The Team

Elizabeth McFadden

CEO | DIRECTOR OF BRAND STRATEGY

Elizabeth brings the expertise, creativity and award-winning strategy of a big-time ad agency to businesses who want to scale. Over a decade ago, she developed a process to help organizations of all sizes find their voice in a crowded market. Taking the brand strategy model used by Fortune 500 companies, she designed a method for smaller companies to develop their brand.

At Novella, her role involves leading the brand strategy side of the house in addition to managing the day-to-day operations.

During her career, Elizabeth has successfully positioned small to mid-size businesses in the marketplace by developing brand strategies and executing marketing and media plans. She’s worked with clients such as the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department, the City of Cedar Rapids, in addition to beloved brands such as Brookside and The Big Biscuit, plus locally-owned businesses like Flutterhabit.  

She has been featured in The New York Times, the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Kansas City Business Journal, Startland News, and others. Elizabeth is a published author, co-writing two business books with April Beach in 2008 and 2010. And in 2022, she was named one of the Enterprising Women of the Year.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Journalism from Missouri State University and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from Babson College. She is a member of the Kansas City Tomorrow Class 36, ScaleUP KC Cohort 6 and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business National Cohort 15. 

Elizabeth is a Kansas City native and lives in Brookside with her husband Matt, and three boys. 

Skeet Hanks

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

With a 25-year career in advertising, creative design, art direction, and web development under his belt, Skeet brings an immense amount of experience to Novella —all served with a New Orleans flair!

In addition to creating award-winning campaigns for brands including Popeye’s Fried Chicken, French Market Corporation, Harrahs Casinos, and Deanie’s Seafood, he has been a direct consultant on the marketing plans for many others. Over the years, he has won over 30 ADDY awards for his work, including two Best of Print awards, eight BMA Fountain Awards, and a gold sticker from his 1st grade teacher for keeping quiet in class…once. An accomplished musician, he has written advertising scores and theme songs for companies including Boudreaux’s Jewelers and Keep Louisiana Beautiful.

As part of the Novella team, he works with clients creating cohesive brands that work both online and off. Skeet develops visual branding along with designing websites that are as beautiful as they are functional.

It’s also not beneath him to wear a dog costume, he did it for the New Orleans Saints for nine years, as Gumbo, the beloved St. Bernard.

Kelly Klinkon

CHIEF HAPPINESS OFFICER / DIRECTOR OF CLIENT ENGAGEMENT

Chief Happiness Officer | Director of Client Engagement is one long title but we believe that happy, healthy employees do the best work for our clients. Kelly’s role includes developing strategic direction, building relationships with our clients and cultivating a supportive culture inside Novella Brandhouse. Her major brand experience from category leaders like Hallmark Cards and Lorillard Tobacco informs her marketing, branding and communications expertise in consumer, as well as business-to-business industries.

She serves our diverse client roster by developing and leading marketing strategies in both traditional and digital mediums to increase business performance and product awareness. Kelly oversees researching, planning and buying all print, broadcast, and digital media. She is part of the award-winning brand strategy development team at Novella defining target audiences and constructing audience personas.

Kelly earned a BA from UMKC in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations. She loves to travel, read, explore KC with her family and can always be depended on for that perfectly funny, witty comeback line!

Jenny Wheat

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT CREATION – NOVELLA STUDIO

An award-winning photographer in her hometown market of Kansas City and recognized by national brands, Jenny has traveled all over the world: from India to Costa Rica, and from Hawaii to salt mines a mile deep in Ontario, Canada. For nearly two decades, Jenny has been working with brands such as Visit KC, HCA Health Midwest, Garmin, City Market and numerous Kansas City restaurants and small businesses to help them tell their story through photography and content. As an experienced commercial photographer, she leads the content creation department called Novella® Studio.

Since 2012, she has helped countless brands create bright, inviting, energetic imagery to promote their brands and populate their websites, social media, print collateral and ads. In fact, before joining the Novella Brandhouse in-house team, she was a frequent collaborator with us on numerous client projects. 

After graduating from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Advertising, Jenny spent 17 years working in marketing, promotions, radio, concert promoting, PR and branding. In 2004, she took a thriving photography hobby and turned it into a business. Her expertise and portfolio includes headshots, food, lifestyle, marketing, events, products and interiors. 

Jenny has built a reputation for being easy to work with, fun and relaxed on set, and a calm collaborator–someone who turns clients into friends. Plus, she brings a light-hearted and energetic approach to all of our Novella Studio projects.