BIG FAN OF:
Bullet points
Efficiency
Organization
Traveling
Reading (fiction)
Walks with the family
GREAT TO VIRTUALLY CONNECT
HERE’S THE (AWKWARD) FORMAL BIO:
Shantel was the co-founder and CEO of Imagine Media Consulting, a marketing agency launched in 2012 and acquired by Acadia in 2021. Imagine Media provided social media services to 75+ small to midsize companies throughout Atlanta and other US markets.
Prior to founding Imagine Media, Shantel was the owner of Peacock and Papaya–a wedding planning company based in Chicago. She was also the co-founder of a non-profit organization called Operation Celebration which provided backpacks and meals for families and students experiencing hardship in her local community. And, in her even earlier years (starting when she was 9!), Shan launched more than a normal amount of businesses. Timeline below.
Shantel also served as a board member for the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Atlanta chapter 2016-2020 and continues to serve EO through programs like the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.
Currently, Shantel serves on the boards of Atlanta Children's Shelter, and Break Into Business. In her free time, she loves spending time exploring Atlanta with her daughter, their big/lovable (and very hairy) Golden Retrievers, and traveling with her husband.
IMAGINE MEDIA
Launched in 2012, Imagine Media's purpose was to give an online voice to companies who wouldn't otherwise have the time and expertise to do so, sharing their stories and connecting them to their audiences with purpose and authenticity.
Shantel and her team worked hard to cultivate and nurture relationships first, profiles second and the partnerships they developed as a result became the foundation for an incredibly successful company. In fact, the company was named one of the Best Places to Work in 2018, 2019, and 2020 by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and doubled year over year in its first 5 years. The company reached one million in revenue in 2017, an achievement celebrated by only 4% of businesses on average (only 2% of women- owned companies), and doubled before being acquired by Acadia.
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL HIGHLIGHT REEL
1997
Sold Slushies & Homemade Bracelets- Launched homemade slushie and bracelet business in Arkansas
1998
Event Planner - Planned all kid events (field days, Halloween bike decorating contests, fort-building committees)
(*an event timeline was always in hand to stay on schedule)
1999
Neighborhood Pokemon Dealer- Proud owner of Charzard and other prized cards in NYC
2000
Middle School Yearbook Declaration
2001
Tuff To Be Tall (TTBT) Clothing Line- Launched a clothing line in Ohio because she couldn't fit into Limited Too Clothes (sigh)
2002
Twelve Lakes News- Created and printed monthly neighborhood publication and sold ads to real estate agents in the community to generate revenue in Ohio
2004
Turkey Trot Non-Profit- Organized an annual nonprofit 5K event where sponsors and runners ran an annual 5K. All proceeds were donated to Feed The Hungry. We fed over 100 people each year in Ohio
2005
Neighborhood Babysitting Business- Staffed nannies around the neighborhood for families In need of childcare
2006
Sold Study Guides in College- Took thorough notes in college classes and sold these notes in prep for all tests for $75 each
2008
Weddings By Shan- Launched Weddings By Shan her senior year of college in Florida to help brides and businesses plan their big events
2010
Peacock + Papaya- Launched Peacock + Papaya after college to hone in on the budget bride
2011
Operation Celebration- Created a Georgia Non-Profit where she created meal baskets for Thanksgiving for families in need and annual backpack drives for students
2012
Parked Cars at Chastain Park Concerts- Made $500 in 15 minutes each time there was a Chastain park concert by parking cards in the front yard of her rental property
2013
Imagine Media Consulting- Boutique Social Media Marketing Agency
2017
Imagine More- A podcast to unpack the ingredients of a young entrepreneurial mind and navigate their journey. What is it that makes these types of minds break through the thresholds of all the "I cant's" the world blares in their face. Recorded and launched 100 episodes.
2020
Re-Imagine- REinvest in yourself- operational efficiency, organization, process, coaching and community for creative business owners.
2024
Startup consulting…
Marketing connections…
TBD…