Intro to the KHD Team
I think building a team is something a lot of business owners look forward to but are usually scared of at first. Someone to grind but have fun with and someone who likes to do the things you may not love as much. It can be a lot though. You have to find the right people. You work with people who are not it, and some who are amazing but go on to do their own things. The K.Haggård Design team is a special one. It took me some time to build it, and find my people, so I thought maybe they needed some spotlight and extra love. I have asked them some fun questions that I think you may find interesting. Here is my team. 🩵
Julika Kade – Graphic Designer
San Diego, CA
Julika is our person we run to to make things pretty. Her designs are brilliant, thoughtful and a perfect blend of modern and functional. Julika lives in San Diego and she is often boating or doing something active, when she is not working on designs or even meeting up with me for coffee. She is one of our Europeans on the team having grown up in Germany. She is a gem for her design and attitude.
What is your favorite drink?
Black coffee
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
Free Fish Taco day, I love tacos, especially City Tacos in Encinitas. They are artisan tacos, unique, beautifully crafted and oh so tasty!
What is something you are passionate about beyond work?
I love to workout, lift weights at the gym and go for long walks on the beach. Exercise makes me feel good and always helps if I need a design reset or mind refresh.
What’s your favorite thing about working at KHD?
I love our different and unique clients, the process of building their brands from scratch and then seeing the designs implemented and unfold in our work and their websites. Happy clients make me happy.
If you could have dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?
Dinner with my parents, they live across the country and I only see them a few times a year. I cherish the time I get to spend with them since they are getting older and time is precious.
Alina Gordon – Solutions Architect
San Diego, CA
Alina is my longtime friend and newest team member for our team. She is in a league of her own! She launched Church of Music (seriously the coolest!), wife, mom, DJ, non-profit founder, amazing dancer, and classical pianist and teacher. She has an MBA from Columbia, London Business School, and Hong Kong University, she thrives on creativity, movement, and connection. She is another one of our European team members, being born in Ukraine. I find myself going to Alina whenever I need a fresh idea, and she has a neck for talking and connecting with everyone. She is the ying to my yang when we are at networking events.
What is your favorite drink?
Coffee. I sip on it all day long. Specifically a nice latte with Oat milk, hopefully without sugar.
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
Monthly holiday for women’s menstrual cycle. At least 2 days when women would get to take off, take care of their bodies with paid for massages, yummy food, and gifted flowers and/or fresh fruit by their friends and family to celebrate the time.
What is something you are passionate about beyond work?
I’m very passionate about orphanages, and animal rights. I have been part of Corazon De Vida for the past 15 years, where we focus on providing education, life sustaining support, and mental health to the kids of the Baja Mexico orphanages. I also support a local animal rescue, called The Animal Pad, which rescues and rehabilitates dogs and cats from Mexico. I’ve rescued one or two by now. Lol
What’s your favorite thing about working at KHD?
Honestly, it’s the people. Working with such a brilliant human and an amazing team—inside and out—is something really special. I love how KHD values authenticity and holds integrity in the highest regard when it comes to partnering with clients. Every project feels like a piece of art, fueled by real passion and love—something that’s so rare these days. And it’s not just by chance. Once you learn about Karin’s journey, you realize that everything she does is rooted in purpose and passion. I feel so lucky to be a small part of that equation.
If you could have dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?
It would be my dad. He passed away 10 years ago, and I would give anything to have dinner with him—just to thank him for everything he did for our family. Even though he didn’t really know how to be a father to me or maybe even my brothers, I believe he did the best he could given the way he grew up and the life he lived. I’d also want to ask him what it’s like on the other side—what existence after death feels like. I recently watched an episode of Oprah about NDEs (near-death experiences), and it got me thinking about the connection between the living and the dead. I wonder if he’s had the chance to understand how he impacted people throughout his life. And more than anything, I would’ve loved for him to meet his granddaughter. I know he would’ve absolutely adored her, and I’m pretty sure she would’ve been obsessed with him. 💙
Jonathan Blankenburg – Web Developer
Pennsylvania
We can come up with any type of design, Jonathan knows how to make it happen. He never sees problems, just throws out solutions like he’s printing money. He has an unfathomable amount of experience in web development and works with many languages, most often html, css, php and javascript. When he isn’t hard at work solving difficult problems, you can find him cooking, laughing with friends or looking for buried treasure.
What is your favorite drink?
Coffee
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
Potato day, I’d eat potatoes all day.
What is something you are passionate about beyond work?
Making people laugh.
What’s your favorite thing about working at KHD?
The positive, appreciative, friendly environment.
If you could have dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?
My wife, she is the best!
Randy Fraser – Tech Guru
We Never Really Know…
Randy handles all the tech. Another gentleman that doesn’t see problems just solutions. He is the kind of person that can build something from nothing, no joke. This man is pure integrity and kindness. We usually find Randy sailing somewhere in the Great Blue, yep he lives on a sailboat. He is a perfect addition to our crew. Oh and I happen to know he does the best crane imitation.
What is your favorite drink?
Mojito, if made properly, which is rare. Too many bars lack real fresh mint, and don’t use enough lime, or muddle it properly to make the flavors really pop. But a well-made mojito is hard to beat. Otherwise, I’ll go straight to the IPA list.
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
It would be election day, to allow greater participation in our democratic process, and voting would be compulsory, as it is in Australia. A day off to really get out there and make our voices heard!
What is something you are passionate about beyond work? Politics and the environment, and how those intersect. And the watery world, in particular sailing and surfing.
What’s your favorite thing about working at KHD?
Flexibility of schedule (although I probably make things more flexible than Irina would choose), and a true sense of team, with ample respect flowing in all directions.
If you could have dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?
Neil Degrasse Tyson. I can’t imagine coming away from a few hours with this guy and not having a completely new and improved view of your place in the universe. But maybe we should add my late Grandpa Godfrey Paul Shelby, from my Mom’s side. I didn’t ever know him as an adult, but I’ve learned enough about him in the last few decades to better understand what I missed. I’d love to bring him, at age 50, do dinner with me and Neil. And start with mojitos!
Irina Georgieva – Project + Community Manager
San Diego, CA
Irina is the person who keeps our ducks in a row. (It’s a big job most times). She’s lived about a thousand different lives whether it is: professional ballroom dancer, working in luxury fashion, IT or hospitality. Irina is always one step ahead of us and she is an expert in all things Asana and is a mean Excel spreadsheet maker, like ninja skills has nothing on her. Her organization skills blow my mind. We love that she not only excels in her organization of our team but feeds her creativity by hand-crafting garments.
What is your favorite drink?
A sparkling glass of something celebratory – champagne or a well-crafted cocktail enjoyed in good company, preferably in a beautiful garden or by the coast. I love drinks that mark a moment. French 75 or Aperol Spritz is my personal go-to!
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
It would be Connection Day – a day dedicated to spending intentional time with the people who matter most. No phones, no agendas. Just shared meals, music, and stories. Everyone would write one letter to someone who shaped their life and deliver it in person or by post.
What is something you are passionate about beyond work?
Bringing people together. Whether it’s curating a memorable event, planning a trip, or organizing a surprise for a loved one, I’m passionate about creating joyful, thoughtful experiences that make people feel seen and celebrated.
What’s your favorite thing about working at KHD?
The people. I love being part of a team where creativity, care, and a shared sense of purpose come together. Also, I thrive when I get to see how we make things happen – from concept to execution, especially when it brings people joy or moves a mission forward.
If you could have dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?
My mom, Tatsiana – but in her younger years, so we could connect as peers. I’d love to hear more of her stories, see the world through her eyes, and just enjoy each other with the roles reversed for once – me hosting, her receiving. She lives in Belarus, and I don’t get to see her as often as I’d like.
Mark Stafford – Copywriter
Annapolis, Maryland
If you’ve seen some written words on a site we’ve designed, you should know Mark. He is a lover of art in all its forms, especially the wild world. Mark is our guy who will send over a live-feed of a Swedish moose migration when even I, the Swede, didn’t know about it. He has had a screenplay, the documentary Bastards’ Road, win the Slamdance and Santa Barbara film festivals. Mark is a super kind guy and it’s proven because in a previous life, he worked with kids struggling with addiction, trauma and mental health. He is always mentioning some interesting fact or interesting place he wants to visit. A gentle soul who keeps things fresh and exciting for us, always.
What is your favorite drink?
Acai
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
National Frolic in a Meadow Day
What is something you are passionate about beyond work? Social Justice
What’s your favorite thing about working at KHD?
The team/culture itself, everyone really values, cares about and respects each other.
If you could have dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?
Andrei Tarkovsky
Chandler Hiser – Social + Marketing Coordinator
Casper, WY
Chandler thinks in a past life she was Socrates. And it could be. She is the person who takes my thoughts and magically puts it into words (like how does one even do that?!), creates and sends out our awesome (seriously subscribe to it!) newsletter and our digital posts. If she isn’t online, she is training show horses or working cattle on her family ranch in Wyoming. We have our very own cowgirl!
What is your favorite drink?
Cran-Apple juice
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
National Celebrate Agriculture Day, most people do not understand or realize how their food gets to the stores. It would be a day where people appreciate farmers and ranchers and visit them to understand.
What is something you are passionate about beyond work? Agriculture. I know how hard it is to be a rancher or farmer and the work that goes into it. We lose more and more farmland every year and so people are expected to do more with less. I think our agriculturists need more love and respect.
What’s your favorite thing about working at KHD?
The team and especially Karin. Our team is so kind, fun and helpful. Karin is an amazing leader, she is very understanding, caring and wants her people to succeed.
If you could have dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?
Socrates 😉, kidding. I’d be lonely. My grandma. She was the kindest person, and she always made the best meals. You always got dessert. She is deeply missed.
Karin Haggard – Founder + Creative Director of KHD
Orange County, CA
I was born and raised in Sweden, but now live in Southern California. A golf scholarship is ultimately what brought me to the United States. But, a near death experience from a motorcycle wreck changed the course of my life and brought me to my career. However, I am actually more of an “accidental business-owner” because a freelance design gig was just supposed to get me by until I got a job, but instead the gig became it, my life. Now I am happier than ever and lucky enough to work with such amazing people.
What is your favorite drink?
My new favorite is Matcha latte and I think it’s here to stay or I really like water. Lately, I tend to grab sparkling water in a wine glass with a lime or strawberry.
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
Let’s get Outside and Move Day. Everyone gets to go outside and do something physical of sort together, rain or shine.
What is something you are passionate about beyond work? Might be cheating here a bit… but, Interior design, I love creating furniture, and putting together a space to create different moods and ambiances.
What’s your favorite thing about working at KHD?
Ha, well it’s all the things I love – design, support others, challenge, team sport :).
If you could have dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?
Hum this is too tricky… really, I would like to have a big dinner and bring all my friends and family together from all over the world, maybe it’s time for me to actually have my wedding?! Why? Well because, life is precious and there should be more celebration – always.
There you have it. And I get to call this crew, “my people”. Lucky is an understatement. If I can inspire you to do anything, after reading this is to go find your people, surround yourself with great people – it’s everything.
