Grow Together Initiative is proud to welcome Madison “Mads” Hardee-Rios as its Social Media Manager. Known for her empathy, sharp humor, and genuine gift for building community, Mads brings an energy to GTI’s online presence that goes beyond posting schedules and engagement metrics. She connects with people, and that is exactly what GTI’s social media needs to do.

From Bakeries to Brand Building

Mads’ path to social media is not a straight line — and that is what makes her good at it. She trained in culinary arts and managed from-scratch bakeries in California, developing a hands-on understanding of what it means to build something people actually care about. The attention to craft, the care in presentation, the instinct for what resonates — those skills traveled with her when she made the transition into digital community management.

That background informs everything she does: she does not just put content out into the world, she thinks about how it lands, how it feels, and what it says about the people behind it.

Building Community at Patriot Tattoo

As Shop Manager for Patriot Tattoo Company and Patriot Tattoo Company Fort Riley, Mads built her reputation as someone who creates spaces where people feel welcome. Managing a tattoo shop is as much about culture as it is about logistics — the artists, the clients, the vibe, the community that forms around a shared identity. Mads understands that instinctively, and she carries that same philosophy into her social media work.

She builds rooms, not just feeds. That distinction matters, and it is part of why she is a natural fit for GTI.

A Voice That Connects

What sets Mads apart is not just her skills — it is her presence. She leads with empathy first and backs it up with humor that disarms without diminishing. People respond to her because she is real, and that authenticity translates directly into the kind of social media content that actually gets people to stop scrolling.

GTI’s mission is built on human connection: mentorship, community, mutual investment in one another’s growth. Mads’ voice is a natural extension of that mission.

Growing GTI’s Reach

In her role as Social Media Manager, Mads will be responsible for GTI’s presence across platforms — creating and curating content that reflects the organization’s impact, amplifying events and milestones, and keeping the community informed and engaged. Her goal is simple: make sure that the work GTI does is seen, felt, and shared.

Please join us in welcoming Mads to the Grow Together Initiative family!

Learn More