Create-ster cofounder Ann Gonzales developed a small but mighty design agency that epitomizes the cultural diversity that is so much a part of her and her team. Along with her cofounder, Alyssa Kibiloski, who is based on the West Coast, the crew specializes in digital marketing, website development, graphic design, and webhosting.
“Our niche focus is helping start‑ups and small businesses,” said the Charlotte resident. The firm provides customized design and marketing packages, as well as consulting and support services. Opened in 2011, its client list includes companies of all sizes, shapes, and configurations.
Supporting and volunteering in the local community matters to Ann, whose certifications help spread the word and share the love, a key factor in running a minority‑owned business. As an Asian woman who identifies LGBT, Ann urges others to network and utilize available resources. Create‑ster is a Certified Asian-American & Minority Business through the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) and a nationally certified LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) through the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
“I feel lucky to work with a talented group of people. I wish we could all be here in one room,” Ann said of her virtual team. Working remotely keeps Ann on Charlotte’s roadways, which she’d like to see improved, particularly Independence Blvd. Like the development taking place on the east side, which she loves for its diversity, traffic woes come with the territory. She recommends pulling off the road to eat—particularly Korean food. Her faves? PePeRo in Matthews and iPho on Park Road in Charlotte. Again small but mighty.
Nominated by b2bTRIBE
Photo by Sofi Preslar
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