Our Team

Caryn Terradas

“Call me Ishmael.” Well, my name is Caryn so you should probably just call me that. I’ve been in sales and marketing a long time. I worked retail sales for almost 15 years before moving along to corporate America. I worked in sales for a training and consulting company for almost 10 years ( I started very young. Only 7) before deciding I could do it on my own.

My timing was perfect. I started my own business and BAM….the recession hit. I found myself with more time than money and no advertising budget at all. I started using LinkedIn to drum up business and low and behold…it worked! And even better….it worked for FREE.

I had a client who asked if I would speak to her group about using social media to market yourself and your business. So of course, I told her no. That’s boring drivel and no one wants to hear about it. She didn’t give up (thank goodness) and I finally agreed to speak to a small group. I loved it. The group loved it. There was clapping and a star was born. Well….not a star, but someone who was really excited to share information. I continued to speak across the country and gathered more social media clients. Eventually I was forced to reevaluate my business and realized the social media side was generating more income and way more fun. So I became a full time social media manager and have never looked back.

Eventually I was forced to reevaluate my business and realized the social media side was generating more income and way more fun.

Leah McMullins

I firmly believe in the power of social media marketing and the good it can do for a business and a community. I find that my skills and experience combine perfectly when I’m working with clients to create the perfect campaign to share their message with their audience.

Working for Social U has been a true game changer for me. I love that I am not locked into a 9-5 job, but instead, find myself in a creative environment where I can be myself, and know that my opinion matters.

I have a true heart and passion for community service and I volunteer in a lot of different areas. I will do just about anything I can to fundraise for a good cause, whether it’s baking, donating my time and talents, or assisting kids in my community who are taking part in our local chamber’s annual “Santa Secret Shop” experience. I’ve recently helped raise funds for mission trips to Mexico and that makes my heart happy.

When I’m not working you can find me curled up on the couch listening to a true crime podcast—I love one called “My Favorite Murder”, because the women hosts are all about women’s rights and the rights of people in general. They have a voice and choose to stand up for those who don’t have a voice, infusing comedy along the way and I really admire that.

Of course, I am a total soft touch when it comes to dogs. My fiancé and I have currently managed to limit ourselves to two rescues. One is a Boston Terrier named Spanky and our other dog is a Chihuahua-pug mix. He’s an established, older gent named Otis, but we call him Otie to keep him feeling spry and sporty.

My love for creating graphics and connecting with people help me dominate in the social media world! I say this humorously, but I am passionate about using social media as a game changer to grow and expand influence and reach enabling positive change to come about in my client’s businesses and lives.

“I will do just about anything I can to fundraise for a good cause, whether it’s baking, donating my time and talents, or assisting kids in my community…”

Laura Black

With a varied career mix of medical, retail, educational and small business under my belt, this military wife, crazy baseball mama, small business owner, Texas transplant has a little life experience to draw from. I’ve moved a few times and worn a few hats in my trips around the sun which actually comes in handy relating to different people. I’ve learned that the world really isn’t as large as it seems, there are still lots of good people, and there really are seven degrees of Kevin Bacon.

I like to make lists and check boxes. Just saying. I also like to make people happy. Life is so much better when everyone is happy. Caryn once said I was practically Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. I wouldn’t go that far, but…..

I’m a small business owner, so I bring a practical side to social media. In fact, I was on the other side of social media before Caryn shared her magic for my business and pulled me in. I’m always trying to think of how social media will draw in a reader/customer and give more bang for the buck. It’s not just putting out pretty pictures—it’s putting out pretty pictures that make the numbers climb. And yes, happy numbers are satisfying!

I grew up in Birmingham, AL, and graduated from Auburn University where I met the hubs. Now, we live in quaint Boerne, Texas, a little Hill Country town just north of San Antonio, with a dramatic high schooler, a moody middle schooler (Read: pray for me) and a geriatric miniature dachshund named Gunny. You can find me passing spare time by hunting for vintage finds or refinishing antique furniture for our little shop on Main Street.

Life is so much better when everyone is happy.

Becky Johnson

I don’t just do social media, I love it. I’ve been in the digital marketing business since 2014 and I really enjoy helping clients tell their stories in an engaging way online. As a self-proclaimed nerd, I’m always ready to do the research necessary to produce quality content.

I met Caryn at my son’s 16th birthday party. My kid invited her kid. As we were forced to awkwardly make small talk we realized we both loved the same fandom and both did digital marketing. We clicked and the rest is history. I truly believe it was a divine meeting. I love working in our estrogen-fueled, boss babe office.

As a wife and mom of several kiddos, through both birth and adoption, I’ve honed my communication and time management skills in the real world. Thanks to numerous photoshoots of my children, I’m also a pretty skilled iPhone photographer. When I’m not blogging or updating Instagram, you can find me geeking out over my favorite fandoms, getting a new tattoo, or singing with the worship team at my church.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” This quote by Helen Keller is my mantra. I love adventure so much I actually have the word tattooed on my forearm. It’s one of the things I love about my job. Every day brings a new adventure.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” This quote by Helen Keller is my mantra.

Madison Bassett

I am pretty new to the professional marketing scene but what I lack in years of experience I make up for in willingness to learn and lifelong knowledge of social media. One of my best traits is being able to meet a client or look at their social media and match their vibe immediately. I have a great sense of who people are and their business which helps me create quality content for our clients and speak to their target audience.

I graduated from Harding University with a B.A. in Public Relations in 2019. When people ask why I chose PR, I tell them I chose a major that would allow me to be creative and make friends easily and I found that in the Communication Department. Once I graduated from college, I worked at Walt Disney World and I returned to Birmingham, Alabama where I was born and raised at the end of 2019.

While working in a job that allowed me to grow my social media skills on the side, I learned about Social U from a mutual friend Caryn and I have. I reached out to Caryn and began working a few hours a week for her. I loved it! The freedom to be creative and grow in the digital marketing world was exactly what I wanted. After many calls from Caryn, she convinced me to quit my job and come work for her full time. I have not regretted it one time!

If I am not working from home you can find me doing on-site videos and TikTok’s for clients, hanging out at my favorite local coffee shop, or visiting the magic at Walt Disney World.

“One of my best traits is being able to meet a client or look at their social media and match their vibe immediately.”

Jaden Allen

My name is Jaden (I sometimes go by J), and I am one of the interns at Social U. I am a student at The University of Alabama in the college of communications. After graduation, I will have obtained a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a double minor in psychology and social welfare. I plan to pursue my love of writing and social media when I finish school.
I started at social U after my cousin Leah asked me if I was interested in the position. When Leah asked, I didn’t know what social media management was, but I decided that I would take the internship and try to learn something new. As I continued my journey with social media at Social U, I have learned more than I ever have in school or anywhere else. I love working for Social U because I get to learn through my colleagues, my new experiences, and my research.
I also love Social U because my talents and creative skills are valued. Even as an intern, my opinions and work are always wanted and appreciated. I have the freedom to work on my own time while also going to the office each week to continue the learning process. The team at Social U is full of creative, bright, and fun people who appreciate each other’s talents.
When I am not working, in class, or doing homework I love to spend time with my friends, go to the pool, and play with my dog. Speaking of my dog, his name is Mako, and he is the light of my life. He was rescued recently and will be moving in with me soon! I also enjoy going out to eat and shopping when I have time to spend outside of work and school (which is rare).
I have a love for people and collaboration. I can’t wait to connect with you and help you achieve your social media goals!

“I love working for Social U because I get to learn through my colleagues, my experiences, and my research.”

Jason Hall

I’ve always been a writer at heart. I have many stories inside of me waiting to come out. I’ve worked in many different types of jobs at various places. I have a degree in office administration/accounting/marketing/small business management. I’ve had experience in everything from factory work to corporate work.

I’ve survived both cancer and being a parent to teenage kids. In 2011, I began to take my writing more seriously. A friend persuaded me to write a book. It wasn’t that great, but I was learning. Then in 2015, I wrote another book. It was better, and during that process, I learned how to market myself and my work. That’s when my love for social media started.

I grew my following on Twitter and made real organic connections. I was hooked and on the lookout for the next big thing in social media. I also started blogging as well as writing for other blogs. I took a job as a social media manager for a start-up company and I never looked back. I’ve been involved with social media for over 11 years now and I love it.

I also have a love for coffee and yarn. So crocheting and drinking coffee are my hobbies. You can say I’m an addict. I spend half of my time in Alabama and the other half in Mexico.

“I’ve been involved with social media for over 11 years now and I love it.”

Nicole Presley

I love helping my clients find their voice so that they can effectively share their message. Nothing beats the sense of accomplishment when you watch a client’s business grow exponentially and you know you had a part to play in that growth.

When I’m not working you can usually find me spending time with my husband and the best son in the world. 

“Nothing beats the sense of accomplishment when you watch a client’s business grow exponentially and you know you had a part to play in that growth.”