EXPERTS DIRECTORY
These FM-approved and verified experts can help you take your business to the next level.
APPAREL
Expert: Jessica (Zyla) Owusu-Afriyie (FMLA)
Company: Suite Creative Studio
Contact: hello@suitecreativestudio.com
Services:
Apparel design from creative concept through market-ready product
Development and brand building
Graphic design (prints, logos, etc)
Competitive analysis
Retail pricing strategy
Recommendations:
"Jessica and her team at Suite Creative Studio have been key to getting product for my brand produced. Everything from consulting on design, handling pattern making, tech pack design, sourcing suppliers and manufacturers and providing support and guidance on how best to launch and market the brand. Jessica brings a ton of experience with her and is great to work with. I came from a completely different industry so having her help has made it possible to turn my idea into reality. If you’re looking for a partner to help bring something to life, Suite Creative Studio is the way to go." — Briana Beazley, Founder/Creative Director of NadiaGirl
“I am so thankful I found Suite Creative Studio when I did. Jessica helped me with pricing, my business plan, strategy, develop a cohesive line, develop prints, talk to factories, and everything else you can think of that’s necessary to launch a successful brand. Jessica and her team are very efficient and meticulous in their work. They have been so patient with me as I figure things out and Jessica has become a dear friend. I can’t recommend her and Suite Creative Studio enough!” — Mownika Chawla, Founder/Creative Director of Hava
BRANDING
Expert: Chrystina Woody Train (FMLA)
Contact: chrystinawoody@gmail.com
Services:
Brand management and interfacing with clients
Media and message training for talent
Brand architecture and positioning and creative
Branded content – strategy and execution
Fluent in YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Vine, Twitter, SnapChat and emerging platforms
Recommendations:
"Chrystina is proactive and collaborative. She's always looking for opportunities to make her clients shine via strategic communications, brand integrations, and business development. She brings a genuine passion and unique spirit to her work." — Claire Collins, Managing Director at Gleam U.S.
"Chrystina provides the type of client service, strategic guidance and creative thinking that you see at big, legacy, global marketing agencies; however where she differs is that she combines that expertise with nimble, scaleable and fluid execution, similar to what you'd see at a startup or a boutique agency. Thus her programs and output are one-of-a kind." — Vanessa Del Muro, Managing Director of US Digital at James Grant
BRANDING
Expert: Heather Roma (FMLA)
Company: The Westside Collective Agency
Contact: heather@thewestsidecollectiveagency.com
Services:
https://www.thewestsidecollectiveagency.com/services
Recommendations:
"We had a very specific, elevated design aesthetic in mind and not only did Heather immediately “get it” from a design perspective, she was able to efficiently make it a reality with incredible functionality and all at record pace." — Kathryn Eisman, High Heel Jungle
"I’m so grateful for her genuine interest in my brand and what we stand for and how she beautifully executes it in her work for us." — Kristiana Tarnuzzer, The Cause Bar
EVENTS
Expert: Kate Mazzuca (FMLA)
Company: Bespoke Boheme
Contact: kbmazzuca@gmail.com
Services:
Full-service experiential production services (decor, physical build-outs, lighting, and more)
Content, brand and marketing consulting (asset creation, campaign strategy, and more)
Recommendations:
"Kate has impeccable taste and style and the most incredible attention to detail. She is easy and fun to work with and one of our go-to producers for big, new ideas." — Nina Van Arsdale-Berg, Executive Director of Communications at Smashbox
"Kate’s vision and creativity are extraordinary. She really thinks about what works for HBO and our shows and makes it perfect for us, down to the last detail. She’s my all-time favorite collaborator and designer." — "Amanda Van Goethen, Events Director at HBO
FINANCIAL
Expert: Erin Armstrong
Company: ErinArmstrong.com
Contact: info@enlightenedaccounting.com
Services:
Online courses and workshops covering small business and creative freelancer's business tax deductions
1:1 Coaching Session packages for specialized help with your business money
QuickBooks online training
Recommendations:
"Erin has literally saved me and my mess of a business account. From going over the pertinent forms to explaining tax terms in language that I can actually understand, I have come to terms with my taxes and maybe even found peace with them because Erin has walked me through the steps complete with examples of real blogging finances and deductions. If you are struggling to figure out how to properly categorize your expenses and manage your bookkeeping, I highly suggest Erin." — Krystal Faircloth, fashion and lifestyle blogger at A Pinch of Lovely
"Regardless of your income (big or small), if you’re filing taxes for your site and/or services, you need to purchase Erin's course asap. It’s a course that you take in the comfort of your own home – thank you, internet gods…actually, thank you Erin Armstrong! It’s an investment, but you’re saving a ton of moolah in the long run so it’s the smart thing to do, especially if you’re like me." — Kimberly Kong, professional musician and blogger at The Sensible Stylista
FINANCIAL
Expert: Jessica Wilson
Company: Ohana Accounting
Contact: jessica@ohanacpb.com
Services:
Full bookkeeping services: posting all business bank transactions, credit card transactions and reconciliations
Preparation of sales tax reports; work with tax accountant at year-end
Monthly and quarterly financial reports
Unlimited email and telephone support
Recommendations:
"Jessica is amazing! I have worked with other bookkeepers in the past who have been quite good at what they do, however Jessica takes it to a completely different level. She has been able to manage my bookkeeping needs remotely without the need for me driving to her office. She is always energetic, pleasant, kind and most of all patient! Working with Jessica has given me complete peace of mind when it comes to maintaining accurate books for my business, which allows me to concentrate on growth." — Troyce Thome, owner of Tai Chi for Health
"With Jessica’s help, we were able to bring our books up-to-date — and she taught us how to keep them that way. She works quickly while staying focused on the tasks at hand. She’s an amazing person who took a genuine interest in our business." — Ken Kube, College Hunks Hauling Junk
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Expert: Chloe Beckerman (FMLA)
Company: Dat Print Doe
Contact: chloebeckerman@gmail.com
Services:
Graphic, print, and textile design (both repeat tiles and engineered/placed prints)
Color ways and color palettes
Concept and trend research
Recommendations:
"I am an owner of a small artisan textile line and while I understand the process of the looms we use, I lack the technical know-how to create digital prints and patterns. She helped me translate ideas and inspiration into perfectly formatted design files to give to our weavers. She is so easy to work with! We were able to do everything over email and she was so clear and fast with communication. Additionally, she was early on every deadline. Not to mention, she has impeccable style and taste, so I knew I could trust her to make our designs look great!" — Elizabeth Kennedy, Owner at Paradise People
"I've worked with Chloe on several print projects and I can't say enough great things about her and her work. She's so easy to work with and makes the entire process seem seamless from initial idea to final project. Chloe is able to display many different art styles and can do anything from simple to complicated artwork and patterns. Highly recommend!" — Amanda Kain, Owner and Designer at Roux
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Expert: Lisa Soltis (FM Global)
Company: L.A.S. Collective
Contact: lisasoltis@gmail.com
Services:
Illustration/drawing, graphite, watercolor and acrylic painting, pen and ink
Hand drawn lettering, branding and logo direction
Textile illustration/design; product repeat patterns
Hand stitching leather and fabric applique for one-of-a-kind samples
Recommendations:
"Lisa is an incredibly talented and hard-working illustrator. I have known Lisa for 13+ years and have worked with her in a few different capacities. Lisa has created textile designs for our collection as well as illustrative elements. I have also recommended her to many of my friends in the fashion industry whom she has created textile design repeats, T-shirt graphics, and logo illustrations." — Missi Pawlecki, Owner of Birds of Ohio
"I first met Lisa 10 years ago, while I was the Art Director of the Juniors Department at Billabong USA. She worked with me as a freelance graphic designer. From the moment I met her, I realized she was a woman of many talents! Lisa is a thoughtful and creative thinker, with an eye for details. She has a terrific ability to draw, illustrate, paint and create any thing that she can imagine. Her passion and her drive to create things with originality make her such an exceptional artist and designer. Without hesitation I recommend Lisa for any of your design needs!" — Cheryl Brubaker, Co- Founder of Knot Sisters
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Expert: Sarah Foelske (FMLA)
Company: Make Nice
Contact: sarahfoelske@gmail.com
Services:
Branding; graphic design; art direction; naming
Recommendations:
"I loved working with Sarah from start to finish. She understood my vision for a logo design and created multiple options with clear communication throughout the entire process. She was timely, worked within my budget, and gave me adaptable designs that I have used across all of my platforms. Seeing her logo design come to life as I opened my first store felt amazing, and I considered her a partner throughout the process." — Whitney Goodman, Owner of WM GOODS and Well Made Consulting
"The unique thing about Sarah is how she’s able to mix her background in years of working with traditional agencies which inherently keeps her design focused on making sure your branding is lasting, with her personal style and interest in using a hands-on component, like handwriting or a custom font. The result is design that is rad but not too of-the-moment — something that you see over and over and just love." — Brigid Kelly-Deutschman and Jessica Baker, Founders of Color Wheel
MARKETING
Expert: Annette Vartanian (FMLA)
Company: A Vintage Splendor
Contact: annette@avintagesplendor.com
Services:
Digital marketing and social media strategy
Content creation and styling
Email marketing, influencer seeding, SEO, copywriting
Recommendations:
"I began working with Annette after meeting her through Fashion Mamas. She has been very flexible and easy to work with on the very specific needs for both my brands. She has helped my company with SEO keywords, blogging, digital marketing, creative direction for shoots, styling and just overall support. I highly recommend her!" — Yvette Charlton, founder of La Vie Boheme Yoga and Levi James Co.
"I'm in love with Annette, professionally speaking. She has a marvelous aesthetic and is a dream and delight to work with. She’s on top of her game and always two steps ahead. I trust her implicitly and rely on her heavily. Annette has never let me down." — McLean Emenegger, One Colorado Old Pasadena
MERCHANDISING
Expert: Jenna Jackson (FMLA)
Contact: jenna@augustca.com
Services:
Consulting for Merchandising
Testimonials:
"Jenna is a pleasure and an inspiration to work with. She has a great eye for merchandising, with the ability to blend aesthetic consideration with sales and market data, all the while keeping in mind August’s core values. This blend of business sense and creativity makes her a strong guiding force as we drive our company forward." — Melissa Talbert, Creative Director at August
"I've had the opportunity to work with Jenna a number of times in a number of different roles that she has had, from merchandising at Gap Brand to her work with her own brand, August, at both Piperlime and Banana Republic. Jenna is an incredibly rare merchandising talent, where she possesses all of the most important things you need to win with your customers. She is able to combine deep knowledge of her customer and market consumer trends with her great taste level while driving a successful business." — Lexi James Tawes, SVP of Global Merchandising & Digital at Banana Republic
PHOTOGRAPHY
Expert: Cameron Jordan (FMLA)
Company: Cameron Jordan Photography
Contact: cameron.jordan@gmail.com
Services:
Capturing real life magic. Specializing in lifestyle and wedding photography.
Recommendations:
"I have had the pleasure of working with her since 2014 in multiple settings for many different occasions. She has captured many unforgettable moments effortlessly. I have hired Cameron in my personal life to photograph our wedding and my first pregnancy; and I also hired her in my professional life to shoot lookbooks and editorials for my clothing line kucoondesigns.com. I have worked with Cameron over a dozen times in the past four years and she has never let me down. She goes above and beyond to capture the magic and doesn’t hesitate to have a back up plan in case something doesn’t go as planned. She is flexible, creative, outgoing, communicates well, comes on time prepared, and an awesome team player." — Andrea Spratt, CEO and Designer
"As the Creative Director & Owner of the clothing line BEL KAZAN, I have had the honor of working with Cameron Jordan on a variety of different projects. She is a professional, fun, creative and seasoned photographer who is very passionate about her work and giving her clients the best product. I would recommend Cameron for all these reasons but also because she is truly a joy to work with and someone you always want on your team." — Belinda Kazanci, Creative Director and Owner, BEL KAZAN
PHOTOGRAPHY
Expert: Marisa Vitale (FMLA)
Company: Marisa Vitale Photography
Contact: marisa@marisavitale.com
Services:
Editorial, lifestyle, interiors, travel, and portraits
Recommendations:
"Marisa has photographed for four issues of Bossladies over the course of two years, and we've travelled to NYC and SF together for multiple days of editorial shoots. Not only is Marisa an incredibly talented photographer (which you can see from her impressive and HUGE portfolio), but she is also one of the kindest humans I've ever had the pleasure of working with. She has a natural ease with people, so within seconds they feel like they've known her their whole life. This comes in handy when shooting any editorial or portraiture, as the subjects ease into the shoot quickly, making their true essence shine through in their images." — Chelsea Sonksen, Owner of Bossladies Magazine
"I am delighted to recommend Marisa Vitale as a talented photographer and collaborator.Having hired her for her services several times, I have only experienced exceptional results. We’ve used Marisa’s beautiful retail and lifestyle images throughout my website: lolaytula.com. Her ability to creative direct on site and style our sets during photo shoots has been imperative and extremely helpful. We look forward to working with her again soon!" — Gardenia Woodhams-Roberts, Owner of Lola y Tula
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Expert: Emily Bernstein (FMLA)
Company: PM Public Relations
Contact: emily@pmpublicrelations.com
Services:
Traditional Public Relations
Consulting and introductions
Marketing and events
Collaborations and partnerships
Recommendations:
"I have worked with Emily Bernstein for over five years now. Emily and I met at SLS Beverly Hills when she was the Director of PR. After leaving SLS, I sought out Emily while I was looking for a new PR company for the Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs while working there. Emily’s passion for the industry, ability to develop ideas and programs that cater to our target demographic, and capacity to realize coverage are the main reason for her success and my personal determination to keep her involved in all of my hotel projects." — Warren Nocon, General Manager for the Hotel Californian
"Emily Bernstein has a keen eye for both big media and Boutique PR. She was able to identify the strengths in my brand and to connect digital and print outlets that highlighted our best qualities. I’m pretty sure she accomplished more for me in our first three months than most big firms accomplish in a year." — Alison Koch, owner of Outfit Home
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Expert: Samantha Slaven-Bick (FMLA)
Company: Samantha Slaven Publicity
Contact: samantha@samanthaslaven.com
Services:
Is focused on brands spanning fashion/accessories, beauty, lifestyle, health/wellness and consumer products to help them grow their business by:
Generating coast-to-coast “buzz”
Securing celebrity and influencer endorsements
Developing high-profile media exposure
Implementing marketing/ branding/ social media strategies
Supporting product launches
Producing and integrating into industry and consumer events
Recommendations:
"Working with Samantha Slaven Publicity has been instrumental in building Flaca's online and editorial presence. Not only have we recently landed several large influencer campaigns and online placements, we've also been able to establish relationships with editors we otherwise wouldn't have been able to. We genuinely enjoy working with Samantha and her team, who are all great!" —Amy Shepsman, Owner & Creative Director of Flaca Jewelry
"For an up and coming women's athleisure brand that is trying to grow in a tough market, Samantha has been able to help us expand through celebrity seedings and influnecer marketing strategies. She makes us feel our needs are always important as a brand and continuously looks for ways to help us exceed with different initiative" — Tania Rodriguez, Senior Marketing Manager of Perry Ellis International
SOCIAL MEDIA
Expert: Liana Cabrera (FMLA)
Company: Curated Agency
Contact: hello@curatedagency.com
Services:
Social media management and web design
Recommendations:
"Liana is the head at Curated Agency. They do our social media and do it damn well. We have gone from obscurity to over 6500+ followers. More importantly, that has lead to actual revenue increases. Liana is great to work with and is super quick at responding to emails, texts." — Stephen Sakulsky, owner of Osteria La Buca
"Curated has been an asset to our online presence and social media tools. Liana’s knowledge of the trends and her organization have helped build our audience and widened our scope of clients walking in to enjoy a meal with us." — Dana Tanner, Owner of Restauration
SOCIAL MEDIA
Expert: Mai Nguyen (FMLA)
Contact: hellomaisassygirl@gmail.com
Services:
Helps brands create a buzz and helps build them build the hype
Introducing influencers to brands to help enhance their social media and exposure
Help brands understand what social media platform is best for them
Social media creative content consulting
Recommendations:
"I worked with Mai in launching my Sugar Coast by lolli swim collection at Target.com. She helped with all my mommy & me influencer seeding. Not only was Mai super friendly and easy to work with, all the moms love her as well. I was able to use all the photos for content on my social media outlets, my website and presentations on my current projects." — Vy Nguyen, Founder & Designer at Lolli Swim
"Since working with Mai on our social media she has been able to increase our engagement by 100%. Mai has fantastic connections and experience which make our collaboration efforts streamlined and effective. Mai knows how interact on all levels and can be counted on to bring the best interest of all parties to the table." — Janine Allen, Founder of The Nail Truck
WEB DESIGN
Expert: Curtis Mead
Company: East of Western
Contact: info@eastofwestern.com
Services:
Branding Identity
Front End Design, Print Design, UX Design
Website Development, Custom Content Management Systems
Email Marketing, Social Integration, Web Apps
Recommendations:
"Working with EOW was an experience we would happily welcome again. Their entire team was extremely patient with us, as we worked through multiple iterations of what our site would eventually become. The finished product is not only one that tells our story in the best possible way, but was a result of a true collaboration between client and agency." — Marc Rose, Owner of Winsome
"East of Western has been designing my site for the past five years and we’ve gone through three vastly different rebrands over those years. They always take my notes/ideas into consideration and come up with the most perfect site and logo design that fits our company’s personality and aesthetic. It’s simple, sleek and very easy to navigate. We’ve even drawn new clients and talent from the strength of our site, all thanks to East of Western." — Danielle Hinde, Owner & Executive Producer at Doomsday
WEB DESIGN
Expert: Michael Frey
Company: Frey Art & Design
Contact: michael@cmichaelfrey.com
Services:
Website Design and Development with a focus on small businesses in the Arts
Website Consulting
Branding Design
Creative Direction
Illustration
Recommendations:
"Michael is incredibly versatile, creative yet professional and has an impeccable eye with the flexibility to create projects around the Brand's Identity. He is also a kind person who is easy to work with and has a realistic timeframe, letting you know when any given project can be achieved. — Amanda Blake, Owner & Designer of Calder Blake
"Michael Frey, a dear friend and talented artist and designer, has worked with me for years on the TENOVERSIX website. He’s also worked on other projects for us. Michael’s work is clean and modern. He is an easy, receptive collaborator. I’d highly recommend him, and do, to clients looking to elevate their web presence." — Kristen Lee Cole, Creative Director & Founder of TENOVERSIX
VIDEO
Expert: Samantha Gutstadt (FMLA)
Company: SamSoMuch
Contact: gutstadtsamantha@icloud.com
Services:
Scripted Content for your brand
Unscripted lifestyle video for your brand or for your social
Production services — hiring crew, budgeting, etc.
Consult on video content and promotion
Social Media video creation
Recommendations:
"I worked with Samantha on an original video series for mom.me. Her enthusiasm and passion for the project was infectious. She clearly put her heart and soul into the production and promotion of the project, and seeing the end result was great." — Esther Carlstone, Senior Editor at mom.me
"Samantha's production ability to bring to life our brand story and technology through video was excellent! I truly enjoyed partnering with her. I especially appreciated the fluidity in her working style and dealing with ambiguity. I would highly recommend her to friends or fellow colleagues looking to create cost-effective videos." — Samantha Murphy, General Manager at Dermaflash