Mentors: HIGH GROWTH BUSINESS
Summary of Qualifications Jeff is a founder of Kelley Communications and has helped companies large and startup with communications guidance, issues management, and public relations strategy. A former business reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jeff Kelley has worked in PR and digital agencies. Prior to starting his own communications group, he served as director of marketing and public relations for Health Diagnostic Laboratory, a national cardiac lab in downtown Richmond. He has a particular interest in media and public relations, content development and digital strategy, and crisis and reputation management. He regularly contributes to the city’s Grid magazine, and can probably found on or in the James River, with his family, or firing up a charcoal grill. Ready to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
Summary of Qualifications Larkin is the Chief Imagination officer of 804RVA, a Richmond based technology coworking space. She is a civic instigator, a professional community curator and a full stack ecosystem builder. Larkin is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for small businesses, growing the technology sector in Richmond, and community building. Larkin has a diverse background with careers and businesses in real estate, the spa industry, construction, and technology. Within one year of graduating, she purchased her first business, James River Tile & Stone Art which she owned and operated for eight years until 2012 when she caught the startup bug and decided to closed down to focus full time on launching 804RVA, a technology coworking space. As the founder of 804RVA, Larkin has proven her business acumen and professional community building skills by turning 804RVA into a sustainable business. Within two years, 804RVA has become a leader and educator in the technology sector. Larkin has grown the membership base to 80 paid members and hosted over 350 meetup events with a growing community of more than 1,300 attendees. Ready to meet with this mentor? Schedule An...
Summary of Qualifications Brian Forrester is the founder of Dynamic Web Solutions, a digital marketing company located in Richmond, VA. After leaving a consulting position, Brian built Dynamic Web Solutions from a one person shop to a 16 person firm in just under three years. He has guided DWS to 3-year revenue growth of 755% and helped DWS average a yearly revenue growth of over 120% per year each of the last three years. He’s done all of this without a single loan, no outside investment, and zero debt while maintaining 40%+ profit margins. In 2015, Brian merged Dynamic Web Solutions with another local digital marketing firm to form Workshop Digital. When not at work, Brian is passionate about giving back to the RVA community, hiking and fitness, traveling, and finding good food and wine. Ready to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
Summary of Qualifications Andrew is a Co-Founder of Workshop Digital, a Richmond-based digital marketing firm. Andrew’s career began at The Martin Agency where he developed a specialty in digital media planning and transitioned to the CarMax Home Office to oversee web marketing strategy. Andrew launched Your Search Advisor in 2007 and merged with Dynamic Web Solutions to form Workshop Digital in 2015. Throughout his career, Andrew has worked with Fortune 100 brands and startups with a pragmatic approach that emphasizes Strategy, Testing, Analysis, and Results. When he is not buying clicks, Andrew can be found outdoors or tinkering in the garage workshop. Ready to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
Connect with Lauren Visit Website LinkedIn Twitter Summary of Qualifications Lauren Boynton is an Art Director with over a decade of experience developing creative work for international brands like IBM, Kodak, Lenovo, DuPont, GE and Capital One, as well as brand building for startups, non-profits and local businesses. In 2012, Lauren founded Elleby Design Studio to focus on translating intangible brand attributes into compelling visual identities. Lauren is driven by curiosity to explore the cultural shift caused by the changing way we communicate, and a desire to add beauty to the world. As her most successful projects have always mixed her professional creative skills with other disciplines, she believes all problems can (and probably should) be solved with Design Thinking. Lauren volunteers on the planning committees for Shop Class and Feast RVA, and is Richmond’s latest ambassador for Hey, What’s Good In __? Ready to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
