Co-Founder/ CEO

Ridge is a former Collegiate and International wrestler! Previously, Ridge worked as a Strength & Conditioning Coach with World-Class athletes for a World-Renowned Circus company. Ridge is a Player and Collector of Dragon Ball Super, MtG, and Pokémon TCG'S! Ridge is taking his knowledge and experience in the card world to help build a dynamic & fun competitive card game! The idea for Alpha Clash came about in the midst of the Pandemic and has since then developed into the Alpha Clash Universe!

Chief Creative Officer

Al Light has been a performer, coach, and director in circus arts for the past 29 years. He has done numerous circus acts, from Hungarian teeterboard to flying trapeze. Al was fortunate enough to be mentored by flying trapeze artist and circus legend Tony Steele. He got to honor Tony by speaking on his behalf as Tony was inducted into the Ring of Fame in Sarasota, Florida. Al was the head coach of Cirque du Soleil’s Ka for over six years. Al became the head coach of acrobatics for Cirque du Soleil’s multiple shows in Las Vegas. During the pandemic, when the live entertainment industry halted, Al started piecing together Alpha Clash characters’ backstories with Ridge and Efren. From there, the backstories took on the form of an interconnected novel and a graphic novel. Al has pulled from his colorful life experiences to add flavors and nuances to Alpha Clash. Alpha Clash is his first published work on this scale and first public venture into the world of superheroes and science fiction.

Chief Artistic Director

Efren from a young age has been fascinated with Super Heroes and Mutants and used to collect Marvel Fleer trading cards back in the early 90's. Being a fan of the Marvel characters Efren started drawing at a young age which lead him into the Graphic Arts and in 2010 graduated with his Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. During the Pandemic Efren collaborated with Ridge and Al in becoming part of the creation of Alpha Clash where he now gets to be part of an AMAZING team and create Super Heroes for everyone to enjoy.

P.S. Efren enjoys a good cup of coffee due to his 14yrs of working in the coffee world.

Chief of Operations

Garett is the Chief of Operations (COO) and works behind the scenes in many areas of the company. He's also the Associate Head Coach of an NCAA Division I wrestling program in his spare time!

He began a love for Trading Card Games over 20 years ago that started with playing Magic: The Gathering and collecting Pokemon cards. He and his brother, Ridge (CEO), would play with their friends for hours on end and all through the night as often as possible. Trips to the Local Game Store, Mayhem (Ames, IA), were a regular for the group to get their hands on Magic: The Gathering cards, collectibles, and more. Among his friends he was always known as a master deck builder and could always find the perfect combinations of cards. This skill paid off and has helped develop our own game now!

"Rising Empire Studios and Alpha Clash TCG are doing things the right way. We have an incredible team of talented and amazing people who want to develop a legacy product. The story and lore are superb and could stand alone on their own merits, but when combined with the TCG, it's an excellent package. The TCG is fun, balanced and refreshing. I couldn't be more proud and excited to be a part of this company and can't wait to see where we go!"

Chief of Marketing

Josh Horton is a lifelong collector, business owner, and social media creator with a combined 4 million followers. He’s on a mission to use his social media skills to take Alpha Clash viral! Josh and his family live in Los Angeles, California.

Director of Organized Play

Jordan comes from a professional background in Management and Event Coordination. Decades of exposure as a TCG enthusiast, plus a deep-rooted passion for gaming influences his day-to-day operations developing exciting player programs & engaging events as the Manager of Organized Play. Jordan collaborates alongside the team providing consultation for event calendars, tournament policy, and establishing pinnacles of competitive play.

Before taking this role, Jordan excelled as a playtester where he still cooperates with some of the best & brightest minds in the game to help construct the future for Alpha Clash. When he isn't playtesting or coordinating events, Jordan enjoys hosting exhibition demos at local game stores in his home state of North Carolina or traveling to conventions with his team of community ambassadors to showcase the game.

Director of Playtesting

With 20 years of experience in playing trading card games (TCGs), he has developed a strong foundation in strategic thinking and problem-solving. His dedication to TCGs has not only sharpened his analytical skills but also instilled in him the values of patience and adaptability. Alongside his passion for TCGs, he holds a degree in Engineering, providing him with a robust technical background. Currently, he holds the position of Project Manager at a construction company, where his engineering expertise is put to use in leading and coordinating complex projects and large project teams. Whether in the realm of TCGs or construction, he excels at overcoming challenges and prides himself on his ability to transform ideas into reality with precision and efficiency.