Jackson Greene does a little bit of everything in the world of digital marketing.
He provides services like web design, SEO, email, social media and video production for local and regional businesses, making a name for himself through hard work and determination.
Greene is 19 and a student at Middle Tennessee State University.
Through Pursuit Digital, his digital marketing agency, the Maryville teen has created a digital presence for companies such as M Squared Custom Homes, Hutton Fly, Maryville City Schools Foundation and Revolution Dance.
As the agency’s sole proprietor, Greene spends nearly 40 hours a week on Pursuit Digital projects while attending classes full time.
“I’ve always had a passion for media and technology and knew I wanted to do something in that field for a career from a young age,” Greene told Knox News. “It sounds cliché, but I could never imagine doing anything else.”
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Pursuing his passion at a young age
Before he was an entrepreneur, Greene was just a kid with a passion for digital media and computers. He worked on video editing projects as early as 4th grade, constantly growing his knowledge.
In an effort to hone his skills and give back to his community, Greene began volunteering at his church, First Baptist Alcoa, in 2014. He worked on the tech crew, and was responsible for running lights, cameras and other basic tasks for about five years.
In 2019, when Greene was only 17, he was offered the opportunity to take over the church’s entire media department. Greene jumped at the offer.
“Working at First Baptist Alcoa allowed me to do a little bit of everything in the world of media: video editing, coding… the church gave me the opportunity to do all that at once,” Greene said. “If it had a screen, it was under my jurisdiction.”
Greene’s work at First Baptist Alcoa not only gave him real world experience, it was also one of the first times that those around him really began to take notice of his skill.
“(Jackson) really took the media position and ran with it. He would always go above and beyond, always taking things and making them bigger and better,” Ryan Roach, lead pastor at First Baptist Alcoa, told Knox News. “Most teenagers wouldn’t be able to do the kind of work he does.”
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After graduating from Maryville High School in 2020, Greene decided to study interactive media at MTSU. The move across the state from Maryville to Murfreesboro meant he had to leave his position at First Baptist Alcoa, but he didn’t stay out of marketing for long.
While he was home in December for winter break, Greene accepted a temporary position as director of digital marketing at M Squared Custom Homes. After finishing his work faster than anticipated, M Squared owner Gary McNally suggested Greene start his own digital design business.
Just a few weeks later, Greene filed paperwork for an LLC.
Pursuing knowledge
Greene plans on graduating from MTSU in 2022 while continuing to grow Pursuit Digital into something larger in both Maryville and Murfreesboro.
He still has much to learn, Greene said: Pursuit Digital is not even a year old yet.
Clients could go to more experienced agencies for marketing needs, but Greene said he thinks his personal touch sets him apart from competitors.
This approach appears to be working. Greene has yet to spend a dollar on marketing and all of his clients have come from personal recommendations.
He takes pride in the influence his relationship with Christianity has on Pursuit Digital’s brand. The company’s name comes from 1 Timothy 6:11, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.”
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“The personal connection I make with each client is incredibly important to me,” he said. “Being able to let them text me at any point during the day or night, or having me address something super specific for no extra cost… I really want each client to succeed, and will go the extra mile for them.”
News intern Jake Yoder can be reached at [email protected]. Follow along with his work on Twitter @jakeywakeyy. Support our local news efforts by becoming a Knox News subscriber.