Meet the 1455 Team
Mark Seferian
Director of Marketing & Public Relations, 1455 books
Mark Seferian leads marketing and public relations for 1455 books, where he focuses on narrative strategy, audience development, author positioning, and long-tail cultural impact. His work centers on shaping how books enter the world—aligning voice, message, and momentum across media, partnerships, and community to ensure each title lands with clarity, intention, and staying power. Drawing on decades of experience building brands from the ground up, Mark brings a founder’s mindset to publishing—bridging storytelling, strategy, and execution across owned media, earned press, relationships, and events. Mark is also the CEO of Golden Compass Ventures, a firm that launches and advises businesses at the intersection of technology, consumer brands, and creative enterprise. He serves as Chair of the Board of 1455 Literary Arts and is a lifelong entrepreneur, outdoorsman, cook, and all-in dad with a deep interest in blue-ocean strategy and building things that didn’t exist before.
Morgan Ryan
Creative Director & Head of Operations
Morgan Ryan leads creative direction, marketing, and operations for 1455, overseeing organizational strategy, campaign architecture, and the execution of the organization’s publishing and platform initiatives. Her work centers on aligning editorial vision, brand systems, and operational infrastructure to build cohesive ecosystems around books, authors, and storytelling. She leads the development of 1455’s core publishing programs—1455 books and Movable Type—as well as the organization’s digital platforms, while remaining closely involved in their execution. Morgan supports the design of book covers, web and distribution platform development, integrated marketing frameworks, and oversees the production of books and supporting materials from concept through release. At 1455 and across her client work, Morgan helps turn ideas into real projects—building structures that support artists and organizations, honor the work, and make ambitious creative initiatives possible.
Ellie Park
Digital Content Manager
Ellie manages 1455’s social media presence, overseeing content planning, creation, and scheduling across platforms to keep audiences informed, engaged, and connected to the organization’s work. She develops thoughtful digital content that reflects the organization’s mission and supports its programs, events, and public initiatives. In addition to social media management, she also leads video production for the organization’s digital channels, including YouTube and Substack, handling editing, publishing, and coordination for online video projects. Her work focuses on maintaining a consistent and welcoming online presence while expanding the organization’s reach. Through careful planning and creative production, She uses digital platforms to support the organization’s mission.
Jess Mayrides
Social Media and Graphic Design Specialist
Jess is one of the main producers and runners of 1455’s social media, which includes creating graphics and posts, coming up with captioning, and engaging with peers in the online literary community on a daily basis. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in media studies. She specializes in graphic design and social media content, but also has experience in UX and video editing. Jess has been an avid reader and artist since birth and loves being able to do work she believes in: bringing untold stories to others and sharing art from around the world. Outside of the 1455 world, Jess enjoys drawing, video games, and, of course, reading.
Ashton Wagner
Head of Growth Marketing Operations, 1455 books
Ashton leads Growth and Marketing Operations for 1455, where they oversee the digital infrastructure and strategic outreach efforts that power the organization’s visibility. Seasoned in the B2B tech sector, Ashton brings a “founder’s lens” to the non-profit world, drawing on a career spent building and scaling companies, including a successful exit. At 1455, they translate this entrepreneurial experience into high-impact digital marketing, public relations, and media outreach strategies. Defined by a signature bias for action, Ashton specializes in finding creative solutions to complex problems and moving quickly to turn vision into measurable momentum. They manage the operational frameworks that amplify 1455’s core programming, ensuring that the organization’s literary mission reaches its widest possible audience through agile, tech-forward growth strategies.
Sean Murphy
Executive Director
Sean Murphy is the founder and executive director of 1455 Literary Arts and the driving force behind the creation of 1455 books. A writer with more than two decades of experience publishing fiction, poetry, essays, and cultural criticism, Sean established 1455 to build a global community dedicated to storytelling, collaboration, and creative growth. As an editor, he oversees the development of major 1455 publications and initiatives, shaping the editorial vision for 1455 books and Movable Type while mentoring emerging and established writers alike. Under his leadership, 1455 has grown from a regional literary initiative into an international platform that connects artists, entrepreneurs, and audiences across disciplines. Sean continues to write and publish his own work while advancing 1455’s mission to inspire writers to create, focus, and connect with kindred spirits.
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