About jack
Jack Shepler is a marketing strategist, Forbes Next 1000 honoree, and creative leader with a background in web development, design, digital marketing, music, and events. He now leads Ayokay, where strategy and creativity come together to drive results.
Bringing creativity
and strategy together
to build meaningful experiences.
Jack Shepler is a marketing strategist, web developer, and creative leader whose career spans more than two decades across digital marketing, design, technology, music, and large-scale event production. A Forbes Next 1000 honoree, Jack is known for blending technical expertise with a deep understanding of human behavior — a combination that has shaped his work across industries and communities.
Jack began his career in web development, designing and building custom digital experiences for organizations of all sizes. Over the years, he evolved that technical foundation into a broader practice that includes branding, UX and content strategy, SEO, and full-scale digital marketing. This multidisciplinary background ultimately led him to found Ayokay, a digital agency that helps mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, public health teams, e-commerce brands, and B2B companies strengthen their presence online and communicate with clarity.
Outside of the marketing world, Jack has a long history in the music and events industry. He spent years as a DJ, event producer, festival director, and entertainment curator — leading teams, booking national talent, directing creative, and shaping cultural experiences for thousands of attendees. His leadership roles with organizations like Indy Pride, WARMfest, Broad Ripple Music Fest, and onTrack Entertainment helped define an era of independent music and community events in Indianapolis. Those experiences sharpened his instincts for storytelling, audience engagement, and collaboration — skills he now applies daily in his work with clients and teams.
Jack also contributes his time and expertise to organizations he believes in, serving on boards such as Damien Center, OutCare Health, and Entrepreneurs’ Organization Indianapolis, where he helps guide messaging, community outreach, and brand strategy.
At the core of Jack’s work is a simple philosophy: clarity builds trust. Whether he’s leading a complex website redesign, developing a marketing strategy, or helping a brand find its voice, his goal is always the same — to make ideas easier to understand, technology easier to use, and organizations easier to connect with.
Today, Jack continues to shape the future of Ayokay while developing new projects in technology, writing, and thought leadership. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to creativity, innovation, and helping others make a positive impact on the world.
Authority Crisis
How to Market Your Public Health Organization in the Era of Fake News is Jack’s response to that challenge. Part playbook, part wake-up call, the book urges public health leaders to rethink how they show up, build credibility, and protect their communities in an era where misinformation spreads faster than any pathogen.
Today, Jack continues to advise public health teams nationwide, helping them modernize their outreach, streamline operations, and strengthen the trust that saves lives. His work is rooted in a simple belief: when people understand and believe the information they receive, communities thrive.
AWARDS
Forbes Next 1000
Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award 2024
Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year 2021
Indy’s Best and Brightest 2021 Finalist
Indy Pride Volunteer of the Year 2020
Indy’s Best and Brightest 2017 Finalist
Indy Pride Service Award 2014
AGENCY AWARDS
2021 Gold Winner | Websites | Heath
2021 Gold Winner | Websites | Pharmaceuticals
2022 Silver Winner | Non-profit Campaign | PrEP Daily
2022 Davey Awards Website Gold | LGBTQ+ Category | Shelly’s Voice
2022 Indy Rainbow Chamber | Excellence in Business
2023 Indy Rainbow Chamber | Excellence in Business
Web Awards | Excellence Award Winner | Website Health
2022 Davey Awards Website Gold | Health & Health Services | Regenstrief Institute
© JACK SHEPLER. 2025
© JACK SHEPLER. 2025