Travis Hartliep
Director of Marketing
Travis leads the Crimson Vine Marketing team. As the owner of Crimson Vine, Travis emphasizes client-focused services. His passion for marketing and web design started more than twenty years ago while taking a web programming class at Washington State University. Since then, his drive to become a marketing guru has never stopped.
Travis is most proud of the team he has built over the years. His passion is fueled by coming together as a team to help our clients achieve their marketing goals. When he isn’t working, Travis’ two kids keep him and his wife busy with community and sports activities. You can find him enjoying the powder on the slopes, working off some wine calories at the gym, or enjoying the latest seasonal sport with his kids. And of course, if the Coug game is on, his only priority is to cheer on the Cougs!
Fun Fact
Beer in my 20s, liquor in my 30s, wine and much more mature in my 40s!
Ashley Hite
Web Designer & Campaign Connoisseur
With more than 10 years in the marketing industry, Ashley helps winery and vineyard owners stand out from their competitors with the use of Google Search, YouTube, and targeted display advertisements; unique website design; and spot-on copywriting and SEO. Using advanced conversion tracking, she helps wineries discover how users are interacting with their brand online and ultimately use their marketing dollars more effectively.
Ashley is certified in Google Analytics and Google Ads. She enjoys listening to podcasts, watching baseball, playing softball, taking walks with her family, and volunteering for the Children's Heart Foundation.
Fun Fact
On the rare occasions that I drink, I've been known to commit the cardinal sin of putting ice cubes in my wine.
Josh Kandle
The Idea Fermentor
At the age of 8 Josh fell backward into a barrel of Cab Sav and came out jabbering about the terroir of the Mid-Columbia Valley and it’s been all downhill through the grapevines since.
After double majoring in Communications and Psychology at Washington State University, he went in search of the Northern Lights and logged an eight-year Alaskan adventure, a lettuce/flower farm, countless glasses of cheap red wine, one wedding and three small humans that look a little like him.
Since then, he has continually sought to build out his marketing palette with experience in search engine optimization, graphic design, coding, web design, photography and videography. In 2020, Josh added licensed drone pilot to his resume.
Josh also enjoys being active in the community outside of work and has volunteered time with The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Vibe Music Center, Tri-Tech Skills Center, Family Friendly Soccer, and the City of Richland.
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Fun Fact
If I was a dinosaur it would definitely be a Wineosaurus Rex.
Ashley Kreps
Administrative Aficionado
Ashley earned a degree in Mass Communications from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, with a focus on both Public Relations and Media Writing. Once graduated she found herself working in banking for 12 years, both in sales and credit underwriting. She found that she really enjoyed sales, especially getting to know people and helping them achieve their long-term goals.
Four years ago, her husband took a job that moved their family from Moorhead, Minnesota to Prosser, Washington. The weather is warmer, the wine is better, and meeting new people is an adventure that she is always willing to take on.
In her free time, she enjoys watching movies with her family, squeezing in workouts on the bike, and enjoying a glass of red wine or an IPA with her husband.
Fun Fact
Although there are many great ways to describe wine when tasting, like “a hint of tobacco” or “aromas of cherry and blackberry,” my go-to will always be “Ohhhhhh, it’s yummy!”
Nick Ellis
Web & Graphic Designer
Nick graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, IA where he received a degree in Graphic Design and Magazine Media. He built up his repertoire by writing and designing for several magazine publications, the most notable of which being Traditional Home Magazine. This background eventually paved the way for interest in user experience design, which became a career focused on website design.
Nick, an Iowa native, has enjoyed exploring the Pacific Northwest one weekend trip at a time! He can also be found at your local hardware store scrounging together the materials for yet another DIY or art project.
Fun Fact
I have competed in multiple Tour de Franzias in my illustrious career as a wine consumer (not to be mistaken as a connoisseur).