Our Team
Melissa James
Owner
Melissa James loves communication in its many forms—from visual to written to performed, and from news to advertising to blogging. She graduated with distinction from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2001 with degrees in journalism & mass communication, and Spanish. She also went on to earn a certificate in nonprofit management from TCC's Academy for Nonprofit Excellence.
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Melissa got her start as a newspaper copy editor in Texas and Washington state, before returning to her first love, advertising, as a marketing copywriter at a jewelry supplies company. She then served as marketing director at an early childhood nonprofit for seven years, and again at a nonprofit consulting firm (The Curtis Group) for four years while also running a side marketing business. Finally, her freelance work on the side had so many clients, it was time to set out on her own in 2018. She was named to both the Hampton Roads region's Top Forty Under 40 (2018) and Women in Business Achievement (2022).
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Melissa lives in York County, VA, with her husband, teen son and daughter, six rescue cats, and sometimes an exchange student. She spends much of her free time singing and playing handbells at church, leading a neighborhood book club, and volunteering with children's and community causes.
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Melissa Davidson
Marketing & Business Specialist
Melissa's diverse background, coupled with her strong mind for planning and analysis, gives her a unique advantage in identifying business challenges and creating growth plans, marketing initiatives, and targeted programs to address them. She brings extensive experience in marketing and professional writing, having led numerous campaigns, crafted strategic messaging, and developed content across platforms to support business and community initiatives.
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Most recently, she was Assistant Director of Economic Development for York County, Virginia, where she served for nearly 20 years. Prior to that, she headed up business development and marketing for Collier Aerospace, a software firm specializing in structural sizing and optimization.
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Melissa is active in the community, serving on leadership teams, boards, and committees for various organizations. In 2019, Melissa was named to the "Top 15 Under 50" by the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce. She graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2001 and earned her master's degree in public administration from Troy University in 2007. Today, she lives in York County, VA, with her husband Chris and their three children.
Jenny Pattison
Graphic Designer
A creative and results-driven graphic design specialist, Jenny has nearly 25 years' experience across agency, in-house, and freelance roles. She is skilled in crafting impactful visual solutions for print and digital media, with a strong focus on brand consistency and creative strategy. Her clear communication, time management and attention to detail make Jenny a natural fit to the team at Creative Copy & Design Known for in fast-paced environments.
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She herself has a woman- and disability-owned design studio, delivering inclusive and effective design for a diverse client base. Jenny graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She was previous an in-house designer for Ferguson Enterprises, has been part of the York County Chamber of Commerce since 2010 and has served on its board.
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In her free time, Jenny enjoys starting various art projects (and even finishing some!), spending time with friends at festivals, trying new restaurants, game nights and events around the area.
Brandy Centolanza
Copywriter
Brandy Centolanza graduated from Penn State in 2000 with a degree in English.
She is a freelance journalist who has been covering the Greater Williamsburg area and beyond since 2001. Her experience includes editing, blog writing, and
reporting on education, parenting, health, travel, and community issues.
She co-founded and served as editor of Peninsula Chronicle, a short-lived online business publication that piqued her interest in business and entrepreneurship. Now she uses her strong community connections to promote businesses large and small in the region as a writer. She recently won a 2025 Virginia Press Association award for her business writing for Virginia Gazette.
Brandy lives in James City County, VA, where she and her husband are mentally preparing to become empty nesters.