Ryan Setliff is a visionary entrepreneur and digital strategist with a lifelong passion for technology, marketing, and innovation. His journey into the digital realm commenced during his elementary school years, where he exhibited exceptional in computers programming.

Gifted with an eidetic memory, as an elementary school-aged child, Ryan drew inspiration from his father’s programming cookbooks. Here, he began reverse-engineering code to understand the commands, functions, and syntax through inductive reasoning, eventually leading him to create his own programs in BASIC. By 1990, he was programming in Visual Basic, and by 1992, he had mastered Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), setting the stage for his future success in web development and digital marketing.

In high school, Ryan expanded his technical expertise into Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (CADD), embracing architectural drawing, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator in graphic design. His exceptional skills led him to draft his first commercial blueprint as a freshman, a design that was later built for a contractor—an extraordinary achievement for a teenager. He later interned for Dewberry, an engineering firm.

At just 18, Ryan co-founded SelectSurf Media in 1997, an innovative boutique digital media venture that curated the best of the web. SelectSurf offered featured site reviews, a selective directory of the Best of the Web, and a search engine, competing directly with early internet giants. It stood out as one of the first Internet guides to offer free real-time stock quotes, besting industry leaders like Yahoo and Excite. The company generated revenue through advertising, e-commerce partnerships, and affiliate marketing, proving Ryan’s early acumen in digital monetization strategies. It was featured in Yahoo Internet Life's 1997 "Best of the Web" issue.

In late 1990s, he concurrently worked for Nerds4Rent a now-defunct and software troubleshooting service based in Midlothian, Virginia, where he served as a web designer and marketer, acquiring valuable practical experience in the rapidly information technology sector.

Building on this foundation, Ryan has since established himself as a leader in digital transformation, marketing and business strategy. He has helmed the marketing efforts for three major automotive groups, leveraging his expertise to drive brand visibility, digital engagement, and revenue growth in highly competitive markets.

In 2023 and 2024, Ryan earned recognition as a LinkedIn Top Voice Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, and Search Engine Marketing.

Currently, as the founder Ars Strategica, Ryan leverages his extensive expertise in strategy, business intelligence, marketing to guide companies through intricate challenges. His early immersion in technology, combined with decades of cross-industry experience, establishes him as an innovative strategist with a unique combination of technical acumen and marketing expertise.

Ryan Setliff leverages his extensive expertise OEM dealership marketing to deliver digital strategies for automotive brands, including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Subaru, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

With comprehensive insights, Ars Strategica is equipped to assist any business in enhancing its online presence, effectively engaging customers, and achieving sales growth through targeted, SEO, SEM and tailored digital marketing solutions across diverse verticals.

Founder Biography

Ryan Setliff, Principal Consultant, Full-Stack Digital Marketer

Ryan is a thoughtful, effective communicator and is able to analyze and synthesize complex information to provide value and understanding. He is always learning and expanding his knowledge base.

Chris Rhoades, VP, BKT Tires

I've known Ryan for years and understand him to be a multifaceted professional, quick on the uptake, wearer of many hats and of extraordinarily diverse interests. When Ryan sets his mind to something, it will get done. He's an excellent communicator in the remote-first workforce and I recommend him for any role touching on his myriad competencies.

CJ Mayo, CISSP, Walmart Global Tech

★★★★★

★★★★★

I have known Ryan for twenty-plus years. He has impeccable character, intelligence and possesses enormous insight into digital marketing best practices, implementation, and maintenance of web-based services as well as applications.

Josh Vereen, Amazon.com, Reliability Engineering Manager

★★★★★

Data Analytics & Business Intelligence

• Google Data Analytics Professional Career Certificate (Feb 2025) - 8-course program for data analytics roles

• Google Analytics Certification (Jan 2025-Jan 2026) - Web analytics and measurement

• Google Analytics 4 Certification (Jan 2023) - Latest Google Analytics platform

• Adobe Analytics Essential Training (Apr 2023) - Enterprise web analytics

• SAS Data Literacy Certificate (Apr 2023) - Data analysis fundamentals

• Data Science Foundations (Mar 2023) - Statistical analysis and data science basics

Digital Marketing & E-commerce

• Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate (Feb 2025) - 7-course foundational program

• HubSpot Digital Marketing Certification (Oct 2024-Nov 2025) - Comprehensive digital marketing

• HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification (Nov 2024-Dec 2026) - Inbound methodology

• HubSpot Content Marketing Certification (Oct 2024-Nov 2026) - Content strategy and creation

• HubSpot SEO Certification (Jan 2023) - Search engine optimization

• HubSpot Revenue Operations (Dec 2024-Jan 2026) - Sales and marketing alignment

Search Engine Optimization & Marketing

• SEMrush SEO Fundamentals (Jan 2023) - Technical SEO foundations

• SEMrush On-Page & Technical SEO (Feb 2023) - Website optimization

• SEMrush Local SEO (Feb 2023) - Location-based search optimization

• SEMrush PPC Fundamentals (Oct 2023) - Pay-per-click advertising

• SEMrush Keyword Research Course (Oct 2023) - Search keyword analysis

• Google Ads Display Certification (Mar 2023) - Display advertising

• Google Conversion Optimization Certification (Jan 2023) - Landing page optimization

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

• IBM AI Foundations Specialization (Jan 2025) - AI fundamentals and applications

• IBM AI Foundations for Business (Jan 2025) - AI strategy for business leaders

• IBM Machine Learning with Python (Jan 2025) - ML algorithms and implementation

• NVIDIA AI Infrastructure and Operations Fundamentals (Jan 2025) - AI system management

• Oracle Cloud Infrastructure AI Foundations (Jan 2025) - Cloud-based AI services

• Rutgers AI Concepts and Strategy (Jan 2025) - Strategic AI implementation

• Wharton AI Strategy and Governance (Jan 2025) - AI ethics and governance

Cloud Computing & Infrastructure

• Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 2024 Certified Foundations Associate (Feb 2025-Feb 2027) - Cloud fundamentals

• IBM Introduction to Cloud Computing (Jan 2025) - Cloud service models and deployment

• IBM DevOps, Cloud, and Agile Foundations Specialization (Jan 2025) - Modern development practices

Human Resources & Compliance

• HRCI Human Resource Associate (Feb 2025) - HR fundamentals including hiring, training, compensation

• HRCI Compliance and Risk Management (Jan 2025) - Legal compliance and risk mitigation

• Wharton Privacy Law and Data Protection (Jan 2025) - Data privacy regulations

• Wharton Regulatory Compliance Specialization (Jan 2025) - Organizational compliance management

Project Management & Operations

• Google Project Management Professional Certificate (Mar 2024) - Agile and traditional project management

• Project Management in Practice - University of Wisconsin-Madison (Jan 2023) - PM fundamentals and team leadership

• LinkedIn Lean Six Sigma Project Management (Oct 2024) - Process improvement methodology

• LinkedIn Operational Excellence Work-Out and Kaizen Facilitator (Oct 2024) - Continuous improvement

Public Relations & Communications

• Microsoft Public Relations and Communications Associate (Feb 2025) - Campaign planning, media relations, crisis management

• Fundamentals of Media Relations - Muck Rack (Jul 2023) - Press relations and media outreach

• SEMrush How to Write Effective PR (Feb 2023) - PR writing and strategy

• SEMrush Mastering Digital PR (Feb 2023) - Online public relations

User Experience & Design

• Google Foundations of UX Design (Dec 2023) - User-centered design principles

• Microsoft Fundamentals of UI/UX Design (Jan 2025) - Interface and experience design

• Accenture Digital Skills: User Experience Certificate (Oct 2023) - UX methodology

• SAP Get Started with UX (Feb 2023) - Enterprise UX design

Business Strategy & Entrepreneurship

• Wharton Entrepreneurship Specialization Certificate (Jan 2025) - 5-course program covering startup lifecycle

• IBM & Darden Digital Strategy (Jan 2025) - AI, cloud computing, and data science for digital transformation

• Leadership Institute Campaign Leadership College (Jul 2023) - 9-day campaign management bootcamp

• University of Notre Dame Leadership Essentials (Apr 2016) - On-campus leadership intensive

Software Development & Technical Skills

• IBM Introduction to Software Engineering (Dec 2024) - Software development lifecycle

• IBM Building AI Powered Chatbots Without Programming (Jan 2025) - No-code AI development

• IBM Software Developer Career Guide and Interview Preparation (Jan 2025) - Career development

• LinkedIn Level Up: JavaScript (May 2023) - Programming fundamentals

Manufacturing & Operations

• SUNY Digital Manufacturing & Design Technology Specialization (Jan 2025) - Advanced manufacturing solutions

• LinkedIn Quality Management for Operational Excellence (Oct 2024) - Quality systems and processes

Social Media & Content Marketing

• Accenture Digital Skills: Social Media Certificate (Mar 2023) - Social media strategy

• Pinterest Academy Complete Program (Feb 2023) - Pinterest advertising and marketing

• Twitter Flight School Multiple Certifications (Jan-Feb 2023) - Twitter marketing and advertising

• SEMrush Content Marketing Fundamentals (Aug 2023) - Content strategy and creation

• SEMrush Advanced Content Marketing (Feb 2023) - Advanced content techniques

Sales & Customer Relations

• Salesforce Sales and CRM Overview (Jan 2025) - Customer relationship management

• HubSpot Frictionless Sales (Jan 2023) - Modern sales methodology

• SEMrush Lead Generation Accelerator (Oct 2023) - Customer acquisition strategies

Security & Compliance

• US Department of Defense Cyber Awareness Challenge Certificate (Nov 2024) - Cybersecurity fundamentals

• DCSA Insider Threat Awareness Certificate (Nov 2024) - Security threat recognition

• DCSA OPSEC Awareness Certificate (Nov 2024) - Operational security practices

• DCSA Unauthorized Disclosure Training (Nov 2024) - Information protection protocols

Specialized Skills & Industry Knowledge

• HarvardX Remote Work Revolution for Everyone (Feb 2025) - Remote work management

• Yale University Rocket Science for Everyone (Jan 2025) - Aerospace engineering fundamentals

• University of Notre Dame Business Ethics (Jun 2023) - Role of business in society

• EventTrix Event and Hospitality Management Certificate (Mar 2021) - Event planning and management

Certifications and Certificate Master List

Ryan Setliff, Verified Certifications & Specialized Training