Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Palmer.
Hi Maggie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve spent more than 20 years working in communications, and in many ways, it feels like the career found me long before I realized I was building one. I started out fascinated by the way stories shape perception—how the right message, shared at the right time, can create connection, spark action, or even change someone’s mind. That fascination turned into a career in public relations, marketing, social media, copywriting, SEO/SEM, and community relations. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping brands and leaders find their voice and earn meaningful visibility, from local spotlights to national features in outlets like *USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter,* NPR, and more.
I’ve always been a storyteller at heart, so writing has been a natural thread running through everything I do. I grew up outside of Youngstown, Ohio, then moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Ohio University with a degree in Communications. I’m a published author and have written for publications in Ohio, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. I even had the opportunity to produce television shows for the National Geographic Channel—an experience that pushed me creatively and expanded the way I think about narrative and human connection.
More recently, my professional path has taken a deeply personal turn. Wellness has always been important to me, but it grew into something I wanted to pursue not just for myself, but as a way of supporting others. That led me to open Reiki Hudson in downtown Hudson, Ohio, where I offer Reiki and energy-based healing services. I’m also in the final stages of earning my medical license in therapeutic massage and will begin offering massage treatments at Reiki Hudson in early 2026.
I still lead MKP Creative and love the communications work I do—but expanding into health and wellness feels like the natural next chapter. It’s a way for me to blend everything I’ve learned about human connection, empathy, communication, and care into a new type of service. My career has never been linear, but it’s always been guided by the same intention: to help people feel seen, supported, and empowered—whether that’s through storytelling, strategy, or healing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not been a smooth road—but I’m grateful for every twist and bump in the road, because they shaped who I am and how I work today.
When I first moved to Los Angeles, I had $500 in my pocket, a trunk full of hope, and no idea what I was doing. I drove across the country alone, rented a tiny studio apartment that was… let’s just say “shared enthusiastically” with cockroaches, and spent months struggling to find work in an industry that didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet. But persistence paid off—I eventually landed a job as an assistant to a feature film producer. That role cracked open the entertainment world for me and gave me the first real taste of what it felt like to build something meaningful from nothing.
From there, the journey kept evolving. It was the time of reality TV, and I didn’t like the vibe in LA- real story telling was being obliterated by fake “reality” shows, so I decided to switch things up. I moved to Chicago and worked at the University of Illinois, creating public health videos and learning modules. The work was steady, but the fire was still missing for me. So my new husband and I moved to Portland, Oregon—a place we both fell in love with while shooting a National Geographic series (he was an actor in the show, and I was the producer- we actually filmed on “Palmer glacier” on Mt. Hood- and as fate would have it!) In Portland, we built our life together and purchased our first home, had three kids, and I stepped into the next chapter of my career.
That chapter wasn’t smooth either. I worked as a marketing coordinator in a male-dominated sales office, and when I had my first baby, I immediately felt the strain of trying to balance a demanding job with new motherhood. I left for a more flexible marketing role… only to receive an email on Thanksgiving during the 2008/2009 recession informing me that I was being let go and the company was going under. It was devastating in the moment—but it also lit a fire.
That was the day I decided no employer would ever control my time, my income, or my stability again. So I launched MKP Creative, and I’ve never looked back. Owning my own business has been the most terrifying, empowering, liberating experience of my life. It gave me freedom, stability, creativity, and the ability to build something on my own terms. I honestly can’t imagine not being a business owner now.
My family’s path since then has been just as adventurous. We moved to St. Maarten in the Caribbean, where we lived through the catastrophic destruction of Hurricane Irma—an experience that changed us forever. We eventually returned to Chicago, and now we’re settled in Hudson, Ohio. Through every move, every upheaval, every reinvention, I kept MKP Creative not just alive, but thriving.
The road has absolutely not been smooth—but each challenge pushed me to adapt, to grow, and to trust myself. And in the end, every struggle became part of the foundation of the career and life I have now.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At MKP Creative, we’re not a huge agency with endless layers — we’re a boutique creative firm built around agility, heart, and results. We keep overhead low, stay nimble, and really care about doing the work with finesse, creativity, and lots of respect for our clients’ budgets and goals.
What We Do & What We Specialize In:
Our work runs the full spectrum of brand-building and public presence. We help businesses tell their stories — visually, digitally, and publicly. That means:
Branding & Identity — from brand concepts and logos to graphic design, print and digital materials, and full visual identity development.
Public & Media Relations — helping clients find their unique voice, craft their story, and connect with media (traditional press, bloggers, influencers) for product launches, store openings, brand launches, re-launches, crisis communication, and more.
Digital & Social Media Communications — we create and manage social media campaigns, build websites, do SEO/SEM and online advertising, content creation (writing, video, photography), email newsletters, digital advertising, and overall online presence.
Strategic Planning & Campaign Management — from strategic counsel and media planning to multi-channel marketing, integrated campaigns, and long-term brand development.
What Sets MKP Creative Apart
Boutique + Full-Service: Because we’re small and nimble, clients don’t need to hire multiple freelancers or several agencies. We deliver a fully integrated strategy — brand identity, media outreach, digital presence — all under one roof. That cohesiveness helps campaigns land harder and produce better results than patchwork efforts.
Experience & Reach: Our team brings over two decades of combined experience. We’ve worked with local and national clients — even international facets — giving us a broad network and know-how to mount robust, far-reaching campaigns.
Compassion & Partnership Mindset: We treat each client as a partner. We spend time getting to know their business — from product, services, customer base — learning how they operate and what their goals are. Then we tailor a communications roadmap that fits them, not a one-size-fits-all template.
Flexibility & Cost-Effectiveness: Working lean means we don’t waste resources. We can pivot, adapt, and deliver high-quality services without bloated costs or unnecessary overhead — which matters especially for small and mid-size businesses.
What I’m Most Proud Of — Brand-Wise
I’m proud that MKP Creative offers a real alternative to large agencies. We combine the heart and care of a small studio with the experience and skills of top-tier marketing firms. We’ve helped a wide variety of clients — from small local businesses to national brands — find their voice, expand reach, and grow their visibility. Each success feels like a shared win.
I’m proud that we don’t just push out cookie-cutter campaigns — we build stories: meaningful, strategic, and personalized. And because of that approach, many of our clients see dramatic boosts in their visibility and business within a few months.
What I Want People to Know About MKP Creative & What We Offer
If there’s one thing I want readers to understand: if you want more than just marketing — if you want a partner who listens, understands, and tells your story the right way — that’s what we do. Whether you’re launching a brand, rebuilding your identity, trying to break into new markets, or just want to get your name out there with integrity and purpose — MKP Creative is here to build that roadmap with you.
We’re about building relationships, not just campaigns. We’re about clarity, connection, and creativity. And we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work helping you grow.
My newest business is Reiki Hudson. Reiki Hudson is a peaceful sanctuary in the heart of historic downtown Hudson, Ohio — a place where people can step away from daily stress, reset, and reconnect with their inner calm. I founded Reiki Hudson because I believe deeply in the power of energy healing and holistic wellness to restore balance and nurture well-being. We offer Reiki sessions, full-body massage with Reiki, Reflexology, Gua Sha and more — all designed to help clients relax deeply, release tension, and tap into their body’s natural potential for healing.
What sets Reiki Hudson apart is our intentional, heartfelt approach. Every session is crafted with care — informed by my background in storytelling, communications, and helping people feel seen — combined now with my growing training in therapeutic massage. My goal is to offer more than a “spa treatment.” I want Reiki Hudson to be a space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered on their wellness journey.
I’m proudest of how Reiki Hudson has become a true retreat — not just for individual healing, but for anyone seeking peace, balance, and renewal. Whether you’re curious about energy healing or seeking deeper stress relief, Reiki Hudson is here to welcome you into a journey of holistic wellbeing. We also have two Licensed Massage Therapists and we will be expanding our service offerings in early 2026. My hope is for Reiki Hudson to grow and attract more wellness professionals from the area who want to be part of our team, and eventually open a larger wellness center focused on whole person wellness.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I absolutely haven’t gotten here alone, and I’m really proud to say that the success of my career and MKP Creative is the result of a lot of people pouring belief, encouragement, and support into me along the way.
First, my husband deserves a huge amount of credit. He has supported every chapter, every move, every leap of faith — to supporting me when I made the big jump into entrepreneurship in Portland, to opening Reiki Hudson last year, and now pursuing my massage licensure. He’s been the steady voice in the background reminding me that I can do big things and that reinvention is always possible. His support has made so many of my decisions feel a lot less scary.
My family has also played a tremendous role — especially throughout the years when we were moving from city to city, navigating major life changes, raising kids, and rebuilding community each time. They’ve always believed in me and given me the space to grow professionally while building a full and very busy life at home. Their patience and encouragement helped me push forward even in seasons that felt overwhelming.
I’ve also been lucky to have some incredible mentors and clients who turned into long-term partners and champions. Early in my career, people in the entertainment and academic worlds took chances on me when I was still figuring things out. Later, when I started MKP Creative, it was my clients — especially those first few who trusted me with their brand stories — who gave me the confidence to build something sustainable. Many of them have stayed with me for years, and their continued trust has shaped the reputation and longevity of my agency.
And of course, I’ve had teammates, collaborators, and fellow creatives who have shared their skills, their insights, and their encouragement. Every successful campaign is a team effort, and I’m grateful for each person who has been part of the journey.
At every stage, I’ve had people cheering me on, offering guidance, or simply believing I could accomplish more than I thought I could. I carry that with me in every project I take on — and I’m deeply grateful for it. Now as my kids get older, they support and encourage me the same way- from helping me with all the new social media “lingo” and channels, to offering creative advice, and even helping me study for my LMT exam- I am truly lucky to have cheerleaders in my corner.
Contact Info:
- Website: mkpcreative.com and reikihudson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reikihudson/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiekpalmer/
