Ritchie Russell and Jonathan Russell, Sterling Marketing

Ritchie Russell is President of Sterling Marketing. A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, Ritchie brings more than 25 years of experience in marketing, new product development, and international sourcing, with expertise ranging from manufacturing and quality to finance, operations, and sales.

Jonathan Russell is Vice President of Sales and Administration. He joined Sterling in 2025 after more than a decade in education, Scouting, and nonprofit fundraising, including roles with the Boy Scouts of America’s Mecklenburg County Council, United Way of Central Carolinas, and Freedom School Partners.

Together, they work behind the scenes with brands on the journey from concept to sampling, manufacturing, quality control, and delivery. On this episode of the BrandBuilders Podcast, we’ll learn how Sterling got started, one man’s leap from nonprofit to apparel, and what consumers never see.