The founder and Principal of Vacano Creative, Chris Vacano, is well-versed in the needs of startups, SMBs, and not-for-profit organizations.

Chris brings more than 25 years of experience and insight in crafting engagement and connection strategies to facilitate open dialogue, identify proper channels and platforms for distribution of information, and package information for optimal delivery and reception.

His interest in visual communication and message-shaping began when he was very young: many afternoons, he occupied himself after school with a press-type, paste-up boards, galleys of text, and a set of artist markers at his parents’ typesetting business. Before long he began producing posters, flyers, invitations and t-shirts for school and community events. He freelanced as a graphic designer right out of high school and all through college.

Upon completing his degree in Studio Art, Chris merged a growing list of graphic and print design clients with a friend’s web-site business in the mid-1990s to form Pixel People, Inc., which was one of the first studios in Denver to bridge the worlds of print and online communication. He relocated to Seattle two years later, where he continued to freelance until he was recruited to help co-found a fintech software company headquartered in San Francisco.

Over his 25-year career, Chris has diversified and honed his capabilities to include information management, marketing, technical documentation, internal communication, e-learning development and delivery, video production, CRM and a wide array of IT and security functions.

Vacano Creative is backed by a network of strategic partners, allowing us to put together a hand-picked team of experts capable of meeting virtually any communication needs. V|C strives to provide world-class service and support for your organization, while maintaining the friendly and personal touch of your favorite neighborhood coffeehouse.

Jackie Schwabe, CEO
Mindlight / Press Play Lifestyle

Jackie wakes up motivated to help others. Her mission, to provide the tools, opportunities, and connections people need to be their best self. A career in Health IT allowed her to figuratively and literally connect thousands of systems and people. A mother of four children —  one with Autism — she often says different is not less and communication happens in more ways than verbally. She has been an invaluable source of inspiration, encouragement, support, and of course, collaboration!

Cliff W. Gilmore, CEO
North of Center

Cliff strives to help leaders recognize and realize – literally make real – the potential in themselves and those around them.  A dedicated scholar-practitioner, he holds a PhD in organization and management with a specialization in leadership and is a retired USMC officer with more than 20 years of service advising senior military leaders and leading public engagement teams. He knows firsthand that leadership is service, effective leaders are trusted communicators, and while nobody is perfect, at any given moment at least one member of a well-led team will be.

Rebecca Hodgkins
Writer and Editor

Rebecca has a background in magazine journalism and graphic design. She is the author of Subhuman Resources, This Dance, These Bones, and Flight Risk. She’s been previously published twice in Daily Science Fiction, Everyday Weirdness, Niteblade and Cezanne’s Carrot.

Rebecca is deftly able to move between genres and tone, mixing and matching where appropriate. She’s a skilled editor with a keen eye and ear, and the ability to take limp copy and make it dance the most elegant Paso Doble.

The founder and Principal of Vacano Creative, Chris Vacano, is well-versed in the needs of startups, SMBs, and not-for-profit organizations.

Chris brings more than 25 years of experience and insight in crafting engagement and connection strategies to facilitate open dialogue, identify proper channels and platforms for distribution of information, and package information for optimal delivery and reception.

His interest in visual communication and message-shaping began when he was very young: many afternoons, he occupied himself after school with a press-type, paste-up boards, galleys of text, and a set of artist markers at his parents’ typesetting business. Before long he began producing posters, flyers, invitations and t-shirts for school and community events. He freelanced as a graphic designer right out of high school and all through college.

Upon completing his degree in Studio Art, Chris merged a growing list of graphic and print design clients with a friend’s web-site business in the mid-1990s to form Pixel People, Inc., which was one of the first studios in Denver to bridge the worlds of print and online communication. He relocated to Seattle two years later, where he continued to freelance until he was recruited to help co-found a fintech software company headquartered in San Francisco.

Over his 25-year career, Chris has diversified and honed his capabilities to include information management, marketing, technical documentation, internal communication, e-learning development and delivery, video production, CRM and a wide array of IT and security functions.

Vacano Creative is backed by a network of strategic partners, allowing us to put together a hand-picked team of experts capable of meeting virtually any communication needs. Lean In strives to provide world-class service and support for your organization, while maintaining the friendly and personal touch of your favorite neighborhood coffeehouse.

Jackie Schwabe, CEO
Mindlight / Press Play Lifestyle

Jackie wakes up motivated to help others. Her mission, to provide the tools, opportunities, and connections people need to be their best self. A career in Health IT allowed her to figuratively and literally connect thousands of systems and people. A mother of four children —  one with Autism — she often says different is not less and communication happens in more ways than verbally. She has been an invaluable source of inspiration, encouragement, support, and of course, collaboration!

Cliff W. Gilmore, CEO
North of Center

Cliff strives to help leaders recognize and realize – literally make real – the potential in themselves and those around them.  A dedicated scholar-practitioner, he holds a PhD in organization and management with a specialization in leadership and is a retired USMC officer with more than 20 years of service advising senior military leaders and leading public engagement teams. He knows firsthand that leadership is service, effective leaders are trusted communicators, and while nobody is perfect, at any given moment at least one member of a well-led team will be.

Rebecca Hodgkins
Writer and Editor

Rebecca has a background in magazine journalism and graphic design. She is the author of Subhuman Resources, This Dance, These Bones, and Flight Risk. She’s been previously published twice in Daily Science Fiction, Everyday Weirdness, Niteblade and Cezanne’s Carrot.

Rebecca is deftly able to move between genres and tone, mixing and matching where appropriate. She’s a skilled editor with a keen eye and ear, and the ability to take limp copy and make it dance the most elegant Paso Doble.