WHO WE ARE
Our Helm creative crew is a group of creatives and strategists who are passionate about creating while leaving a positive impact in the process. We’re driven by the story in each business or brand, the people who we’re honored to meet, and the ones who haven’t yet been told. We’re personable, respectful, create with a sense of calmness and efficiency, and know how to enjoy each moment.
A distinguishing factor of our creative crew is our culture - we fiercely protect and align ourselves with a culture of creative health so that we can give our best to our clients and our project and, even, each other. Our level of respect for each crew member within our company is evident from on-site to internal collaboration. We work hard and we enjoy our lives, who we get to meet, and what we get to do. It’s the rarest form of creative excellence and we’re aware of it, value it, and do everything we can to keep it.
Meet Our Team
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Ashlee Hollis
President/Founder
Visionary leader with the ability to champion creatives.With multiple degrees in Business Administration, Digital Marketing, and Philanthropy, Ashlee has merged her intelligence with her empathy for people by building a team culture where creatives can thrive. A focused extrovert determined to do the best for both client and team, Ashlee has fiercely set out to ensure that she invests in work that also results in positive social impact. Received a 2024 American Business Award for “Maverick of the Year,” of which she won a silver Stevie Award, in recognition of an individual executive or manager who’s affected the most positive change on his or her company and/or industry since 2022. Recognized as one of the “Top 50 Women Leaders of Philadelphia for 2024” by Women We Admire. And, along with her husband and Helm’s Chief Storyteller, Elijah, they have additionally founded The Story Factory, CHANGE Church, and have received a citation from the City of Philadelphia for their commitment towards positive social impact within the city.
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Elijah Hollis
Chief Storyteller
Ability to see the world not just as it is, but also how it could be.A storyteller and videographer, director, writer, producer, voiceover artist, and musician. His dynamic skills also include speaking, teaching, idea-generation, and creating organizations that last. Along with his wife, Ashlee, they have founded Helm Creative Studio, CHANGE Church, and The Story Factory, a space that is focused on city transformation and cultivating a place for creatives to find a haven and creativity to find a home. From classrooms to stadiums, committed to telling stories that are exceptionally crafted and beautifully human. Propensity to take risks and bring his visions to life. Creatively executes with intentionality, excellence, empathy, and compassion. Committed to leaving people with stories that inform, move, and inspire others to change from when or where the story found them. Reshaping the idea of philanthropic storytelling and redefining what it means to be creative, from grit to global impact.
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Sadie Wilson
Sr. Account Manager/Experience Envoy
Organizational expert creating exceptional and impactful experiences.
With a degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management with a concentration in Event Leadership, Sadie is focused on the entire process, and not just the results.
Rare work-ethic and attitude which cultivates opportunities to grow. A masterful organizer with the ability to lead others through both challenge and triumph, while always feeling seen and cared for in the process.
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Sara Norcott
Idea Alchemist
Writer, editor, idea-generator, creative manager, and content creator. Degrees in Communications and scripting in Writing for Stage & Screen. Over 10 years of experience in creating content for businesses and brands, including Fortune 500 and 100 companies. Approaches storytelling with precision, excellence, and an emphasis on how a story resonates with an audience. A firm believer in the power of a good story. Passionate about seeing others create and tell their best stories, both personally and professionally. After 5 years living in Los Angeles, sharpening her tools in storytelling and voice by working with both brands and screenwriters, she started a new scene in the script of her life by returning to the East Coast.
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Bryan Barlow
Video Editor/Story Crafter
Caring for people while storytelling.
Earned a B.A. in Media Studies and Production from Temple University. A creative and musician in his own right, Bryan is committed to ensuring his work has a meaningful impact, in each and every way. Welcoming to others in a way that allows him to see the story within the person and to see opportunities in a fresh and exciting way. Determined to be open to new experiences and keep creating unlimited possibilities in storytelling.
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Amy Lin
Graphic Designer/Design Navigator
Artist in graphic design from web design to print.
Holds a B.A. in Advertising from Temple University. Recognizes the importance and beauty in diversity of experiences and culture. Creates from an open-minded space. Sees the world in an optimistic way, no matter what is presented as an obstacle, allowing Amy to see dimensions in the work that could be otherwise missed. Focused on the possibilities and not the problem. Committed to creating work that inspires, impacts, and improves the world around her while designing in a digital age.
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Eve Turner
Administrative & Digital Marketing Assistant
A creative focused on human connection and storytelling.
Majoring in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Tampa. Compassionately collaborates both behind the scenes and on stage. Passionate about learning, understanding, and leading with empathy. Extensive experience in dance and creative arts. Recognizes the value of ensuring stories are felt by those who see and hear them while leaving a lasting impact. Determined to appreciate the value of taking risks, living authentically, and celebrating humanity throughout the creative process.
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Matt Kee AKA "DOC"
Audio Engineer
Singer, audio musician, skilled songwriter, and recording artist.
Youth Coordinator of Takeover After-School Program, an initiative built on giving students within Philadelphia mentorship and opportunities for their creative dreams that may otherwise not be available to them. Director of iCreate, an after-school music program for students to turn pain into purpose through “creating the future sound of Philadelphia.” Passionate about creating sounds that move people into a self-taught mastery of mixing, recording, and artist development. Over ten years of experience in touring and achievements heard through radio, major festivals, and multiple well-known artists. Giving back to his native city of Philadelphia, which contributed to his growth as an artist. Revolutionizing what it means to repurpose pain into creativity from the students he reaches to the community he calls home.
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Haley Rae Adair
Photographer
Photographer, artist, and moment magnifier.
Merging talent with perception to see people beyond the camera lens. Capturing the uniqueness which characterizes each person. With a degree in Fine Art in Photography from Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Haley is consistently uncovering what it means to ensure stories are celebrated beyond an image. Understanding of how people view themselves and how they want to be seen. Utilizing her skills and her values to listen, learn, and honor the people who fill her work.
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Kym Hare
Assistant
Kym Hare is a supportive and organizational mastermind who is determined to assist others in pursuing their passions and reaching their goals. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and European Studies, Kym’s ability to communicate well, partnered with her extensive experience in advertising and public relations, allows for stories to thrive in varying environments and circumstances. Compassionate in how she relays information and maintains key details on projects and for clients, Kym is committed to proactively and efficiently navigating challenges with kindness and empathy, while making a positive impact on everyone she encounters in a way that honors creativity, humanity, and taking action with purpose. When Kym isn’t managing multiple projects and schedules from her home base in Texas, you can find her spending time with her family, playing with her son, and assisting others in living their healthiest lives possible.
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Thais Mattos de Jesus
Administrative Assistant
Thais Mattos de Jesus is a passionate communicator with six years of Human Resources experience within Brazil and training from Universidade Paulista, while additionally now focusing on Communication Studies from Delaware County Community College. Her desire to see people thrive and create with a sense of energy and life has ensured that she brings hope and positivity to every challenge and creative adventure. Originally from Brazil, Thais’ ability to adapt, excel at learning new things, and support people in the process has allowed her to become a force for seeing situations from different perspectives and finding viable solutions to any arising challenges. With an emphasis on discovering the best ways to film and understand the art of production, Thais is actively transforming how she sees the world behind the camera and on-screen. When Thais isn’t assisting in streamlining communications, you can find her cultivating happiness, watching joyful videos, studying movies and film, or taking a walk with those she loves. -
Diana Guerrero
Graphic Design Intern
Diana Guerrero is a design specialist with a degree in Visual Communication Design from Thomas Jefferson University. Her ability to strategically create and her sense of designing with intentionality and purpose has cultivated an ability to add value to every project and goal. Originally from Mexico, and having lived in Philadelphia for nearly seven years, Diana’s sense of adventure and determination has resulted in a lifestyle of learning, appreciation, and exploration in order to holistically tell stories through design and from a place of strength. Blending effectiveness and efficiency with aesthetically-pleasing results, Diana’s designs are bold, insightful, and celebrate the art of human connection. When Diana isn’t actively designing, you can find her walking about the city, engaging in a healthy lifestyle, and on a search for the latest and best place to get brunch, all while being inspired by stories and innovation.
CORE VALUES
Every story needs structure. And so do we. We fiercely protect, cultivate, and maintain our company culture, which is part of what makes us so very “Helm.”
Value people over production.
People - their stories, their bravery, and their creativity, will always be our priority.
Weigh your words.
Our words can wound or create wholeness - we choose to speak truth with kindness and care.
Walk in what you dream.
Take action on what matters most and decide to live in what you imagine.
Feel, first.
We can’t expect audiences or clients to feel what we aren’t willing to experience or feel, first - we lead the way for stories to be seen, felt, and heard because we go there, first.
Burnout may get quick results but leaves lasting scars - healing and wholeness is always our intention.
Honor creative health.
Multiply positive impact.
Our choices create a rippling effect in the world - we are responsible for our words, actions, and creativity.
Kindly lead your story.
We are remembered for how we treat others and not only for the work we produce - and leadership or position will never excuse bad behavior.
Cultivate courage.
Solutions are found when we believe that solutions are possible to any obstacles, and that challenges can serve us in refining our skills.
Fuel dreams through failures.
If you’re doing anything great or worth risking over, failure is a sign that you’re trying - you’re in the game. We celebrate bravery to dream, try, fail, and keep moving forward.
Integrate imagination.
Don’t lose your sense of wonder for what’s possible and what we are capable of creating.