Elysa Ellis

About

I'm a strategic marketing leader with 15+ years of experience helping brands grow through intentional storytelling, community-centered campaigns, and operational excellence. Currently serving as Marketing Director at House of Shine, I lead a small but mighty team to expand our reach, increase engagement, and fuel our mission to develop confident, purpose-driven leaders. I’m most energized when I’m building something—whether that’s a new brand identity, a scalable campaign system, or a team that thrives together. My background blends creative direction, digital marketing, content strategy, and nonprofit communications, and I’ve partnered with startups, legacy brands, and mission-driven organizations to move the needle. Beyond the nonprofit world, I’ve spent over a decade building a loyal audience as the Editor and team lead behind Dallas Food Nerd, a food-focused blog and Instagram channel, where we share the nerdy side of food—from behind-the-scenes restaurant stories to local flavor deep-dives across the DFW area. This creative outlet continues to sharpen my storytelling, content planning, and community engagement skills. And yes—my love of food (and strong coffee) fuels both my creativity and my connection to the people I serve. Throughout my career, I’ve evolved from individual contributor to director by embracing both the big picture and the tactical details. I’ve led remote and cross-functional teams, advised executives, and turned fragmented marketing efforts into unified strategies with measurable outcomes. Specialties: * Brand strategy & messaging * Cross-channel campaign development * Team leadership & mentorship * Digital content strategy (email, social, podcast, web) * Creative direction & production * Community engagement * Nonprofit & purpose-driven marketing Let’s connect if you’re building something meaningful and looking for a marketing partner who can help bring the vision to life—strategically, creatively, and collaboratively.