EQBM Design Co. won Gold in both Graphic Design and Website Design in Community Votes Peoria 2025. Even typing that still feels surreal.
These awards mean so much more than a badge or a title. They mark a year defined by rebuilding, refining, and showing up with more intention than ever before. And they’re a reflection of the people who trusted me, cheered for me, referred to me, and believed in what I was creating.
So I want to share what this year looked like behind the scenes – the work, the shifts, the heart – and why these Gold wins feel like such a milestone.
This past year became a turning point for EQBM. Not because of one big moment, but because of a series of decisions, refinements, and lessons that slowly reshaped my business.
I leaned all the way into what makes EQBM…EQBM.
I finally launched my website in the way I’ve always wanted it to be with gothic vibes and impactful symbolism.
Thanks to Marissa from Daisy + Coe, I had brand photos that absolutely matched the aesthetic and brand I wanted.
Instead of watering down my style to fit a trend, I committed to creating a brand that felt intentional, honest, and unmistakably mine. That clarity brought in clients who wanted exactly that — soulful design rooted in transformation.
This year, I shifted from “designing things” to guiding people through transformation. Creating brands and websites is still my signature service and the core of what I do, but I expanded to truly help people along their business journey, including:
I focused on pairing empathy with strategy. And the results became deeper, stronger, and more aligned with what my clients genuinely needed.
I stopped waiting for “perfect” and focused on showing up consistently in my newsletters - even when it felt like no one was reading them. (People were reading them. I have the analytics to prove it. I just was in my own head.)
This led me to, as of this blog post, 21 weeks of consistent newsletters and to new Pinterest pins and a website landing page to help me promote my newsletter.
For every brand that is launched into the world and every client win, there were also:
This year stretched me – creatively, strategically, and personally. And typing this post out with two Gold awards feels like a celebration of all the invisible labor that got me here.
Here’s the truth: I wouldn’t be writing this post without you.
The clients who trusted me with their stories.
The friends and peers who shared my work.
The small business owners and entrepreneurs who sent referrals.
The people who took the time to vote (even when I forgot to vote myself!)
And as a special shoutout, I have to thank the Founding Females monthly meetups I’ve been attending since February and the Founding Females Mastermind for lighting a fire under my ass and breathing new life into my passion for my business. The women who come together to pour into each other’s businesses truly inspire me every day, and I’m not sure I would be where I am today without them. And of course, thank you to Francie Hinrichsen who put this all together and continues to inspire all of us.
Every bit of support added up to something bigger.
These awards are as much yours as they are mine.
Winning Gold isn’t about being a winner.
It’s about belonging.
It’s about growth.
It’s about creating work that resonates with the people around me.
These wins remind me why I started EQBM in the first place: to help visionaries step into the next version of themselves, just like I’m constantly doing in my own business.
More storytelling.
More content.
And most importantly?
More gratitude for the community that continues to walk alongside me.
Brand and Website Designer crafting strategic, elevated designs for mission-driven entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits.
Every Wednesday, this branding newsletter will bring you one real story, one sharp insight, and one reminder to help you show up more fully in your business.
And I'm here to help every decision, design, and message work towards the building the business and brand that you’ve imagined.
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