Culture Pilot, a Texas-based growth strategy, brand development, and marketing firm, has named Susan Renaud and Geoff Nelson as Principal Partners. The appointments, announced in July 2026, mark a significant milestone for the firm and signal a deeper commitment to its core services.
Renaud, who serves as Director of Digital, brings a diverse background that spans psychology, public health, behavioral therapy, and a coding bootcamp. At Culture Pilot, she collaborates with clients to decode marketing data and transform insights into strategic actions. She also continues to expand her expertise in digital video production. Renaud points to Culture Pilot’s culture of learning as a key factor in her growth: “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.”
Nelson, the firm’s Chief Strategist, has decades of experience at established companies including Dell, DYWIDAG, and Intel, as well as startups and ventures of his own in media, metals, and spirits. He has bootstrapped a startup to $1 million in one year. At Culture Pilot, Nelson has focused on uncovering unique points of view and opportunities that strengthen clients and their market positions. His ability to connect business goals, audience understanding, and brand direction has deepened the firm’s strategic capabilities. Nelson added: “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. The fact that clients trust us enough to continue coming back year after year is something we don’t take for granted.”
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. “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,” said co-founder and Creative Director Kara Gray. Tim DeSilva, co-founder and CEO, shared: “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 their appointments, Renaud and Nelson join Culture Pilot’s existing Principal Partners: Tim DeSilva, co-founder and CEO; Kara Gray, co-founder and Creative Director; Javier Fadul, Innovation Officer; and Erma Tijerina, Education Officer and Senior Designer. The expanded leadership team positions the firm to help more organizations clarify who they are, communicate what matters, and build momentum around what comes next. For more information, visit https://culturepilot.com.
