behavioral therapy, and a coding bootcamp, enabling her to decode complex marketing data and translate insights into strategic actions. Renaud's work with clients focuses on data analysis and digital marketing, and she continues to expand her expertise in digital video production. She credits Culture Pilot's culture of learning for her growth, stating, “I’ve always had room to learn, experiment, and keep getting better, personally and professionally. I’m excited to have a bigger role in where we go next.” Her promotion underscores the firm's emphasis on leveraging behavioral science and technical problem-solving to drive digital innovation.
Geoff Nelson, who served as Chief Strategist, brings decades of experience from established companies such as Dell, DYWIDAG, and Intel, as well as startups in media, metals, and spirits. He has successfully bootstrapped a startup to $1 million in one year. At Culture Pilot, Nelson has been pivotal in uncovering unique points of view and opportunities that strengthen clients' market positions. His ability to connect business goals, audience understanding, and brand direction has deepened the firm's strategic capabilities. Nelson remarked, “I’ve worked in almost every type of organization, and Culture Pilot has been by far the most rewarding. It’s an insanely creative, no-BS team, and we work with clients who give us room to explore, take risks, and do great work.” His elevation to Principal Partner highlights the firm's dedication to delivering high-impact strategy.
Together, Renaud and Nelson represent two essential sides of Culture Pilot's future: defining where brands should go and building the systems that help them get there. Their appointments were praised by co-founders Kara Gray and Tim DeSilva. Gray, co-founder and Creative Director, said, “Susan and Geoff have made Culture Pilot better. They’re smart, curious, opinionated in the right ways… And they care deeply about the work and the people behind it. They’re already leaders here; this just makes it official.” DeSilva, co-founder and CEO, added, “Susan and Geoff have earned a much bigger voice in where Culture Pilot goes from here. I couldn’t be more proud to have them beside us as partners, and I’m genuinely excited about what we’ll build next.”
With these appointments, Renaud and Nelson join existing Principal Partners Tim DeSilva, Kara Gray, Javier Fadul, and Erma Tijerina. This expanded leadership team is poised to guide Culture Pilot as it continues to help organizations clarify their identity, communicate what matters, and build momentum around what comes next. By integrating business strategy, brand, digital marketing, and execution, Culture Pilot aims to help ambitious organizations move from insight to action. For more information, visit https://culturepilot.com.
