Nilé Livingston (she/her/they) is an award-winning Visual Artist. Institutions have recognized their work far and wide, including the Philadelphia Business Journal, Rad Girls Awards, The Colored Girls Museum, and Mural Arts Philadelphia. In 2017, Livingston founded Creative Repute, LLC, where they work with a team of specialists in graphic design, website & app development, strategic marketing, and brand identity. In 2020, Livingston ranked amongst Philly Magazine’s 76 "Most Influential People" in the city. In 2022, Livingston’s street artworks were listed in Australia’s Thrill List as attractions to Philadelphia.

Sandra Kierra Skinner-Andino (she/her) is an Account Manager for Creative Repute whose bright and professional demeanor makes communication a breeze. She's a self-motivated person who loves building and maintaining lasting relationships with others. Born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, Sandra is a graduate of The University of Arts, earning a B.A. in Writing For Film and Television. She worked on several independent films in Philadelphia before shifting her focus to sales and management. She spends her free time exploring the city with her husband and two children. Sandra has a passion for books, podcasts, and developing her "green thumb" in her tiny home garden.

Nahid LaCiura (she/her) is Creative Repute’s senior Project Manager Officer. With a technical background as a Full-Stack developer and more than 17 years of experience as a project manager, organizational change management consultant, organizational process, and technical implementations analyst. She is well-versed in a mix of Agile and Waterfall project management methodologies, operations and process engineering, project planning, team building, communication, and web and mobile app development projects. Nahid enjoys challenges and opportunities that will expand her creativity and skill set. She is very familiar with a fast-paced project execution environment. She strives to stay up-to-date with the rapid changes within the design and technology industries to utilize state-of-the-art tools best suited for the project at hand. She works closely with clients to actualize their vision with a fast, responsive, clean, and functional product with the end user in mind. In her spare time, Nahid is an FAA-licensed remote pilot, and she enjoys drone photography.

Joyce Bissingou (she/her) Born in France and raised in the UK, Joyce is a multidisciplinary designer who juggles graphic design, 3D art, video production, and more. She provides critical design services such as company branding, logos, social media content, advertisements, and web design. Joyce aims to bring a unique yet practical approach to her projects, never forgetting to have fun as it drives her creativity. Marrying her background in broadcast journalism with her artistic talent has given Joyce the ability to visually communicate one of her strongest talents along with problem-solving and marketing. For Joyce, great design can be as simple as taking one keyword and bringing it to life! When she’s not behind the computer, she’s busy perfecting her bedroom DJ skills and baking sweets to share with her puppy, Kobe.

Tina Armstead (she/her/they) is a multi-faceted artist with a diverse background and a passion for art in many forms. When it comes to the visual arts, Tina enjoys making creations of many different mediums. Her main interest creatively is string art consisting solely of straight lines that, through the use of geometry, produce curves. Additionally, Tina has a love for design and typography in particular. One of her hobbies is reviewing merch, as she has recently launched a social media account that takes an objective and thoughtful look at different merchandise items and rates them accordingly based on style, creativity, selection, color, and sustainability. With an eye for clean, simple, and elegant art, it makes sense that Tina is drawn to front-end development when it comes to graphic design. Having a background in full-stack MERN applications, her experience in event planning and computer programming, and her appreciation for excellent design allow her to work for clients in a well-rounded and successful manner. Tina began as a self-taught programmer and eventually moved on to formal study at the University of Oregon, her proud home state. She learned new languages and furthered her knowledge of technologies like React, Sequelize, MySQL, MongoDB, Node.js, Express.js, Mongoose ODM, Material-UI, and more. Tina is a professional musician who came to love computer programming as a hobby on her commute to and from work in college. She quickly became fully engaged in learning the ins and outs of what goes into making the technology we all use daily. It became clear to her over time how similar programming is to music. In music, notes are written, then put together to form a phrase. That phrase is then adjoined with other terms to create a final musical piece. In coding, it’s not much different. A line of code comprising separate tags, elements, and attributes is comparable to a phrase that ultimately creates a final task or project. Tina is grateful to have a mind that allows her to immerse herself in computer programming from a creative perspective. Having fulfilled the band leader and follower role on many occasions, Tina has managed to transfer that leadership and be a valuable team member in her programming. She has taken the lead on several projects, many of which she came up with the initial concept of. She dreamt up two projects in particular that she could proudly see from start to finish while leading and collaborating with large and small teams. Grocery List helper is an application allowing users to input items they have or purchased. When the user runs out of an item, they can remove it from the “have” list and into their “shopping” list allowing for easy tracking of what needs to be purchased on the next trip to the grocery store. Additionally, with the click of a button, the user can generate recipe ideas based on what the user already has at home based on their “have” list. Another project Tina built a team to see to fruition is called U-Notes. This application is a video note-taking tool that allows users to create and log into their account, search for and save videos to their dashboard, and most importantly, it will enable them to time stamp customized notes on each video. The user can then easily reference essential parts of any video and jump right to the timestamp without skimming through the entire video. This excellent education tool was brought to life by Tina’s desire for such a tool in her studies. Having graduated from a prestigious contemporary music school, Tina is an accomplished musician with a background in film scoring, music business, and professional music. With a focus on saxophone performance in both jazz and contemporary styles, Tina also composes old-time songs performed on the banjo, which she uses as an essential teaching tool in reminding the public that the roots of bluegrass and old-time music are in Black America. Tina’s musical background is not only one of technical ability. Still, it revolves around the history of American music and how it's connected to race throughout the last several centuries. Tina enjoys making music, participating in escape rooms, and swimming in natural bodies of water.

Ellen Eckert (she/her) is an Account Manager for Creative Repute. She's personable and friendly with a keen eye for detail, with a passion for customer service and social relationships. Ellen is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, earning a B.A. in sociology and an M.A. in public administration and public policy. She worked as a college instructor and restaurant manager in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before shifting her focus to account management. She was inspired by the power of strategic designs and wanted to support businesses achieving success through impactful marketing. She recently relocated to Germany and enjoys exploring the beautiful Bavarian landscape and hanging out at her favorite vegan restaurants around Munich.

Alison Lutren (she/her) is our Accountant and resident accounting enthusiast! She has strong attention to detail and a passion for financial analytics. Alison loves leveraging her understanding of numbers to help make a positive difference and educate others. Outside of work you can find her enjoying time with her husband and three dogs, going on hikes, traveling to car shows, cycling, or indulging in a good movie or book.

Cory Shoemaker (he/they) is a purpose-driven Marketing Strategist specializing in copy editing, branding, and social media to help value-based businesses succeed. They studied critical media, writing, business, and philosophy at Rollins College and spent a semester abroad at Queen Mary University of London. In between projects, Cori enjoys skill-building, weightlifting, practicing mindfulness meditation, and binge-watching “Bob’s Burgers” with their wife and pups.

Michelle Zaragoza is a passionate graphic designer in the Philadelphia area. Since she was little, she loved dragging her coloring book and sketch pad around everywhere she went. After trying out ballet, gymnastics, violin, and softball, as extracurricular activities, art class caught her attention the most. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2022 with a degree in Graphic Design and has worked as a freelance graphic designer for the past few years. Her experiences include but are not limited to logo design, typography, and brand identity. Michelle helps clients bring their vision to life creatively and practically through her work. Michelle loves assisting clients in understanding their own business better by giving them visible elements of their brand, such as brand colors, logos, and an overall aesthetic. Michelle learns about their business and goals to create the best logos for her clients. She keeps their ideas in mind as she adds her creative flare. She ensures that each logo is a design the company will wear proudly on a hat or print on their business cards. Even when some clients are not sure what they want their business to look like, Michelle offers new ideas to get the process started and motivate her client. Over the recent years, she has had the opportunity to create different digital marketing assets for an array of local businesses. She enjoys working with a variety of clients. From engineering to fashion, from family counseling to landscaping, Michelle has fun adapting to each client. She is always up for a challenge and is not scared to work in a new field. Each client is a unique opportunity to learn something new and a chance to grow as a designer and person. In addition to corporate design, Michelle enjoys creating different illustrations in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Most original pieces are inspired by her everyday life or allude to metaphors. She is a big fan of surrealism and feels inspired by contemporary artists such as Jeremy Geddes and Erik Johansson. Her pieces encompass the chaotic, beautiful, and serenity. Each piece is a part of her mind, each one an invitation to make sense out of them as she once did. Some details do not always have a precise meaning, but perhaps they mean something to the viewer that is just as rewarding to her. Even when most of Michelle’s days designing are spent in front of a screen, she doesn’t mind picking up some charcoal or a brush to do a little drawing and painting every now and then! Michelle has been featured in multiple fine arts and digital art galleries. In college, Her obsession with hyperrealism drew attention to her charcoal still-life pieces. Although Michelle mainly sticks to digital design, her 2D design skills still come in handy when she takes on particular projects such as skateboard or clothing customization. During this time, she also had the privilege to be a part of the Remnant Church’s creative team in Saddle Brook, NJ. This experience showed her the value of a hardworking team and allowed her the opportunity to become a leader. She loves working and learning from others. She finds joy in the creative process from start to finish. Whether sitting in a meeting, brainstorming, or revision time, each step of the journey is memorable and an opportunity for growth for Michelle. With this team, she helped run multiple social media accounts, create content, and edit videos. One of her favorite aspects of working with a team is the chance to share and collaborate on projects with people who are equally as talented and passionate about their goals. Michelle has an appreciation for all forms of art. She has been playing the piano since she was four years old. She has a special place in her heart for animated movies. Popcorn and a good Pixar movie is an ideal night in for Michelle. Besides working on her art, Michelle loves to go out to new places with her friends and family, play a game of catch, join a friendly softball scrimmage, jam out on the piano, or play a game of pool.

Sarah Culbertson (she/her) is a native West Philadelphian creative. Hailing from a household of creatives, she learned to enjoy drawing, painting, sculpture, acting, and singing. Sarah’s affinity for playing dress-up as a child later inspired her interest in acting and fashion. She graduated with a BFA in fashion design with a minor in business from Columbia College Chicago in 2013. She recalls creating her senior clothing collection using her mother’s artwork as prints as a notable moment in her undergraduate career. Print design is something that Sarah has explored more in-depth since graduating from college—playing with Photoshop, CAD, and Illustrator to manipulate existing images or create brand new ones. Since then, she’s worked with several clients to create original works of art in clothing and graphic form. Sarah has an exceptional eye for detail and collaboration. Her creative process involves working with clients, from idea formation to design research to sketching to translating those ideas into graphics and creating the final product. In 2015 she collaborated with her mother again to curate a complete twelve-look collection that she crowdfunded and took to Vancouver Fashion Week. About a year later, she moved to Brooklyn and worked for a design company specializing in selling graphic tees, where she learned how to work with clients through design, sales, and customer service. She maintained current clients and brought new ones to that company, like Forever 21. In 2019 she moved back to West Philly and dedicated her time to creating colorful pieces inspired by the things she witnessed in life and her own experiences. Color has always been a big part of her work, where she expresses her visions visually pleasingly, provoking emotion and thoughtfulness. Sarah believes art is highly emotional and should be used to further oneself and encourage people to think of ways of bettering themselves and the world around them. Sarah exercises her fascination with color while integrating symmetry and line work into a good deal of her artwork. An avid reader and lover of history, she draws inspiration from Mod sixes silhouettes and the grace of classic Greek mythology-inspired sculptures. She loves looking to the past to find inspiration while adding a modern twist to her work. She incorporates this thought process into how she creates work as well. Recently she’s been trying a new watercolor painting technique and then scanning it so she can play with it in photoshop. Transferring the watercolor form to a digital form allows her to expand the design in a way neither medium allows alone. Although art and creativity are Sarah’s primary passions, she has found a love and admiration for organization and data analysis. She has found both to help in professional and personal aspects of her life. Excel has become one of her best friends, and she sees a well-done spreadsheet as a work of art. Viewing data analysis as a puzzle she wants to master, she is incredibly detail oriented and likes to use it to spot trends to use in her work and anticipate what a client needs while working together. Outside of creating things visually, she loves to make delicious things in the kitchen. Falling into the indoor plant and baking craze that many people succumbed to, she finds great joy in caring for the ever-expanding plant collection and perfecting her pizza dough and sauce recipes. But she also finds exploring the city’s culinary and cultural options one of her favorite things when she's not working. She uses social media to see the newest and most delicious food experiences. She’s also recently started playing with gel nail art, finding it a new smaller canvas with which she gets to explore a new art form. So far, she’s only gotten to decorate herself and a few select family members' nails, but she’s enjoying the practice.

Dale Macauley (they/she) is a South Philly-based graphic designer who grew up in Central Jersey. They are obsessed with bold, maximalist design seeping with color and verve and draw influence from Art Nouveau poster design and 1960s Mod fashion. Although Dale nerds out over all things design, she has spent the last two years specializing in social media advertising and print marketing. Any digital assets such as virtual flyers, Facebook & Instagram ads, email marketing designs, and company logos are well within their wheelhouse. As a member of Gen-Z, Dale considers themselves a digital design native, starting from a young age with both pen and paper and MS Paint. For her, good effective design is a universal process that transcends media and time. They can find excitement in any challenge they face; while they love pulling up Illustrator to work on a web banner, they get just as excited about designing unique approaches to SEO challenges or whipping up a quick patch for a leaky faucet. Dale often leans on her interdisciplinary background to apply design thinking to all aspects of her personal and professional life. On the print side of things, their prior experience is with promotional mailers and calendars, but they also work on business cards and advertisements for newspapers and periodicals. Although a digital native, many of Dale’s influences come from a pre-digital era, where the texture and feel of a physical work of art mattered just as much as the color and composition. She attempts to infuse this attention and care to the material in any print assets she creates for her clients. Dale is a skilled illustrator and has worked as an animator and videographer for record labels and documentaries. Their interest in video and animation pairs nicely with their passion for electronic music and most of their video work is either set to or about this subgenre. This wide-ranging creative background allows them to approach any task from myriad perspectives, leaning on her experience with marketing and fine arts to ensure every aspect of a client’s vision comes to life. Regardless of the task, Dale has the technical skills and intellectual curiosity to complete it. While her focus is on design, in past roles, Dale has worn the hat of marketing guru, data entry wiz, calendaring mastermind, and bike mechanic. In recent positions, Dale has also found a knack for data science. They can get just as excited about a gorgeous Excel spreadsheet as a piece of fine art. She enjoys learning about topics like data analysis and project management. She hopes to continue to expand her knowledge in these fields in the future, collaborating with clients to handle their data needs and design challenges. They may even learn to code one day (if she can find the time between designing and caring for her exceptionally needy cat). A genuine love complements Dale’s well-rounded skill set for helping people and a desire to find the fun in every project they’re involved with. Dale relishes collaborative opportunities that are based on mutual respect and thought partnership. People like to say, “jack of all trades, master of none,” Dale likes to think, “better than a master of one!” In college, Dale pursued a double major in Gender Studies and Marketing, with a focus on Queer and Disability Studies. They are personally and politically moved by Creative Repute’s commitment to work with social justice-driven organizations. They are incredibly excited to collaborate with any clients pushing towards intersectional feminism or disability justice. Dale is eager to explore Philadelphia and build out a network of artists, creatives, and activists in the city fighting for equity and community accountability. They also pursued a minor in Studio Art and German, focusing on fiber arts and painting in addition to her digital work. Dale has lived abroad in Germany twice in their lifetime, both in Pixel and Berlin, and is fluent in reading, writing, and speaking German. Their work has been featured in Verses Magazine and Pinstriped Zine. In 2019, they received the Hans Brueckner grant to self-publish an online zine documenting the history of lesbian bars in Berlin during the Weimar Republic era. When they are not spending their time designing, Dale enjoys cooking homemade pasta, 1970s home decor, DJing, playing with her cat, and keeping up her German.

Bhavesh Satani (he/him) is a Graphic Designer who has been a part of the Creative Repute team since 2018. Though he has a B.A. in Business, he chose design as a career. Bhavesh is highly skilled in the entirety of the Adobe Creative Suite. He has many years of experience in website design, layout design, and video editing. Bhavesh enjoys doodling, watching animations, and reading about anything his curiosity leads him to in his spare time.

Ellen Dela Cerna (she/her) graduated with a B.S. in Accountancy before starting her career as an accounting assistant. As her career unfolded, she became an Accounting Supervisor and Virtual Assistant. In her free time, Ellen especially enjoys the company of her daughter. She also loves to read and watch documentaries and films. Her favorite genres are mystery, action, and sci-fi.

Jaz Riley (they/them) is a Ph.D. candidate at Yale University and prior military personnel. Jaz has an M.A. in English and an M.Phil in African American Studies and American Studies. At Creative Repute, Jaz serves as a Strategist and Copywriter specializing in qualitative analysis. They work both visually and linguistically to communicate the client’s message so that it is accessible to a diverse audience while enhancing details such as grammar, syntax, and tone. Jaz’s work is informed by their everyday life as a southern raised, well-traveled, educated Black person. In their spare time, they enjoy reading about both lighthearted topics and important Black and Brown politics.

Bradley Osborne (he/him/they) is a multi-faceted web developer and graphic designer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with nearly a decade of experience in front-end web development and media design. Brad currently specializes in WordPress Development with Creative Repute implementing vibrant, creative designs for clients’ websites that are clear, intuitive, and complementary to their customers. With his vast industry experience, he is enthusiastic about being of service wherever he can. Brad has endless knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. He is actively researching new technologies that improve the quality of his products. He wants his clients to have cutting-edge designs that represent their branding and identity online. At the beginning of Brad’s career, he had hands-on experience designing and developing websites for multiple companies and artists. He was a designer and front-end developer for Agility Marketing, which gave him ample knowledge of web development, SEO, and social media growth. He also has worked as a photographer and graphic designer for companies such as Inter-State Studios and Copies at Carson. With this array of experience, he is confident in his work and has a keen eye for how the products he develops for his clients should look and feel. Brad is also eagerly involved in his local community. He has assisted a well-known arts festival Art All Night Pittsburgh, for several years with their WordPress site and organization. He designed promotional materials for the non-profit Hack PGH, a cooperatively owned community-based workshop that gives skills and tools for people to provide creative projects. Brad designed projects for Meta Mesh Wireless Communities, a non-profit Wireless Internet Service Provider that uses the latest mesh network technologies that provide internet directly to those without access. His community has played a crucial part in his career, and he looks forward to being more active and helping wherever he is needed. Growing up with a musical background helped Brad appreciate and be passionate about art. He also understands that online presence is significant for communicating and developing successful brand identities for artists and businesses. He is very motivated to create quality websites that represent who they are so that their customers want to be actively engaged with their company and products. Brad enjoys being active outside of work. He loves to play music and go to concerts. He has won several competitions that have allowed him the opportunity to play significant concerts and events. Apart from music, Brad enjoys biking, hiking, and traveling. One of his proud accomplishments and fondest memories is camping in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia and biking all the way to Carova Beach in North Carolina. He plans one day to bike the whole Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh, PA, to Washington, DC in the future. Brad also really enjoys Photography and Videography. In his career, he has professional experience in photography and has even ended up starting his own company, “Nirv Film and Audio.” He plans on helping his clients with their online presence with his knowledge of photography, videography, and professional audio production, whether social media profile development, YouTube videos, or even podcasts. Even though Brad has a range of projects he takes on, he is devoted to maintaining quality. He is usually accessible and resourceful and is willing to work whenever his services are in need. Feel free to contact him at any time, and he will respond promptly. He is eager to assist wherever he can, whether it is for web development, design, research, or office work. You can find previous projects from Brad featured on his online website and portfolio www.bradaosborne.com which shows his latest WordPress website projects and his design projects. You can also find more of his work at www.nirvfilmandaudio.com, including his recent photography, videography, and audio production projects. If you want to contact Brad, please reach out to him at brad@creativerepute.com with any requests or questions. He will be more than happy to respond and is very excited to hear from you.

Nayana Satani (she/her) is a Graphic Designer with a B.E. in Computer Engineering. She worked for several graphic design agencies before joining the Creative Repute team. Nayana is skilled in Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, and video editing. She loves singing, drawing, and cooking in her free time, and she has a particular interest in quilling. Quilling is the art of rolling, shaping, and gluing together paper strips to create decorative designs. Nayana is involved in social work as a quilling tutor at Bolbala Charitable Trust Rajkot.

SB (he/him) has always been fascinated by the web and development field. He started by building websites for friends and technology enthusiasts with simple machine forums platforms. He became an integral part of the development of these platforms before moving on to various projects that required advanced proficiency in WordPress. SB is always looking for a new challenge and has expanded his focus to back-end development, including website maintenance, server updates, and hosting administration. As Integration Manager, SB’s education in Computer Applications and his wide range of experience working on unique projects are vital assets. When he is not working, SB enjoys spending time with his family, reading books, and conducting home improvement projects.

Thu Lai (he/him) is a graphic designer for Creative Repute. He comes from a small town in South Vietnam where he worked as a 3D character modeler for a Japanese game company. Thu pivoted into the graphic design industry after unlocking a passion for abstract problem-solving. Thu prides himself on his attention to detail and client communication skills. While Thu is always eager to learn new software, he is proficient in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, XD, Premiere Pro, and Maya. When he isn’t diligently working on graphic design projects, he spends his free time expanding his skill set in multiple areas. Some of his favorite hobbies are mastering animation, playing the guitar, painting, and exploring the world of landscape and macro photography.

Jess Cruz (she/her) is an accomplished graphic designer who has built her career upon a foundation of passion, creativity, and drive to explore innovative design trends. Residing in the lively South Philly community with her wife, Jess's journey from her artistic start in New Jersey to her current status as a valuable freelance designer has been achieved through determination, skill development, and commitment to her artistic growth. From a young age, Jess identified herself as an artist, always asking for art sets for birthdays and holiday gifts. Long car rides served as an opportunity for her to indulge in her favorite activity: doodling in her trusty sketchbook. As she progressed through school, Jess's dedication to her craft only grew, guiding her to enroll in as many art classes as she could. This devotion to art led her to pursue a degree in Fine Art, a decision that set the stage for her transformation into the accomplished designer she is today. During her college years, Jess's focus shifted towards drawing, painting, and 3D sculpture, alongside a newer interest in ceramics. Her commitment to her craft was further highlighted when she became a teaching assistant for entry-level ceramics courses, an experience that allowed her to share her knowledge and passion with others. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, Jess earned the title of artist-in-residence at her university, a testament to her talent and dedication. Despite obtaining a Masters in Teaching and briefly venturing into elementary education, Jess realized her heart was firmly rooted in the creative realm. Her decision to transition to graphic design marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career. Her first paid job involved creating a menu board for a vegan restaurant—a client she continues to collaborate with to this day. From there, she ventured into crafting social media, web, and email graphics for an online boutique, further solidifying her reputation as a versatile and adept designer. As Jess continued to expand her portfolio, she discovered her true calling in logo design and brand identity. This discovery marked a turning point in her career, igniting a passion that would come to define her artistic trajectory. Her adeptness at capturing the essence of a brand and translating it into compelling visuals became her signature. Her portfolio grew to encompass a diverse array of projects, from brand kits for small businesses to packaging design and menu boards. Each creation showcased her ability to transform abstract concepts into tangible, visually captivating realities. Central to Jess's approach is her commitment to empowering small businesses through distinctive visual identities. Her designs are more than just artistic expressions; they are storytelling tools that breathe life into each brand's mission and values. Jess thrives on collaboration, relishing the opportunity to work closely with clients and guide them through the creative journey. The bumps in the road that often accompany the design process are embraced as opportunities for growth, resulting in designs that resonate on an impactful level. Beyond her design prowess, Jess is a woman of many passions and interests. She enjoys hiking, even if it means strolls through the bustling streets of Philly. A dedicated yogi, Jess seeks balance and mindfulness through her practice. In her downtime, she can often be found watching movie marathons with her wife. As an advocate for a vegan lifestyle, she thrives on experimenting with plant-based recipes. With a thirst for knowledge and a habit of picking up new skills, Jess's latest pursuit is learning how to sew. Jess's passion for learning knows no bounds. Her dedication is evident in her exhaustive consumption of graphic design tutorials on platforms like YouTube, she’s probably seen every graphic design on YouTube! While she considers Adobe Illustrator her creative haven, she ensures her skill set remains well-rounded, navigating Adobe Photoshop for digital collages and Adobe InDesign for document mock-ups. Her recent exploration into motion graphics using After Effects showcases her adaptability and willingness to embrace new challenges head-on. Video editing is yet another skill she is diligently honing, a testament to her dedication to remaining at the forefront of her field. Jess's journey as a freelance designer has cultivated in her a remarkable ability to excel in a remote work environment, where adaptability and self-motivation are a must. Her capacity to thrive amidst dynamic situations underscores her resilience and tenacity. In essence, Jess Cruz is more than a graphic designer—she is a visionary artist, a creative storyteller, and an embodiment of ceaseless growth. From crafting captivating logos and brand kits to indulging in culinary pursuits and mastering new skills, Jess's creative journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of beauty, innovation, and meaningful collaboration.

Irrie, pronounced eye-ree, (he/him/his), was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, and grew up in Monticello, a small town in the deep south. He believes that the best way to assist Creative Repute's clients is by using his unique approach to design. Irrie thinks that communication is key, and he starts by learning as much as he can from the clients. Once he identifies the problem, he uses his skill set to reach a solution. He believes that using his skills will help him establish a relationship with the clients to further the company. Irrie thinks that the best way to communicate is to make sure that everyone is in agreement. After that, he begins his creative process, and his approach to design is very traditional. Then again, it is not about traditional vs. nontraditional. It is more about the process. He starts by researching and then moves on to sketches. From there, he works on initial drafts and explorations. Finally, he moves on to working with the team and finalizing the design before sending it to the stakeholder or PM. Irrie believes that design is very simple, but the way they approach it is what makes it unique. He has a BFA and an Associate’s degree in graphic design, with plans to pursue an MFA in either graphic design or human-computer interaction. He also has a minor in advertising. His experience at university was great, as he was involved in multiple clubs and organizations that helped further his career. He was always one to overachieve as much as he could. Before graduating, he started networking in design. He interned with Twitch, created a program with AIGA San Francisco, and met industry professionals whom he still speaks with today. While in school, he made a list of places to go and moved out west. He decided to move in order to further his career and experience the world on his own. Prior to moving, he was recruited to help a long-standing company rebuild its brand. Irrie started working at Chesbro and chose them over other recruits because he had complete creative control. He was able to see his vision throughout his work and work with brands such as Fender, Premier Guitar, Bose, etc. Moving there was a culture shock, mainly because of how different everything was compared to back home. He was the senior graphic designer there and got to create magazine partner ads, event collateral, work with local brands, rebuild their site from scratch, do email campaigns, and much more. He never got the chance to finish the website rebrand for the parent company and its subsidiary, Teton Guitars before leaving. He stayed at Chesbro for a year before going to a new company. By that point, he had been recruited by a software development company called Swiftly Systems. Although they initially recruited him before he graduated, it wasn't the right fit at the time. He started working there the same week he left Chesbro, and his main role was as a UX/UI designer. While there, he worked with many clients including Tylenol, Dollar General, The 99 Cents Store, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, and more. He had the opportunity to create ads, presentations, two-pagers, event collateral, and many others. The time he spent there was very interesting because it was unlike any other role he had in his career. While there, he spoke with project managers and stakeholders the most, which helped him grow his communication skills tenfold. The work was very fast-paced with quick turnarounds. This was great for him because it allowed him to experience firsthand what it was like to be in such a fast environment. He left the company a year later because he felt as if he had learned what he needed to and didn't feel much growth as a designer. After leaving, he was recruited by Atlassian. He started interviewing as a presentation designer and was recruited by the events team. While at Atlassian, he has created and led many events and worked with a lot of people across the globe, including Magic Johnson, Candice Parker, James Cameron, and Will.i.am. He had the opportunity to create social ads, booths, brand collateral, reaction emojis, UX components, and more. Some of the content he worked on has been featured in places such as The Chase Center, Las Vegas, Berlin, London, and more. Talking with stakeholders and PMMs is a must at Atlassian, as it allows him to ensure that everything has been planned accordingly. He has also worked with Figma, Canva, and all things Adobe at Atlassian and other places. The skills he has obtained from his experiences will lend themselves well to his role at Creative Repute. His journey as a graphic designer has been an interesting one, allowing him to grow both professionally and personally. He has a variety of interests outside of design, but it was his passion for art that led him to pursue a career in design. As a child, he was always drawing and designing things, and his father still has all of his drawings from that time. As he got older, his passion for art grew, and he enjoys exploring the different aspects of it. In his free time, he loves to paint and doesn't have a particular medium, but he enjoys combining them. He has a strong interest in oils and acrylics, but he loves all forms of painting, as well as drawing, woodblock prints, ceramics, photography, code, and design. He finds that he is always designing and trying out new things outside of work, and he sees design as a playground for exploration. He started exploring ceramics while at his first college and fell in love with it. He used it as a way to explore form and expression through a physical medium, which he then incorporated into his design work. His professor always urged him to get inspiration from the world around them, rather than going digital-first, and he still keeps that in mind. Overall, he loves all things creative.

Piers Shaiyen (he/him) is an experienced project manager with a profound commitment to assisting clients in harnessing the power of technology to elevate their business experiences. Piers has solidified his status as a seasoned project manager and a leader in the realm of AWS solutions architecture, software development, and web development. With a career spanning over a decade, Piers has emerged as a trusted expert, sought after by both small and large businesses, seeking to revolutionize and modernize their digital infrastructures. Piers' journey into the technological landscape began in 2012 when he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Pennsylvania State University. Armed with academic excellence and a burning curiosity for the possibilities that technology held, Piers embarked on a path that would lead him to the forefront of the industry. Post-graduation, he secured a pivotal role at Nerd-Pro, a pioneering software development startup. It was here that his appetite for acquiring new skills and driving progressive innovation set him apart. Piers' rapid ascent within the company was marked by his relentless pursuit of excellence, a trait that would become his hallmark. During his tenure at Nerd-Pro, Piers accumulated invaluable experience in software development and solutions architecture. His portfolio encompassed a diverse range of projects that spanned the entire spectrum, from fledgling startups to established enterprise giants. His involvement in projects as varied as setting up intricate cloud infrastructures, orchestrating seamless cloud migrations, crafting bespoke applications, developing sophisticated business intelligence tools, and constructing cutting-edge analytics dashboards underscored his adaptability and prowess in navigating complex technical landscapes. Since then, Piers has evolved into an anchor in the technology industry, entrusted with overseeing multifaceted projects and managing diverse teams of developers. His strategic leadership has led companies like Zapos, Pebble, Leap Motion, and Upworthy to unprecedented growth trajectories, permeating industries as diverse as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce. What truly sets Piers apart is his unyielding dedication to staying at the vanguard of emerging technologies. Recognizing the need to continually evolve in an era of rapid technological advancement, he has undertaken a plethora of courses and certifications. His portfolio ranges from web development, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to machine learning and project management. Among these, notable certifications such as AWS Cloud Practitioner, Azure System Administrator, SaFe POPM, and PMP showcase his commitment to technical excellence. Piers' distinctive approach to his work centers on the client. His collaborations are marked by an unwavering focus on understanding their unique needs, ensuring that every solution he architects is tailored to address their individual requirements. His ability to distill complex business challenges into creative solutions, employing emerging technologies as catalysts for success, has earned him a reputation as a visionary problem solver. A testament to Piers' exceptional capabilities, both his peers and clients have consistently recognized his achievements. The AWS Partner Network (APN) Rising Star award, a prestigious accolade in the AWS partner community, stands as a testament to his extraordinary performance and leadership. Clients, in turn, have lauded his impeccable communication skills, proficiency in adhering to project timelines and budgets, and unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier work consistently. Beyond the professional realm, Piers' passions and commitments shape a well-rounded persona. An intrepid traveler, he has immersed himself in diverse cultures across the globe, with South Africa, Mexico, Spain, and Brazil capturing his heart. His love for sports extends to basketball, soccer, and football, mirroring the strategic thinking and teamwork that underscore his professional approach. Piers' dedication to the community manifests through active participation by volunteering with organizations like The Beacon, a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding the homeless. Furthermore, he enriches the tech ecosystem by mentoring aspiring developers within the AWS community, fostering a culture of collaboration and growth. Piers Shaiyen stands as a dynamic and accomplished project manager, an AWS solutions architect, and a former web developer with an unquenchable thirst for advancing client triumphs. His expansive experience in software development and solutions architecture, paired with an unwavering commitment to remaining on the bleeding edge of emerging technologies, positions him as a pivotal asset to any organization yearning to rejuvenate and revolutionize their digital infrastructure. Piers' journey encapsulates the transformative synergy of technological expertise, visionary leadership, and a fervent dedication to community and global betterment. With every project he undertakes, Piers propels both himself and those around him towards the boundless horizons of innovation and growth. During his leisure hours, Piers cultivates a passion for travel and sports. His favored destinations include South Africa, Mexico, Spain, and Brazil – each offering a distinct cultural tapestry for his exploration. In addition to his cultural pursuits, Piers engages actively in sports such as basketball, soccer, and football. This not only serves as a means of physical activity but also underscores his capacity for strategic thinking and disciplined execution, traits that harmonize seamlessly with his professional acumen.