Instant Teams

Hi, I’m Chelsea! I graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s in photo illustration, minor in graphic design. In my third year of the visual communication design program, I got a kick ass internship working for a Kalman & Pabst commercial photo studio downtown Cleveland, Ohio. I gained a broad range of experience. I quickly loved the idea of working for myself. In my senior year, I was brought on as a freelance photo retoucher.

In my senior year of college, I also ended up meeting my now-husband. I remember the very night thinking to myself well wouldn’t this be pretty great if this marine would be “the guy.” And well, wouldn’t ya know, I ended up moving down to North Carolina about a year and a half later.

We’ve been married for a little over a year and a half and finally just went on our honeymoon to Estes Park in Colorado.

Charlie is our sassy little pup that we love bringing on all our adventures.

Currently, I am freelancing as a graphic designer, photo retoucher and also am co-owner of Initial Focus with my brother and partner. He has always been the one who pushes my creativity. He was the one who gave me the single big push to follow my dreams in college to pursue photography and graphic design as a career. Initial Focus was built on the belief that we can do what we love with the experiences we have and by the stories we tell and create.

What was your first move towards working in a remote capacity and/or becoming a military spouse entrepreneur?

I knew going into the military lifestyle it would be challenging, but I welcomed it because I knew it would make me better. I thrived on finding ways to push myself out of my comfort zone. I knew the location would be a little bit different and I was nervous I wouldn’t find that kind of creative collaboration I was used to, compared to a place like Cleveland, Ohio. I tried just to keep thinking the more time wallowing, the less time I would get to experience the area and meet other local creatives in local meetups. I had to keep working at a good positive mindset every day, and not without the help of other amazing entrepreneurial military spouses.

What is your definition of military spouses as an ‘untapped resource’?

In this lifestyle we live in today, we are faced with day to day challenges of the everyday person, on top of the military demands. Although each one of us has a different story, we are linked together. We rely on each other for support and kindness when our other half isn’t able to be there. The true military spouse isn’t afraid to be herself. She goes after what she wants no matter what it takes and however long it takes. Most importantly she listens. We all learn from each other, and our experiences.

What would you tell other military spouses looking to start a professional career?

Don’t be afraid to reach out. I’ve emailed and followed up with people I met in passing (or even cold calling), and it has turned into a great working relationship. So much inspiration came from just one email that sparked a conversation.  If you ask for advice and help, you would be surprised how many people will go way out of their way to help you.

There have been so many great military spouse resources and networking opportunities even in the last year that have improved so many aspects of my life. I know other spouses involved would want to continue to share that amazing feeling of collaboration with more military spouses.

If you were put on a panel involved in an initiative to improve military spouse employment opportunities and corporate awareness of the MadSkills that professional spouses bring to the workforce, what suggestions would you make?

I would like employers to understand and be more aware of why our resume may look a little scattered. It even may be a case where our volunteer column may stretch longer than our professional experience. Although that is still experience, even if you aren’t paid. It’s still an experience working & learning with people around you.

I was always told in my internship classes in high school and college to make sure your resume fits on one page. What happens when you just work a job for six months and then you move? Do you not count that, because it was under a year? What if your job didn’t have to do with your previous job it was just the only thing that was available?

I’ve worked some interesting, odd jobs and if I were to write them all down I’m not sure you could pinpoint my career in one direction, but is that such a bad thing? In every job I’ve learned from such different people and had such different experiences. I wouldn’t be where I am today without working those jobs.

Looking back as kids in school, we were taught to be well-rounded, compassionate, hard-working and multi-taskers. We were challenged every day in the classroom to problem solve, and that’s exactly what we do. We may not know all the answers, but we sure find them as quickly and efficiently as we can. I would tell employers that if that’s what they were looking for in an employee, no matter what the job, they should hire a military spouse.

Connect with Chelsea on LinkedIn.