We are an experienced team of senior strategists, writers, designers, and project managers committed to our work, our clients, and each other. We partner seamlessly with qualified and long-standing experts in our key focus areas, and in digital communication, social marketing, and public relations work.
Values-Driven
Several years ago we began using the term values-driven strategic communication to describe what we do at M Creative. We put it on our business cards, etched it on the glass that fronts our Trade Street office in downtown Winston-Salem, and incorporated it into presentations to prospective clients. It was language that just felt right to our clients in describing both them and us.
Since 1996, we have helped our values-driven clients raise over a billion dollars in capital campaign gifts.
So what do we mean by Values-Driven Strategic Communication?
We believe it means understanding and clearly articulating what truly makes your organization different, assessing the degree to which your values contribute to that difference, aligning the values of your organization with the values of your key constituents, and synthesizing and translating that information into persuasive narratives and creative design that give internal constituents the tools they need to talk confidently about the organization and external stakeholders the emotional connection they need to wholeheartedly engage.
We believe this a critical difference worth understanding when you’re looking for a communication partner.
We are a culturally-rich organization and work hard to cultivate a team with voices, ideas, and lived experiences that align with our values and the communities we serve.
We are a culturally-rich organization and work hard to cultivate a team with voices, ideas, and lived experiences that align with our values and the communities we serve.
Just “B”-ing Ourselves.
M Creative is a certified B Corporation, a designation granted by B Lab to organizations that believe in the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Certification requires a serious commitment to higher standards of transparency, accountability, and performance to all stakeholders, including employees, clients, and vendor partners. It also means that we are diligent in operating our firm in a sustainable way. M Creative is the only Certified B Corporation in the Triad. We invite you to join the movement.
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Forrest Causby
Partner
Forrest is a collaborative, thoughtful, and dedicated designer who believes in design’s power to transform social systems, build equity, and heal divides. He joined M Creative in 2016 and, alongside Iris Cole, acquired the firm in 2024. Forrest is a founding board member of the Community Design Studio of Winston-Salem and the Triad NC chapter of AIGA, Forrest was named one of the Triad’s 40 Leaders Under Forty in 2017. His design work has been recognized by PRINT Magazine, PRINT + HOW Books, TheDieline.com, PICA, the Healthcare Advertising Awards, and the Aster Awards. He received his Bachelor of Graphic Design degree from the College of Design at NC State University.
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Iris Cole
Partner
Iris is a strategic, bilingual leader with an international profile and more than 20 years of experience as an executive and sustainability consultant across the public and private sectors. Iris joined M Creative in 2019 and, alongside Forrest Causby, acquired the firm in 2024. A social entrepreneur, she founded She Raises the Bar, a CSR and sustainability consultancy, and later launched Do Good Artist. Iris serves as Co-President of the REACH Women’s Network and Board Chair of Senior Services, and serves on the boards of Piedmont Federal Savings Bank, Goodwill Industries of NWNC, the Education Foundation, Leadership Winston-Salem, Flywheel Foundation, and Crossnore Communities for Children.
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Stephanie Bailey
Sr. Designer
With 13 years of experience and a passion for storytelling through design, she has worked with clients across higher education and the nonprofit sector, using design to break barriers, advance equity, and promote positive change. Originally from Michigan, Stephanie has called Winston-Salem home for 12 years, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and plenty of furry friends. When she’s not designing, you can find her buried in a book or cheering on her two favorite hockey players at the rink.
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Jon Hyland
Art Director
Jon joined M Creative in 2006 after graduating with a Master’s degree from the College of Design at North Carolina State University. Although Jon hails from the Bull City of Durham, he has taught English in Japan, sold cheese in Rhode Island, shoveled snow in Colorado, and cycled from Nice to Madrid—all the while perfecting his skills as a graphic designer. He has also worked for an ad agency in Boston, and freelanced in Hillsborough, NC. Jon studied painting in college, and adds illustrative and identity development capabilities to the team. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Salem College teaching Introduction to Graphic Design to undergraduates. Jon enjoys rigorous exercise, although we have yet to see him so much as walk to work from his nearby Washington Park home.
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Elizabeth Kidder
Account Strategist
Liz joined M Creative in the summer of 2024. Her philanthropic passions center on improving the wellbeing of children through abuse prevention, healthcare access, and early childhood education. Before joining M Creative, Liz served as Marketing Communications Specialist for The Parenting PATH, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and supporting families. She previously taught at Ardmore Methodist Through the Week School, focusing on early childhood development and assessment. A graduate of Ohio University in Visual Communications, Liz began her career in the Boston area with Acom Healthcare, developing strategic communications for biotech, pharmaceutical, and healthcare organizations.
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Alandria Nixon
Digital Media Specialist
Alandria joined the M Creative team in 2022 after meeting Mary on a plane ride from GSO to NYC. A recent graduate from North Carolina A&T State University with a BA in Psychology, she shared with Mary all her hopes and dreams in a shared instance neither of them could have possibly imagined. Alandria’s knowledge of social and cognitive psychology aid in the discussion and implementation of strategic growth opportunities for the clients we serve. She previously worked as a recreation counselor for children ages 3–5 in High Point, NC. Alandria caters to her succulents; she crafts door wreaths, homemade headboards, and various DIY projects; she spends time with her friends and family; and she draws and captures precious moments of her experience.
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Stephany Silva
Designer
Stephany brings bold, purposeful creativity to M Creative as a Graphic Designer. Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and proudly bilingual, she blends cultural insight with a commitment to social justice. Her work is guided by a passion for women’s rights, children’s advocacy, and racial equity. Stephany graduated summa cum laude from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Design in Digital Multimedia Design and a certificate in Digital Arts, she also holds bachelor’s degrees in Social Work and Communication Studies from UNC Greensboro. Outside of work she dances in the kitchen, tends her wildflower garden, and finds inspiration in the everyday magic created by her two brilliant daughters.
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Miyako Woodhouse
Sr. Project Manager
Miyako Woodhouse is an avid sports fan and self-proclaimed Andy Griffith junkie, who looks forward to attending Mayberry Days annually. Miyako has spent most of her career with the Center for Creative Leadership. During her tenure, served as Sr Project Manager managing Marketing Communications strategies, Global Sales Events, and US Government projects. She has worked with the esteemed Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation International Program for Public Health, Colorado Health Foundation, and Margaret Waddington School Principals Institute. From time to time you may also hear a loud and proud “Aggie Pride” from Miyako, who graduated from NC A&T State University with a BS degree in Marketing.
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Stephen Young
Creative Writer
Stephen Young writes. Letters to his grandmother, apologies to his wife, silly songs for his son. He’s written travel diaries from Paris, Venezuela, and the broken-down lane of the New Jersey Turnpike. As far as unpublished novels, yes, of course, and he forgives anyone inclined to hear this and groan. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, Stephen hauled lobster traps off the coast of Maine, tilled manure into various North Carolina gardens, taught a few minutes of high school English, and once nearly died (yes, really) in a disastrous experimental drug study. He now feels fortunate to have less troublesome employment finding and arranging the right words for MCreative projects.
Forrest Causby
Partner
Forrest is a collaborative, thoughtful, and dedicated designer who believes in design’s power to transform social systems, build equity, and heal divides. He joined M Creative in 2016 and, alongside Iris Cole, acquired the firm in 2024. Forrest is a founding board member of the Community Design Studio of Winston-Salem and the Triad NC chapter of AIGA, Forrest was named one of the Triad’s 40 Leaders Under Forty in 2017. His design work has been recognized by PRINT Magazine, PRINT + HOW Books, TheDieline.com, PICA, the Healthcare Advertising Awards, and the Aster Awards. He received his Bachelor of Graphic Design degree from the College of Design at NC State University.
Iris Cole
Partner
Iris is a strategic, bilingual leader with an international profile and more than 20 years of experience as an executive and sustainability consultant across the public and private sectors. Iris joined M Creative in 2019 and, alongside Forrest Causby, acquired the firm in 2024. A social entrepreneur, she founded She Raises the Bar, a CSR and sustainability consultancy, and later launched Do Good Artist. Iris serves as Co-President of the REACH Women’s Network and Board Chair of Senior Services, and serves on the boards of Piedmont Federal Savings Bank, Goodwill Industries of NWNC, the Education Foundation, Leadership Winston-Salem, Flywheel Foundation, and Crossnore Communities for Children.
Stephanie Bailey
Sr. Designer
With 13 years of experience and a passion for storytelling through design, she has worked with clients across higher education and the nonprofit sector, using design to break barriers, advance equity, and promote positive change. Originally from Michigan, Stephanie has called Winston-Salem home for 12 years, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and plenty of furry friends. When she’s not designing, you can find her buried in a book or cheering on her two favorite hockey players at the rink.
Jon Hyland
Art Director
Jon joined M Creative in 2006 after graduating with a Master’s degree from the College of Design at North Carolina State University. Although Jon hails from the Bull City of Durham, he has taught English in Japan, sold cheese in Rhode Island, shoveled snow in Colorado, and cycled from Nice to Madrid—all the while perfecting his skills as a graphic designer. He has also worked for an ad agency in Boston, and freelanced in Hillsborough, NC. Jon studied painting in college, and adds illustrative and identity development capabilities to the team. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Salem College teaching Introduction to Graphic Design to undergraduates. Jon enjoys rigorous exercise, although we have yet to see him so much as walk to work from his nearby Washington Park home.
Elizabeth Kidder
Account Strategist
Liz joined M Creative in the summer of 2024. Her philanthropic passions center on improving the wellbeing of children through abuse prevention, healthcare access, and early childhood education. Before joining M Creative, Liz served as Marketing Communications Specialist for The Parenting PATH, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and supporting families. She previously taught at Ardmore Methodist Through the Week School, focusing on early childhood development and assessment. A graduate of Ohio University in Visual Communications, Liz began her career in the Boston area with Acom Healthcare, developing strategic communications for biotech, pharmaceutical, and healthcare organizations.
Alandria Nixon
Digital Media Specialist
Alandria joined the M Creative team in 2022 after meeting Mary on a plane ride from GSO to NYC. A recent graduate from North Carolina A&T State University with a BA in Psychology, she shared with Mary all her hopes and dreams in a shared instance neither of them could have possibly imagined. Alandria’s knowledge of social and cognitive psychology aid in the discussion and implementation of strategic growth opportunities for the clients we serve. She previously worked as a recreation counselor for children ages 3–5 in High Point, NC. Alandria caters to her succulents; she crafts door wreaths, homemade headboards, and various DIY projects; she spends time with her friends and family; and she draws and captures precious moments of her experience.
Stephany Silva
Designer
Stephany brings bold, purposeful creativity to M Creative as a Graphic Designer. Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and proudly bilingual, she blends cultural insight with a commitment to social justice. Her work is guided by a passion for women’s rights, children’s advocacy, and racial equity. Stephany graduated summa cum laude from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Design in Digital Multimedia Design and a certificate in Digital Arts, she also holds bachelor’s degrees in Social Work and Communication Studies from UNC Greensboro. Outside of work she dances in the kitchen, tends her wildflower garden, and finds inspiration in the everyday magic created by her two brilliant daughters.
Miyako Woodhouse
Sr. Project Manager
Miyako Woodhouse is an avid sports fan and self-proclaimed Andy Griffith junkie, who looks forward to attending Mayberry Days annually. Miyako has spent most of her career with the Center for Creative Leadership. During her tenure, served as Sr Project Manager managing Marketing Communications strategies, Global Sales Events, and US Government projects. She has worked with the esteemed Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation International Program for Public Health, Colorado Health Foundation, and Margaret Waddington School Principals Institute. From time to time you may also hear a loud and proud “Aggie Pride” from Miyako, who graduated from NC A&T State University with a BS degree in Marketing.
Stephen Young
Creative Writer
Stephen Young writes. Letters to his grandmother, apologies to his wife, silly songs for his son. He’s written travel diaries from Paris, Venezuela, and the broken-down lane of the New Jersey Turnpike. As far as unpublished novels, yes, of course, and he forgives anyone inclined to hear this and groan. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, Stephen hauled lobster traps off the coast of Maine, tilled manure into various North Carolina gardens, taught a few minutes of high school English, and once nearly died (yes, really) in a disastrous experimental drug study. He now feels fortunate to have less troublesome employment finding and arranging the right words for MCreative projects.
At M Creative, our values and beliefs require that we remain ambitiously small and intentional about maintaining a healthy work-life balance for our employees; nurture each other and recognize that each person makes a difference and should be treated with dignity and respect; work with courage, integrity, and honesty as we seek clients and partners who share our values; strive to provide a work environment where we welcome autonomy, freedom, and flexibility; and measure our performance not by how hard we work, but rather by the results we achieve.
some of our clients
Advocacy and Communication Solutions
ALMA
American Hebrew Academy
Arbor Acres
Art & Science Group
Ashe Services for Aging
Baebies
Bell House
Black Philanthropy Initiative
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
Bon Secours Richmond Foundation
Catawba Regional Hospice
Center for Creative Leadership
City of Winston-Salem
Columbia College
Community Education Collaborative
Computer Credit, Inc
Cone Health
Duke University School of Law
ECHO Network
Forest History Society
Gateway YWCA
Heifer International USA
Health First Foundation
Hospice & Palliative CareCenter
Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
Los Encinos School
Moravian Ministries Foundation
Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
New River Conservancy
North Carolina Arts Council
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
NC Department of Cultural Resources
North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development
Oak Forest Health & Rehabilitation
Old Salem Museums & Gardens
Randolph Hospital
Ravenscroft
Ronald McDonald House
Saint Mary’s School
Salem Academy and College
Sanstone Health and Rehabilitation
SECU Family House
SEM Works
Senior Services
Sheltering Arms Foundation
StoryLine—a project of the ECHO network
The Charlton School
The Forsyth Promise
The Morehead Foundation
The University of North Carolina system
The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts
University of North Carolina School of Law
Wake Forest Baptist Health
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University Divinity School
Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University Foundation
YMCA of Northwest North Carolina