Meet the Owners
Get to Know the People Behind Equentity LLC
Jamie Harrop
Hello there! I'm Jamie Harrop, and I am located in West Yorkshire, UK. I am the UK representative for Equentity LLC. It seems just like yesterday when I stumbled across the Web design and development scene, back in late 2000, when a friend decided to show me the bare minimum to develop a Website. Since then, I have spent my life balancing my love for Web development and a social life, not an easy thing to do by a long shot! I consider myself totally self-taught, although if it wasn't for several online discussion boards that I regularly participated in, I certainly would not be where I am today. I was "brought up," so to speak, by a class of Web developers who believed, with a passion, that the Web should be accessible to the widest possible audience. Since then, like Paul Hirsch, I have become known by many for my passion and knowledge in the field of Web usability and accessibility. I started developing Web sites on a corporate scale in 2003, when I officially became a freelancer trading under the company name WY Media here in the UK. Then in late 2004, I was approached by a long-standing friend, Paul Riddick, at which point my commitment to Equentity LLC was born.
When I'm not sat at the desk, Scouting plays quite a large role in my life. I love camping, the wilderness and traveling. I am very much a sporty person. I like to have a regular workout at the gym, and I have a passion for Rugby League. A few games of pool while out with friends goes down quite nicely as well.
Well, that's me in a nutshell. If you need to get in touch, feel free to contact me. Take care!
Paul Hirsch
Hello everyone! My name is Paul Hirsch, and I am located in Uniontown, Ohio, the principal home of Equentity LLC, approximately 10 minutes south of Akron and 10 minutes north of Canton, Ohio. I come from a traditional media background, originally specializing in broadcast media with an academic concentration in public relations, advertising and news journalism, and minor areas of study in computer information systems and sociology. I transitioned to Internet-related activities during my post-graduate studies in media management, and I've been developing on the Web for customers since 2001. Today, I specialize in traditional design and development with an emphasis on efficiency, usability and accessibility, and I handle the better portion of administration and client relations/account management for Equentity LLC. Additionally, I am an experienced copywriter and editor, and I bring my writing and public relations background into every project I undertake.
When I'm not working, I enjoy playing pool, playing the piano, bowling, running/working out, watching movies, reading, good food and wine and traveling to new and interesting places. Currently, I'm married to the most wonderful woman in the whole world, Amy, and we share our house with our Papillon Sophie and my two kitties, Calvin and Hobbes.
If you need to get a hold of me, please feel free to contact me anytime. Have a fantastic day!
Paul Riddick
Hello, I'm Paul Brendan Riddick, currently located in Teesside, UK, and I'm the Lead Designer of Equentity LLC. I started developing websites back in mid-1998, after my brother first introduced me to a graphics community of 2-D and 3-D graphic artists. I started on Corel Draw 7, which came free with my computer, and cut my teeth on photo manipulation.
In 1999, I started my own online community, and introduced myself to the world of Web coding. It took me a short period of time to grasp the basic concepts, and I was well on my way. I didn't take any of it too seriously until early 2001, when I started receiving requests to make Web sites. I then transitioned into a freelance developer, and started making commercial Web sites for small hosting companies online.
Work was picking up by 2003, but I realised there was much lacking in my skillset. I met Paul Hirsch online later that year, and his words of wisdom made me look at what I was doing as more than a skill or a hobby, but as a profession. I familiarized myself intimately with Web standards and accessibility during the course of 2004. It was later in the year when we all came together for serious business discussions, ultimately leading to the creation of the International Web Developers Network (IWDN) and eventually Equentity LLC.
Outside all of what is web design, I'm an active person. I work out almost everyday, currently following an RAF schedule. I love music; It's rare to see me without some sort of track on my iPod or radio. My hobbies include football, basketball and running. I also have a passion for learning new things in many different areas. As they say, to do well in business, you must first better yourself. I take criticism very well, and constantly review and re-review not only my own, but other peoples work, in an effort to learn, understand and increase my knowledge and skill - But not solely in web design!
