About
Focus on the good you do, and we’ll create great work for you
We are a creative agency funneling our four decades of marketing experience into amplifying the impact of charitable organizations.
We take on marketing challenges for you, freeing you to channel your energy into what truly matters.
When you have effective communications, you’re able to start a ripple effect of good in the lives of the people you serve, who can then make a positive impact on their community!
After decades of partnering with social impact organizations just like yours, the team at Hillhouse Creative will help you do just that.
The values that guide our work
Strategic
Empathetic
Our team cares about the work we produce and the relationships we build with our clients. We cherish and celebrate the big and small victories both in and out of the office.
Responsible
Accountable
Our creative team oversees the work we do and the deliverables we create to ensure that they live up to our highest standards. We believe in proactively editing and adjusting until we’re confident with the end result.
Collaborative
Your success is our success. We think of our time together as a partnership, which means we’re going to do the work needed to help you get where you want to be…and then we’re going to cheer you on as you meet your goals.
Accessible
We work with people — not organizations — and you’ll see that reflected in how we communicate. You’ll have access to specialists when needed, and we ensure everyone on our team is accessible to meet your needs.
Meet the Hillhouse Creative Team
Jenny Kontos
CEO & Creative Strategist
Jenny is an award-winning designer with 20+ years in nonprofit marketing. She is the driving force behind Hillhouse Creative and guides all of our strategy work for our clients. A graduate of East Tennessee State University, the University of Tennessee, and Leadership Kingsport, Jenny is also a 40 Under Forty recipient.
After living in locations coast to coast, Jenny now resides in Jonesborough, Tenn., with her husband, two children, and four beloved rescue pets. She finds joy in spending quality time with her family, unintentional humor a la “America’s Funniest Videos,” sunshine on her shoulders, and the aroma of freshly cut grass.
Nonprofits Jenny would love to work with: Animal welfare, dementia research, and arts in schools
Matthew Childers
Creative Director
Matthew is an accomplished creative director and an internationally award-winning designer and illustrator with more than 20 years of experience in advertising and marketing. He has worked with many Fortune 500 companies as well as dozens of local and regional organizations. Matthew enjoys mixing his love of traditional design and web design to deliver not only for nonprofits but also for the people they serve.
When he’s not creating websites and overseeing creative direction at Hillhouse Creative, he enjoys playing soccer and moonlighting as a published illustrator and author.
Nonprofits Matthew would love to work with: Advancing the arts, climate change, and animal welfare
Sarah O'Leary
Graphic Designer
Sarah graduated with a degree in photography and graphic design from the University of Tennessee. Her work with nonprofit organizations has spanned design, photography, writing, and social media management, and has taken her to far-flung locations throughout the world, including Guatemala.
She once resided on an island in Alaska where she loved hiking in the mountains to enjoy views of the ocean. Sarah is a nature enthusiast who would adore living in the rustic world of Little House on the Prairie, but also enjoys modern amenities like Google Maps and Spotify.
Nonprofits Sarah would love to work with: Conservation, mental health, and immigration
Stefanie Weakley
Project Manager
Stefanie, a creative partner and our project manager, is experienced in nonprofit marketing, publicity, design, and fundraising. She holds a psychology degree from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of Leadership Kingsport. She’s also the founder of Abby Maddy & Company, a women’s accessories brand. Her work has been featured on Fox & Friends, in Belong Magazine and the Martha Stewart Awards, and through a collaboration with Shark Tank’s R. Riveter.
Stefanie spent 20 years moving across the country as a military spouse before returning home to Kingsport. She lives with her husband, two hilarious teenagers, and their mischievous bluetick hound, Camo. You’ll often find them on the sidelines of a soccer game or cheering for the band and color guard.
Nonprofits Stefanie would love to work with: military spouse and veteran assistance, cancer research, and music education
Now that you’ve met our team, we’d love to meet you!
Here’s exactly how we can work together
Strategy drives success. Your creative project starts by sitting down and doing a full strategy workup to learn about your organization before determining how we’ll approach your work.
Drive change with strong communications that will attract and engage supporters and accelerate the impact of your mission.
“Hillhouse Creative was wonderful to work with. They communicated well throughout the process and delivered exactly the kind of website I was hoping for – actually BETTER than what I was hoping for! Thank you for delivering a website I couldn’t be happier with!”
“Hillhouse Creative was wonderful to work with. They communicated well throughout the process and delivered exactly the kind of website I was hoping for – actually BETTER than what I was hoping for! Thank you for delivering a website I couldn’t be happier with!”