Started in 2008, in Brooklyn, NY by Tina Roth Eisenberg (Swissmiss) the concept was simple: breakfast and a short talk one Friday morning a month. Every event would be free of charge and open to anyone.

Richmond got its CreativeMornings Chapter in November 2015. In June 2017, the Richmond Chapter Founder, Doug Nunn passed the torch to me as host of CreativeMornings/Richmond. I served as host until April 2021, and then transitioned to Partnerships. Our volunteer team works hard to celebrate RVA’s creative talent, while making a unique experience for like-minded folks in town to connect, collaborate and be inspired.

I call it my creative church.

Since COVID times in March 2020, we have been holding these meetups virtually over Zoom.

I have been a professional mentor for CreateAthon @VCU since the program began in 2007. This volunteer 24-hour creative blitz gives students the opportunity to use their talents to help fulfill the marketing needs of non-profits in the Richmond community.

Teams of VCU students and professional mentors from the community work with local non-profits to gain perspective on their marketing problems and provide lasting communication and design solutions to improve the organizations’ impact.

I have helped VCU’s CreateAthon team with planning and communications including their current website.

I began teaching for VCU Mass Communications in 2009 after my first time mentoring at CreateAthon. The adjunct coordinator noticed how I related to students during the event and I began teaching Technical Prowess (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign). Over the years, I have also taught Imagination (Art Direction) and Invention (Portfolio – AKA, get a damn job class).

Now the Robertson School of Media and Culture, I continue teaching off and on as a way to practice professional development in my field. You have to know something well to do it, even better to teach it. I love the challenge of bringing out the best skills and talents within each of my students.

I serve as an informal mentor to many students I have met through the program and continue to be impressed with how my former students have built their careers in the field.