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About Us
A collective of individuals who share their knowledge and opinions, creating powerful collective intelligence.
At Hive Mind, LLC, we are more than just a network; we are a team of dedicated companies and consultants who excel in our fields. Together, we combine over 100 years of experience, working as an extension of your packaging and procurement teams. Our mission is to deliver innovative solutions, strategic sourcing, and cost-saving strategies that drive your success. Our team’s collective expertise spans across a dozen manufacturers and a vast network of technical sales and support. With access to centuries of industry knowledge, we offer a comprehensive range of services, including the one thing money can't buy—time. Whether it’s fast feedback, improved production through automation, short R&D cycles with rapid prototyping, or round-the-clock support, we ensure your project meets the toughest deadlines.
We invite you to learn more about our talented team, whose combined experience and dedication are the foundation of Hive Mind. Together, we bring your vision to life with precision and care.
Feel free to reach out to us—let’s work together to achieve your goals!
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Jon Freed - President / CEO
Jon Freed is an accomplished business owner known for his dynamic, hands-on leadership style. As a player-coach, he goes beyond hiring and training, actively leading by example to inspire success within his team. Jon's passion for his work is evident in the long-term relationships he fosters with clients and vendors, reflected in glowing testimonials and a steady stream of referrals.
With more than 25 years of experience working for printers and mailers, coupled with over 20 years as a broker, distributor, and manufacturer’s representative, Jon has developed extensive expertise in print management. His skills include design, digital, flexo, and sheetfed offset printing, as well as narrow and wide web production, jet and converted envelopes, and specialized label applications. Jon also excels in packaging design, automation consulting, and strategic procurement, developing manufacturing alliances across the USA and internationally.
A dedicated networking professional, Jon has been actively involved with industry organizations such as the Direct Marketing Association of Washington (DMAW) and Charlotte DMA, serving in leadership roles and as a frequent speaker. Jon served for three years on the Charlotte Postal Customer Council (PCC).
Outside of his business ventures, Jon is an accomplished writer. He has penned articles for newspapers, contributed to a direct marketing industry publication for seven years, and maintains his sales blog, Food for Thought. He has also dabbled in fiction and authored a children’s book.
Jon has been happily married to his wife, Vivian, for over 35 years. Together, they enjoy kayaking, restoring their nearly century-old Craftsman home, exploring real estate (Vivian even appeared on Fix It & Finish It), and spending time with their seven cats, including Tyra, their 17-year-old African serval, and two playful sphynxes. In his free time, Jon enjoys reading, writing, skiing, skydiving, camping, and fishing.
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A lifelong resident of North Carolina, Lisa Wall has more than 24 years of experience as a newspaper editor, journalist, columnist, and designer.
Lisa’s won numerous awards from the North Carolina Press Association for headline, column, feature and news writing, as well as for appearance, design and specialty publications. Her expertise led her staff to a General Excellence honor, six first-place Community Coverage awards as well as the Spotlight Award by Select 2000 for culturally unbiased reporting.
In addition to her extensive newspaper background, Lisa also has produced three Chamber of Commerce annual business and relocation magazines. As a leader in the industry, she’s proficient in creative collaboration resulting in aesthetically pleasing, informative, and cost-effective products.
Known for her detail-oriented designs, exceptional writing, and innovative thinking, Lisa excels in lean manufacturing project management and brings the drive to provide superior customer experience.
Outside of work, Lisa serves on the board of directors for a nonprofit cat rescue, managing its online presence. She also enjoys cooking, reading, writing, and spending time with her two cats.
Lisa joined The Hive Mind as General Manager in 2024.
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Lisa Wall - General Manager
Ernie Swiecicki is a seasoned sales and production executive with more than 40 years of expertise in the packaging industry. A New Jersey native, Ernie embarked on his career in corrugated sheet sales before broadening his scope of expertise to include point-of-purchase displays, plastics, bags, injection molding, foam, and a myriad of other packaging solutions. His career trajectory later led him to the Midwest and, in 2020, to Conway, SC.
Ernie’s impressive portfolio features collaborations with industry giants such as American Greetings, Colgate-Palmolive, Heinz, Yves Saint Laurent, Johnson & Johnson, Winner International, DeLallo Foods, Apothecus, and John Zidian Co., among others. His extensive experience spans technical design and procurement, covering a wide spectrum of materials and processes, establishing him as a go-to expert in the field.
Having previously collaborated with Hive Mind President Jon Freed, Ernie joined Hive Mind in 2018 as a lead sales and production executive.
Passionate about crafting innovative, cost-effective solutions, Ernie thrives on the challenge of meeting customer needs with ingenuity. His drive and dedication have helped to develop long-standing relationships with customers and manufacturers around the globe. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his wife of 47 years, Christine, and values time
spent with their children, Scott, Sherri, and Jeff, as well as their two grandchildren.
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Ernie Swiecicki - Production & Packaging Specialist
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Scott Swiecicki - Packaging Consultant
Hive Mind Numbers
Founded
2018
Combined Years
of Experience
100+
Manufacturing Partners
30+
Annual Production Output
85M+
Michael Toscano is a highly skilled Senior Graphic Designer with 23 years of in-house, agency, and Fortune 500 experience, working with Corning and Walt Disney Publishing. He has won several awards for his work including two from Graphic Design USA.
Michael is a dedicated team player. His designs are innovative, creative, thorough, and fast! He has created innovate new concepts for branded packaging, marketing campaigns - including magazine ad placement and tradeshow collateral for our brewery, distillery, and ag/chem clients.
He joined the Hive Mind in 2020.
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Michael Toscano - Graphic Designer
Sean Johnston is the owner of Proforma Johnston & Associates, a promotional marketing agency specializing in brand logistics, creative campaigns, and client-ready sales tools that bring big ideas to life. With nearly 30 years of experience in graphics, printing, and marketing, Sean helps companies bridge the gap between creative vision and real-world execution.
As far as our Hive Mind team goes — Sean isn’t just a promo guy. He’s your promo guy. His mission is simple: to take the trust, urgency, and critical nature of your current project and make sure the promo is tight, on time, and stress-free.
Anyone can buy promo — but Sean takes the pain away, manages every detail, and ensures that when the order lands, you get the credit. Whether the story you’re telling needs logo apparel for your team, banners and displays for your event, branded swag that makes your story sing, or sales tools that get attention and start conversations, Sean helps you take it from the idea phase to the real world — with concierge-level service and the right connections to make sure it rocks every step of the way.
Sean’s clients don’t just buy from him — they stay with him. Many have worked with Sean not just for years, but for decades, a testament to his reliability, care, and unwavering integrity.
Beyond business, Sean is a community builder — active in small business coaching, recovery circles, Christian fellowship, and family ministry. He brings those same values of compassion, service, and perseverance into every client relationship.
Sean carries forward the credo passed down from his late mentor and Dale Carnegie instructor, Walt Fales
“Love people. Tell the truth. Do the work. Finish strong.”
As a lifelong storyteller and contributing writer for TheBayNet, Sean brings a human touch to his work — spotlighting authentic stories and relationships that remind businesses what connection really means.
Sean Johnston - Marketing & Packaging Affiliate
With over 25 years of experience in packaging, Scott Johnson has built a successful career focused on enhancing packaging solutions for businesses. His expertise encompasses labels, shrink sleeves, flexible packaging, printed films, and folding cartons — key components for consumer products in competitive markets.
Scott has a deep understanding of packaging trends and materials and works closely with clients and top-tier manufacturers to identify cost-effective solutions and process improvements. His commitment to sustainable packaging innovations and strategic insights enhances product appeal and functionality, aligning with customer needs.
Whether you're aiming to reduce costs, optimize your supply chain, or create more impactful packaging, Scott delivers customized solutions to meet your goals. Like his Hive Mind partners, he is dedicated to quality, exceptional service, and sustainability, helping clients reduce environmental impact while achieving their business objectives.
Scott’s mission is to provide packaging solutions that balance performance, sustainability, and affordability, driving business growth.
Connect with Scott to discover how he can enhance your packaging and support your business success.
Contact:
sjohnson@thehiveminds.com
704-284-4250
Scott Johnson - Packaging Consultant
Logan Freed is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in sales, customer service, and healthcare. Currently, Logan serves as a sales representative at The Hive Minds, where a commitment to innovative thinking, asking the tough questions, and delivering exceptional customer experiences are central to their approach. Throughout Logan’s career, he has gained valuable expertise in industries ranging from flexographic ink sales to automotive retail, consistently exceeding client expectations and driving results. Recently, Logan expanded his professional scope by working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the psychiatric medical field, further showcasing adaptability and a deep commitment to serving others. Outside of work, Logan channels creativity and passion into music, enjoying live performances, composing original pieces, and teaching guitar. In his free time, Logan also finds joy in outdoor activities such as stargazing and trail walking, embracing moments of reflection and connection with nature.
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Logan Freed - Packaging Consultant
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Donavan Fletcher - Packaging Consultant
Description coming soon!
Andy Fox - Packaging Consultant
With over 25 years of expertise, Tom Fitzgerald is a key member of The Hive Mind team, specializing in delivering high-quality, compliant, and sustainable solutions for regulated labeling, packaging, and brand protection. His work focuses on optimizing supply chains and driving business growth through innovative approaches. Tom is passionate about integrating cutting-edge packaging technologies — including Augmented Reality, QR codes, and smart scanning tools — to help brands stand out, engage customers, and enhance product traceability. Leveraging a trusted network of industry partners, he brings these transformative solutions to market, ensuring brands remain at the forefront of innovation.
Beyond consulting, Tom is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs in the food and beverage sector. He is the founder and owner of Access Creative Group, a Mentor in Residence at multiple Massachusetts organizations, and an advisor to startups focused on sustainable practices and scalable growth strategies.
Let’s connect to explore how sustainable, innovative packaging and logistics solutionscan elevate your brand and create meaningful impact.
Contact
tomfitzgerald@accesscreativegroup.com
Tom Fitzgerald - Packaging Affiliate
Kristin Kodenski is a highly skilled and dedicated professional at Midnight Designs and Promos LLC, a leading company specializing in custom promotional products and design services. With a passion for creativity and an eye for detail, Kristin has become an invaluable asset to the company, contributing her expertise to a wide range of projects that help businesses enhance their branding and visibility.
Kristin is known for her strong work ethic, exceptional communication skills, and commitment to delivering the highest quality products and services. She works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and provides tailored solutions that are both functional and visually appealing. Whether it's creating custom promotional items, developing innovative design concepts, or managing the production process, Kristin ensures that every project is executed to perfection.
With a deep understanding of the power of branding and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, Kristin Kodenski plays a key role in helping businesses succeed by providing them with high-quality, personalized promotional products that make a lasting impact.
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