The Who.
(So to speak.)
Jennifer Grinnell
Brand and Creative
Jennifer offers clients the benefit of more than 30 years of industry and agency experience in advertising, brand development, creative, and strategy. Her true passion for brand, creative, concept, copy and design informs every project from start to finish. BrandPlanet’s constantly evolving brand development approach is a result of her years of experience developing brands for small and large businesses, non-profit organizations, charities, and even nations. As one of the first “nation branding” experts, she brings unique experience that has allowed her to marry two passions: being creative and using “marketing for good.” Jen is an award-winning creative director and Emmy™-nominated copywriter who believes creativity is a way of seeing what others see and thinking something different.
Jen is founder and president of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Friends, a 501 (c)3 non-profit that supports the park, the Sully Woodlands Stewardship Education Center, and Fairfax County Park Authority. She is the 2021 recipient of the Elly C. Doyle Park Service Award. An enthusiastic home cook, she also enjoys reading, painting, traveling (39+ countries) and starting businesses. Fun facts: She was the first female volunteer firefighter in Grinnell, Iowa and once had an art gallery, Scene, at the National Harbor as a side hustle!
Education:
Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. B.A. in English and Studio Art
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Courses toward MFA in Communications/Design
Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, M.A. in Communications, to be conferred in 2024.
Kristin Elson
Copywriting/Editing/Strategy
Kristin is a writer/editor extraordinaire, with 30+ years of agency experience. Formerly the managing editor of Benjamin Moore’s acclaimed magazine, Nuance, and current editor of PHCC’s Connect, she has experience writing everything from feature articles and press releases to websites and annual reports for a range of corporate and association clients. Kristin has a highly regarded reputation for hitting the messaging mark the first time, on time, and with flawless attention to detail. An effective communicator, Kristin uses her project management background to collaborate seamlessly with all players on a communications team while maintaining her journalistic passion for the written word. Without Kristin, nothing would ever see the light of day.
Kristin does not do anything halfway: she built a brand for her daughter’s Dance Team ... and weaves a theme through every party she’s ever hosted ... because she’s that committed to consistency!
Education:
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia. B.A. in Journalism and Public Relations
Colleen Fisher
Copywriting/Editing/Marketing/Project Management
Colleen has 15+ years' experience in marketing and communications, working for agencies and nonprofits on strategy, copywriting, branding, account service and project management. Her most recent work has included managing the social media and campaign branding for the documentary film LFG, which chronicles the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's fight for equal pay, as well as assisting with the promotion of a women-centered podcast, drafting an e-newsletter and social media campaign for a family health practice, and coordinating a website redesign for a local physician-turned-media-personality in the height of COVID.
A mom to four teenage sons (a feat in itself!), Colleen has also taught indoor cycling for more than 23 years and believes that coaching, community building and communications go hand-in-hand. As a lead instructor and team captain for Cycle for Survival (www.cycleforsurvival.org) for 11 years, she has led her team, Team Rockstar, in raising more than $2.4 million for rare cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In 2019, Equinox awarded Colleen its “Amazing Amazing” Award for Group Fitness, given to the sole instructor nationwide who “embraces every opportunity to make interpersonal connections with members, building exceptional member loyalty in a way that is powerful, inspired and real.”
Colleen is a fierce advocate for quality communications, targeted messaging, witty writing, health and fitness, sports psychology, truth, beating cancer, laughing daily and equality for women of every age. You can find her words of wisdom via Instagram at @colleenfishercycling.
Education:
Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, B.A. in Journalism
Amy Swindell
Operations
Amy offers more than 20 years of experience as an accountant, small business developer and operations manager. At BrandPlanet, she does more than keep billing on track and creative in line; she is instrumental in navigating the start-up process ... from bricks and mortar to online. She fearlessly has helped create an art gallery at National Harbor, a lacrosse t-shirt company, and a non-profit that supports Fairfax County Park Authority, among others. Amy’s experience runs from small businesses to associations to the international hospitality industry. She provides the peace of mind that allows the brand developers to brand, the writers to write, and the designers to design. Frankly, without Amy, we wouldn’t be here.
Amy loves watching UVA basketball (or UVA anything), is a voracious reader and has a great eye for design and ear for copy (even if she won’t admit it).
Education:
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. B.S. in Accounting
Matt Curry
Design/Illustration
To say that Matt – a twice GRAMMY®-nominated designer – brings a continually fresh approach to design that is always on target is the understatement of the year. And we don’t really like understatements, so we’ll just say Matt is a bad-ass designer, illustrator and artist who keeps everything ultra cool. His complete knowledge of design theory and history – combined with his passion for cutting-edge creative – gives him the power to craft just what every project needs. Clients (and colleagues) love Matt’s design work not only for its relevance to strategy and message but for the hip vibe that underlies his creative aesthetic. Matt is also a photographer and painter with an international clientele; his fine art influences often inform his design work.
Matt shows his artwork regularly at a Washington, D.C. gallery and knows the music and art scene like the back of his paint-splattered hand.
Todd Kiraly
Design/Illustration/Photography
Todd combines his deep design expertise with a sickening attention to detail--and we mean that in a good way. His creative problem-solving approach is a symphony of thought and style that encompasses layers depth and meaning. Todd’s creative concepts, freehand and computer illustrations, and, even three-dimensional sculpture continually WOW clients. Always thinking ahead to client’s overall communications strategy, Todd’s strategic depth is unable to be measured even on sonar.
Todd is also an accomplished professional photographer and bird watcher who travels the country in search of that perfect combo of bird and photo opp.
Education:
University of Maryland, College Park, MD. B.S. in Graphic Design
Alain Blunt
Design/Illustration
Design class is always in session for Professor Blunt (or as we call him, uhm, Alain)! Although we have to share him with his lucky students at Bridgewater State University, Alain is an integral part of the BP design team. His thoughtful, intentional approach to every project, along with his passion for font perfection translates to design and type solutions that earn him an A+ from colleagues and clients alike. A concept creator extraordinaire, looking at his initial sketches is like opening 100 birthday presents on your special day.
When Alain isn’t designing, thinking about design or teaching design, well … that pretty much sums it up. Don’t tell his family (whom he really loves and loves spending time with).
Education:
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA. M.F.A. in Visual Design/Graphic Design
University of Maryland, College Park, MD. B.S. in Graphic Design
Carolanne O’Neil
Design
Carolanne’s innate (and well-educated) design sensibilities are informed by intense strategy and experience. Her unparalleled good taste, keen eye for what works across media, and knack for taking trends and making them timeless add value to any project. She has spent much of her 25-year career focused on branding, identity systems, invitations, retail and corporate marketing, and publication design. Some things are innate, like Carolanne’s unparalleled good taste.
Carolanne loves fashion and is always up on what’s hot and what’s not in all things design-related. She has a particular passion for invitation design and events.
Education:
Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. B.A. in Graphic Design from the College of Art and Architecture
Dean DeGood
Business Strategy
Dean has 25 years of business and brand development experience. He previously spent 10 years developing internationally recognized brands in more than 20 countries. For the last 15 years he has focused on owning, and growing, businesses in Virginia. He has started three businesses that currently employ more than 70 people. Dean also has served on a variety of boards and commissions in his hometown of Alexandria, Virginia. He works on business development, start-ups and strategic planning for BrandPlanet and its clients.
Dean loves dogs and cycling and hopes to work with dogs who cycle. Kidding! One day he hopes to work with the Astana Cycling Team (which is not as crazy as it sounds, because we work with Kazakhstan. But wait, we’ll have to rebrand the team because Astana is now known as Nur-Sultan. Not our fault.)!
Education:
University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia. B.A. in International Studies and French
Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. MBA in Marketing
Kathy Venaglia
All Media
That’s a lot of “/”s because Kathy’s expertise spans the entire marketing process, from the intake of information and establishment of goals to the measurement of every campaign. She is continually involved in making sure each and every account adheres to the original strategy and creative platform developed at the beginning of the campaign while communicating with the client on a regular basis throughout it. To say she’s a stickler for details is an understatement! Kathy thrives on the challenge of marketing and media planning. Her philosophy is that marketing and media are half science and half art. The research is only part of the plan; the rest comes from years of experience and industry knowledge. If you can be a foundation and a North Star, then one day, you, too, can be like Kathy.
Kathy is a food and wine connoisseur and avid traveler, who will pack a bag and go anywhere at a moment’s notice ... but not in the middle of a project (or a glass of wine)!
Education:
Radford University, Radford, Virginia. B.A. in Advertising
Karen Soriano
Communications and Social Media
A national and international award-winning comms pro, Karen Soriano is the newest member of our team! Karen is a senior-level public relations and communications expert with over 25 years of solid, results-oriented experience working with private and non-profit companies of all sizes. Her work literally runs the gamut from Earth to outer space, having worked in the international aerospace, manufacturing, government, real estate and interior design industries. A former BP client, Karen also has a wide range of agency experience. Her deep understanding and grasp of client’s needs provides the peace of mind we’re all looking for—on every planet.
Karen loves spending time with her family, travel, acrobatic yoga and going to certain football games involving a particular Pennsylvania football team that we shall not mention here. But we love her anyway.
Education:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. B.S. in Mass Communications, Advertising Major
Expertise:
Public Relations, Crisis Communications and Management, Media Relations, Internal Communications, Project Management, Strategic Digital Campaigns and Social Media Planning.
John Carlson
Illustration/Design
The illustrator and designer behind the best-loved restaurant brands in Colorado (Zolo Grill, Jax Fish House and West End Tavern, to name a few), John’s experience includes illustration, design, art direction, packaging design, screen printing and brand development for such nationally known brands as Einstein Bagels and White Wave Foods. For a different take on every project and an “ownable” brand identity, John delivers illustration and design that sets clients apart from the competition.
John is also a cartoonist, with a hilarious and bizarre world view. And we mean that sincerely.
Education:
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Denver, Colorado. B.A. in Illustration
Art Institute of Colorado, Denver, Colorado. A.A. in Advertising
Cole van de Vijver
Copy Editing
Cole has studied professional writing and communications and is currently the Garde Manger Chef at Trummer’s. When we’re branding restaurants, Cole is one of our not-so-secret weapons.
Education:
Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia. Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management
Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Virginia. Courses toward a B.A. in Professional Writing