Alumni Spotlight: Kelly Brown
Published July 10, 2026
Current Job Title
Marketing Projects Manager and Freelance Writer
Describe your current position
My full-time position is as a Marketing Projects Manager for Green Giftz (a GVSU Alumni-Owned Business. Go Lakers!). At my full-time position, I am responsible for drafting branded merchandise presentations and ideas to pitch to clients like Steelcase, Herman Miller, Haworth, Byrne, etc., quoting, entering orders, and tracking orders to completion. I interact face-to-face with my clients on a weekly basis. We create mock-ups for their items, and I work with local suppliers to create custom projects like messenger bags created from scrap tradeshow banners or beautiful hand bags/pouches constructed from Herman Miller's scrap fabric.
I'm also a freelance writer for Revue Magazine and Women's Lifestyle. At Revue, I produce monthly articles about events within Grand Rapids/West Michigan as well as profile pieces on various people around WM. At Women's Lifestyle, I am the monthly fitness columnist.
To what extent does writing relate to your current position? What type of writing/design do you do for work?
My position at Green Giftz involves a lot of client interaction, which means I'm writing emails, quotes, and sales orders all day long. It is so, so important to have good communication with my client because I'm often working on a tight deadline. I'm also responsible for our press releases and all marketing materials. My job is flexible -- one day I'm writing an article to pitch to the GRBJ, the next day I'm writing up an analysis on our performance over the first half of the year, and the next day I'm writing emails to clients for eight hours.
As a freelance writer, all I do is write. If I'm not working on articles for Revue or Women's Lifestyle (I'm ALWAYS working on articles for them), then I'm pitching ideas to other local and regional magazines, updating my website and LinkedIn, or working on short stories for publication.
Please briefly describe your path from graduation at GVSU to your current position.
I started my first full-time position before graduation at GVSU. I began as a copywriter at Create and Craft USA. From there, I moved into a Social Media Management role at Create and Craft. After two years in this position, I moved onto my current role at Green Giftz.
As a Freelance Writer, post-graduation I struggled to find my groove. I began with a few pieces published in local magazines and national/international journals. My main goal was to keep my portfolio present. Because of this, and a lot of networking, I was able to secure my position with Revue Magazine. After a strong pitch to Women's Lifestyle Magazine, and again, more networking, I was able to secure my position with them.
What parts of the writing major had the strongest impact on you as a professional?
Being creative. We are in a world where creativity is key. People ask "Why did you get a writing degree?" It is because, yes, I am incredibly passionate about writing, but it is also because I'm incredibly passionate about CREATIVITY. Workplaces need creative minds.
What advice would you offer to current/future writing majors at Grand Valley?
Publish your work. Or try to. Always. And create a website RIGHT NOW (or after you read this). Stay relevant. If you want to be a poet, write poetry, but have a back up plan to help you along the way. Get work experience in different areas and be okay with it. I left GVSU with six jobs and three internships on my résumé, and they were all in different lines of work. I worked because I needed money to support myself, but I also worked to gain experience and network. I can't stress these enough.