ABOUT

NATALIE T. MCNAMARA

CEO / Founder

From a very young age, Natalie has always envisioned extraordinary ideas for any venture or opportunity in her path. Natalie has a futuristic, go-getter attitude that aids in the ideation, development, and evolvement of any project with which she is involved. Working three jobs through high school and college, Natalie is known by everyone in her life to be one of the hardest working individuals on the planet. A born and raised Texan, a mother of two boys, six years working with 100+ lawyers, and starting a business from the ground up, there isn't a challenge that Natalie hasn't overcome.

JENNIE WOOD

Strategist

Originally from the Sunshine State, Jennie moved to Virginia during high school where she focused on performing and visual arts. Growing up with an entrepreneurial father, Jennie knows that creativity, hard work, and integrity go a long way in business. Starting her first business at age 20 gave Jennie an arsenal of marketing knowledge that has only grown over the years. Always with an eye for detail, Jennie is an experienced photographer and creative strategist who prides herself in being loyal, fun, kind, and empathetic. Jennie, a devoted mother to two daughters, lives in Goochland with a menagerie of 2 dogs, 2 fish, and a cat.

KATE SEMP

Marketing Manager

With a strong passion for service work, especially with refugees and international aid, Kate has spent her life around the world, living in 8 countries, and experiencing a variety of cultures along the way. From a high school bio teacher to a self-taught website coder, her professional background makes her the talented, dedicated, experienced, and ambitious woman she is today. There is no challenge that she can’t resolve and if she doesn’t know how to do it, she’ll pull her weight and figure it out. Most recently, Kate focused her career on digital marketing for non-profits and small businesses and as such, fell in love working with people that are passionate about what they do and their commitment to their work and teams. As Kate says, “My clients' success is my success.” With 5 kids in 6 years, with the bonus of an amazing step-daughter, she loves spending time with her family, as well as cooking, knitting, attending live shows, and dancing.

KRISTIN VANSTORY

Strategist

As someone who seeks to use her professional skills to serve a public good, Kristin has elevated brands and awareness for local organizations, companies and causes throughout her 20+ years in marketing and communications. As a meticulous project manager, she is dedicated to a collaborative work process to create and execute strategies that drive growth and engagement, and loves to help clients authentically tell their story. A native Virginian who traded her upbringing in the Roanoke valley for life in the city of Richmond, she is married to a building contractor and mom to two spunky girls. Kristin’s personal passions include good coffee, tough workouts and all things Hamilton.  

MARTHA MILLER

Strategist

Martha’s dry (often self-deprecating) sense of humor comes in especially handy in moments where tensions are high and levity is sorely needed. She’s been a freelance food & travel journalist, a PR pro for celebrity chefs, an internal communications strategist for an international NGO, and a communications and community development consultant. With 15+ years of experience in marketing and communications working for small businesses, restaurants and hotels, non-profits, and the government sector, Martha’s experience has given her a variety of expertise and a discerning point of view that she leverages to benefit CMG's clients. As a native and current resident of Ashland with her husband and two boys, she enjoys riding bikes down Center Street after school, date nights downtown with friends on Fridays, shopping at the farmer's market on Saturdays, and summer Sunday evenings in the backyard with the click-clack soundtrack of trains rolling north and south.

HEATHER LANCASTER

Marketing Manager

Heather is a natural pioneer, enjoying exploration and pushing boundaries for innovation, particularly within environmentalism and conservation. Her background as a Marketing Director for two e-commerce brands within the consumer industry (B2B and B2C yoga/active lifestyle) contributed highly to her professional career allotting experience in planning, strategizing, executing, and distributing amongst all digital platforms. Content development strategized around marketing/promotional calendar planning has helped her rebrand and market dozens of businesses for website remodel, email distribution, social media management, and more. Heather actively assists her clients with revenue and lead based conversion goals, able to strategize and successfully market for each. Outside the office, she is an avid yoga practitioner and professional photographer; enjoys frequent nature walks/hikes to different parks and environments; and also spends quality time with friends and family.

RACHEL SNARE

Marketing Associate

Rachel has always had a strong love for people, wanting to learn everything about everyone. From traveling all throughout South America, experiencing the diversity of culture has given her more appreciation for the individuality in people. She takes this mindset into her work through ensuring she completely understands each of her clients’ marketing needs and builds strong relationships along the way. Rachel thrives in a high-energy, fast-paced environment, finds challenges exciting, and brings positive energy to every project. She has put her Mass Communications degree from Virginia Commonwealth University to work, gaining experience in marketing, social media coordination, and event planning. In her free time, if she’s not jetting off across continents, you’ll find her at the nearest kickboxing studio or engulfed in her love for photography.

EMMY JAMES

Marketing Associate

Emmy holds a positive attitude in everything she does and is always looking for ways to help others. She loves to challenge herself everyday and is always eager to take on an opportunity to learn something new. Emmy is a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University where she discovered her passion for social media, communications, and marketing strategy. In her career, she has been dedicated to working with clients ranging from non-profits and small businesses, including the real estate, professional services, entertainment, and wellness industries. When she’s not supporting the growth of her clients, Emmy is enjoying time with family and friends by exploring new adventures and food in Richmond and Charlottesville.

LUKE STACKOW

Marketing Associate

As an organically born entrepreneur, Luke founded his first non-profit business, Be Kind RVA while obtaining his undergraduate degree at Johnson & Wales. He has proven throughout his professional career that he can manage any business and situation, especially in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining the CMG team, Luke excelled at managing the operations and marketing for a local Richmond restaurant, Bistro 804. Ultimately Luke is passionate about bringing clients' hopes and dreams to fruition. Aside from impacting the universe, he loves traveling to new places with his family to amazing destinations such as Iceland, Outer Banks, Charleston, Florida, and with ambitions to visit New York and California in the coming year. The world is absolutely his oyster both personally and professionally.

CHRIS MORTIMER

Digital + Print Designer

Chris is always looking for an adventure. As a senior graphic designer for over 20 years, his expertise focuses on management of the complete design process, from conceptualization to delivery. His creative mind gives him the ability to stretch the boundaries of design while storytelling, to help clients' brands stand out. Chris’ experience and portfolio includes working with clientele and projects ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. He is a lover of the outdoors, including camping, hiking, beach bumming, snowboarding, and biking. With a blend of personal and professional passions, Chris is also a talented landscape, drone, and timelapse photographer.

EMILY RIGGAN

Digital + Print Designer

As a Richmond native, Emily loves the close-knit feeling of the community and is eager to contribute to the city as it grows. She finds passion with helping her clients turn their stories into designs. A graduate from VCU Advertising and current student at the VCU Brandcenter, Emily understands the importance of not only marketing your business but yourself. She works hard to ensure each design is perfected in the way the client envisioned. She knows this process can be tough, but the end result is always rewarding. She is excited to continue her education while working closely with the CMG family.

MARY ELLIN ARCH

PR + Media Specialist

As an active listener, Mary Ellin brings passion and compassion to every interaction. A career journalist with The Associated Press, Gannett Co. Inc., and other outlets who transitioned to public relations where she specializes in pitching and interview coaching in media and public relations, including community outreach and stakeholder relations, as well as strategic communications planning. Her experience in newsrooms has given her a keen ability to craft a powerful story and pitch it so it gets the attention of media gatekeepers. While no one can guarantee a story pitch will get accepted and published, Mary Ellin's experience makes success much more likely. As you can imagine, she is an avid reader, belongs to two book clubs, and usually has multiple books in progress at any given time. She doesn't require caffeine in the morning but never turns down a chai latte.

LAURA WILSON

Director of Client Relations

Laura is always one to bring tenacity and enthusiasm for solving problems and eager to forge relationships with anyone. Her professional experience ranges from working as a laboratory scientist to running a small business incubator. As a graduate of Old Dominion University and Richmond-transplant, Laura is excited to offer her skills and experience to CreativeMktGroup's community of small businesses and organizations to help address their marketing needs and support their growth. Outside of work Laura is passionate about social justice, home renovation, and being a proud mom to two boys.

LYNETTE BRINKERHOFF

Director of Administration + Community Relations

With a love for efficiency and an ability to relate to people and teams, Lynette brings her skills to support the operations at CMG. She has significant grassroots experience in developing, improving and managing operations for small businesses. As a mental health therapist, she utilizes her problem-solving skills and expertise to aid in the growth of start-ups and small businesses, specifically those with rapidly changing business needs. When not solving problems and growing the business, she spends her time traveling and having fun with her friends and family.

WAYNE CLEVENGER

Web Developer

Wayne has an incredible story about meeting his maternal birth family, including twin sisters after being raised by his adopted parents for most of his life - it’s a great story and you’ll have to ask him about it! With over 20 years of experience in web development and managed website hosting, he brings a unique blend of dedication, experience, and problem-solving expertise with just the right amount of humor thrown in for good measure. In his personal time, he enjoys spending time with his son, training for local weightlifting competitions, and hiking/camping on the Appalachian Trail.