2023 winners
Cheers to our 2023 Rosie Award Winners!
Check out the amazing independent marketers below whose stories of work, life, and brave choices had us shaking our pom poms and weeping in our pretzels.
freelancer of the year
Lakecia Hammond
Lakecia has broken the boundaries of copywriting, as she plays a valuable role in branding, conceptualizing, storyboarding, and leading copy for events, installations, commercials, and much more. Her clients come back time and again for her ability to bring them bold ideas that set them apart. Lakecia’s portfolio showcases the heart behind the words people see, and she deserves to be honored for her creative passion—one that she’s consistently nurtured from the start of her career.
“This year, I took my first mental health break since starting my copywriting business. It took everything in me not to feel guilty. Fortunately, I let my gut lead, and when I returned, I was better for it and ready for whatever came next. This award affirms me. While working without pause is traditionally celebrated, a new way of working, which includes mental rest, intentional output, and freeing oneself of abusive corporate regularities, is okay and why I became an entrepreneur in the first place. Thank you to the Rosie team and every worthy nominee—you’re shapeshifting work as we know it. Thank you to my wife, Ebony, for being a cheerleader when I can’t pull myself out of a funk and ready with champagne to celebrate my wins. Lastly, thank you to everyone who uplifts me when imposter syndrome strikes—thank you for seeing my light instead of dimming it. I’m forever grateful.”
-Lakecia Hammond
Heather Wilson
The Liberation Award Winner
In a world that often glorifies hustle and the pursuit of high-paying careers, Heather felt trapped. Days blurred into one another as she dedicated endless hours to a job that delivered financial success but left her spiritually bankrupt. In a declaration of self-worth, Heather left behind the lucrative, high-paying job that had her constantly racing against the clock. She took time off to reflect, heal, and rediscover the joy of living and working on her own terms. During this hiatus, Heather poured her heart into creating a small business that aligned with her values and resonated with her true self. As she nurtured herself, her business grew, proving success can be built on a foundation of well-being and authenticity, a realization that has brought her true liberation.
Meg Burrell
Renaissance Award Winner
Meg has a deep belief that the future of marketing will be free of silos; that there simply isn’t room for binary thinking or doing. As the definition of “Renaissance” states, Meg has made it her mission to gain proficiencies in the wide range of specialties in the MarComm world, from her beginnings in design school to working her way across agency verticals, where she now leads strategy teams. The word “multi-hyphenate” gets tossed around a lot in the marketing zeitgeist now, but that’s where Meg’s strengths lie—as a dot connector in ways that are completely new. Solving problems in new ways. Creating sense and structure and delivering results when ecosystems have fallen into chaos, which is exactly what a modern Renaissance marketer embodies.
Prissly Mena
Survivor Award Winner
Three years ago, Prissly was living paycheck to paycheck and had to embark on a journey marked by grit and unwavering determination, all in the pursuit of a brighter future for her Autistic daughter and her family. Prissly dove headfirst into the intricacies of B2B marketing, soaking up every morsel of knowledge as she tirelessly refined her skills during late nights and early mornings. She became an unstoppable force, swinging open doors that she had thought were immovable and leading her to start her now-thriving business. Prissly’s daughter’s resilience and unique perspective has remained her guiding star as she continues to build a life teeming with opportunity, understanding, and unwavering support for her family. Her story isn’t just one of survival—it’s a testament to the boundless potential of the human spirit.
Kaelyn Banks
Greater Good Award Winner
Giving back is just part of who Kaelyn is—thanks to her mom, who taught her from a young age that small gestures of kindness really do make a difference. As a college student, Kaelyn volunteered with many local organizations on and off campus, including the Boys and Girls Clubs. Now as a young professional, she’s still stretching that humanitarian arm. Kaelyn sits on the board of the Washington, DC chapter of the American Marketing Association, volunteers with the Tigerlily Foundation, and offers her services to small businesses and entrepreneurs through the Greater Washington Urban League, which works to strengthen the economic and political power of the region’s Black population. Kaelyn is determined to continue to combine her love of marketing with her desire to give back by supporting nonprofits that serve historically marginalized and unprivileged communities.
Barika Bell & Altimese Curry
Dynamic Duo Award Winner
Barika and Altimese first connected through projects at We Are Rosie. It didn’t take long for them to cultivate a beautiful friendship despite living on opposite sides of the country. From day one of their first project together, each recognized how knowledgeable the other was and knew she had found a capable partner to learn from. Since then, they’ve continued to team up on important projects, pass along business referrals, and even share mom advice, as they both have young daughters. Barika and Altimese are always uplifting each other and trading insights, and are grateful to have been introduced through their work. The two are a force to reckoned with and are a dynamic duo in every sense of the word.