Erika Simonds

Favorite inspirational quote:

“You don’t have to become something you’re not to be better than you were.”

— Sidney Poitier

Pronouns: she/they

Areas of expertise: brand strategy, brand messaging, graphic design, web design, copywriting, marketing strategy, marketing management, content management

Causes I’m most passionate about: democracy and elections, social equity, sustainable transportation, and closing gaps in access to arts education

Why I care about helping nonprofits grow: When I left my corporate marketing job and founded my own creative marketing agency, I dove deep into the question of why (and honestly, if) marketing work matters. Did I really want to make a career of convincing people to buy stuff?

I did not. And after a lifetime of volunteering at local nonprofits, I knew powerful multimedia messaging could transform an organization's capacity for mission impact. At Luminary & Quill, we believe our work only matters when it serves missions that matter. So, we’re here to work alongside companies and organizations working to make the world a better place.

Hobbies: ultimate frisbee, word games, drawing, learning about nuclear history, swimming with my kids

Unusual talent: Harry Potter trivia; knowing basically nothing about most pop culture topics while having encyclopedic knowledge about a few specific, obscure things.