We are BrandPlanet.

Jennifer Grinnell
Brand/Messaging/Creative/Copy/Strategy

Jennifer offers clients the benefit of more than 30 years of industry and agency experience in advertising, brand development, creative, and strategy. Her passion for meaningfully engaging with clients to produce the best in brand, creative, concept, copy and design informs every project from start to finish. BrandPlanet’s approach is a result of her years of experience developing brands for small and large businesses, non-profit organizations, and nations. Jen is an award-winning creative director and Emmy™-nominated copywriter who not only likes to develop strategy, she likes to do the work.

Jen is also founder and president of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Friends, a 501 (c)3 non-profit that supports the ECLP, the Woodlands Stewardship Education Center (branded pro bono by BrandPlanet) and Fairfax County Park Authority. She is the 2021 recipient of the Elly C. Doyle Park Service Award, among other recognition and awards for her work with the Friends. Fun facts: She was the first female volunteer firefighter in Grinnell, Iowa, owned an art gallery, Scene Art + Events, at the National Harbor as a side hustle and recently completed her Master’s degree at Syracuse University. Go Orange!

Master’s degree, Strategic Communications
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Syracuse University

Courses toward MFA in Communications Design
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa

Bachelor’s degree, English and Studio Art
Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa

Kristin Elson
Copywriting/Editing

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 reputation for hitting the messaging mark the first time, on time, and with flawless attention to detail. 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.

Bachelor’s degree, Journalism and Public Relations
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Colleen Fisher
Copywriting/Editing/Project Management/Strategy

Colleen has 20+ years' experience in marketing 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.

Colleen has also taught indoor cycling for more than 24 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.” 

Bachelor’s degree, Journalism
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Syracuse University

Amy Swindell
Operations

Amy offers more than 20 years of experience as an accountant, small business developer, operations manager, and strategic thinker. At BrandPlanet, she does more than keep billing on track and creative in line; she is instrumental in navigating the start-up processes for small businesses... from bricks and mortar to online. Amy’s experience runs from small businesses to associations to the international hospitality industry. Amy is also on the Board of Directors for ELCP Friends, where she keeps us up and running. 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.

Bachelor’s degree, Accounting
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia

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 in Washington, D.C. and venues around the globe and knows the music and art scene like the back of his paint-splattered hand.

Bachelor’s degree, Design
Rhode Island School of Design

Todd Kiraly
Design/Illustration/Photography/Visual Identity Development

Todd combines his deep design expertise with a mind-boggling attention to detail. His creative problem-solving approach is a symphony of thought and style that encompasses layers of 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.  (He’s not afraid of hiding a few design Easter eggs either.)

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.

Bachelor’s degree, Graphic Design
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland

Alain Blunt
Design/Illustration/Visual Identity Development/Publications

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.

Master of Fine Arts, Visual Design/Graphic Design
University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Bachelor’s degree, Graphic Design
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland

Carolanne O’Neil
Design/Visual Identity Development

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.

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.

Bachelor’s degree, Graphic Design
College of Art and ArchitecturePenn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania

Georgia Braun
Writing/Research/Project Management/Digital Strategy

Georgia is literally a rockstar addition to the team. An accomplished musician and journalism major, Georgia loves all types of storytelling — from words to music to creative campaigns. She brings a fresh eye and fire style to every project, connecting with clients and their goals to build the relationships that get results.

Bachelor’s degree, Journalism
George Washington University
Washington, D.C.

Cole van de Vijver
Digital Brand Strategy/Concept/Copy
Restaurant Brand Consulting

A serial entrepreneur, Cole studied professional writing and communications at Bridgewater College before career switching to culinary arts and hospitality management. He has helped several high profile restaurants through the start up phase, including Joon, Jack’s Ranch, and a new location of beloved local favorite Tony’s Pizza. With a keen eye for trends (past, present and future), Cole keeps his eye on the cultural zeitgeist in the arts, music, food, sports and entertainment. His current side hustle is his small biz The Owl Mobile Thrift.

Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management
Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, Virginia