MEET King Creative
Emily Newlin // Owner + Marketing Consultant
Emily Newlin of Arkansas founded King Creative Marketing + Design in 2017. "King" is her maiden name and a tribute to the creativity that has been a hallmark of her family and upbringing. Emily has served in leadership and development roles in non-profit and government sectors and now operates her own marketing consulting business with a keen focus on maximizing budgetary resources to effectively connect causes with new supporters and beneficiaries.
Partnering with King Creative means upgrading your organization’s marketing, development, and outreach efforts alongside:
20+ years of out-of-the-box, system-thinking creativity
15+ years of experience in marketing, sales, graphic design, project management, and customer service
15+ years of experience in international and state-serving non-profit organizations, development, fundraising, leadership, and management
15+ years of event planning, coordination, and promotion experience for weddings, fundraisers, galas, rodeos, and more
10+ years of experience in higher education, community colleges, workforce education, state funding models, state legislation, higher education accreditation, recruitment, and student services
10+ years of facilitating creative conversations and learning experiences for stakeholders
Expert knowledge of social media marketing strategy
Expert graphic design experience in logo, catalog, document, social media graphics, web graphics, print ads, promotional materials, print materials, and more
Award-winning website design focused on user experience and simple internal management
Evolving implementation of digital marketing strategy
Understanding generational consumer behaviors
Product development and designer/producer relationship management
Photo/video shoot and production management
Passion for connecting causes and resources
Self-motivation to work independently
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
A sense of humor and camaraderie that make challenging projects enjoyable
Attention to detail
Proficiency with Adobe Suite, Word, Excel, Google Office Apps, Mail Chimp, and other web-based software as needed
Education in Marketing (Bachelor of Science from Southern Nazarene University) and in International Development (Master of Arts from Eastern University)
Legislative experience in Arkansas and Oklahoma
Experience living, working, and traveling in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas
Experience living and working in Rwanda, Africa
A developing understanding of anti-human trafficking programs, storytelling, and development
TEAM members
Lucy Ahne // Content Creator
Lucy Ahne is a University of Arkansas–Fort Smith student majoring in Business Administration with concentrations in Digital and Consumer Marketing. She joined King Creative Marketing + Design in July 2022 after being introduced to Emily through their church—a connection that quickly became a defining milestone in her professional journey.
As a content creator at King Creative, Lucy has gained hands-on experience across the marketing industry, especially in social media, where she’s discovered a deep passion for strategy, ethical storytelling, and branding. She’s had the privilege of collaborating with inspiring leaders across nonprofits, education, startups, and other mission-driven organizations—true world changers who have shaped her understanding of what it looks like to contribute to someone else's dream and calling.
What began as a nervous step into the marketing world has transformed into a career path Lucy feels genuinely called to pursue. Guided by Emily’s mentorship and leadership, she hopes to one day run her own marketing company and mentor emerging creatives with the same generosity, clarity, and encouragement that helped shape her own journey.
At King Creative, we’re taught to love people first and use our talents to contribute to a better world. If you choose to partner with King Creative for your marketing needs, Lucy is confident you’ll love working with Emily just as much as she has. Here, creativity meets purpose—and you feel it in every project.
Kiara Smiley // Graphic Designer
Kiara Smiley is a student at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, majoring in Graphic Design. Kiara discovered her love and passion for art and design at a young age and was excited to carry that into her future with a career in Graphic Design. Through her internship with King Creative, Kiara has been able to create logos, websites, and build brand social media platforms. She also just launched her own event caricature artist service, Doodle Duo.
Dayton Whitman // Content Creator & Strategist
Dayton Whitman is a TikTok and Instagram content creator, actress, and short form video strategist with over 100,000 followers across platforms. She runs the ASL focused account (@daytonwhitmanASL), where she has built a highly engaged community by blending accessibility advocacy with entertaining and educational content. On her personal account (@daytonwhitman), Dayton expands into lifestyle, acting, and storytelling, showing versatility in connecting with different audiences.
As an actress represented by Talent X Alexander Agency, Dayton brings a professional understanding of on camera presence, performance, and storytelling. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Miami, Florida, with minors in American Sign Language and Motion Pictures. Her training includes film editing, on camera acting, play direction, and script writing, giving her a unique skill set that blends creative performance with technical production.
Dayton has partnered with brands including Lingvano, NailVesta, Bold Voice, and Intersign, creating sponsored posts and affiliate content that drive engagement and brand visibility. She now helps businesses and creators develop scroll stopping TikTok and YouTube Shorts content, from writing scripts that hook viewers in the first seconds to filming videos that align with trends and platform best practices. With hands on experience in front of and behind the camera, she specializes in making content that is authentic, engaging, and optimized for growth.
WORDS from clients
“Having been in marketing and public relations for over two decades, I have worked with and for professional firms, advertising solutions, and publishers throughout several states. I have yet to encounter the unique combination of brilliant creativity and alignment with sound marketing strategies as with King Creative. From personal service with attention to detail to brand management and data-driven resource allocation, Emily has demonstrated skills that would make her an asset to any marketing/communication plan. ”
“Emily at King Creative is one of the most creative people I’ve ever known. I’ve seen many amazing ideas come from her, and would trust her with my marketing and promotional ideas without hesitation. In addition to her exceptional work capabilities, she leads and lives with a strong moral compass, a genuine and authentic goodness, and a beautiful soul. Highly recommend as a creative partner.”
“We’ve partnered with King Creative for years on all of our communications planning, social media, and graphic design needs. They care about our goals and are great partners. Their creativity and expertise have taken our association far beyond anything we could have done on our own. ”