Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I embarked on my career with determination, grit, and perseverance, leading me to seek a college degree that I’m proud to say I’m still utilizing decades later. After graduating from West Virginia University, “Let’s Go Mountaineers,” with a degree in Journalism/Advertising and English Literature, I began my professional journey at a 30,000+ newspaper, The Dominion Post, in the marketing and sales department. There, I held roles as a part-time advertising sales account executive and part-time graphic designer. Through post-graduate fine arts courses and self-taught graphic design, I quickly advanced to full-time graphic design manager within six months.

A few years in, opportunity knocked. I was drawn to a family-owned motocross production company that produced the Loretta Lynn Motocross Series. My role was to revitalize the company’s racing tabloid newspaper, creating a fresh look and introducing cutting-edge industry content. This eventually led to the birth of the national glossy publication, RacerX Magazine, with a growing following and readership.

The West Virginia “small town” experience fueled my drive, so I took off West for a fast-paced ride through many facets of marketing, print production, public relations, and advertising endeavors. By way of Denver, Colorado and a broken-down Volkswagen Golf, I accepted a position as the production manager of The Ten Mile Times, a resort newspaper in Frisco, Colorado. This is where my love for community and all things local truly blossomed. Writing about the vibrant local businesses, restaurants, recreational facilities, and ski resorts ignited a lifelong passion for storytelling.

I soon realized I was onto something bigger—loving my surroundings and connecting with the people who made the area special. My stories never felt like sales pitches, but heartfelt narratives born from passion. With an entrepreneurial spirit, I decided to invest in myself and take my career into my own hands. Since then, every step in my career has been bound by a common thread: my passion for marketing and public relations.

• In Breckenridge, Colorado, I opened and operated the only independent art film house, The Speakeasy Movie Theatre. Baby number one arrived, and I sold the theatre and moved East to Warwick, NY to be near family. The theatre is still thriving!

• Timing is everything. Shortly after moving East, I became the Public Relations Manager at Mountain Creek Resort, for a two-year stint.

• Baby number two shifted my priorities. I embraced freelancing, diving into logo design, content writing, PR outreach, trade show management, and handling marketing and social media initiatives for a family business. Social media was becoming a new frontier, and I knew it held untapped potential.

My professional and personal passions lie in cultivating authentic relationships and storytelling. I’m most fulfilled when I’m elevating brands and highlighting the hard work of others through meaningful marketing and PR initiatives.

Branded845 Marketing and Public Relations is built on a strong foundation of experience, boundless opportunity, and a deep connection to the community. Rooted firmly in the Hudson Valley, I continue to grow with success, happiness, and fulfillment. Isn’t it time we sow your seeds?

How do I spend my “free time”? When I’m not immersed in my work, you can find me exploring the local scene—enjoying eateries, craft beverages, and the local art community. I love boutiques and getting lost in the great outdoors. Yoga is another favorite activity that helps me recharge physically, emotionally, and soulfully, offering the perfect balance to peel me away from work. The community here in the 845 is rich and welcoming, and I’m proud to be part of it. Won’t you join me?

Katy is a multi-talented creative soul who blends graphic design, website design, and yoga with artistic flair. With a solid foundation from Pratt Institute, she has honed her skills in communication design while also embarking on a spiritual journey through yoga, completing a 200-hour teacher training with an additional 50 hours in various styles.

Her yoga practice inspires her art, filling her sketchbook with insights that come to life in her illustrations. Katy is passionate about connecting with kindred spirits, whether through collaborative design projects, building websites, yoga sessions, or meaningful, uplifting conversations. True to her Pisces nature, she brings creativity and empathy to all her endeavors.

Born in late winter of 2018, I joined The 845 as part of the team in August. I found my way to Warwick, NY from Michigan via a devoted chain of fosters who relayed me cross-country to meet my new family, the Emmerichs. My beginnings are not fully known, as I was found as a stray puppy and taken to a shelter that quickly recognized me to be a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and promptly notified the national rescue association, CBRR.

I’m responsible for morale building and security in the office. I’m a Chessie so being a bit overprotective comes with the territory. I’ll bark at the cat, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, deer, fox, knocks at the door, slight movements of the chair. I come fully equipped with an inherent break whistle, often reminding the team that it’s time to get up from their desk for a stretch…or better yet a walk around the property. Or even better, a game of catch or tug of war. The best break, though, is the one where my fur mama gets all of her daily steps in as she chases me when I’m in fast pursuit of deer, ducks, geese, Pinot the cat or the resident blue heron, through the fields and across the stream.

Tensions may run high during the frantic pursuit of me, while I’m playfully pursuing anything, but the pet therapy I offer, dog-cuddles and kisses, seems to make my office mates quickly forget the chase. My favorite pastimes at work are sleeping on my cushy bed and floor-scoring anything that lands at my paws. Sometimes snacks come in disguise, like a stray shoe, plant or office supply. When my boss can’t find her pencils, I usually know what happened to them. Despite my shenanigans, I always think I’m employee-of-the-month because I’m the only one who gets to nosh on treats when anyone visits the office and the only one who is allowed to lie down on my bed and sleep at work.

February, 2018 – June 9, 2024 RIP