About Us

In 2008, Steve answered the call to live life ​“the way it should be” and moved from New York to Portland, Maine, after a brief but powerful weekend visit with his now-wife and business partner, Rebecca Falzano. After leading multi-million-dollar strategic technology efforts for some of the world’s largest companies, including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Sony, and other Fortune 500s, Steve started First Pier, the first iteration of Helm Digital, in 2009 to help local businesses with their digital needs. In the last ten years, the company has grown from an in-home operation to a full-service digital marketing agency based in Portland.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…use an analogy.

Rebecca is responsible for creative direction and overseeing content creation, design, and photography. As a former magazine editor, first in New York City and then in Maine, she spent nearly 15 years producing stories from start to finish — from initial concepts to final product. She enjoys collaborating with designers, artists, photographers, and writers to tell clients’ stories. She lives in Falmouth with her husband and business partner, Steve Pogson, along with their two young children.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…do whatever it takes to be cozy.

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As a key strategist and digital director, Martin is responsible for making sure technical projects are planned, executed, and delivered. In addition to the decade he’s spent building and maintaining websites, Martin’s wide-reaching experience includes negotiating international trade deals, working as a Maine Guide, and freelance writing for several national publications. He lives in Portland with his wife and their two young children.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…eat office leftovers.

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Originally from Oahu, Hawaii, most people don’t understand why Brittany would ever move to Maine. The existence of distinct seasons and the ability to visit her favorite family members have kept her here. Since 2007 she’s been a member of Portland’s hospitality industry. Most recently, she was the Operations Manager for a prominent local coffee company. Her role there helped to develop a diverse skill set and personal experience with the challenges many small businesses face. She currently resides in Lisbon with her husband, their child, and two cats.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…have a giant water bottle.

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Leanne oversees our Implementation department, making sure that all project deliverables meet standards and that systems and processes are adhered to. She works closely with the Design and Development teams on testing and QA.

With a degree in journalism and mass communication, her experience includes working in the communications department of Bates College, as an events coordinator for a local media company, for Visit Portland (formerly the Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau), and as an operations coordinator for the Maine Brew Bus. Leanne was born and raised in Portland and currently lives in Freeport.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…be related to you.

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Emily is a talented visual problem solver. Savvy in both print and web design, she directs everything from brand identities and e‑commerce sites, to product packaging and beyond. With a bachelor’s in graphic design and a minor in communications, she helps businesses of all sizes tell their stories visually. Emily lives outside of Portland with her husband, Tyler, their son, and their golden retriever, Leo.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…have a good ghost story.

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Sam is our senior developer, with more than 15 years of experience in the field, including nearly a decade with Helm where he has specialized in e‑commerce sites including Magento and Shopify. He moonlights as a local photographer.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…know the weather forecast.

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A native Mainer, Chandler was born and raised in Richmond before making the move to Brunswick in the summer of 2021. With a degree from Saint Anselm College, Chandler’s no stranger to hard work. After being admitted for engineering physics, he caught the coding bug while learning Java and made the calculated decision to trade in his engineering hat for computer science and math. Before graduating, he spent his spare time working on a website for his family’s local jewelry store, Brown Goldsmiths in Freeport. He plays a mean — and jazzy — alto saxophone, enjoys rugby, and is a passionate member of Red Sox Nation. At Helm, he’s a member of our development team, serving the crucial role of front end developer, where he finds technical solutions to business problems large and small.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…be wearing fun socks.

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Maine native (and twin!) Brenna went to college in Burlington, Vermont, where they worked as a lead human-centered designer for a think tank before graduating with a degree in Creative Media. At the age of 15, she started a photography and design business, and she once worked at a smoothie shop in the dead of winter. At Helm, Brenna works on branding and identity for clients, web design, and much more. An avid National Park visitor, they live outside of Portland with their partner, Noah, and their Great Dane mix.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…have seen them in concert.

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Haley has a B.A. in Studio Art and English from the University of Vermont, reflecting her passion for both creativity and language. Prior to joining Helm, she was the Director of Marketing & Communications at a small independent school. Before that, she gained experience in art education, nurturing her love for artistic expression.

As a designer at Helm, she especially enjoys brand work and producing advertisements and assets that maintain a fresh perspective while adhering to our clients' brand guidelines and standards.

During her free time, you can find her in the studio making pottery, attending concerts, or lounging on the beach with a book.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

‍...know where the emergency exits are.

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Conor went to college at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. Since then, his work experience has focused on providing customer service in a range of industries including a winery, a utility company, and a law firm. As an account specialist at Helm, Conor helps clients find creative solutions to their problems. He lives with his partner, three cats, and a dog in South Portland and loves hiking, eating vegan food, and watching trashy reality TV.

MOST LIKELY TO...
‍... know every pop diva lyric ever written.

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Casey Szmyt graduated from Keene State with a Bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, and criminal justice studies. Most recently, she was the Director of Operations for a home health care company in New Hampshire. While working in health and human services, Casey has always been engaged with the arts, and specializes in surface pattern design. In addition to lots of crafting, Casey is an avid reader. She has finished a book a week for the past two years and still finds time to entertain her two spirited kitties, Piper and Scout.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

...have the neatest handwriting.

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Mia Croney graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a Bachelor of Media Studies/Communications. She is a dual citizen, originally from St. John New Brunswick, Canada. Prior to joining Helm, she worked at law firms and non-profits, and she is excited to get back to her roots in communications. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Portland museums, bookstores, and movie theaters.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

...not have seen every good movie Steve Pogson has recommended she see.

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Georgina doesn’t have a straight answer for where she’s from but if pressed she’ll tell you ​“most recently New Orleans.” Before moving to Maine, she worked for a boutique hotel company managing social media marketing. During her time there she was the sole content creator for 234 rooms, an oyster bar, osteria, art gallery, and a music venue. No stranger to the internet, Georgina has contributed content (from copy to food and cocktail photography) to Tales of the Cocktail, Preservation Hall, Worldwide FM, and Ace Hotel. Her morning coffee is mostly milk and sugar.

MOST LIKELY TO...

…respond to your chat with a GIF.

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Dillon Whitton was born and raised in Maine, but has visited 45 different states (ask him which ones he hasn't been to) and more than 25 different national parks. He graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor's degree in marketing and has spent nearly a decade in the hospitality industry, from dishwasher to line cook to management. In his free time, you'll find Dillon rock climbing, cooking up a storm, and writing short stories.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

...have tried the newest local restaurant.

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As a digital strategist, Brian helps clients build CRM systems that enable them to understand and interact with their customers. His projects often involve tools in the Salesforce ecosystem: Sales Cloud, Pardot, and Tableau. Since the early 2000s, Brian has been helping companies develop marketing technology in the financial services, higher education, and association management sectors. Brian has a BA in History from Boston University and a MS in Information Systems from Bentley University.

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MOST LIKELY TO...

…play Steely Dan while working.

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