Today we’d like to introduce you to Casie Patterson.
Hi Casie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I never planned to be an entrepreneur, but looking back, the signs were always there. In elementary school, once I’d had my fill of dying of dysentery while playing The Oregon Trail, I found another game called Lemonade Stand. It taught you how to run a business, how to set prices, manage supply, and make a profit, and I was hooked.
I went on to major in marketing at the University of Florida. I later earned my MBA, thinking I’d climb the corporate ladder and one day become a Chief Marketing Officer. As the eldest daughter of Jamaican immigrants, education and getting a “good job” were core values. But after nearly twenty years of leading marketing initiatives for large global corporations and experiencing unexpected layoffs myself, as well as within my family, I realized that those “good jobs” weren’t as stable as promised.
After marrying and moving to New York City, I took a break from corporate life to explore my creativity and launched a travel and beauty blog. That season reignited my passion for storytelling. It was the first time I’d used digital and social media marketing tools hands-on instead of managing them from a corporate distance, and I loved it.
After my second child was born, I was ready to return to corporate work, until a conversation with career coach Krista Witherspoon (@thee.coachkris on IG) changed everything. She encouraged me to take on freelance social media projects while I looked for a full-time role. One client led to another, and before long, I realized I wasn’t looking for another job; I was building a business.
That’s how First Bright Marketing got its start (@firstbrightmarketing on IG). It’s the result of over 20 years of corporate experience, a great deal of prayer, and a genuine desire to help business owners grow. Today, I get to use everything I’ve learned to help small businesses stand out and succeed, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been an easy road at all, but it’s been worth every stretch. Someone once said, “If you want to strengthen your faith, start a business.” I couldn’t agree more. Entrepreneurship forces you to trust God in a new way because you’re building something that doesn’t exist yet and believing it will work.
The hardest part early on wasn’t finding clients, it was finding my confidence. Like many new business owners, I struggled to price my work to match the level of value I deliver. I wanted to help everyone, but I had to learn that helping people doesn’t mean undervaluing yourself.
I’m grateful for every client who trusted me early on. And my husband and kids cheer me on; that, coupled with my faith, keeps me going.
As you know, we’re big fans of First Bright Marketing. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
First Bright Marketing is a full-service national branding and marketing agency based in South Florida.
We work with founder-led and mission-driven businesses and organizations that want real growth but lack the time or resources to handle everything on their own. Most of our clients come to us after trying to manage their marketing internally; they’re posting, promoting, and experimenting, but not getting consistent results. We step in as their strategic marketing and public relations partner. We build customized plans, create content, and manage systems that build trust, attract the right clients, and drive results.
What sets us apart is that we help our clients uncover their unique stories behind the brand and build authentic relationships with their audience, driving engagement and sales. We specialize in strategic communications, video storytelling, media relations, and content creation that connect with the right audience at the right time, leveraging the latest trends, insights, and the pulse of the local and national community, as well as new technologies such as generative AI and integrated media.
I am proud that my business supports other businesses and organizations with values, goals, and aspirations that genuinely help people. That’s the purpose of First Bright Marketing.
At First Bright Marketing, our mission is simple: help small businesses shine as brightly as the vision behind them. For more information on how your business can shine, visit www.firstbrightmarketing.com
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I have so many great memories growing up in Miami. One that always sticks with me: in the car with my family, driving down 27th Ave, listening to everything on the radio from Bob Marley to Gloria Estefan on our way to get patties from Hammonds Bakery. To this day, I can still hear the music and see the patty crumbs all over my clothes.
Pricing:
- Social Media Management starting from $846/month
- Communications Strategy, Content and Video Creation, and Distribution starting at $2k
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.firstbrightmarketing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstbrightmarketing
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casie-d-patterson/
