About Ann

Client Testimonial:

“I had the pleasure of working with Ann on multiple projects with Crave Charlotte. She is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and talented in her field. Her easy going nature and can do attitude make her a joy to work with as well. She is always willing to go the extra mile! I would recommend Ann any day!” – Alyson W.

Create-ster Women-owned Businesses Retreat

My name is Annabelle, but most call me “Ann”, and I’m a self-taught web developer, graphic designer, and digital marketing strategist with over 10 years of working experience in building brands for both businesses and nonprofits.

As a B2B & B2C Marketing Specialist & Digital IT Strategist, I have always been passionate about three things–helping others, technology, and creating art.

At the age of 15 years old I built my first website. In high school, my technology school teacher told me to choose a different elective because I already knew how to design and build websites! Taking her advice, I took an early college credit course on Computer Programming and Visual Basic Programming.

Unable to afford to go to college, I spent a number of years working odd jobs as a cashier, arts and crafts specialist, and with Santa and the Easter Bunny as a photo set manager. I also helped Hurricane Katrina victims maneuver around flood areas in Louisiana at a call-center, worked third-shift at a manufacturing plant company, and pursued a career in data entry.

Throughout my various job opportunities, website development and graphic design always crept back into my view in various ways. I continued to work on side projects alongside my full-time jobs. I will always be forever grateful to my first clients who hired a self-taught freelancer to build their websites. Needless to say, my passion stuck with me through the years.

In 2010, the connections I made would help launch my professional career in website development, graphic design, and digital marketing.

I was asked to be the City Project Manager for CRAVE Charlotte, which was an initiative to feature 100+ Charlotte region, women-owned businesses, into a single book. Working alongside the District Project Manager, I led a team of photographers, a social media marketing manager, and videographer. We launched the book in Spring of 2011,  which drew significantly more foot-traffic to the featured business locations.

Inspired by the women business owners I met and befriended along the way, I left my data entry job and co-founded Create-ster. Create-ster was a creative marketing agency established in 2011 until the beginning of 2019. By co-founding Create-ster, I was able to assist a multitude of B2B/B2C businesses and nonprofits in creating marketing strategies, websites, e-commerce sites, website hosting server management, photography, videography, graphic design, and more.

Now, I continue my passion by consulting budding entrepreneurs through workshops and 1:1 sessions, and work directly with companies and nonprofits on their digital, IT, and marketing strategies.

Ann has been featured in the following publications: