SiteVivid

About SiteVivid Website Services

Our Story of Creativity,
Technology, & Service—Unified

SiteVivid began as a collaboration between Max Kelly and Christopher Austin—two seasoned IT professionals and musicians who met in 2004. Though they were friends and regularly performed music together, each pursued an independent and accomplished career in technology.

Creative Sarasota LogoCreative Sarasota Was Born

In 2018, after years of parallel experience in the industry, they joined forces on several web development projects. The strength of their collaboration, combined with their complementary skill sets, led to the founding of Creative Sarasota Design & Development.

Grounded in a rare blend of technical depth and creative insight, the company quickly expanded its services and client base. To further enhance its custom programming capabilities, they brought on long-time friend and accomplished developer Ricardo Ruggiero. Ricardo’s deep technical acumen, interminable curiosity, and strong work ethic made him an ideal addition to the team.

SiteVivid Evolved

As the company’s scope and clientele grew beyond its Sarasota beginnings, the name “Creative Sarasota” no longer reflected its direction. After careful deliberation, the team rebranded as SiteVivid—a name that captures their clear, dynamic, and forward-thinking approach to digital services.

Today, Max, Christopher, and Ricardo bring decades of experience across design, development, and hosting. Their collaborative strength and client-first mindset continue to define SiteVivid’s reputation for excellence.

Christopher Austin, SIteVivid WordPress Administrator

Christopher Austin

Sr. WordPress Administrator

A lifelong artist and musician, Christopher Austin has built a deep and wide-ranging career in internet technologies since 1999. He began in technical support and steadily advanced through nearly every facet of the IT industry—eventually managing and co-owning multiple hosting, design, and development firms.

Christopher’s expertise spans WordPress, website design, Linux systems, networking, technical support, SEO, customer service, project management, A/V technology, and more. His work reflects a rare combination of creative sensibility and technical precision.

An early adopter of WordPress in 2004, Christopher has over 20 years of experience with the platform. His skillset forms the backbone of SiteVivid’s WordPress development, hosting, and maintenance services.

Max Kelly

Creative Director

Max Kelly carries forward a creative legacy shaped by generations of artists. Both his father and grandfather were accomplished professionals in illustration and photography, and Max’s artistic roots run deep. He grew up immersed in visual arts—spending time in darkrooms, at drafting tables, and flipping through design, illustration, and photography annuals that filled his family home.

Building on this rich foundation, Max pursued formal training in fine art in both Chicago and New York, including studies at the prestigious School of Visual Arts in New York City. This rare blend of intuitive, hands-on learning, and institutional instruction shaped an exceptional visual sensibility.

For over 20 years, Max has honed his craft as a professional graphic designer and photographer. His experience, artistry, and vision form the creative core of SiteVivid’s design services.

Ricardo Ruggiero

Programming Administrator

A lifelong learner and multidisciplinary professional, Ricardo Ruggiero brings a rare combination of academic excellence, technical mastery, and entrepreneurial experience to the SiteVivid team. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree, a master’s, and an MPhd, Ricardo has spent decades expanding a remarkably diverse set of skills.

He is proficient in eight programming languages, highly experienced with Ecwid e-commerce integration, and a 15-year veteran of WordPress development. Beyond his technical strengths, Ricardo is a successful, award-winning entrepreneur with a long-standing reputation for reliability and innovation in his community.

Ricardo embodies the qualities that define SiteVivid’s approach: analytical precision, creative momentum, and a deep commitment to meeting client needs.

Chris Ray

Digital Marketing Consultant

A Sarasota native, Chris Ray began his marketing career in 2013 with a focus on performance-driven strategies. Since then, he has broadened his expertise to include comprehensive marketing and consulting services, with a specialization in digital strategy across a wide range of industries.

From corporate clients to small businesses, Chris delivers tailored, results-oriented solutions designed to meet each client’s unique marketing and business goals.

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Design, Build, Host, Support.

One Stop, One Team,
So Many Options.

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All-In-One Plans

Do You Have Questions?
We're happy to answer any questions you may have about design, hosting, WordPress, or marketing.