JD Ellison and Company doesn’t specialize in just one type of client. They’re comfortable working in and merging the worlds of politics, business, lifestyle, arts and culture, and they bring an expansive view to just about anything that requires creativity and strategy. The company was launched in 2018 as a communications consultancy but has since expanded to include community and economic development, working with nonprofits, government agencies and businesses to help them clarify their narrative and connect their work to the human experience.
We sat down and spoke with founder and owner Jefferson “JD” Ellison about the intersection of business and culture, the growth he hopes to see in Asheville and why he decided to move back home to the South.
How did you come up with your idea or concept for your business?
When I moved back to Asheville from NYC, I had a hard time finding the right internal role, but I kept getting offered contract work. At a certain point, I realized instead of juggling eight part-time jobs, I could just have eight clients.
Over time, I’ve found there’s always a need for marketing, but more than that, Asheville businesses are looking for a certain perspective. Someone who can cut through the noise, bring a national lens when it’s useful and still be in real community with the people they’re trying to reach.
“We don’t just think about what a business wants to say. We think about how it lands, who it impacts and where it fits in the broader community.”
What makes your business unique in its field?
I think what makes us unique is our perspective and the range of work we take on. We operate as both a strategic partner and a creative collaborator, which allows us to meet clients at whatever level they need.
Our clients span from projects at New York Fashion Week to political campaigns to local restaurants, which isn’t typical. It cuts across categories because our niche isn’t in a specific field, it’s in how we make the work happen. We bring a human-first approach to everything we do. We pay attention, we work from the data and the facts, and we make a point to understand the context our clients are operating in. We don’t just think about what a business wants to say. We think about how it lands, who it impacts and where it fits in the broader community.
Nothing exists in a vacuum. Business, culture and community are all connected, and we approach our work with that in mind.
During your first year of business, what were the greatest lessons you learned?
Manage expectations, under-promise and overdeliver, and hire an accountant.
“I believe that if we want to see real growth and ensure that change and prosperity reach all corners of Asheville, we have to keep building and bringing more voices to the table.”
Where do you see your business in the next five years?
Over the next five years, I want to keep growing our team and expanding the scope of our work. I’ve done a decent amount of work with CDFIs and others in that space, and I’m interested in going deeper into brand building and impact investment work. I really love this city, and I believe that if we want to see real growth and ensure that change and prosperity reach all corners of Asheville, we have to keep building and bringing more voices to the table.
What is your favorite part about doing business in the Asheville area?
The people. I’m a firm believer that the South creates some of the best people — generous, kind and expansive. Having worked in other places, there’s really nothing like working here.
It can be complicated, and it has its limitations, but given the choice, I choose us every time.