Yes, my business is in branding, but ultimately, I’m here to help your local business succeed.

I provide a strategic approach to build y(our) community.

I left my corporate-style, community-focused nonprofit marketing career in 2018 after ten years in the marketing industry to pursue my brand consultancy full time. I’ve always had a passion for this region and a passion for clarifying, creating, and connecting, so my business was created to use those passions to move local businesses forward in the Tri-Cities and surrounding Appalachian Highlands.

I come alongside you as a person.

To reach the next level of your business, you need someone to guide you through a period of vision for your business and clarity in your branding. You need someone to help you achieve the effective, powerful messaging, visuals, and consistent client experiences you know you can achieve. You need someone who is as passionate about the success of your business as you are and will come alongside you as a person.

  • Because I’m not a one-service freelancer and I’m not a continuous service provider like an agency, I’m able to work with one business at a time. I can focus on YOU alone - moving your brand to the next level, and then I letting you fly so I can help the next business.

  • Because I am one person with a varied skillset and network, I can listen to your challenges and connect you with people who can help you carry out your vision once I have reached the limits of my own expertise.

  • Because I have developed processes for my services, I can ask the right questions to address what you need to move your business forward while efficiently making the most of your resources.

    To strengthen your brand, you need more than a new logo, more than new photos, more than any single brand component - you need a strategic approach to elevating the visibility and appeal of your local business, and I’ll show up to help you with that. Over the last several years, I have developed an efficient, strategy-based method that improves your business and builds your community. I’ll guide you toward the brand you want and the brand your customers need!

Extra, extra: read more about me

I was born and raised in Bristol, TN/VA in the Tri-Cities at the center of the Appalachian Highlands. My whole family has had roots here, generation after generation - a family of entrepreneurs, dreamers, creators, musicians, and artists - and I’ve chosen to surround myself with more of them in my friendships and in my work.

I really like…

 

  • Taking classes of any kind

  • Laughter (no sad movies for me)

  • Guessing things correctly

  • Improving things - anything!

  • Exploring new places

  • Honest, authentic relationships

  • Bread, mainly Auntie Ruth’s pretzels

  • Dogs - never thought I’d be a “dog mom,” but here we are

  • Painting, drawing, or anything art-related

  • Not having to wake up early everyday

I don’t like…

 

  • Meaningless conversation

  • Toxic positivity

  • Doing the same thing day after day

  • Allergies

  • Team-building exercises

  • Ironing clothes

  • Migraine headaches

  • Know-it-alls

  • Leggings as pants

  • Lukewarm coffee

Honors and Awards

Below, you can take a look at all the shiny things I’ve been given along my journey since 2010. I am grateful for the awards I have received at the local, national, and international level for photography, graphic design, web design, writing, marketing, campaign development, branding, and community service.

 

  • The branding refresh for WorkSpace Interiors in Kingsport, TN was a Gold Award recipient in the Strategic Communications | Marketing/Promotion Campaign | 102c. Branding Refresh category of the 2023 MarCom Awards competition. MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers.

  • American Advertising Federation

    The logo for The Crumbum received a Silver ADDY in the March 2023 Northeast Tennessee American Advertising Awards. The American Advertising Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tennessee

    This award celebrates the incredible impact of the 11-year match between me and my amazing Little Sister. We were matched from her 2nd to 12th grade years. The Bigs of the Year selection process includes nominations by the BBBS staff in each locality for a top Big Brother and top Big Sister. Then, mentor nominations are collected by the Little and the family of the Little at the state level and ranked for winners.

    Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships.

  • Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals

    The brand refresh for Serendipity Boutique & Marketplace was a Gold Award recipient in the Strategic Campaigns/Marketing category of the 2022 Hermes Creative Awards competition. Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing, and communication programs.

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee

    This award celebrates the incredible impact of the 11-year match between me and my amazing Little Sister. We were matched from her 2nd to 12th grade years. The Bigs of the Year selection process includes nominations by the BBBS staff in each locality for a top Big Brother and top Big Sister. Then, mentor nominations are collected by the Little and the family of the Little at the state level and ranked for winners.

    Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships.

  • American Advertising Federation

    The logo design for Stone Mountain Meats received a gold award in the 2020 SWVA competition. The American Advertising Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

  • American Advertising Federation

    The brand identity campaign for Living Knot Lumber Company received a Silver ADDY in the 20120 SWVA American Advertising Awards. The campaign included the logo, 3-D embroidered hats, a photography series, invoice design, business cards, and carpenter pencils. The American Advertising Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

  • Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals

    The logo for Living Knot Lumber Company was a Gold Award recipient in the Print Media/Print Creativity/Logo category of the 2019 Hermes Creative Awards competition. Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing, and communication programs.

  • Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals

    The logo for The Barns at Chip Ridge was a Gold Award recipient in the Print Media/Print Creativity/Logo category of the 2018 MarCom Awards competition. MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers.

  • Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals

    “Careers Expo for Youth” PR/Communications Campaign for United Way of Southwest Virginia consisting of signage, video, social media graphics, booklet design, backpack graphic design, and t-shirt design received a Platinum Hermes Creative Award in the Special Event category. Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing, and communication programs.

  • Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals

    “The Operation Tomorrow’s Workforce – The Written Series” for United Way of Southwest Virginia was a Platinum Award recipient in the Print Media/Creative Feature Article Series category of the 2017 MarCom Awards competition. The series was part of the Operation Tomorrow’s Workforce campaign, and was published in the Bristol Herald Courier, Clinch Valley Times, The Castlewood – St. Paul Observer, and The Lebanon News from May through October 2017. A sidequel series was also published in The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee / Virginia from May through October 2017. MarCom’s Platinum Award is presented to those entries judged to be among the most outstanding entries in the competition. MarCom Awards is an international competition that honors excellence in marketing and communication while recognizing the creativity, hard work and generosity of industry professionals.

  • The Business Journal of Tri-Cities TN/VA

    Each year, business and organizations throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia nominate 40 outstanding individuals under the age of 40 to be part of the class of rising stars of the Tri-Cities community. The award, given by The Business Journal of Tri-Cities TN/VA honors the “best and brightest” young professionals in the Tri-Cities. An independent panel chooses the 40 honorees, who join a group that, in the last 24 years, has included future C-suite level executives, successful entrepreneurs, elected officials and a host of other influential community leaders.

  • Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals

    The “Experience Serendipity” portrait series for Serendipity Boutique received a Gold Hermes Creative Award. Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing, and communication programs.

  • American Advertising Federation

    The Loaves & Fishes logo design received a Silver ADDY in the 2016 SWVA American Advertising Awards. The American Advertising Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

  • Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals

    The 2014 Annual Impact Report for Highlands Community Services received a Gold Hermes Creative Award. Hermes Creative Awards honors the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing, and communication programs.

  • American Advertising Federation

    The 2014 Annual Impact Report for Highlands Community Services received a Silver ADDY in the 2015 SWVA American Advertising Awards. The American Advertising Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

  • Virginia Highlands Community College

    The Virginia Highlands Community College Rising Star Alumni Award is designed to recognize Alumni who have enjoyed early career success. Winners are selected by the Association Board each spring and honored at the VHCC Commencement Ceremony in May. To be eligible for this prestigious award, nominees must have earned 24 semester credits from VHCC within the last decade. Additionally, winners will be selected based upon notable achievement in his/her career field, outstanding service to the community and/or VHCC, and inspirational impact.

  • American Advertising Federation

    The website for Highlands Community Services received a Silver ADDY in the 2014 SWVA American Advertising Awards for the HCS website. The American Advertising Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

  • Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals

    The Highlands Community Services Rebrand won a Gold MarCom Award for “Brand Refresh”. Our communication department’s branding efforts included in the winning entry were our logo change (partnering with Coburn Creative) and our internal brand execution (signage, print materials, product, apparel, stationary, website, and internal newsletter). MarCom Awards is an international competition that honors excellence in marketing and communication while recognizing the creativity, hard work and generosity of industry professionals.

  • American Advertising Federation

    My domestic violence awareness poster for Highlands Community Services’ domestic violence task force, Project Jane, received a Gold ADDY in the 2013 SWVA American Advertising Awards. The American Advertising Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

  • Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Photography Contest

    My photograph “Pick Me!” won Best in Show in the 2010 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Photography Contest, as well as First Place in the Altered Image category. It went on to be my best-seller, bringing in thousands of dollars over seven years at 606 State Street Gallery and A Work of Art Gallery & Gifts.

My promises to you

  • Authenticity

    I crave authenticity in all that I do. I’m naturally curious, and I love finding clarity through conversation. I will show up ready to listen through all-weather emotions with an open heart.

  • Professionalism

    My competence, conduct, motivations, standards, and customs are a result of working in professional, corporate-style organizations for the first ten years of my career in marketing.

  • Respect

    I am not perfect, but I try very hard to recognize the individuality and humanity of every person I interact with. I care about what they have to contribute and the weight that they carry.

Follow me on Instagram

If you have Instagram, let’s follow each other: @brianafillers.

 
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Happy birthday to this remarkable soul! I celebrate the man who makes the lives around him better with his inquisitive spirit, his loyal heart, and his unrelenting desire to do the right thing. I celebrate the man who brightens my days with humor tha

I’d love to learn about your local brand.

Schedule a free call with me. I’ll ask some questions to learn where you’re at now, where you’d like to go, and how we can work together to get you there.