We are a digital marketing agency with over 25 years of experience, based in Virginia and New Jersey and serving customers across the United States. We provide customized search engine optimization and marketing strategies to small, service-based businesses across a variety of industries.
Honest Oak Is Deeply Rooted in Small Business Experience
Honest Oak’s roots go back to 2006, when founding partner Nick Stone launched Charlottesville SEO Web Development in the heart of Virginia. After more than a decade of steady growth and client success, the agency partnered in 2020 with Ryan Forney, a former government intelligence agency professional launching his own digital venture. What began as a single project quickly turned into a powerful collaboration—delivering #1 Google rankings for highly competitive keywords across global markets.
Seeing the potential to help businesses at every stage grow through smart, ethical marketing, Nick and Ryan spent years refining their approach, building custom tools, and testing what truly works. In 2025, Honest Oak officially took root—grounded in transparency, results, and a genuine desire to help others grow.
From hometown shops to coast-to-coast brands, we’re proud to turn local small businesses into national success stories.
Founding Partner
Nick is a seasoned SEO and web development expert with decades of experience helping businesses grow online.
Nick is a seasoned SEO and web development expert with decades of experience helping businesses grow online. He launched Charlottesville SEO Web Development in 2006 — a successful boutique agency servicing around 40 clients per month. With roots in software development dating back to the 1980s and an M.B.A. in Finance, Nick combines deep technical expertise with strategic business insight. He also has extensive experience in marketing and small business ownership, which allows him to genuinely relate to the challenges other small business owners face—because he’s been in their shoes and knows what it takes to grow with limited time, resources, and support. Today, he leads with a focus on building talented teams, overseeing projects from start to finish, and ensuring clients receive measurable, lasting results. His track record of turning vision into growth makes him a trusted advisor in the digital marketing space.
Founding Partner
Ryan is an experienced SEO strategist with a passion for helping businesses grow through smarter search visibility and increased online engagement.
Ryan is an experienced SEO strategist with a passion for helping businesses grow through smarter search visibility and increased online engagement. Since launching his own successful web-based business in 2020, he has been immersed in the world of SEO and marketing—applying data-driven insights, technical expertise, and creative problem-solving to improve traffic and conversion for clients. Prior to his transition into digital marketing, Ryan held senior management roles in the U.S. Department of Defense, where he led high-level teams tackling complex national security challenges. His background in leadership and strategic thinking continues to inform his approach to SEO. He holds a B.A. in Financial Economics and Management Information Systems and an M.S. in International Relations. Ryan is also a U.S. Army combat veteran, bringing discipline, precision, and resilience to every project he undertakes.
Trying to get your small business noticed can feel overwhelming. With so many voices promising results, it’s hard to know where to start—or who to trust with your hard-earned dollars.
At Honest Oak, we’ve been in your shoes. We know SEO can seem like a maze, but it doesn’t have to be. With years of hands-on experience, we help you cut through the noise and invest where it counts—on strategies that actually move the needle. When you work with us, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting, why it matters, and how it drives real growth. Your success is our mission, and we don’t take that lightly.
Book a free consultation below or call 804-457-8383
