Merit Lee

Merit Lee

CEO & Founder

Digital Design Solutions was founded in 1996 by Merit Lee, to provide top-notch web solutions that fit any business’s needs. In doing so, Merit became a pioneer in web design, graduating with a degree in Internet Technology and Design in the second graduating class at San Francisco State University taught by leaders in the industry such as Microsoft and Photoshop designers. The company has evolved into an award-winning full-service web design solution, becoming the premier source for E-Commerce development and management. We work all forms of website design, site maintenance, custom programming, marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and content development. Over the past 28 years, we have facilitated the growth of 300+ clients throughout the country, representing a variety of industries. Our focus is on finding a balance between functionality and innovation, as well as design and seamless usability. We understand that optimizing your digital marketing presence is the key to brand awareness, lead generation, and conversions. We take time to understand your business through our initial discovery meeting and what constitutes success for you. With this information, we create well-informed unique strategies and solutions tailored to your business goals. We don’t just build your website, we position you for success. Merit’s hobbies include: boating, paddle boarding, and kickboxing. Merit and Russ live in St. Augustine, Fl. Something no one knows about Merit: She designed a poster that was launched into space on a satellite! Her key to success is that she believes in communication and having the integrity to follow up on what she says she will do!If you want to learn more about our CEO, Merit Lee, click here

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Tara Jones

Tara Jones

Creative Director

Tara Jones, Creative Director / Web Designer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Boston University.She is an experienced professional with strong success in project management, product marketing, client services, sales support,logistics and P&L support.Each of these items is a critical component for our clients as well as Digital Design Solutions when developing website design with a compressed schedule and ensuring responsible cost control.

Tara’s dynamic personality, boundless energy, and remarkable creativity contributes to her exceptional service and leadership skills. She is a valued team leader, group leader, and individual contributor.

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Tonja

Tonja Laing

Director of Operations, Digital Marketing Group, Chief Technology Officer

Tonja Laing has been an integral part of the Digital Design Solutions team since 2010. She is solely responsible for website maintenance updates for new and existing clients. Additionally, Tonja expertly manages creative website development from conception to implementation for a wide range of clients, including hair salons, photography studios, pharmacies, art galleries, dedicated sailing and power-boating boaters, and fine cuisine as well as many others.She is particularly adept at redesigning dated websites into fresh, state-of-the-art versions of their former selves. The clients are stunned and grateful for the “before and after” changes to their websites thanks to Tonja’s ability to actively listen to client concerns and creatively translate their needs into the new and vibrant website. She loves what she does!

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Lynne Kittle

Lynne Kittle

Sales Development

Lynne Kittle joined Digital Design Solutions in 2022 as Director of Sales Development after retiring from a 38 year career in Dentistry.Lynne brings a vast knowledge in marketing Dental practices and management skills to Digital Design Solutions. She enjoys meeting clients and creating relationships with them to better understand their businesses through their digital presence and needs. She meets regularly with several networking groups to spread knowledge regarding Web site development and marketing.Lynne uses her organization and management skills to develop client relationships and be the liaison between our clients and the DDS tam members.

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Ashley Thibodeau

Ashley Thibodeau

Web Design and Developer

Ashley is an experienced and passionate Web Design and Developer from Worcester, Massachusetts, specializing in graphic design, front-end, and full-stack web development. She came to us as a Web Director for a fast-paced expanding company in the fitness industry. However, Ashley’s start in her web development journey began simply in 2007 as a Freelancer as she would design profiles for popular social sites such as MySpace. Though she no longer accepts payment in cookies, what keeps Ashley in her field is her love and passion for making the internet a more beautiful place to browse.After graduating high school in 2011, Ashley focused on her other interests in graphic design and watercolor painting, which led her into apprentice tattooing in England. There, she would fall into her Web Design and Development again as she redesigned her tattoo studios’ website while traveling with her mentor. Soon a pattern would emerge as she would change industries, gain experience, then find herself the computer expert in her hospitality and medical fields. To apparent not to notice, Ashley decided to make her career in Web Design and Development permanent by applying for the Computer Information Science at her local community college. Holding a steady 3.89 GPA, She obtained an internship within her freshman year to work for the Worcester District Attorney’s office to lead, design, and recreate their internal database and portal systems after the dean granted special permission. Requiring further challenge, to give her experience edge, Ashley applied to Full Sail University’s accelerated Web Design and Development Degree Program in 2020 during the COVID Pandemic. While working full-time in the medical field, she graduated in May 2021 as Valedictorian of her graduating class.Since then, she’s only grown more passionate in all the components that intricately wire
every aspect of a web application together, whether it is with project management, the designing, or the code behind it. Ashley looks forward to meeting new clients and helping them grow their business in whatever way she can.

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Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark

Social Media Specialist & Graphic Designer

Lauren graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the American Academy of Art located in the heart of downtown Chicago in 2013. Her artistic background led her to a creative career in Graphic Design and Freelance Illustration (she has even illustrated and written children’s books!) . Lauren is our Midwest native. Born and raised in Chicago and the nearby suburbs, she currently resides in the Illinois countryside supporting her local farmers. She is the mother of a beautiful sensory sensitive little girl and is often out exploring the world through her eyes when she is not busy working on eye-catching projects and engaging content.She grew up with social media and has grown with the platforms Myspace, Facebook, and TikTok. Silly cat TikToks are some of her daughter’s favorite stims. She has a passion for using social media platforms to connect with your targeted audience and is excited to help build up brands with her design background and graphics expertise

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Bridget Baer

Bridget Baer

Digital Marketing Sales Director

Bridget Baer brings over 15 years of marketing and advertising expertise to Digital Design Solutions since 2023. Her skills cover both print and digital, making her a key player in sales and marketing. From Fernandina Beach, FL, and a Florida State University alumna in Interior Design, she offers unique insights, particularly in small business development. Bridget’s commitment is evident in her active role in networking groups and her approach to building strong business relationships. Her vibrant personality and focus on client-centered service ensure that each client feels valued and part of the Digital Design Solutions family.

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Ronnie Musselwhite

Ronnie Musselwhite

Brand Storyteller

Ronnie is an award-winning communications professional with more than two decades of experience in content marketing, brand storytelling, public relations and advertising.Over the course of his career, Ronnie has written about everything from business and technology to health and wellness, manufacturing and distribution to lifestyle and entertainment. His specialty is transforming most any subject into content that engages, informs and inspires.

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Prasad Samireddy

Durga Prasad Samireddy

Project Manager / Web & Graphic Designer

Prasad S has been working with Digital Design Solutions since 2010. Prasad is a highly experienced Graphic Designer and Web Developer.He brings skill sets in Design and Front-End Development. In his spare time, Prasad enjoys spending time with his family.

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Russ-Lee

Contrarian

 

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Socorro Lee O

Socorro Lee

Office Manager

Socorro Lee (O for short), office manager at Digital Design Solutions, is a 9 year old Balinese cat. He was originally born in New Orleans and moved to St. Augustine, Florida in 2014. After getting kicked out of obedience school, Socorro decided to join the family business and take his career to the next level. Socorro is not your typical office manager. He has a bad habit of sleeping on the job. He also shows up to work on his own time and demands that he take a lunch break every day at noon. You may also find him talking to you in the background during important client calls. Though he is stubborn and direct on what he wants and expects, he brings lot’s of love, snuggles and smiles to the entire team at DDS.

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Merit Lee, CEO & Founder

Digital Design Solutions as Featured in Old City Life Magazine

To say that Merit Lee has led an interesting life would be an understatement. Whether it’s skydiving, living on a Chinese sailboat in San Francisco for a decade, hosting a radio show reviewing wine, or modeling for Levi’s jeans, Lee is always on the hunt for adventure.So, when an opportunity arose in the mid-1990’s to get ahead of the tech boom, Lee jumped on board.“Living in California at that time was so vibrant and exciting,” she says. “A friend suggested that I get into multimedia, so I went to San Francisco State University and graduated with a degree in Internet Technology & Design in 1996.”

That same year, Lee founded Digital Design Solutions, a full-service digital marketing firm that specializes in web design, e-commerce, digital marketing, branding and graphic design, and mobile apps.

Today, as CEO and creative director, the Renaissance woman and relative newcomer to St. Augustine (she’s lived here for three years) has worked with hundreds of clients all over the country, including local businesses like The Kookaburra, Meehan’s Irish Pub, GoFresh Farm Market, and Simply St. Augustine.

“I’ve been in this business for 25 years, and I have a different vision for each of the companies that I work with,” Lee explains. “I like to say. ‘We don’t just build your website, we position you for success.’ We can really help small businesses not just build their site, but help with marketing and make it profitable.”

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