Summary
JR Oakes is a data-driven digital strategist and VP of Strategy with 11 years of experience specializing in technical SEO and performance-focused growth. He blends hands-on technical expertise—coding in his spare time—with a strategic lens that turns crawlability, CTR, and content insights into scalable business wins. Previously he led technical SEO research and strategy roles at Locomotive and Consultwebs, and co-organizes the Raleigh SEO Meetup while contributing to Search Engine Land. Before tech, JR ran an architectural glass studio, delivering high-profile installations for organizations like SAS and the US Army, which informs his creative approach to problem solving. Based in Raleigh, he balances leadership with a practitioner’s mindset, often diving into data and experiments personally rather than delegating them away. Outside work he’s a bassist, dark-beer enthusiast, and family man who brings curiosity and craft to both code and strategy.
11 years of coding experience
21 years of employment as a software developer
North Carolina State University