ERIK HICKS
FOUNDER, Chief EXECUTIVE Officer, AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

Veteran executive and entrepreneur with decades of experience building ventures at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and business. He has negotiated and structured major deals across music, film, development, beverage, and tech, partnering with industry leaders and national and international companies. Furthermore, Erik was a Principal at the New York-based international financial firm and hedge fund previously known as Gravitas Global Advisors, now called Eaton Square (Madrid). 

As Co-Founder of JettSet1 Enterprises with Flo Rida and Dr. George Tabi, Erik has launched and scaled businesses in various industries. The tech company, which Erik co-founded, Emmersive Entertainment, has been featured on 60 Minutes+, 60 Minutes Overtime, and in Forbes for pioneering NFT streaming and metaverse platforms—making history by selling one million NFT albums in less than one minute, on the company's platform, E-NFT.com, which was named by Erik. Emmersive's assets and website were acquired within 9 months of its founding, and are still in existence and are currently owned by Curios.

In film, Erik has partnered with Radar Pictures, a Hollywood production company whose films have generated over $9 billion worldwide (Jumanji, The Wheel of Time, etc…), and its Founder & CEO Ted Field, bringing visionary IP such as Erik's animation movie, The Evolving Gate: Origins of Entanglement into production. Erik is also an Executive Producer on several new and upcoming Radar Pictures films/TV series. Recognized as both a dealmaker and strategist, Erik's career reflects a proven ability to turn ideas into global ventures. At Upsurge3, he leverages this experience to drive partnerships, business development, and large-scale growth initiatives.

Letty Moran
president and Chief Marketing & Branding Officer

Brand strategist and executive with over two decades of experience shaping the identity and growth of companies across entertainment, consumer goods, and lifestyle sectors. She has collaborated with Fortune 500 corporations, global nonprofits, and high-profile personalities building brands that resonate with audiences and drive measurable market impact.

Her career spans leadership roles in marketing, communications, and public relations, where she has consistently delivered results through strategic partnerships, large-scale campaigns, and innovative storytelling. Letty has advised organizations on brand positioning, market expansion, and customer engagement strategies that have strengthened visibility and accelerated growth.

At Upsurge3, Letty leads brand strategy and positioning, ensuring every client - from enterprise corporations to cultural icons - develops a clear, compelling identity that supports both immediate revenue goals and long-term market leadership. With a proven ability to merge creativity with strategy, she plays a key role in guiding Upsurge3's clients through competitive landscapes and rapidly evolving industries. Some of Letty's clients have included, FIFA world cup 2026™, Google, Hewlett Packard, Nvidia, Comcast Business, Verizon, State Farm, Belvedere, Dr. Pepper, and Remy Martin.

Joanna Ciampa
Chief Design Officer

Joanna is an award-winning artist and interior designer with over 35 years of experience. Joanna attended the Art Institute of Boston (AIB), now named Lesley University.

Joanna's work has been featured in domestic and international magazines alike, and she was named one of the 12 Most Influential in Boston's SCENE Magazine for her multi-faceted talent.

Joanna's client list includes, but is not limited to, a variety of A-list restauranteurs, professional athletes, famous musicians, and cutting-edge companies. Expressions of her creativity range from nightclub design to European day spa healing interiors. Joanna has also entered into the entertainment space and is the set designer of the upcoming sci-fi, drama movie The Evolving Gate, whereby she also serves as an associate producer on the film as well.

Kelly Hudson
Chief Concept Officer

Kelly Hudson Founder of FLY Kimonos has been a fashionista since the mid 80's. Kelly worked alongside Australian Celebrity Designer Richard Tyler in his early rise to fame, serving as his personal assistant, helping to orchestrate fashion shows and other such responsibilities. In the 90's he was the head designer of Anne Klein, which inspired the launch of his award-winning men's and women's clothing line.

FLY Kimonos kicked off the Kimono trend at New York Fashion Week in 2015. Shortly thereafter, many celebrities have been seen rocking FLY Kimonos, for instance, FLY Kimonos made its way on to multi-platinum and multi-Grammy Award Winner Beyonce's official “The Formation World Tour” page. Additionally, 9-time Grammy Award Winner Anderson .Paak and multi-Grammy Award Winner Erykah Badu, have each been seen in a stylish FLY Kimono. Even entertainment mogul and Co-Founder of Interscope Records Ted Field who is also the Founder and CEO of Radar Pictures has worn FLY Kimonos.

Kelly is the Creative Director of Eli Kish luxury woman's clothing brand and as such, she has collaborated with celebrity fashion stylist, designer, and book author Tameka Foster-Raymond. Kelly is also the Manager of men's luxury clothing brand LRC. FLY Kimonos custom designs will also be featured in the forthcoming and highly anticipated screenplay, a supernatural, psychological thriller, The Evolving Gate, that was written and directed by Erik Hicks.