We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Monica Malave a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Monica, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.

When it comes to Marketing, there is a belief that we can not collaborate with other marketing agencies or individuals because we may be giving away trade secrets or marketing strategies that may help others succeed. It is the complete opposite. We believe in #CommunityOverCompetition and that our marketing competition is moot. When we collaborate together, growth happens.

Monica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The Elevate It Now story started many years ago although I didn’t know at the time that my marketing career one day was going to take me to be CEO of my own Marketing Agency. I always thought it would be some credit union in the Washington, DC area.

I climbed the corporate ladder starting in the late 90s and became Chief Administrative Offer of the FDCI Federal Credit Union where I lead the Human Resources and Marketing Departments and eventually the Chief Marketing Officer for the DVA Federal Credit Union, 360 Financial Group and other executive marketing positions in credit unions in the area. This time I also got my BA in Marketing Management in 2006 which I’m very proud of. I was working full-time, a single mom, studying FT, and managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude.

After a small burnout in marketing, I took a job as a Senior Mortgage Lender with one of our lending partners and loved doing that for eight years until the marketing efforts I was doing to promote my lending services brought me back to marketing. I was working as an in-house lender for KW Chantilly Ventures and Movement Mortgage where I learned social media marketing and all its benefits and realized that maybe I could get their mortgage business if I taught them some marketing strategies to help their real estate business flourish.

A very wise young lady caught me one day talking to an agent and gave them some tips. She called me over to have a chat with me. Her comment “you are charging these guys for all this marketing stuff you’re doing right? to which I frustratedly said, “No, Lisa I’m trying to get their mortgages!”

I walked into my office, still very angry and frustrated. Asking myself the question. “What is my purpose here?” Iooked outside the window and asked God the same question in more colorful words, and he whispered in my ear….”you are supposed to start your own company.” I looked around to see who else was in the room of course I knew no one was there. Just him. The next words out of my mouth were “really, God!” this is what this whole journey has been all about. So my next question was “what am I supposed to call this thing?” And he spoke to me again….Elevate It Now and on that day. November 14, 1014, Elevate It Now was born.

Elevate It Now was born to assist real estate agents, small business owners, and credit unions who don’t have the resources to hire a marketing professional but know they need marketing initiatives to grow their businesses and exist tomorrow.

Since our inception, we have helped many local real estate agents and small business owners with marketing strategies, branding, social media marketing, SEO, coaching, graphic design, website development, content marketing, and video creation among many other things.

We are members of the American Marketing Association (AMADC) here in Washington, DC, and are a part of the AMADC Marketing Mentors Network where we get to mentor young marketers for five months of the year. We are also Adobe Express Brand Ambassadors and work closely with the Adobe Community to educate and inspire others and are part of one of the most amazing creative communities in the US. In 2018, we won Best Marketing Agency in Prince William County and are super proud of our accomplishments. Our presence online and on social reflects all the hard work we have put into growing our business and its community.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The pandemic! When Covid-19 hit, we got slammed! My audience could no longer go door-knocking or run their real estate business the way they were accustomed to. They realized they had to find other creative ways to get to their clients and we happily helped them all!

Social Media Marketing became a must and not an afterthought. Video creation became the go-to tool and Virtual Buying and Selling Programs were established for our clients. Our branding projects picked up and I had to let go of my employee and find other solutions so Fiverr became my temporary video editor until I hired someone else to help with video creation.

It was a busy time but an exciting time as we were doing our part to help others get through and market their businesses even through the tough times.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes! Our vision! “To be an amazing and ethical marketing company that thrives on a culture of love, creativity, and respect while elevating our client’s business needs and making a positive change in their lives.”

Our Mission: We plan on accomplishing this by providing innovative, tailored, and result-driven marketing solutions to our clients that will increase brand loyalty while exceeding expectations, increasing profitability, and ensuring a sound tomorrow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elevateitnow.com/about-us/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevateitnow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevateitnow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamalave/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElevateItNow
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMdpn38a0mxV6A6iokQzRXw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/elevate-it-now-haymarket-2
• Other: Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/elevateitnow Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elevateitnowmarketing/ TikTok: ElevateItNow

Image Credits
Iryna Photography Liz Roop Photography