The Craft Impact Story
How it all began...
Craft Impact was co-founded in 2012 by Stephen Beach and Traci McMillan Beach, in an effort to create a marketing and communications company that avoided the typical agency pitfalls.
In work with previous companies, both Stephen (sales rep) and Traci (journalist) became frustrated with how expensive and inefficient marketing agencies can be.
Instead, we had 2 things in mind:
- A desire to make a measurable impact on the businesses we were working with
- We wanted to travel and work remotely (this was much easier to do before we had 3 kids)
So we did, and it was awesome. We challenged ourselves and expanded out of our former respective roles as a Bloomberg journalist and a technical sales rep, into consultants for marketing, communications and sales.
From 2012-2015, demand for our services grew, our clients referred us to other clients, and we decided we should probably build a website and print business cards. This is when things got serious (we morphed into a legitimate business)!
Fast forward a decade. Craft Impact has developed into:
- A growth agency offering strategic marketing and compelling communications
- Consulting partners who are focused on creating and executing strategies that align with your business goals
Craft was born out of frustration. We were tired of marketing or communication agencies:
We provide transparency about all rates and project costs upfront.
We teach our clients how to make their own updates and provide them with all logins and source files.
We pride ourselves on consistent communication and responding to our clients ASAP.
We use marketing analytics to track the success of each and every campaign. We show our work and talk through the results, to make sure you understand the impact of your marketing investment.
We explain how SEO and paid ads can fit into an overall strategy that supports your business. These are tactics that could be in the mix, but they are not a silver bullet or quick fix.
Meet the Craft Impact Team
We’re driven, curious, parents (of kids and dogs), quirky, ambitious, helpful, humble and grateful.
Ever heard of the “two beers and a puppy” test?
Long story short, the test evaluates how much you enjoy each other's company and trust one another. Spoiler alert—we’ve tested each other, and everyone passed the test.
Tell me more…
The “two beers and a puppy” test was made famous by Ross McCammon in his book Works Well With Others.
Here’s how it works: Pick a person in your life — a friend, a coworker, whoever — and ask yourself two questions:
- Would I let this person watch my puppy?
- Would I want to have two beers with this person?
via Ross McCammon
As a team, we all agree we can say this about each other—which contributes to our awesome culture and how much fun we have together in-person and virtually.
Our Team
Traci Beach
- The Customer Experience & Change Champion
- Hiker, mover and shaker
- Eats chips and salsa for breakfast
Stephen Beach
- The Growth Hacker. Marketing with a sales background
- God, family, Notre Dame, golf, cold brew, bourbon
- Eats slower than everyone else, fan of goofy t-shirts and craft beer trucker hats
Naledi
- The OG Craft Impact dog (among many other company pooches)
- Big fan of babies (or humans) who share food
- Hates: UPS, Fedex, and USPS
- Loves: sleeping on couches, cuddling 24/7
Boston Cardinal
- The MacGyver of Financial Advisor Transitions and Acquisitions, Platform Consulting
- Top Chef Deephaven
- A pretty good dad
Mary Coughlin
- Mastermind of organizational change communications
- Thinks wine & a beach read are the perfect pairing
- Professional toddler wrangler
Laura Fox
- Aficionado of all things communications
- Knows every line in Forrest Gump
- Snack time connesouir
Kelsey Greene
- Word wizard and media magician adept at creating clarity amidst chaos
- Dot connector and learning designer always thinking about user experience
- Powered by sun, sweets, and sincere connection
Mackenzie Hunt
- The Swiss Army knife of inbound marketing
- Asian food fangirl
- Probably cuddling a dog right now
Faustin Weber
- The Strategist obsessed with visual diagrams and flow-charts
- Appreciates all things data
- Most likely to lose his children hiking in the woods
Carley Newman
- President of the tiny detail committee
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner: charcuterie
- Most likely to live off-grid in a cabin with a goat, garden and bees
Sara Romero
- Organization guru with a knack for spreading positivity
- Master juggler of spirited toddlers and tee times - the ultimate multitasker
- Three loves: family, golf and wine
Traci Beach
Co-Founder & CEO, CommunicationsTraci loves hiking, exploring and learning - the mountains and beach are her happy places. She also loves chasing and constantly being surprised by her three kids - Auggie, Lola, Oakley - and her fur baby Naledi.
Favorite Craft Beer:
Project Dank by La Cumbre Brewing
Stephen Beach
Co-Founder & CEO, Marketing & SalesA sales rep turned inbound marketer, Stephen has a unique perspective on marketing-sales alignment and how it can be applied to drive business success.
His unique modernized approach to marketing and sales is a game changer for clients in all industries. He loves helping firms move beyond cookie cutter content and hand shaking at events, to be more digital and automated without losing personal touch. Stephen is also an expert in all things HubSpot- especially setting up and optimizing HubSpot’s tools to market better and sell more effectively and efficiently.
In 2012, Stephen knew he wanted to create a new kind of marketing agency- one with fresh ideas, personalized support and proven ROI without the big agency prices and overhead.
Stephen continues to be a Notre Dame college football fan despite attending the university during the underwhelming Charlie Weis era and the more recent years of disappointment. He loves golf, craft beer (of course) and traveling with his wife and being a father to his three crazy kiddos - Auggie, Lola and Oakley.
Favorite Craft Beer:
at the moment- Jai Low by Cigar City Brewing
Naledi
Chief Barketing OfficerBoston Cardinal
Financial Services ConsultantIn his former position leading a segment of the recruiting and acquisitions group at Ameriprise Financial, Boston observed more than 1,500 transitions and complex deals. During this time, he was able to learn the necessary steps to ensure successful transitions and perhaps more importantly, avoid the potential pitfalls. He also learned that financial advisors and practices range in their needs and desires, and may find success in different avenues or partnering with different broker dealers. A process-driven guy, Boston has a hyper organized approach to tackling transitions to ensure important items don’t fall through the cracks. Well versed in the broker dealer industry, he can interpret the legal jargon, provide an expert opinion on differences between firms, and guide people to thoughtfully evaluate their options based on their unique goals.
Favorite Craft Beer:
Surly Furious
Mary Coughlin
Marketing & Communications StrategistMary joined Craft Impact in 2015 (back in the day, when she was the only person she knew who worked from home!). She loves the challenge of selecting the right mix of marketing and communication tactics that form a cohesive strategy and enable clients to reach their goals.
Mary has a master’s degree from Ohio State University, but her first love will always be Notre Dame, where she earned her bachelor’s degree.
Mary and her husband live in Pittsburgh with their two daughters. They love spending time outside with friends and family, and they’re always on the lookout for the best kid-friendly breweries.
Favorite Craft Beer:
Allagash White
Laura Fox
Marketing & Communications StrategistLaura deeply believes in the importance of effective communication, seeing it as an essential component for managing relationships with employees, customers, and other stakeholders. She is passionate about partnering with clients to create clear and compelling communications strategies designed to build and enhance relationships.
Laura holds her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Notre Dame. Having held communication and marketing roles at AOL, Millennial Media, and T. Rowe Price, Laura has extensive experience in content, email, product, and brand marketing. A strong collaborator, she is committed to exceeding client expectations and continually providing value.
With her husband, two young daughters, and dog, Laura lives outside of Baltimore, MD. Why be less when you can B’more? She loves spending time with her family, heading to the Delaware beaches any chance she gets, and always enjoys a nice glass of pinot noir (especially La Crema!).
Favorite Craft Beer:
Brewer's Art Resurrection
Kelsey Greene
Project Manager, Content SpecialistBlending curiosity, creativity, and cohesive structures, Kelsey leverages her 10+ years of marketing experience to ensure clients are deeply understood and supported with all of their communication needs and initiatives. As Project Manager, she balances big picture awareness with fine-detail deliverables to continuously cover all components necessary for effective content creation, outreach and campaigns.
Drawing on her expansive background entailing documentary production, website design, curriculum development, and business operations, she quickly identifies compelling stories, key information, and optimal approaches to ensure all messages are comprehensive and aligned with both organizational goals and audience interests.
Originally from Western NY, she left snowy winters behind and now lives in sunny St. Pete, FL where she makes the most of the year-round warm weather with frequent beach trips, local paddle boarding, and weekend farmer’s market outings. As a travel aficionado, she’s visited numerous countries and lived in Portugal, Czech Republic, Chicago, and Rhode Island. Beyond outdoor excursions and international exploration, she enjoys training horses, raising guide dogs, contributing to community sustainability efforts, and performing spoken word poetry.
Mackenzie Hunt
Project Manager, Video GuruA creative at heart, Mackenzie brings fresh ideas and strategic problem solving to every marketing initiative. As Project Manager, she specializes in keeping our clients’ projects on track and making sure everyone is on the same page—always. Mackenzie helps companies bring value to their clients and leads through compelling and timely text- and video-based content, because she believes communication is one of the most powerful skills an individual can have in his/her toolbox.
With a depth of knowledge in HubSpot, she also supports our clients with technical CRM setup and marketing and sales tools training to make sure our clients have all the information they need to succeed and increase revenue.
Mackenzie lives just outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two dogs. Prior to moving to Atlanta, she lived in Asia for two years as a missionary, and she now serves in her local church. In her free time, she and her husband enjoy hiking, road trips, and antique and thrift shopping.
Favorite Craft Beer:
Peach Pear LaCroix
Faustin Weber
Marketing & Communications StrategistFaustin Weber has a dual bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. As a successful and innovative educational leader, Faustin directed large operations, communications, and marketing teams in multiple school settings. He has a passion for analyzing and breaking down complex ideas to be understood by a wide audience, and he enjoys helping others build strategic roadmaps for short-term and long-term success.
After parting ways with the beautiful mountains in Colorado, Faustin moved to Columbus, Ohio where he currently lives with his wife and four children. He loves to hike with his family and spend time outdoors whenever possible. Faustin will also follow the Notre Dame football season closely, with great interest, and he longs for the day that ND can “win the big one.”
Favorite Craft Beer:
Columbus Brewing Company IPA
Carley Newman
Project ManagerCarley is a Project Manager where she focuses on keeping marketing campaigns and deliverables on track to support both agency and client needs. She started her career in the industry focusing on business development, creative campaign development and content creation. Over six years later, she has worked at marketing agencies big and small, on a diverse range of projects for technology, finance, real estate and environmental clients in both the B2B and consumer space.
Carley lives in St. Petersburg, Florida and enjoys the local arts scene, scuba diving with friends and paddle boarding in the nearby natural springs. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Ithaca College.
Favorite Craft Beer:
Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze
Sara Romero
Executive AssistantWith a passion for organization and a knack for anticipating needs, Sara will be there to help things run smoothly and efficiently. Whether it’s scheduling, coordinating, or problem-solving, she brings a positive attitude.
Originally from Bogota, Colombia, she escaped the rain and cold and moved to the sunny Medellin, Colombia where she currently lives with her family.
Sara has a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she earned a scholarship for playing in the women’s golf team. From her days as a student-athlete, she knows the true meaning of multitasking.
Core Values
What Craft Impact stands for:Self-driven hunger
Each individual on our team has self-driven hunger. We work toward our goals, and we don’t stop until we achieve them. It’s about getting things done, not putting in time.
Adaptability
The only constant in life and business is change. It’s not enough for us to keep up with the industry, we are determined to flourish through constant growth in ideas, in our skill sets, and our company.
Balance
In all things. We want to live life to the fullest. We value flexibility in the workplace in order to achieve personal and professional goals. It’s about doing valuable work and feeling good about it at the end of the day.
Curiosity
We are nerds at heart. We love to learn new things and approach projects from different, strategic angles.
Helpfulness
We are helpers for our team, our clients and the broader community. We jump at the opportunity to facilitate change, boost momentum, and lend our expertise or a helping hand. Together we combine our strengths for the greater good, and are committed to a no-drama, no-politics environment.
Authenticity
We are authentic people. We are transparent, open, and honest—both internally and with our clients. We ask questions and we assume good intent in others.
Making an Impact in Our Communities
As a company and a team, we embrace our core value of Helpfulness in our work and personal lives. We value that every team member and each of our clients has unique passions, organizations and causes that are close to heart. We want to support these initiatives and help fuel positive change.
We started the Craft Impact Cares program in 2017 as a way to weave social impact into the core of our business model. We jump at the opportunity to facilitate change by lending a helping hand to our fellow team members, our clients, and the broader community. Together we combine our strengths for the greater good.
Employees are encouraged to take one fully paid day per quarter to volunteer for the charity or non-profit of their choosing. We strive to weave social impact into who we are, who we hire, and our culture. Below is a sampling of some ways we do this. If you have additional ideas of how we can make a bigger impact in our communities, please give us a shout!
Our Team's Impact
Mary
Gun Violence Prevention
In 2022, I started volunteering with a non-partisan group that works to end gun violence by advocating for safe storage of firearms and common sense legislation to keep our children and communities safer. I love that at Craft Impact we’re encouraged to support the causes we are passionate about and are given the time and space to do so. It’s a nice balance to be serving clients and our communities simultaneously.
Laura
I see giving back to the community as a valuable opportunity to gain new perspectives, share ideas, and connect with people. In working to make the world a better place, I’ve found that I’m able to grow as a person and even enrich my own life.
Craft Impact prioritizes giving back to the community – both as a team, and individually. Together with my colleagues, we’ve been able to contribute to cities where some of us live by volunteering our time soup kitchens and food pantries. Personally, I’m thankful that Craft has supported my passion for animals by giving me PTO to walk dogs at my local Humane Society. I’ve also been able to give back to my local parish and parochial school.
Traci
One of the key tenants of our company is being service-oriented. Although we are a remote team - we believe strongly in giving back to our individual communities and to our clients’ communities.
One of my favorite ways we do this is through a team sponsor of multiple families over the holidays. We shop together (even virtually) to provide families with the gifts they all deserve. We partner with the Spring of Tampa Bay, a domestic violence shelter based in Florida, to provide these gifts to survivors and children who are working to rebuild their lives.
Mack
Church volunteer
Giving back to my community is a way to say, “thank you” to a place that I love and call home. It’s about bringing life and vibrancy to communities by using your individual gifts to serve, encourage, and celebrate with the people who live there.
Working at Craft Impact gives me balance between work and life so I can serve my local church.
Stephen
HOPE 5k for Brain Tumor Research
In 2011, my family lost my father to a malignant brain tumor called a glioblastoma. In honor of my dad, and in support of others who are currently battling this disease, we host an annual 5k in Dayton, Ohio. Thanks to support from the Craft Impact team, we've raised $601,000 over 11 years! 100% of proceeds from this 5K event goes directly to Dana Farber Cancer Institute to support Dr. David Reardon’s brain tumor research efforts. To learn more, visit: hopeitsabeachthing.com!
Faustin
As a parent with small children, I've come to better appreciate all of the individuals and organizations that have shaped me throughout my life. Giving back and volunteering my time is one small way to demonstrate my gratitude for all that I have been given.
At Craft Impact, I am not only given the freedom to give back to the community, I am actively encouraged to do so. This has opened up so many doors for me in my local community. Whereas I would have said "no" and found reasons why I can't volunteer in the past, I've instead been able to say "yes," many times over. As a result, my life is more "whole," and I can better thrust myself wholeheartedly into our client service work on a day to day basis
Mary
Gun Violence Prevention
In 2022, I started volunteering with a non-partisan group that works to end gun violence by advocating for safe storage of firearms and common sense legislation to keep our children and communities safer. I love that at Craft Impact we’re encouraged to support the causes we are passionate about and are given the time and space to do so. It’s a nice balance to be serving clients and our communities simultaneously.
Mack
Church volunteer
Giving back to my community is a way to say, “thank you” to a place that I love and call home. It’s about bringing life and vibrancy to communities by using your individual gifts to serve, encourage, and celebrate with the people who live there.
Working at Craft Impact gives me balance between work and life so I can serve my local church.
Laura
I see giving back to the community as a valuable opportunity to gain new perspectives, share ideas, and connect with people. In working to make the world a better place, I’ve found that I’m able to grow as a person and even enrich my own life.
Craft Impact prioritizes giving back to the community – both as a team, and individually. Together with my colleagues, we’ve been able to contribute to cities where some of us live by volunteering our time soup kitchens and food pantries. Personally, I’m thankful that Craft has supported my passion for animals by giving me PTO to walk dogs at my local Humane Society. I’ve also been able to give back to my local parish and parochial school.
Stephen
HOPE 5k for Brain Tumor Research
In 2011, my family lost my father to a malignant brain tumor called a glioblastoma. In honor of my dad, and in support of others who are currently battling this disease, we host an annual 5k in Dayton, Ohio. Thanks to support from the Craft Impact team, we've raised $601,000 over 11 years! 100% of proceeds from this 5K event goes directly to Dana Farber Cancer Institute to support Dr. David Reardon’s brain tumor research efforts. To learn more, visit: hopeitsabeachthing.com!
Traci
One of the key tenants of our company is being service-oriented. Although we are a remote team - we believe strongly in giving back to our individual communities and to our clients’ communities.
One of my favorite ways we do this is through a team sponsor of multiple families over the holidays. We shop together (even virtually) to provide families with the gifts they all deserve. We partner with the Spring of Tampa Bay, a domestic violence shelter based in Florida, to provide these gifts to survivors and children who are working to rebuild their lives.
Faustin
As a parent with small children, I've come to better appreciate all of the individuals and organizations that have shaped me throughout my life. Giving back and volunteering my time is one small way to demonstrate my gratitude for all that I have been given.
At Craft Impact, I am not only given the freedom to give back to the community, I am actively encouraged to do so. This has opened up so many doors for me in my local community. Whereas I would have said "no" and found reasons why I can't volunteer in the past, I've instead been able to say "yes," many times over. As a result, my life is more "whole," and I can better thrust myself wholeheartedly into our client service work on a day to day basis
Charitable Giving
There’s no better gift than being able to spread joy. We do this through employee, partner and client gifts, as well as annual contributions. We know there are so many deserving organizations that are close to heart - so we ask our community who they would like us to give back to in their honor. Here are just a few of the organizations we’ve had the honor to support: