WHO WE ARE
WHY I DO WHAT I DO
“Storytelling is the most powerful way to not only make people pay attention, but to also make them care. An authentic and emotional story allows people to feel something that inspires them, connects them to a higher purpose and then motivates them to act.
I absolutely love any chance I get to create, develop and write a story — and then see it come alive through the impact is has on the audience. My goal isn’t to just communicate important brand messages, but rather to tell stories that bring the brand to life — allowing the audience to truly feel like they are part of, and investing in, something greater than just a product or service.
Stories have the power to remind us of what we haven’t yet imagined in life — and creating a narrative that does just that is one of the most satisfying and empowering aspects of what I do.
If you want to know a brand, then you must know its story, for the story defines the values it stands for and evokes a personal, emotional and inspirational connection that will impact consumers in a way that no other brand has ever achieved.” — ATR
ALEX THOMAS ROLLINS
FOUNDER; LEAD EDITORIAL & MARKETING STRATEGIST
WHY SHE IS QUALIFIED:
Alex is the co-founder of Sparq, founder of Inspyre Media and founder of My Common Cents (a financial literacy nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a culture of financial wellness for young people and adults by inspiring empowered life and financial decision-making).
Alex developed her love for storytelling at a young age — and that passion, along with her desire to truly impact people’s lives — is what led her to begin her career in journalism.
Alex earned AB degrees in both French and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Georgia, where she also played on the Division I Women’s Varsity Soccer team. With an expertise in writing and storytelling, along with her ability to speak fluent French, Alex was invited to participate in one of UGA’s exclusive journalism programs, studying and writing film reviews at the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
After graduation, Alex went on to earn a master of science degree in business and digital journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. During her time at Northwestern, Alex was invited to participate in the school’s Washington, D.C., program, where she covered various stories on Capitol Hill, involving interviews with some of the most influential members of Congress.
Upon completion of this program, Alex was accepted to Bloomberg News' highly sought after internship program to serve as a writer and producer covering daily and enterprise healthcare stories in Washington, D.C., where her work was prominently published across all Bloomberg outlets, including the Bloomberg Terminal and BusinessWeek.
As she developed a stronger passion for the personal side of business journalism, Alex left Bloomberg to join HLN/CNN as a writer and producer for consumer finance expert Clark Howard, as well as various other network shows and specials. After developing an expertise in social media content and advertising strategy, Alex then served as HLN’s Social Media Manager for about three years — leading all network social media strategy and campaigns.
Alex’s expertise in digital and social strategy, along with her passion for personal finance, then led her to return to work for the Clark Howard brand, serving as Managing Editor and responsible for building the company’s digital brand and online presence from the ground up — leading efforts ranging from developing brand identity, website redesign, content expansion, audience development and video production, to marketing campaigns, social media strategy, partnerships, sponsorships and more. She even launched her own series under the Clark brand aimed at teaching young people the basics of personal finance. While in this role, Alex led the brand to a 250% growth in website traffic and more than 200% growth in audience engagement. Her efforts also allowed Clark.com to pick up its first three digital sponsorships and establish a variety of successful partnerships.
In 2017, Alex left the Clark brand to start her own branding, content and marketing agency and has spent the past few years helping organizations across various industries — from travel and nonprofit, to lifestyle, technology and logistics — to build or revamp their brand and storytelling strategies by developing and implementing a variety of new methods, including content development, website redesigns, marketing and communications strategies, product development and more.
In the meantime, Alex continued to follow her passion for helping both adults and young people develop a lifestyle of financial wellness. In 2018, Alex revamped the series she launched with Clark to create My Common Cents — a financial literacy nonprofit organization aimed at helping adults and the next generations receive the tools they need to develop the skills, mindset and lifestyle that allows them to become self-sufficient and achieve financial stability.
WHY YOU WILL LOVE HER:
Alex is always working on some type of creative project — whether it be building brand stories for a nonprofit, an emerging artist or a boutique luxury resort. She thrives on the challenge of creating a truly unique experience for each and every brand she works with and bringing it to life through a variety of customized strategies
In her free time, you’ll likely find Alex playing golf, reading any and everything she can, hanging out with her hubby, family and friends, or working on her first book –a collection of personal experiences and lessons, filled with humor, inspiration, motivation and practical tools, aimed at encouraging and teaching young women how to transform their mindset and lifestyle, in order to make the changes necessary to building the financial and fulfilling future of which they’ve always dreamed.
She's known to be hardworking, creative, collaborative, witty, direct and a bit sarcastic at times. She loves what she does and you'll quickly recognize her unique ability to turn a good idea into a GREAT one.
Alex lives in Atlanta, Ga, with her husband Wilson, along with their 2 cats (Ronald & Nancy) and 3 dogs (Puddin, Lily & Freddie).
