As we celebrate the last couple months of JKS Incorporated’s 40th anniversary, we’re excited to shine the spotlight on Angie Roney, one of our incredible Creative Services team members.
“I am so happy that Angie is a part of our team,” said Christy Cox Spencer, President of JKS Incorporated. “She is the first female graphic designer we have had on staff and I am beyond proud of that accomplishment for the company. As a WBENC-certified business, it has been part of my overall goal to add women to our team that make us more diverse and well-rounded. Because of the type of hands-on and laborious work we do, finding women for those roles can be a challenge. Angie has brought another dimension and perspective to our team and her approach to our clients is what makes her an asset to us. She is detail-oriented and has a genuine interest in learning about the client she is working with so she is able to provide them with designs and concepts that are in line with their vision and branding goals.”
Angie has been a part of the JKS Incorporated family since July of 2023. Initially hired to help with all of our graphic design, pre-press, and print production needs, Angie has recently taken on the responsibility of promoting our services to government agencies looking to source work from WBENC-certified businesses.
I sat down with Angie to talk to her about her role on our Creative Services team, her favorite projects to date, and what she enjoys most about working at JKS Incorporated.
Rachel: Let’s start on a really fun note! Can you share a little bit about one or two projects that you’ve really enjoyed working on and being a part of?
Angie: Only one or two?! Ok, I’ll try…
The first one that comes to mind is creating a vehicle graphic for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Winston-Salem that fell within their budget, but was still beautiful and inspiring. I had access to their graphic elements and photos for a new branding campaign. Along with these, and using the vehicle shape and components, I created an informative, relatable, and accessible representation of their mission and vision. The graphic was added to one of their transportation vans that will double as a traveling billboard on the road and as a backdrop for special events.
Another company I love working with in general is Family Services of Forsyth County. I am currently working on their handbook for their Child Development Programs—Early Head Start, Head Start, and Pre-K Education and Care. Everyone with Family Services is committed and sincere in their efforts to reach and provide healthy, caring environments for children who are regularly underserved. I especially love their development of an Intergenerational Center, which provides child and senior care together!
JKS Incorporated recently renewed its certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Can you speak to what this means for JKS Incorporated as a business and how your role on our Creative Services team has grown to include responsibilities related to this certification?
JKS Incorporated has been a WBENC-certified business since August of 2021. Because of this, we can support national and statewide contractors with their inclusivity and diversity initiatives. I like to find the companies or government agencies needing our expertise, products, and services. I work to create a handshake, connection, and contract for us to work together and meet the requirements of the programs and jobs in which they participate.
Finally, outside of collaborating with our amazing clients, what do you love most about working at JKS Incorporated?
The people. It is very much like a family. We have our great days, our okay days, and the other! But we learn from each other and do our best to help or steer clear to give each other room to work.
Here are things I like about my co-workers:
- Christy is a beautiful soul inside and out. She loves Winston-Salem, preserving its history. I mean, she is currently restoring the original Arby’s sign from the Stratford Rd location—who does that? Christy! The company she runs also cares about its employees as people, too. The support of us all doing “Life” has been very meaningful to me. In my book, her empathy, big heart, and strength of character make her a hero. An accessible and relatable champion of worthy causes like community, people and animals.
- Stann is the mann. He’s the go-to for all things graphics and JKS.
- Josh has everybody’s back and provides passing distractions that make me laugh out loud—usually when needed, too.
- Kyle is the go-getter. He is a great team player who is always glad to help.
- Shane is the Jack of all trades and master of most here! He can tell you a story about anything. And don’t tell him I told you, but he really does have a great heart and will help you if he can.
- Sunny has great taste in music, has an appropriate knack for hilarious sarcasm, and is, most often, my favorite in-house designer.
- Sam, this guy will learn, think, and do. In between jobs he is drawing art that is totally tattoo-worthy and talking about great music.
- Kris makes everything work at Robert Hall, so of course he is a people person and always goes the extra mile to make everything fun.
- Mary Elizabeth wears many hats, but she wears each of them beautifully. She’s another leading lady contributing knowledge and support to nearly every inch of the business.
- Rachel, you are our social (media) butterfly. You keep us all posted by creating, updating, and sharing all we do to keep JKS Incorporated a premium, “go-to” brand all across the internet.
- And last, but definitely not least (and I am sure he would say I saved the best for last), is Will. He is an incredible piece of Winston-Salem himself! He can out shine any NASCAR enthusiast that has ever rubbed elbows (or drag raced maybe?) with the classic drivers on the streets of Winston-Salem before they made the big time! He has great taste in many things, but cars are his forte. Along with honoring the design, people, and history through restoration and his museums, he can bring the past alive with his stories about more than just the vehicles he has hands on.
