Content Box – Building an In-House Studio from the Ground Up

At creative agency Marcus Thomas LLC in Cleveland, OH, I was tasked with solving a major challenge: producing fast-turn, digital-first content like social posts, display ads, and short-form video. Traditional production models were too slow and costly, so leadership asked me to build an in-house studio—Content Box—from scratch.

I designed a nimble, scalable content production model that delivered high-quality assets quickly and profitably. This meant creating not just a team, but a collaborative ecosystem. I recruited and managed a vetted freelance network of designers, copywriters, videographers, editors, and animators—many of whom I brought in through personal industry connections. I built lasting relationships with these creatives by fostering a supportive environment that encouraged consistency, trust, and shared standards.

Internally, I worked hand-in-hand with creative, account, and media teams to seamlessly integrate Content Box into existing workflows. I led cross-functional onboarding sessions, introduced shared tools like intake forms and estimating templates, and streamlined review processes to reduce bottlenecks. To further empower collaboration, I created a flexible pricing model that gave account teams clarity and clients transparent options.

The result was a thriving, relationship-driven studio built on trust and collaboration. Content Box became a place where freelancers felt valued and engaged, internal teams felt supported and aligned, and clients benefited from a cohesive, efficient process. The strong partnerships I built—across disciplines, departments, and freelance networks—not only ensured consistency and quality, but also laid the foundation for a sustainable, people-first approach to content creation.