Team - circle S studio

Susan has over 30 years of experience as an agency owner, building great success for both our clients and the circle S team. As a consultant and executive coach, her intuitive and dynamic approach has made her a trusted ally to C-level executives at Fortune 500 companies and beyond.

She has the extraordinary ability to assemble the right pieces to bring structure and clarity. It’s no wonder she’s built a team of the best and the brightest who consistently deliver smart solutions for our clients.

Susan embodies visionary and authentic leadership and is always focused on “doing what matters.” Passionate about creating and building best-in-class companies, she empowers others to better their best. She’s committed to a lifetime of learning with a constant thirst for knowledge, bringing fresh ideas to the table at every meeting. The pride that Susan feels about circle S is rivaled by only one thing: spending time with her family and grandchildren.

I love it when people see things from a fresh perspective.

Michelle Davis

Chief Creative Officer

Michelle is energized by uncovering creative and remarkable ways to bring brands to life. Since the early days of circle S, she has blended the conceptual and practical to create top-notch work that delivers results. Tapping into both sides of the brain, she can piece together any creative puzzle.

Before her agency career, Michelle was a pre-med student fascinated by neurosurgery research and while branding isn’t brain surgery, there is a science and an art to it. Michelle has perfected both. Her ability to lead and craft meticulous designs while keeping an eye on the big picture is unmatched.

Beyond creating exceptional brands, Michelle amplifies their essence into the working environment -- creating spaces that enhance company cultures helping to attract and retain talent.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys volunteering for Children’s Hospital and being with her family.

I love it when we create moments that surprise and delight.

Rachel Butcher

Director of Finance

As our Director of Finance, Rachel brings calm to our busy agency life. Her exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail and friendly spirit make her a critical member of the circle S team.

A native of Michigan, Rachel earned her BBA from Western Michigan University. Since moving to our river city, she has been sharpening her accounting skills for nearly 2 decades. As someone who manages our financial well-being, Rachel's multi-dimensional thinking combines precision analysis with an appreciation for the arts.

Outside the office, Rachel enjoys bringing her creative eye to the interior design of her home. As a wife and a mother of two young daughters, her family is the inspiration for everything she does.

I love it when everything adds up and a vision comes to life.

Katie McElroy

Director of Operations

Katie has a talent for getting things done and never fails to keep everything moving and organized, while continuing to refine and develop efficient processes that help us, and our clients, thrive.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee with a master’s in communications and a concentration in advertising, she started her career at the Martin Agency, honing her skills with national brands. For eighteen years she has helped grow circle S and our clients in A/E/C and the financial industries.

Katie's long-term memory is a great service at circle S—especially with our many long-term clients. She has an uncanny memory for the project details we need today as well as what happened over a decade ago, and always with her characteristic grace, intelligence, and humor.

I love taking the right step to deliver a great experience for our clients.

Tami Berry

Director of Consulting

Tami leads the Consulting practice area and the strategic development of employee and client experiences of a brand. She begins by immersing herself in that brand and absorbing as much as she can. She then takes the most complex information, simplifies it to its true essence, and consults with our clients based on her findings.

Tami graduated with an MBA from the University of Richmond and proves daily that she is indeed a master. Having spent several years in the corporate marketing world, two of which were Fortune 500 companies, Tami is well versed in the financial services field. She’s managed brands, provided corporate communications, and also worked as a media buyer. Her strategic expertise has evolved over the years, shaped by passion and lived experiences.

An avid reader, Tami encompasses the sections of the bookstores she frequents. In her, you’ll find philosophy, science, humor, history, and so much more. Her insightfulness is appreciated by our team and our clients.

I love it when we surpass client expectations when envisioning their next chapter.

Erin Bray

Art Director

In her role as Senior Designer, Erin uses her keen eye and immense talent to create brands that elevate and differentiate our clients. Her strong, quiet confidence perfectly balances her devotion to meticulous craftsmanship.

Erin has a special affinity for the art and history of design, especially the visual elements that make up a brand, from type to palettes to pixels. She has been honing her skills for over a decade to regularly create artful solutions.

A lover of live music, Erin brings brands to life by orchestrating every element to strike just the right harmony through thoughtful design and impeccable execution.

I love creating something new by combining the craft of vintage techniques with new digital technologies.

Crystal Cregge

Creative Director

Crystal is a design strategist who uses the visual arts to bring our clients’ visions to life with beautiful, eye-catching solutions. She is perpetually curious and approaches her craft from a variety of angles to ensure every design leaves a lasting impact.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and over a decade of experience working with clients such as Altria, CNN, and the National Park Association, she knows how to elevate a brand.

Whether she’s traveling abroad, exploring local French restaurants, or finding the perfect piece of clothing, Crystal excels at uncovering the memorable and unique.

I love creating striking visuals that offer a fresh, yet authentic, take on imagining a brand.

Sanya Chandler

Research & Strategy Manager

Sanya is consistently mapping pathways and discovering new solutions for our clients. Her background as a paralegal, where she supported the strategic e-discovery efforts for a national law firm, informs her work in supporting our consulting efforts and positions her in an integral role in driving projects forward toward a successful result.

In addition to collaborating with clients, Sanya can be found conducting research and analysis, performing competitive and survey analysis, and supporting the development of messaging. She delights in uncovering what differentiates clients and empowers them to grow and succeed.

Sanya's curious and innovative mindset is inspired by her love of traveling. She earned her MBA from the University of Richmond and has previously served on UR’s MBA Alumni Council as the Events and Marketing Chair.

I love it when research offers clients new insights.

Lindsay Clapp

Account Executive

Lindsay is a solution-oriented person, who thrives on not only meeting, but exceeding, expectations for all stakeholders. As a client advocate, she coordinates the strategic, creative and digital resources needed to meet their objectives.

With a bachelor’s from VCU in Anthropology, Lindsay has a keen sense of the importance of cultures in building relationships. She relishes the resolutions that come to her unexpectedly, finding that a change of perspective is often the ticket to tangible results.

In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys cooking and getting outdoors with her husband — hiking, biking, and staying active.

I love it when collaboration delivers exceptional experiences for our clients.

David McIntosh

Production & Resources Manager

David’s attentive eye and focus on seeing work accomplished at the highest level is greatly valued in a role where he seamlessly translates details into completed deliverables for our clients. He is driven by a continuous improvement mindset and always seeks opportunities to elevate through process refinements, production coordination, and project communications.

As resources coordinator, communication is key and David’s ability to connect the dots has shown up time and time again over his 22 years in the industry. Notably, he served on the Board of Directors for the Richmond Chapter of AIGA and participated in the multi-disciplinary effort GOOD Ideas for Cities to promote tourism in Richmond. In all that he does, David skillfully blends the creative and the analytical to bring forth a successful result.

I love it when the precision of evocative creative inspires both our clients and ourselves.

Micaela Green

Senior Growth Strategist

With over 13 years of experience in the industry, Micaela understands that the perfect blend of a strategic approach with creative that captivates is the way to deliver a successful result — and appreciates the nuances it takes to get there. From brand management to digital marketing, her experience across multiple markets, most notably within the wine industry, informs the white glove service she offers to clients.

Just as a fine wine is complex with flavors that build upon one another, Micaela recognizes that there is no one size fits all solution and brings balance and harmony in the work she does, assembling the right team to deliver solutions that leave a lasting impression.

Embracing all that life has to offer, Micaela enjoys experiences that involve good food, good drinks, and good times with friends.

I love supporting brands through a strategic lens that helps create unique value propositions.

Michael Couchman

Senior Designer – Brand Experience

Michael thrives when visually constructing a brand from the ground up and as a senior designer he is always finding ways to deliver innovative solutions for clients. He is adept at infusing a company's unique DNA into every element — from how its logo takes shape to its website and branded elements. His creativity and unique approach to design, which started from an early age, continues to evolve.

Michael holds a bachelor’s in Graphic Design from VCU and a bachelor’s in Product Innovation from the VCU Da Vinci Center, a combination that brings highly creative work, collaboration, and a human-centered mindset to the forefront.

In addition to visually shaping brands, Michael is an expert in creating blends that offer interesting new takes on classic cocktails.

I love shaping visual solutions that balance the expected with the unexpected.

Kyree Fisher

Graphic Designer

Kyree champions accessibility and user experience through every aspect of a brand, from print materials and websites to animations and videos. His ability to effortlessly navigate the languages of design, code, and American Sign Language (ASL) informs his work, ensuring designs are not just visually captivating but universally accessible.

Kyree has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Computer Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and with a dedication to continuous improvement, he embraces new trends and technologies to elevate his efforts. He combines a relentless pursuit of excellence with a unique blend of humor and thoughtfulness, making him a vital member of our team.

Kyree’s commitment to creating designs that are both beautiful and functional reflects our collective ambition: to produce work that is not only innovative but also inclusive and impactful for everyone.

I love it when I get to combine fun, creative designs with the technology clients need to hit the mark.

Erin Ward-McCarty

Digital Project Manager

Erin embraces a “yes and” attitude and consistently finds opportunities to elevate our clients' websites and digital presence. Informed by her UX design and wireframing certifications, she brings thoughtful consideration and an ever-encouraging attitude that ensures each project is successful from beginning to end.

Holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Kentucky University, Erin’s appreciation for the creative arts is apparent in everything she does, from the artistic eye she places on projects to seamlessly connect development, design, and details, to her years spent performing in musicals and plays. Seeing everyone play a role in bringing forth a successful result no matter the pursuit is what she enjoys most.

While Erin is comfortable on stage, she relishes spending time in the community, attending local concerts, visiting museums, and admiring the architecture that shapes our world.

I love it when our clients' digital presence differentiates their brand.

Zach Stewart

Web Developer

Zach brings a unique perspective to every website he builds. As a developer, he takes a high level view of the client's goals before translating them into code—crafting each line as if it were art. Because for him, it is art.

An enthusiastic amateur pilot, Zach enjoys the precision and perspective that he gains while flying. Whether in the cockpit or at the keyboard, our clients benefit from his meticulous, exacting method of web development, and we benefit from his great personality and sense of humor.

I love it when all the pieces and parts come together and propel websites to perform at the highest level.

Anna Hogg

Videographer

Anna is a visual storyteller who beautifully captures the essence of those in front of her lens. She brings dedication and empathy to her craft, creating a deep connection with her subjects, and transforms their spoken words into realized visions.

With an appreciation for creative expression in all forms, Anna enjoys the discovery process that ranges from shaping a company’s story, to reaching the conclusion of a good book, hiking down a new path, and finding a new hobby to master. She gathers inspiration from both loved ones and the world around her, effectively translating her motivations into art that is itself inspirational.

I love it when the story starts to take shape from what’s captured on film.