Our Team of Brand Experts

This team of brand experts is committed to making service an art and the process of developing and promoting your brand easy and enjoyable. Our goal is to help you tell your story, achieve influence in the market, and turn your business into a memorable, profitable, and sustainable brand. Meet us.

We are a group of
Team_Heather Johnson_Brand Strategist
Owner & Brand Strategist

MEET HEATHER

Hannah Welborn is one of the Brand Managers on the team.
Brand Manager

MEET HANNAH

Denise Szakaly is the team Senior Level Graphic Designer
Art Director

MEET DENISE

Brand Manager

MEET ABIGAIL

Content Strategist

MEET COURTENAY

Graphic Designer

MEET CLAY

Kendra Diaz is one of the Graphic Designers on the team.
Graphic Designer

MEET KENDRA

Customer Service

MEET ONYX

Client Relations Supervisor

MEET SALLIE

Team_Heather Johnson_Brand Strategist

Owner & Brand Strategist

MEET HEATHER

Heather Johnson

  • Bourbon Connoisseur
  • K-Pop Enthusiast

When Heather is not helping clients navigate the intricacies of marketing plans, she’s thinking of ways they can get noticed in their industry. From developing digital marketing strategies to website design to ensuring branding consistency, she thrives on making Kudzu clients successful, memorable, and sustainable.

Hannah Welborn is one of the Brand Managers on the team.

Brand Manager

MEET HANNAH

Hannah Welborn

  • List Queen
  • Office Foodie

Hannah is an organizer. Whether she is directing a multi-location video shoot, preparing a client for a trade show, or managing all aspects of your brand, Hannah brings organization and logic to every project she shepherds. Branding can be difficult, we don’t deny that, but Hannah is ready to handle the ‘dirt’y work to get to your business growing! 🌱

Denise Szakaly is the team Senior Level Graphic Designer

Art Director

MEET DENISE

Denise Szakaly

  • Office Chair Booby Trapper (can’t help it, I’m short)
  • A Sucker for Post-Its

Denise enjoys being a creative and has had the pleasure of being in the design and marketing industry for 16 years. From designing new brands, creating visual environments to publication design and everything in between, she does it with multi-tasking ease. If you want a balanced, crisp clean design with attention to detail—she’s your girl to create your mark in this world.

Brand Manager

MEET ABIGAIL

Abigail King

  • Director of De-Cluttering
  • Eco Nut

Abigail fully adopts each client’s story and vision as her own. Using a sharp eye and creative thinking, she ensures her clients’ needs are always met. Her M.A. in Brand + Media Strategy allows her to view every challenge holistically and from multiple angles. She integrates her years of branding education and experience into every Kudzu project.

Content Strategist

MEET COURTENAY

Courtenay Morgan 

  • Oxford Comma Crusader
  • Word Chopper

Courtenay quickly captures a client’s voice and ethos. Her Anthropology background guides her to observe, listen intently, and ask probing questions during their onboarding, often uncovering unexpected details about a client’s business. After the discovery meeting, she crafts their story and messaging for brand development and management.

Graphic Designer

MEET CLAY

Clay Schmidt 

  • Chief Typographer
  • Resident Green Thumb

Clay is an obsessive story teller, dedicated to his clients history, mission, and values, bringing them to life in stunning brand identities. He delights in transforming client stories into engaging visual journeys. With a sociological perspective and a history of working with small businesses (while running a few of his own), Clay easily relates to business owners and knows how to best support them, wherever they are on their journey.

Kendra Diaz is one of the Graphic Designers on the team.

Graphic Designer

MEET KENDRA

Kendra Diaz

  • Mastermind of Mischief
  • Organizer of Random Thoughts

Kendra is a big dreamer. She thrives off of entrepreneurship and being creative. Her passion for photography and design allows her to bring creative and strategic ideas to the table. She’s not afraid to throw out wild ideas and push your marketing past what’s expected. And when in doubt, she will make you laugh! As she says, “All jokes are good jokes, even if it is in Comic Sans.”

Customer Service

MEET ONYX

Onyx

  • Chief People Pleaser
  • Keeper of Treats

Onyx has been in the customer service industry for 12 years. He aims for wagging tails in every project and will go the extra trick for the treat. He’s always looking forward to being at the office to help inspire creativity. However, the office has learned to embrace his licker problem. At his age, he is who he is.

Client Relations Supervisor

MEET SALLIE

Sallie Morgan

  • Social Director
  • Love Addict

Sallie is an independent thinker who brings a sense of mischief and a deep love of country rough and tumbles to the Kudzu Team. Born in Haywood County, she is a genuine Western North Carolina Great Pyrenees mix of Appalachia je ne sais quoi. When Sallie’s not nudging a hand (really, does anyone have a hand to spare?) to scratch her belly, she’s probably shedding somewhere on, or near, her mom.

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE KUDZU TEAM?

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Kudzu Brands is known for the level of service our clients receive. Our comprehensive suite of services and diverse experience cultivating hundreds of national and regional brands, makes our team uniquely qualified to help our clients achieve their marketing goals.
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