The Johnnyo Design Origin Story: From Student to Partner

John Owen taught Anthony Gorrity in a college design class. Years later, he handed him the keys to the agency. This is the origin story of Johnnyo Design, a Houston digital marketing and brand agency built over more than two decades. John's first website, coded by reverse-engineering page source out of an art gallery's homepage. The adjunct teaching job where he met a talented student in a suit two sizes too big. A LinkedIn message years later, a lunch, and a nonprofit project that proved the partnership. Then a men's retreat, a call to ministry, a 2024 layoff, and a phone call that turned out to be an answered prayer for both of them. If you're deciding who to trust with your brand, these are two of the men leading the team that you'd be working with. CHAPTERS 0:00 Meet John and Anthony 0:22 How John built his first website with no coding skills 1:29 Feast or famine: the day job that funded the dream 2:08 Teaching at Lone Star and meeting a student named Anthony 2:57 The LinkedIn message years later 3:45 The nonprofit project that proved the partnership 4:42 The retreat that changed both men 5:56 Burnout, Ledge, and the 2024 layoff 6:37 "That's awesome news" — the call that started the handoff 7:42 The driveway moment 8:46 What's next: people first, everything handcrafted — About John Owen John Owen—Johnnyo himself—is the namesake and founding force behind Johnnyo Design. He's been stirring the creative pot since 1998, after graduating with his BFA in art and design at LSU - GEAUX TIGERS. He's been crafting brands, building websites, and mentoring designers with a calm hand and a sharp eye ever since. About Anthony Gorrity Anthony is an author and leader that builds and coaches high-performing teams to deliver strategic creative through multichannel marketing. He has over 15 years of experience cooking with brand and creative and holds an International Craft Beer Marketing Awards Gold Medal and has directed creative efforts for major brands such as HP, Chevron, and eight-time INC 5000 fastest growing, Ledge. Video produced by Josh Olalde https://www.josholalde.com/ and Johnnyo Design. Work with us: https://www.johnnyodesign.com/ Get a free marketing analysis to see how much you may be leaving on the table: https://www.johnnyodesign.com/contact/ Instagram:   / madebyjohnnyo   Facebook:   / madebyjohnnyo   Anthony's LinkedIn:   / anthonygorrity   John's BNI: https://bnihouston.com/tx-houston-wes... Anthony's BNI: https://bnihouston.com/tx-houston-sou... #HoustonDesign #AgencyLife #BrandDesign #SmallBusinessStory