Inspiring Conversations with Alissa Mauter of groundUp Creative Agency

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alissa Mauter. 

Hi Alissa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I graduated from the Ohio State University in 2018 very excited to start my journey in my career field. However, I received the best graduation present possible which was the news that I was expecting twins. I thought this was a good time to move back home and be around family. While home I accepted my first salary job from a local nonprofit. I quickly fell into the routine of working most of the day. I started missing life moments with my twins. I come from a working family so providing has been instilled into my character. However, I felt it was time to create something I could pass on to numerous generations. Shortly after this realization, I decided I needed to create generational wealth in more ways than one. 

Entrepreneurship seemed difficult, but it sounded like one of the best ways to receive the luxury of time. I started thinking about what I was good at and decided I would use my graphic design talents. I became a freelance designer assisting friends and family members create logos and flyers for hobbies and events. Over time my skills grew and so did my services. A year into my hobby I added web design, photography, and brand consulting. I moved back to Columbus to grow my brand and I quit my job and put my faith in God. I immediately started leaning on my support system. After a first successful year, my best friend surprised me with an LLC. I remember thinking to myself “It’s time to really grow this thing, aha!”. 

That was a little over two years ago. This journey has been both extremely challenging and rewarding. My impact, clientele, skill, and outreach have continued to grow. I decided to start giving back to my community by sharing my knowledge and insight on entrepreneurship. I found myself working with small business owners who struggled to see the importance of branding and lacked knowledge of the connection between branding and sales. Columbus grew me in more ways than one. However, I wanted to give back to the community that raised me. 

Moving back home for the second time had its challenges. I had to rebuild my personal brand. The people I grew up with didn’t know Alissa the owner of groundUp Creative Agency. Some of their most recent memories of me were from childhood. I have spent the last 6 months building my personal/business brand in the Toledo area. I am now a part of a growing community of business owners and community change agents. Due to the growth in my impact and outreach, I decided to explore expansion ideas. I now lead a team of 6 creative contractors that are responsible for all of groundUp’s services. Owning a business isn’t always so glamorous. Over the years I’ve been blessed to spend an abundant amount of time with my twins! But financially supporting my family and growing a business with no institution backing has been at times disheartening, to say the least. 

At the end of Spring, I accepted a Brand/Marketing Position with ADP. This has allowed me to take care of my lifestyle and invest in my business more comfortably. I have amazing announcements coming very soon and am very excited to continue this journey. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, money was tight, and bills were late. Not everyone supported me becoming an entrepreneur with two newborn babies. I lacked direction and knowledge, discipline, and sometimes fear won. I didn’t always believe in myself. Building the mindset is one of the hardest parts of this journey. Picking yourself up from failure and balancing your personal life and your career is essential to your success. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
groundUp is here to provide a team of well-rounded professionals to assist small business owners with an array of business needs. It takes a lot to start a business and we understand that firsthand. Branding and building a business is what we do at all stages! Providing a team our clients can trust allows for growth in ways that are versatile and unique. Our team is comprised of qualified designers and photographers. We turn your visions into visuals. 

We assist in digital marketing strategy through content creation and campaign building. With a focus on small businesses, we want to provide our clients and community with knowledge and support to ensure a successful brand. I think what sets us apart is we don’t just complete services and we are done. We grow with you and your needs. Make sure you can count on one team to get the job done vs going to multiple places and vendors. 

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My faith in God above all. Self-confidence, compassion, optimism, disciplined mindset, ambition, and ability to adapt. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.guexperience.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/guexperience/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guexperience/
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/guexperience

Image Credits
groundUp Creative Agency