About me

Michele Cuthbert is the founder and creative director of Baker Creative, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023. She is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design with a bachelor's degree in advertising design, the brand strategy program of Cornell University, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, the Marathon Oil Executive Leadership program and accepted to the MBA program at Pratt University.

She has more than 20 years of experience working with leading brands including McDonald's, Ohio State University Hospital, the Columbus Crew, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cooper Tires, NAPA, Liebert, Ohio Tourism, Visit Florida, Benary, Ohio Health and more. She and her team have created award-winning published work for a diverse group of clients with unique communications challenges. Both local and national media have recognized Cuthbert, including Crain's New York Business, HuffPost, Fox News New York, Mashable and Fast Company. The "Big Book of Self Promotion" by Crescent Hill Books and multiple Graphic Design USA design manuals published her work.

Cuthbert is a recipient of the Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 award, given to the best and brightest entrepreneurs in central Ohio and received a WE 300 award. Baker Creative is Edge, WBENC, WBE certified and was named among the Best Workplaces in Ohio, by Ohio Business magazine. Baker Creative has also received multiple Communicator, PRSA PRism, PRSA regional Diamond, GDUSA, SIA, Marcom and Hermes awards in design, content marketing, video, reputation management, public relations, sustainability, social media and strategy under Cuthbert's direction. The Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio presented Cuthbert's firm with the Torch Award for Ethics.

Cuthbert has been recognized as one of the leading female CEOs by Columbus CEO magazine. Before founding her own firm, Cuthbert worked as an art director for several advertising agencies and large corporations where she developed marketing and advertising for a number of international companies. She has served as an adjunct professor at Capital University, Columbus State Community College and the Columbus College of Art and Design. Cuthbert also was a digital behavior expert for CBS affiliate WBNS-TV about cyber bullying, social media safety, digital apps, online tools, etc.

She also has served on several national boards of directors to help feed hungry children and hurricane victims. She was on the advisory board of directors for the Ohio University Schey Sales Centre. Cuthbert believes strongly in giving back to her community, which is reflected in her work as an adjunct professor at leading Columbus area universities and her growing pro-bono portfolio.

Cuthbert was one of eight agency women in the country to receive Chief Marketer's Market Like A Mother Award and was featured on an NBC4 television segment of Mom Boss with host Monica Day. Cuthbert is the founder of The Office Mommy, a blog by and for working mothers that has been featured by Columbus Parent and other publications. Long before a daughter joined her family, Cuthbert created this blog to support working mothers and their challenges and triumphs and share ways to stay

connected, learn to better manage life balance and help create a community of support for each other.

Ohio Business, the only magazine covering the statewide business scene, selected Cuthbert as being one of 500 of the most influential people in Ohio as part of its Ohio 500 feature. A proud descendant of Hispanic/Native American heritage, Cuthbert's profile appears in Hispanics Stars Rising: Volume III available through .

Cuthbert is a motorcyclist and enjoys gardening, nature, art and exercise. Her civic contributions include being the creator and host of the award-winning BusHuddle (BusinessHuddle) podcast, which provides a forum for professionals from all walks of life to share their journeys to success and offer encouragement to other entrepreneurs, their peers, the public, and young professionals and student leaders aspiring to walk in their shoes someday.

Cuthbert is making a difference because she helps clients focus on the voices that matter the most - their customers -- and keep the clients in business. Listening to what their customers really want provides insights that guide companies more effectively.

She believes it is important to preserve work/life balance and not lose oneself in either facet of life. The Baker Creative office day conveniently begins after the morning rush hour. Team members typically do not work on Fridays unless there are Request for Proposal or project deadlines looming.

Perspectives from a variety of communities are woven into the fabric of Baker Creative work, a tribute to the different backgrounds of the staff, multicultural specialist and Black and Hispanic advisory groups.

Cuthbert had the courage to follow her own vision, and her clients are being rewarded by her choice.