Bold Brands Win.
Madison+Main is a brand communications agency. Our humble beginnings take us back to 2005 with just two employees, and today we’re 24-people strong. Based in the “Capital Of Creativity” Richmond, Virginia, our agency provides creative solutions for a wide variety of clients throughout Virginia and the world. Twenty years ago, we had one mission; bring Madison Avenue ideas to Main Street companies. We strive to do that everyday with creative brand, marketing, and PR solutions.
The Madison+Main-iacs
We’re always looking for bright, talented team members. If you’re interested in a career at M+M, we want to chat. If you’re hungry for knowledge and want an internship, this is the place.
Dave Saunders
Founder & Chief Idea OfficerBio:
Simply put, agency Founder and Chief Idea Officer Dave runs the show. He’s a nationally recognized brand and marketing expert who frequently speaks to businesses and civic organizations about the power of social media, inbound marketing, and why “Bold Brands Win.” In other words, he’s a good guy to have on your side. Dave brings 27+ years of marketing experience to the table and approaches each new client relationship with unbridled enthusiasm and an uncanny knack for creative problem solving.
Three fun facts:
- Former managing director at Hal Riney & Partners
- 2009 co-finalist for U.S. SBA’s Business Person of the Year award
- In 1998, he won $4,800 on Wheel of Fortune
Molly Whitfield
President & Chief Operating OfficerBio:
Molly makes sure all the trains run on time — and in the right direction. A caring, creative operations pro and strategist, her work behind the scenes keeps our agency on task and prepared to exceed client expectations. As President, COO, and Madison+Main’s longest-tenured staffer, Molly executes staffing plans, manages our finances, and runs the day-to-day operations of our agency. In her spare time, she stays busy with three of the cutest little girls – Emmy, Claire, and Georgia – that you’ve ever seen, and takes care of her hero, and ours, 82nd Army Brigade Company Commander, Lee Whitfield.
Three fun facts:
- Three Fun Facts About Molly: Founded SproutLaunch.com, a website solely dedicated to rewarding people who do good deeds.
- She’s a member of Google’s Women Techmakers program.
- Created and launched the “Confessed Secrets” Alexa Skill in 2018.
Leanne Pillow
Vice PresidentBio:
Leanne is our super sweet and fun-loving Vice President. She’s a master-planner and lifetime smile-o-holic. Leanne joined Madison+Main in 2017 as a rockstar Account Manager after gaining experience at San Francisco-based H&L Partners and in RVA as Marketing Director of The Joel Bieber Firm. Today, she lures in new clients using her grace and charm while simultaneously maintaining the most overly organized inbox in the history of email. Trust us, you will be a better person after talking to Leanne for five minutes.
Three fun facts:
- Leanne is passionate about cancer research and volunteers with the Massey Cancer Center to raise money for awareness and studies.
- She doesn’t know how or why she learned it, but she can sing the ABC’s backwards flawlessly. Call it a party trick.
- Leanne loves making new friends – especially on LinkedIn where she has almost 2,000 of them. Join the club!
Mollie Banks
Director of Human ResourcesBio:
The last thing we needed at Madison+Main was another Molly, but Mollie B (with an ie, please), has been the perfect addition to our crazy crew. Mollie is a multi-talented Jill-of-all-trades who helps keep our team in a great headspace, with fewer headaches. Mollie has an adventurous and outgoing son, named Ollie. #ItRhymes She also takes care of a young-at-heart boy — her husband, Jeff. She has been a true crime junkie for years; tv shows, books, podcasts, and “field experimentation.” Her fascination with the criminal mind makes her the perfect fit to handle HR for the Madison+Main-iacs.
Three fun facts:
- Mollie once ran into Whoopi Goldberg on a New York City street. Literally.
- She once found a dead body in her basement. #WasntMe
- Read number two, again. Seriously.
Carissa Ghaffari
Creative DirectorBio:
Carissa is an experienced Creative Director with a demonstrated work history in the marketing and advertising industry. She also changes her hair color based on the outfit she’s wearing. After receiving her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was active in the school’s AIGA chapter, VCU Design Center, and VCU Da Vinci Center, Carissa went on to serve as a Graphic Designer and Art Director for Free Agents Marketing before joining M+M.
Three fun facts:
- Her great-grandfather invented the automatic bowling alley pinsetter and her grandfather invented the automated ball return.
- She’s an awesome mom to baby Donovan and wife to adult Mike.
- Hardcore Harry Potter fan (Team Hufflepuff all the way)
Derek Fair
Senior Copywriting ManagerBio:
Life isn’t always fair, and Senior Copywriting Manager Derek Fair knows this. It’s hard coming up with new puns every day about your last name, but Derek manages to bring a smile to everyone, and our clients with punny, self-deprecating one-liners. Derek rose above the crowd of interns in 2015 with his quick wit and A-rated ad copy, and now writes all of M+M’s digital copy, from banner ads to websites.
Prior to joining the team, Derek worked at Complex Magazine & Capital One – where he made fun of the “what’s in your wallet?” campaign daily. His answer; Not enough.
Soooooo, he joined Madison+Main where his talents are truly appreciated. This former VCU Mass Comm “word nerd” gave us three adjectives to describe himself; obsequious, pertinacious and imperturbable.
Three fun facts:
- Derek once played Jenga against Riff Raff…and lost.
- He goes to bars and pretends he’s “Teen Mom” star Taylor McKinney.
- At age 7, a bee stung him playing soccer and he stripped his clothes off at midfield so he could finish the match.
Lauren McKinney
CopywriterBio:
That’s right – it’s Lauren, our copywriter and proofreader! After a background in special education she made the eventual jump to PR through freelance and then joined Madison+Main’s word nerds.
When she’s not crafting compelling narratives, she indulges in her love of ambling in nature, gettin’ down on the dance floor, and honing different accents.
Capable of eating a frankly alarming amount of pesto pasta, Lauren is also craving answers – harboring curiosity about the overlap of the American cave system and the mysterious disappearances associated with it.
If you see her in the wild or on a Zoom, ask about the Infamous Treadmill Incident – if you dare.
Three fun facts:
- Adopted by her parents, but refers to it as being “bought off the internet.”
- Her 12-year old corgi goes on hikes with her, in a backpack!
- Once met Andrew Garfield (yep, Spiderman himself) in a cafe in Lynchburg.
Robyn Quarles
CopywriterBio:
Just like Alexis Rose from Schitt’s Creek, Robyn has a knack for disappearing to random countries, leaving her family in suspense until the last eleventh hour. Her superpower of choice? Teleportation, often leading her to the charming streets of Nice, France.
During her leisure time, you’ll find Robyn delving into new pursuits like Barre, embarking on scenic hikes with her husband, Anton, and reveling in the magic of music – from a Mumford show at Bonnaroo to seeing Hozier on tour. And if you run into her, quiz her on her knowledge of cults — there’s a 98% chance she watched the doc!
Three fun facts:
- Once went to Kings Dominion with WWE’s Mankind.
- Dreams of building a home/pot farm/animal rescue on 50+ acres in Bath County.
- Attended Stevie Nick’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame presented by adored artist, Harry Styles!
AJ Stuit
Senior Graphic DesignerBio:
Born and raised in NOVA (iykyk), we like to think AJ got to Richmond as fast as she could. These days, as a proud VCU School of the Arts grad, AJ spends her time outside of the office painting, embroidering, and rewatching any and all Mike Flanagan’s masterful shows (Hill House, her beloved). She’s also gone semi-pro with pet care, and both plays music and goes to see her favorite acts–looking at you, Noah Kahan!
Despite her rich Italian heritage, you can find AJ scarfing Asian foods of all kinds, sushi especially, all while making content for our social media (even though she doesn’t really have any of her own accounts left). Lastly, those with LED headlights, just know you’re on notice. It’s her ultimate pet peeve.
Three fun facts:
- Even though she knew how to swim before she could walk, you won’t find AJ in the ocean come summertime (because there are “too many creepy unknown things down there“).
- AJ cries whenever she enjoys live music – so consistently that she’s a VIP in a group chat named “Crying at the Clerb”.
- Our girl eats pineapple on pizza, but draws the line at ham.
Jenna Farley
Senior Graphic DesignerBio:
Jenna’s a superfan of all things Japanese; hibachi, anime, and fashion. This VCU grad interned for two semesters before joining the M+M staff in 2019. Born in Portsmouth to two proud naval aviators, she set sail on a different path – making artistic waves using popsicle sticks and later mastering KidPix to create her first digital art. Now you can find her making gorgeous work for our clients, rewatching Bridgerton as frequently as possible, or enjoying a pastry and coffee with her beautiful cat, Navy Bean, nearby.
Three fun facts:
- Once locked herself out of her car on the Jamestown Ferry, leading to a race between AAA and her dad to get to her the quickest.
- Logged 17.5 military flight hours before she was born.
- She’s taken dance lessons and performed for more than 25 years.
Elizabeth Newport
Graphic DesignerBio:
Elizabeth joins Madison+Main with over eight years of design experience, from graphic to interior! A WVU grad, she also achieved a minor in sculpture! Born and raised in Ashburn, Virginia, this multi-hypenate creative brings a sharp eye for detail and a deep appreciation for beautifully crafted visuals. When she’s not designing, you’ll find our very own “Lo-Fi Girl”, crocheting, reading, or cheering on her Survivor bracket picks with her boyfriend Lucas and their cat, Dali. It’s not all chilling indoors – from a delicious night out at The Roosevelt in Church Hill or a casual bev at Poe’s Pub, Elizabeth’s got impeccable taste in Richmond date night spots. If she wasn’t making gorgeous visual marketing here at M+M (though we’re thrilled she’s here with us), she’d hop a plane and chase design inspiration across the globe. So pop on Alabama Shakes’ Boys and Girls, and remember your turn signal to get on her good side!
Three fun facts:
- Elizabeth can solve the Rubik’s Cube.
- She’s also a UK citizen, despite the fact that she’s never been there.
- Elizabeth is able to start one-match campfires (we’re definitely keeping her around for the apocalypse).
Allison Nida
Account DirectorBio:
Listening has always come easy to Account Director Allison Nida. As an infant she was a late talker, preferring to listen a lot until she began speaking as a terrible two. Clients appreciate her thoughtfulness and straightforward style (her BFF Bridget calls her ‘blunt’), and colleagues notice that she’s self-motivated, and can even get a procrastinator to move quickly.
A Christopher Newport University alum, she edited the school newspaper, “The Captains Log,” writing about everything except sports. After stints at Commonwealth Architects and Lockwood Broadcast Group, Allison decided she wanted to be a Madison+Main-iac. Crazy, right?
Three fun facts:
- Allison can quote almost every episode of Seinfeld.
- She’s passionate about food. Seriously, check out @CookTheNidaWay on Instagram.
- She owns a mini potbelly pig named Bentley.
Amanda Anderson
Account ManagerBio:
Amanda Anderson is all about alliteration — which could explain why her favorite Richmond restaurant is Fighting Fish. Deathly afraid of the deep sea, it’s safe to say you won’t find her at the bottom of anything…except maybe a bag of Funyuns. As a proud third-generation Hokie, Amanda learned a lot in Blacksburg, but most importantly, that a perfect marketing plan often starts with a perfectly organized Unbound Planner. No, really. She pre-orders these three months in advance. When she’s not knitting new sweaters, Amanda is known for hitting the bars, whether it’s teaching a class at City Barre or sipping at Helen’s.
Three fun facts:
- Amanda once bought a fake ID with cryptocurrency in college, but never used it.
- She’s currently in her Reputation era — seriously, she’s in the top .01% of Taylor Swift listeners on Spotify.
- The only time Amanda skipped school was to attend Wegmans grand opening. It was A+.
Leigh Ann Kiebler
Account ManagerBio:
A true Kentuckian, Kiebs’ glass is always half full — unless there’s some Woodford Reserve in it. Aside from keeping clients happy and roping the Accounts team into watching Yellowstone, Leigh Ann enjoys golfing with her family at The Highlands, devouring crab cakes from Frank’s Restaurant in Pawleys Island, and cheering on the Cincinnati Bengals (even though she married into Steeler Nation). Fashionable in every sense of the word, she tends to *horse* kick things up a notch every May for her annual Derby party. After all, we agree that two-minute races certainly call for two weeks of partying, right?
Three fun facts:
- She once ruled the skies as a flight attendant until she decided to land in advertising.
- Kiebs has never turned down an invite for an espresso martini—and never will.
- Leigh Ann doesn’t “vacation” in March, she migrates to Florida for MLB Spring Training.
Anne Bowers
Account ExecutiveBio:
A proud Hokie, Anne named her cats after Virginia Tech football stars – Bucky and Birdie, the real MVPs. Hailing from Raleigh, NC, Anne’s idea of a wild time is binge-watching the Great British Baking Show, dominating in Mario Kart as Baby Daisy, and sweating it out at Orange Theory.
Much like a giraffe (her favorite zoo animal), she has plenty of patience. But Anne’s kryptonite? Doing dishes. If avoiding that was an Olympic sport, she’d be a gold medalist. If you’re not in love with her yet, it doesn’t matter – because Kevin Jonas pointed at her mid-concert and she’s been adorned in Twitter fame.
Three fun facts:
- Anne beautifies brides as a side gig with her sister-in-law.
- She has an unhealthy obsession with the TV show Friends and Diet Dr. Pepper.
- Anne plays beer league beach volleyball with her dad. #yeastmode
Ava Coles
Account ExecutiveBio:
Meet Ava Coles, Account Executive at Madison+Main. We’re so excited to have her on our accounts team after she’s worked unique jobs from Wyoming to New York. When she’s not biking Richmond’s trails or crooning with her honky-tonk goof rock band, Bucko, you’ll find her savoring mornings with Lamplighter coffee and brekky burritos, unraveling mysteries like UFO crashes, or visiting local treasure Scuffletown Park.
Ava’s perfect day? “Beaster” – her annual springtime celebration of friendship and fun. With a love for Arrested Development and a healthy fear of mice, we trust her judgment. Follow her band at @Bucko.RVA and catch her cooking up campaigns and more for our clients!
Three fun facts:
- She has survived a hot air balloon crash!
- She saw the Stranger Things cast walking around in the East Village once.
- She grew up off the grid with no cell, a/c, or wifi – but near LOTS of bears – in Boonesville, VA.
Laura Hunt
Digital Marketing ManagerBio:
Although she wishes she was an actual genie in a bottle, Laura makes digital marketing wishes come true every day. When she’s not waking up 90 minutes early in the morning to watch 90 Day Fiance, Laura is planning, executing, and analyzing online trends. Laura’s everyday must-haves include coffee, Elote chips from Trader Joe’s, and time with her cat, Kitten Pants. An avid cleaner, Laura is originally from Connecticut but has loved Richmond ever since she relocated! Fearless cold-caller and expert presenter, Laura was “Born To Run” marketing campaigns (just like her favorite singer Bruce Springsteen).
Three fun facts:
- Laura orders Japanese takeout as often as she can. She believes she should, sushi does.
- She has a deep appreciation for flickering flameless candles and literally lights up when she sees them.
- Laura met her husband at Starbucks. A latte love later, they’re happily married with two kids. (His name is Jared, but he went to Kays.)
Kristen Baum
Digital Marketing ManagerBio:
A proud mother of two and marathon runner, Kristen knows how to make digital marketing look easy. A proud University of Lynchburg grad (go Hornets), Kristen finds inspiration in bold brands and her two daughters. When she’s not perfecting her garlic bread recipe, Kristen is raising money and awareness for her family’s foundation — Clara Inspired. In honor of her special needs daughter, Clara, the foundation works to help cure an extremely rare genetic condition. Encouraged by her daughter’s zest for life, Kristen is ready to tackle whatever you throw her way…just as long as it happens in the afternoon. She may be a lot of things, but a morning person, she is not.
Three fun facts:
- Kristen has an intense fear of bugs. She crossed “Be a Contestant on Fear Factor” off her To-Do list a while ago.
- On her daily runs, she listens to true crime podcasts. Apparently, they motivate her to “Keep moving.”
- The thing Kristen rates 10/10? Wine (and we don’t blame her).
Find our murals
We couldn’t think of a more RVA way to do our headshots than taking advantage of the beautifully unique Richmond murals. Browse the map to find out more about each mural and where to find them!
Become a Main-iac!
We’re always looking for bright, talented team members. If you’re interested in a career at M+M, we want to chat. If you’re hungry for knowledge and want an internship, this is the place.