10 Lists of 10 Things for 10 Years

Mike was the first person to hire me and believe in me. I was just a graphic designer with an opinion—he gave me the opportunity to do so much more.

Y’all remember COVID, right? It was a dark and crazy time, but Austin was a bright light. He is the rare combination of hilarious and really good at his job, which is something we admire. He made us work harder than we ever had but we also had more laughs than ever before. I credit Austin for making our team grow closer together. (I also hired Melanie, Emily, and Chloe when his company signed on so I’m forever indebted to him for choosing TwoTone!)

When you’re 24 and look like you’re 12 because you’re short and your hair is orphan Annie curly, it is easy to be passed off as a kid. Scott treated me like a true vendor, partner, and businesswoman. He often called to talk business, listened, trusted me and my team, and even mentored me on some business decisions. I bet he never thought a thing of it because that’s the kind of guy he is, but it shaped me into a more confident woman and leader.

I remember thinking, “when I grow up, I want to be Elorie.” She’s a dynamic personality, an incredible leader, and every time I get to interact with her I leave the conversation feeling like I can conquer anything. She is one of the most passionate people I’ve ever met. (I actually thought about naming our second daughter Elorie, but instead I just bought these overalls that were named after her.)

Oh my. My man. My leader. My head of household. My best friend. My best-listening ear and my most reasonable, level-headed advisor. Jake has been there since day 1 with hands ready to do whatever needed to be done. TwoTone would not be TwoTone without him and I would not be leading a team if he hadn’t given me the time, space, late nights, early mornings, confidence, encouragement, and love to do so.

Mentorship and prayer. I need as much of both as possible, and God has been kind enough to give me them through Luke. Having a seasoned business owner and believer know the ins and outs and ups and downs of my business these past four years has been comforting and edifying. He has always let me solve my own problems but been a sounding board for me. (Even though sometimes the big brother in him almost comes out and I can see he wants to take the driver seat.)

I was completely overwhelmed when I first connected with Cary Coppola. I was trying to meet with clients, do sales, manage a team, and still do billable work. It’s fair to say I wanted to throw in the towel. That’s when he took the time to meet me and let me just talk. He then told me about this crazy thing called a “Project Manager” that could solve many of my problems. I took his counsel and that is what led me to the one and only Grace Stokes. He’s also been two steps ahead of me and I’ve looked up to him and his business for most of my professional career.

Roger said “yes” to me before I proved I could do anything at all to help. He put me in rooms I never would have been invited to. He elevated me as a business leader at an exponential rate that put us on the map. I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunities he gave me time and time again but most of all I’m thankful for his faithful friendship.

There was really no reason to book a Discovery Call with TwoTone if you were Ryan Veatch—but he did, and the friendship, partnership, and feedback he has given us over the years has been invaluable. We didn’t know what we were doing and he pretended not to notice. Apparently we were really good at graphic design and that made up for everything else.

Jake has been the sigh of relief for me these past few years. He knows TwoTone and he just gets it. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He makes time often in his extremely demanding day to encourage me and my team with life-giving words. He stepped into loving my team in a way no one has before and it brings me to tears any time I think about it.

The first TwoTone team member. Daring enough to interview in my living room. Said yes to working in my basement. Had faith in TwoTone to persevere when things got tough. Stayed a friend through all the years. I look back on these days with such fondness and thankfulness to work alongside such a remarkable and kind human.

Kayla also worked in the TwoTone basement and had a skill I didn’t know about until post-hire. She could write. Really well. I credit Kayla for taking us from a design agency to a design agency that could do content creation. The first big step toward full-service agency. She also corrected my grammar often enough that I now ask my team members to do things “really quickly” instead of “really quick”.

Vanessa came to TwoTone in the basement and worked at TwoTone through our current location. She is steady, consistent, hard-working, kind, and creative. She’s the dream team member and pushed hard for us with such grace and joy. I love everything about her and was constantly in awe that she wanted and continued to work for me.

The light and life of the party! I often say Abby IS TwoTone’s culture. Many people have told me that I must have worked really hard to create such a positive work environment. In all honesty, I did very little. Abby brought life and fun and community to TwoTone. She made me (and everyone else) laugh hard enough to forget how long our to-do lists were, and then she worked so hard that we were forced to keep up. She is a remarkable, irreplaceable designer, person, and friend.

Our first TwoTone guy—Rick. If there's a problem, he’s got the solution. No challenge is too tough for him, and giving up simply isn’t in his vocabulary. Rick is the steady counterbalance to my whirlwind energy, bringing authority paired with kindness, intelligence paired with attentive listening, and patience like no one else I’ve met. A true jack of all trades, Rick can tackle anything we throw his way. From award-winning brand, web, and graphic design to mastering systems and processes—or even installing trim in a house better than most—his skillset is as diverse as it is impressive.

Grace truly lives up to her name. Her relentless positivity and unwavering dedication shine through in everything she does. She loves our clients fiercely, caring for them deeply and championing their success with every project. Grace doesn’t just listen—she truly hears them, inspiring the rest of the team to share her passion and admiration for each client. She’s the ultimate hype girl, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and zeal to every task, making both our team and our clients feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Grace is the heartbeat of our team.

When we hired Melanie, she was thrown straight into the deep end—writing medical content 40 hours a week—and she absolutely crushed it. With a kind and uncomplaining spirit, she has consistently grown and mastered the complexities of the field and delivered excellence every step of the way. (And this is just one industry she has tackled!) Thanks to her hard work and dedication, we now serve medical and clinical clients nationwide. 

Emily was our very first digital marketing hire, and from day one, she hit the ground running—talking a mile a minute (and still does!) while setting up campaigns and navigating the agency world with a finesse that outpaced us all. She not only taught us the ropes but shaped so much of what we know and practice today. She was also my first “mom” hire, and together we’ve bonded over our shared passion for striving to be exceptional wives, mothers, and strategists. Emily is proof that we can do it all—and do it well.

Chloe embodies the American dream—she is America. Starting as my executive assistant, she quickly rose to Director of Finance and Administration, and today, she’s our Chief Operating Officer. Her journey is a testament to her incredible focus, relentless work ethic, and unmatched determination. Chloe is sharp, hilarious, and one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met. She has encouraged, challenged, and believed in me in ways I didn’t always deserve, and her unwavering respect has inspired me to rise to her expectations. When I look at Chloe, I often find myself asking, What kind of leader does she deserve to follow? And every day, I strive to be exactly that.

Jake is the man I joyfully follow. The man I would get a full tattoo sleeve for if he asked me (he didn't ask and yes this is a weird inside joke). He is the one who made all of this a reality. You would not believe how many times he has painted something, moved something, written something, or fixed something these past 10 years. He loved me when I worked at the daycare part-time, and he loved me when I was just a kid working at the mall. He loved me when I had student loans up to my ears, and he loves me now when I ask him to help me write this article of 100 things I love about TwoTone‌.‌.‌.on the day this article is being published.