What is BrightLocal Academy?
New to BrightLocal?
Meet our course leaders
Steve Wiideman
Steve Wiideman, writer, scientist, professor, and SEO expert, lives and breathes search optimization. Author of SEO Strategy & Skills and adjunct professor at UCSD and CSUF, Steve leads SEO for franchise and e-commerce brands.
A passionate traveler and dad, he's building the Academy of Search and advocating for transparency in the industry.
A passionate traveler and dad, he's building the Academy of Search and advocating for transparency in the industry.
Claire Carlile
Claire Carlile is a veteran in the field of digital marketing with over 20 years of experience in SEO and local SEO.
As a small business owner herself, she offers tailored solutions for businesses worldwide, providing freelance SEO services, bespoke training, and industry insights through conferences and meetups.
As a small business owner herself, she offers tailored solutions for businesses worldwide, providing freelance SEO services, bespoke training, and industry insights through conferences and meetups.
Niki Mosier
Niki Mosier is an accomplished SEO expert with over a decade of experience in local and technical SEO.
She has held agency and in-house roles, offering consulting, training, and industry insights through conferences and speaking engagements.
Amanda Jordan
Amanda Jordan is a proven industry leader in SEO, specializing in competitive markets for SMBs and enterprise-level companies and various industries, particularly legal, financial, and healthcare.
Amanda also contributes to the industry through podcasts and online conferences.
Greg Gifford
Greg Gifford is the VP of Search Marketing at SearchLab, a local SEO and PPC agency.
With 19+ years of experience, he's a sought-after speaker globally. Greg's expertise has helped numerous businesses improve local search visibility.
Levi Williams-Clucas
Levi Williams-Clucas is a Search Engine Optimization Manager at Hello Earth.
Passionate about helping local businesses grow, she's a frequent speaker and attendee at BrightonSEO. With a love for baking and a knack for geeking out on books and video games, Levi brings a unique perspective to her work.
Emily Brady
Emily Brady is an SEO specialist with a decade of experience in Local SEO, On-Site Optimization, and Content.
She's a former MozCon speaker and has worked in both agency and in-house settings. In her free time, Emily enjoys exploring bookstores, coffee shops, and spending quality time with her family.
Dana DiTomaso
You may have seen Dana on stage or heard her on the radio—she’s got 20+ years in digital marketing, known for breaking down complex topics into engaging, easy-to-understand lessons. After a start in CRM tech support, Dana launched a web design company in 2002, diving into SEO and becoming a speaker on technical and local SEO in 2012. When she's not working, she’s cheering on football or picking up new hobbies!
Kristian Bannister
Kristian, formerly BrightLocal's Director of Product and Marketing, used his wealth of experience and knowledge to guide and support the Product and Marketing team, helping BrightLocal achieve its mission to empower marketers to excel at local SEO. He is no longer with BrightLocal, but his impact and contributions remain invaluable.