About US

You can have it all.

Meet the Grain team.

Hailing from every corner of the creative realm, we operate in a world where innovation thrives and exceptional is the norm. From mastering core offerings to instilling cutting edge trends with a touch that only industry veterans possess, each team member is a connoisseur of their craft, bringing expertise and elevation to every brand we work with.

We are your content confidants, your culture curators, your dynamic team ready to create and catapult your brand to new heights.

And we can’t wait to work with you.

Get to Know Us

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Hello, I'm Ellen

Creative Director, Grain Mom
Drink of Choice: Gibson Martini

Meet Ellen, the picture of grit and grace & the heart
and soul behind Grain Creative.

Ellen's story is one for the books. From a bold 13-year-old girl, stepping into the glitz and glamor of high fashion, eventually blazing her trail to Nashville, she surpassed homelessness to make her mark as an editor for lifestyle websites, before ascending to managing editor of a luxury multimedia company.

When 2020 brought the world to a standstill, Ellen found herself on an unexpected detour back into
the world of digital marketing, curating an eclectic mix of social media content, websites, newsletters, and events for a kaleidoscope of brands. And lo and behold, happy clients started singing her praises, spreading the word about her magic touch -- and leading to the beginning of Grain as we know it.

Ellen is a natural-born leader. Her entrepreneurial journey can be signified by the birth of a pearl. Much like a small, rough grain of sand morphing into a precious gem, she saw Grain Creative as the culmination of her experiences, and the catalyst for refining and elevating brands—transforming them into entities that shine.

Whether she's scouting the perfect location for a photoshoot, hunting down the city's best coffee, or crafting the most mesmerizing Pinterest board you've ever seen, Ellen arrives with a radiant smile -- just as excited to creatively collaborate as she is to be curled up on the couch with her dog, cat and a cup of dandelion tea.

Fast forward to 2024, Ellen beams with pride at Grain Creative's flourishing team, their chic office, and a clientele that's nothing short of extraordinary. As she looks forward to what the future holds, she stands as living proof that even from a single grain, a precious pearl can emerge.

Art Director

Kenzie Brown

Art Director, Lead Designer
Drink of Choice: Gin Gimlet

Grain Creative is here kind of by accident.

It was early 2020, and like much of the workforce, I was out of a job. After months of searching for a job in editorial management, I found that brands were asking me to help curate their socials, websites, newsletters, and events. I kept thinking, "No... I'm a writer. I can't do that." But, one fateful day, I said, "Sure!" and my client list began to grow.

After a few months, I was getting referral after referral. I started taking on new clients -- running their socials, refining their websites, creating their content, and running ads. It wasn't long before I realized I could make this into a "real" business, and give myself a little more stability than a freelance lifestyle.

When I was first considering what to name this business of mine, I kept going back to the idea of a pearl. I knew I had a knack for refinement – for polishing things up and making them shinier than before. I wanted to allude to this process in the founding of my marketing and design business.

When I researched the process of how a pearl is formed, I learned that a pearl is created from one single grain of sand. Through a natural process of refinement, the pearl becomes a treasured luxury. This has always been how I see my work. Through a process of refinement, my goal is to make our work bright, polished, and valuable.

In the summer of 2022, I had a chance encounter with Anthony Sanfilippo and his daughter/business partner, Florence Sudduth. What I thought would be an opportunity to help with their businesses' social media accounts turned into an opportunity to partner and scale this Grain of sand into a full-fledged marketing agency.

In 2023, we are grateful to have a team of growing team, beautiful office + studio, and a handful of amazing clients. We can't wait for what is to come!

Interested in working with us? Email us at
hi@graincreative.co

A background in fashion and the beauty & cosmetology industry led the way for Kenzie's passion for aesthetics and design. Her eye for design was originally self-taught until she enrolled at General Assembly of New York City, where she underwent a concentrated 10-week course in Visual Design.

Prior to joining the team at Grain, Kenzie gained valuable experience in agency, freelance, and in-house creative settings. Most recently, she worked with the team at Brownlee Bathing Corp, gaining insight into the fashion startup scene.

Kenzie is our clients' go-to for all things design, from brand identity to printed collateral, social media graphics, and more. We are proud to have her excellent design eye on our team.

project manager

Lexy Holmes

Grain Girl Wrangler, Client POC
Drink of Choice: Old Fashioned

Grain Creative is here kind of by accident.

It was early 2020, and like much of the workforce, I was out of a job. After months of searching for a job in editorial management, I found that brands were asking me to help curate their socials, websites, newsletters, and events. I kept thinking, "No... I'm a writer. I can't do that." But, one fateful day, I said, "Sure!" and my client list began to grow.

After a few months, I was getting referral after referral. I started taking on new clients -- running their socials, refining their websites, creating their content, and running ads. It wasn't long before I realized I could make this into a "real" business, and give myself a little more stability than a freelance lifestyle.

When I was first considering what to name this business of mine, I kept going back to the idea of a pearl. I knew I had a knack for refinement – for polishing things up and making them shinier than before. I wanted to allude to this process in the founding of my marketing and design business.

When I researched the process of how a pearl is formed, I learned that a pearl is created from one single grain of sand. Through a natural process of refinement, the pearl becomes a treasured luxury. This has always been how I see my work. Through a process of refinement, my goal is to make our work bright, polished, and valuable.

In the summer of 2022, I had a chance encounter with Anthony Sanfilippo and his daughter/business partner, Florence Sudduth. What I thought would be an opportunity to help with their businesses' social media accounts turned into an opportunity to partner and scale this Grain of sand into a full-fledged marketing agency.

In 2023, we are grateful to have a team of growing team, beautiful office + studio, and a handful of amazing clients. We can't wait for what is to come!

Interested in working with us? Email us at
hi@graincreative.co

Lexy’s knack for project management began when she started her career in the healthcare industry. Her years spent with BlueCross BlueShield gave her a strong foundation in managing brand campaigns and collaborating on the development and execution of creative assets. With a love for all things fashion and pleasing aesthetics, she is thrilled to get more into a creative space to work with brands that inspire her.

Prior to joining Grain, Lexy took her keen sense of fashion and worked at the largest maker of custom clothing, serving as an image consultant, building wardrobes for men and women.

Lexy’s skillsets and experience in project and account management bring to Grain much-needed organization and efficient processes. Lexy is our clients’ main point of contact, and helps keep the ship running smoothly.

Partner + photographer

Alaina Mullin

Editorial Guru, Resident PNW Grain Gal
Drink of Choice: Mojito

Grain Creative is here kind of by accident.

It was early 2020, and like much of the workforce, I was out of a job. After months of searching for a job in editorial management, I found that brands were asking me to help curate their socials, websites, newsletters, and events. I kept thinking, "No... I'm a writer. I can't do that." But, one fateful day, I said, "Sure!" and my client list began to grow.

After a few months, I was getting referral after referral. I started taking on new clients -- running their socials, refining their websites, creating their content, and running ads. It wasn't long before I realized I could make this into a "real" business, and give myself a little more stability than a freelance lifestyle.

When I was first considering what to name this business of mine, I kept going back to the idea of a pearl. I knew I had a knack for refinement – for polishing things up and making them shinier than before. I wanted to allude to this process in the founding of my marketing and design business.

When I researched the process of how a pearl is formed, I learned that a pearl is created from one single grain of sand. Through a natural process of refinement, the pearl becomes a treasured luxury. This has always been how I see my work. Through a process of refinement, my goal is to make our work bright, polished, and valuable.

In the summer of 2022, I had a chance encounter with Anthony Sanfilippo and his daughter/business partner, Florence Sudduth. What I thought would be an opportunity to help with their businesses' social media accounts turned into an opportunity to partner and scale this Grain of sand into a full-fledged marketing agency.

In 2023, we are grateful to have a team of growing team, beautiful office + studio, and a handful of amazing clients. We can't wait for what is to come!

Interested in working with us? Email us at
hi@graincreative.co

Introducing Alaina Mullin, a gifted multi-hyphenate with a lifelong passion for creativity. Alaina’s artistic prowess shines through her expertise in creative portraiture, branding design, and art direction.

Originally hailing from Northern Idaho, Alaina refined her abilities and expanded her portfolio as the Art Director, Designer, and Photographer for The Nashville Edit. Her invaluable talents have been pivotal in shaping Grain’s visual identity since its inception, working hand-in-hand with Ellen to deliver breathtaking design and photography projects as the company has grown.

Over the years, Alaina has built an impressive rolodex of clientele such as Jagermeister, Noah Kahan, Warner Music, Red Bull, and Revolve. Recently, Alaina’s dedication to her craft took across the Atlantic to earn her Masters in Art Direction from the renowned University of the Arts London.

She now calls Portland home with her fiance, and continues to travel the globe for her latest creative endeavors, always with an iced coffee in hand. Grain is lucky to continue to work with Alaina on a number of projects; her keen eye for design and unparalleled expertise behind the lens consistently elevating our craft and inspiring our team.