Despite women making up nearly 51% of the St. Louis population, the design industry has historically been dominated by men. This trend extends to the ownership of creative agencies, which have remained largely been run by men.
Why is this the case? What challenges do women face in the design industry? Are these obstacles similar to those of the past, or is there hope for a brighter future? And why are women creatives less likely to own agencies in St. Louis, the region, and the nation? To shed light on these questions, we've gathered four successful women who are leading thriving design agencies.
Join Cheree Berry, Deanna Kuhlmann-Leavitt, Gretchen Werremeyer and Katie Schenck, successful leaders in the creative industry as they share their experiences, insights, and strategies for overcoming the challenges they've faced. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from these talented professionals and ask questions
about their journeys.
GRETCHEN WERREMEYER, President/CEO. (Werremeyer)
Just over a decade after graduating from ArtCenter College of Design (Pasadena), Gretchen became the agency’s sole owner. Her experiences as a designer and creative director on clients like St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Logan College of Chiropractic did more than help her clients grow; they shaped her vision for the agency she would create. As she and her team became trusted by more and larger clients like Esse Health, BJC Healthcare and WashU Medicine, in 2018 Gretchen officially shifted the agency’s primary focus to serving health and wellness clients.
www.werremeyer.com
DEANNA KUHLMANN-LEAVITT, President (Kuhlmann-Leavitt)
Deanna Kuhlmann-Leavitt worked fifteen years in Santa Monica and St. Louis before establishing
Kuhlmann Leavitt, Inc., a multi-disciplinary firm known for its work in brand, the built environment, print,
and digital. During her 35-year career Deanna has received awards from Communication Arts, AIGA, AIA,
SEGD, and the NY Art Directors Club to name a few. She has been featured in CA, the Masters of Design
series, International Trade Fair Design and other leading publications globally. She has lectured on design
and served as a design juror across the US and Canada. Deanna, a co-founder of STL Design Week, has
served on the AIGA national and local boards and is currently serving on the boards of both Laumeier
Sculpture Park and Saint Louis Chamber Chorus.
www.kuhlmannleavitt.com
CHEREE BERRY, CEO, Cheree Berry Paper & Design
Cheree Berry is an authority on visual storytelling with over two decades of experience in the design industry. She is the CEO and Creative Director of Cheree Berry Paper & Design, an award-winning, female- driven design firm internationally renowned for its sophisticated identity solutions across all communication mediums. Sought after by individuals, boutique brands, Fortune 500 corporations and nonprofit organizations alike, Berry has earned a reputation for delivering unique concepts, unexpected details, unparalleled quality and clever copywriting. Prior to founding her company in 2006, Berry worked at Pentagram and served as an art director at Kate Spade, where she developed the brand’s first wedding stationery line. Her firm’s work has graced the halls of the White House, stocked the shelves at Target, filled mailboxes and inboxes around the world, appeared in numerous national publications and made countless memories along the way. An ardent supporter of her community, Berry sits on the board of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund and remains highly involved in her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis.
www.chereeberrypaperdesign.com
KATIE SCHENCK, CEO, Ballyhoo Workshop
Katie Schenck is the owner and CEO of Ballyhoo Workshop, a brand strategy and creative services agency. With nearly 30 years’ experience in strategic communication and creative direction, she was named a top St. Louis Women Business Owner in 2023. Her client roster spans the globe, and her team of creative strategists are among the best in the business. She’s passionate about providing women balance and flexibility while helping them grow, which is why she founded the agency 12 years ago. She wants to provide an environment and culture where women bring their talents while also taking time for the other joys in their lives. The flexible and family-friendly culture at Ballyhoo is paramount. The model includes a combination of full-time and part-time staff which allows the team to serve clients in a nimble way while also allowing moms and caregivers the flexibility they need to also manage their lives and the people they love.
She’s also passionate about her community and finding ways for she and her teammates to share time and talent with those around them. Katie serves on the executive board of Ready Readers and is a volunteer for several other local organization. It's also important to Katie that Ballyhoo is an integral part of the community as well as able to share their talents with non-profits across the globe. Over the past few years, the team has been able to create brands and visual communication support for local organizations including Friends of Kids with Cancer, Refuge and Restoration, Forest Park Forever, Pedal the Cause and St. Louis Area Foodbank and globally for LifeNet, STiR and Lawala.
By pairing her leadership experience and passion for helping others with the talent and skills of the
Ballyhoo team, she continues to pour into the community and grow the workshop.
www.ballyhooworkshop.com
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