Mitch Vingle

When we begin helping a new client, our team at Wheelhouse Creative LLC prides itself on research. What’s the business’s history? What are its strengths? What are its needs? How can we help? We dig deep.
Likewise, we believe clients and potential clients should know the story behind Wheelhouse.
Many around the Ohio Valley, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania know about our creative abilities and hard work ethic. A full-service advertising agency, we specialize in effective and innovative campaigns for businesses of all sizes. Brand development and management? Media development and placement? Graphic design? Video production? Digital marketing? Public relations? Social media marketing? Copywriting? We do it all.
Yet we believe history defines each and every one of us. And here’s ours.
Wheelhouse began on the third floor of a house affectionately known as “big blue” in Wheeling on West Virginia’s historic National Road. A marketing team of three represented the communications department at the law firm of Bordas & Bordas. The trio worked with various vendors for graphic design services, video production, and media placement to market Bordas & Bordas.
Well, in 2014, it was suggested to Jamie Bordas, the firm’s managing partner, that he expand the communications department into a full-service advertising agency and offer to other businesses what worked so successfully for the law firm. On Jan. 5, 2015, Wheelhouse Creative was officially open for business with account executives, a media buyer, a graphic designer, and a video specialist.
The response was great. The year 2015 marked one of growth, as the agency added a team of graphic designers to service the growing design needs of its clients. In 2016, Wheelhouse Creative expanded to the Pittsburgh market. The years of 2017 and 2018 brought a further expansion of services, as Wheelhouse Creative added social and digital media specialists and brought the area’s top video production team in-house to solidify its role as a premier creative agency.
Today, we have a cohesive staff of 13 unique and creative individuals that represent diverse areas of expertise to serve the client’s needs.
Oh, and the name?
The phrase “it’s in our wheelhouse” is often used to describe an individual or group’s area of interest or expertise. We have you covered whatever your advertising needs and we do so with a shared passion for excellence. We love what we do.
We’re sure you will too. Give us a call today at 304-905-6005 and let’s get started making history for your business.

If you’ve walked the lush grounds of Oglebay in Wheeling and seen the logo for the park’s Today, Tomorrow environmental sustainability campaign, you’ve seen Amanda Carlson’s work.

Ditto if you’re a West Virginia University athletic fan and have purchased a Country Roads Trust Lager to support its Name, Image and Likeness collective for the Mountaineers.

That beer can? Amanda’s design.

She does great work for Wheelhouse Creative LLC’s clients – using both a creative and scientific approach.

See, Amanda Carlson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Chatham University. She was headed for a career in marine biology or zoology. An offer was once extended from Australia! Luckily for our clients, though, she also loved sports. After earning her biology degree in a mere 2½ years, she decided to pursue a minor in Graphic design. Further down the road, she add a Masters of Science in Communications & Interactive Media from prestigious Quinnipiac University.

“I still had eligibility for sports and wanted to keep going,” she said. “I didn’t know if I’d do anything with the minor, but after I graduated, some friends in a musical group asked if I’d do some digital ads. They gave me the first opportunity to do freelance work, and I realized I was pretty good at it. It was fun to do work for the entertainment industry. It snowballed from there. Other friends asked if I could do a T-shirt, more ads, and a website…”

Amanda always had a knack for art, helping with her high school and college yearbooks, but she began honing the craft with a twist.

Wheelhouse clients and potential clients should know she’s not only creative, but she uses that biology degree.

“I really do take a scientific approach,” she said. “Understanding the analytics, understanding the how and why things work, how and why they go together.

“There’s the creative aspect, which is the visual. However, in any campaign, you need to understand why you are building that campaign and how it will affect the client and its customers. In biology, there are a lot of scientific methods, research, and statistics, and I try to apply that to the creative aspect.”

Amanda has many admirable sides. At Wheelhouse, she’s a “jack of all trades” graphic designer with digital marketing and advertising expertise. That can run the gamut from “display ads, social media graphics and marketing, management and analytics to ensuring a website is performing the best it can for the ads we drive to it.”

Away from work, the Minnesota native plays hockey. She’s a goalie for different adult league teams, including a travel team called the Three Rivers Mudcats. She also gives back to the sport as a USA Hockey level 5 master coach for the North Pittsburgh Wildcats.

“My favorite sport,” Amanda said. “Best sport ever. When you’re born in Minnesota, they pretty much spank your butt and hand your parents a pair of skates.”

She’s one more reason to go to Wheelhouse Creative LLC.

“We’re in it for the client,” said Amanda, who now has 19 years of experience with graphic and web design. “Every company wants to make money, but we put the client first and go above and beyond to make sure they get what they want and need.” Including those added twists.

Give us a call today at 304-905-6005 to see for yourself!

A specialty at Wheelhouse Creative is not only creating unique brands but reinforcing them via sustained campaigns.
And you probably wouldn’t guess this, but reinforcing brands can be… fun.
Of course, our first goal after creating a strong brand is maintaining consistency across all touchpoints. Consistency ensures your brand message, visual identity, and tone remain uniform, creating a strong and recognizable presence. This includes everything from your logo and color scheme to your communication style in marketing materials and social media. By consistently delivering the same message and aesthetic, you help your audience develop a clear understanding of what your brand represents, fostering trust and loyalty.
Then here is where the fun comes in – by engaging with your audience. This can include sending clients holiday greetings, newsletters, events, or other fun emails to keep you on their mind.
Building a connection with your target market through personalized interactions, responsive customer service, and active participation on social media platforms can significantly strengthen your brand. Engage in meaningful conversations, provide value through content, and listen to customer feedback to refine your brand’s offerings. This interaction not only humanizes your brand but keeps it top of mind for your audience, driving brand loyalty.
Brand reinforcement also involves staying relevant in a constantly changing market. This means keeping up with industry trends, adapting to new technologies, and continuously innovating your products or services. By being proactive and responsive to changes in the market, you ensure your brand remains fresh and appealing to your audience. Moreover, aligning your brand with current trends can attract new customers and retain existing ones, further solidifying your brand’s position in the market.
Last, storytelling is a powerful tool for brand reinforcement. Crafting and sharing compelling stories about your brand’s journey, values, and the impact it has on customers can create an emotional connection with your audience. These stories can be shared through various channels such as your website, social media, or even through customer testimonials. By making your brand’s narrative relatable and engaging, you not only reinforce your brand identity but also create a loyal community of customers who resonate with your brand’s mission and values.
At Wheelhouse Creative, we love our work. And we love it even more when our clients are enjoying their marketing experience. So, give us a call at 304-905-6005 and let’s see how we can create and reinforce your brand today!

The first thing you notice about Wheelhouse Creative account executive extraordinaire Olivia Silverio is she’s fit.

She works out and her food splurge is but “an occasional quarter of a donut.”

But dig a little deeper and you’ll realize she’s actually a fit for any business looking to flex their marketing and advertising game.

Just ask Wheelhouse vice president Scott Holt.

“Olivia lives at the crossroads of organized and forward thinking,” he said. “Her planning and coordination of large-scale and long-term projects with her clients, media partners, and creative staff is outstanding. When combined with her ability to manage the day-to-day efforts and ensure that things are done (and done correctly), it’s easy to see why she’s been such an asset to Wheelhouse and her clients since Day 1.”

Now married to husband Aaron and raising two young sons, Olivia started as an intern at Bordas & Bordas law firm the summer before her senior year at West Liberty University in 2014. She continued her education at West Virginia University, receiving a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Then, when Wheelhouse was launched, company president Jamie Bordas immediately hired her.

It was a great move. In fact, although Olivia has handled many different accounts, she’s been entrusted with the Bordas & Bordas account for the last five years.

“I never thought I would be doing what I am doing now,” Silverio said. “Growing up I used to tell people I wanted to be the next Katie Couric, who was one of the ‘Today Show’ anchors during my childhood. After an anatomy class in high school, I became interested in the sciences and started college as an exercise physiology major with a goal of going to be a physical therapist or occupational therapist. But I was sitting in a biology class one day when I realized I was losing interest and needed to switch things up.”

“It was when I changed my major to public relations with a minor in marketing that I really started to develop a passion for my work, for marketing. I wrote for WLU’s campus newspaper, The Trumpet, to get more involved and because writing is something I enjoy. I was pretty excited to be promoted to editor my senior year but chose to resign from the position because it was happening at the same time as my internship at Bordas & Bordas.”
She chuckles.
“I think I made the right choice.”
For her. For Bordas & Bordas. And for all clients with which Olivia works. See, she was born and raised in the Ohio Valley and cares deeply about the people of the area.
“I was born and raised a Shadyside Tiger and I will always be proud of that,” she said. “My husband and I grew up there and are happy to be raising our boys there. I moved away for college but moved back after graduating. In my opinion, you cannot find a safer place to grow up or raise a family. Plus, we have the Shadyside Loop. Nothing beats that. It’s all about family.”
She also helps make Wheelhouse a family.
“I’ve been with Wheelhouse since the beginning in 2015, so that makes it special to me,” Silverio said. “I’ve seen Wheelhouse grow as a company and I’ve been lucky to grow with the company.”
Olivia is someone you want to work beside (she doesn’t hesitate to tackle any project small or large) and someone you want working for you. You can just sense her passion for the position.
“My favorite thing about my position at Wheelhouse is every day is different, which keeps things exciting and fresh,” she said. “Something I’ve really enjoyed within the last year is we are doing a lot more in Pittsburgh with Bordas & Bordas. It gives me the best of both worlds by working in Wheeling and being close to home, but also getting to work with fun organizations through the law firm’s partnerships and traveling to the city occasionally. It’s a nice change of pace.”
Her key to success?
“I try to always think how I would want things done if I were the client and do my best for them,” Silverio said. “I try to stay organized and think ahead to keep things moving as smoothly as possible.”
Olivia is one of the many special reasons to work with Wheelhouse Creative (https://wheelhousecreativellc.com).
“Wheelhouse has so many employees with unique backgrounds,” she said. “Fresh ideas and creative concepts are always happening — which is what makes it a great place for clients and potential clients.”
Give us a call today at 304-905-6005!

Occasionally we’re asked, “What makes Wheelhouse Creative stand out? We always hear good things about your agency, but what exactly are those strengths?”
Well, we have an extremely dedicated staff with many talents to offer. Yet let’s look a little deeper.
Comprehensive Service Offering: Wheelhouse Creative stands out for its wide range of services that cater to various aspects of marketing and advertising. From branding and graphic design to digital marketing and video production, we provide a one-stop solution for businesses looking to enhance their market presence. This comprehensive approach allows our clients to streamline their marketing efforts, ensuring consistency and coherence across all channels. Our company’s ability to handle diverse projects under one roof eliminates the need for multiple vendors, making the process more efficient and cost-effective for clients.
Expertise and Innovation: The team at Wheelhouse Creative is comprised of seasoned professionals with extensive experience in the advertising and marketing industry. This expertise is reflected in the innovative solutions provided, which are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. The company’s commitment to staying abreast of the latest industry trends and technologies ensures our strategies are cutting-edge and effective. Whether it’s leveraging the latest social media algorithms or utilizing advanced analytics for campaign optimization, Wheelhouse Creative is always at the forefront of innovation.
Local Insight and Community Engagement: Being based in Wheeling, WV, Wheelhouse Creative has a deep understanding of the local Ohio Valley market and its dynamics. This local insight enables us to create highly relevant and targeted campaigns that resonate with the regional audience. Additionally, we’re actively involved in the community, fostering strong relationships with local businesses and organizations. This community engagement not only enhances our reputation but also provides us with unique insights and opportunities to support and grow the local economy.
Client-Centric Approach: At the heart of Wheelhouse Creative’s success is our client-centric approach. We prioritize understanding the goals, challenges, and visions of our clients to deliver customized solutions to drive results. Our dedication to building strong, long-term relationships is evident in our high client retention rates and numerous positive testimonials. By focusing on client satisfaction and consistently delivering exceptional service, Wheelhouse Creative has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses looking to elevate their brand and achieve their marketing objectives.
We ask that you give us a call at 304-905-6005 – or just visit at 16 Cypress Ave. in Wheeling – today. We’re confident you’ll be glad you did.

Wheelhouse’s Creative Director Joe Monahan has done it all when it comes to video operations.
Before moving to Wheelhouse Creative, he and brother Pat started Shooters Productions, where they produced videos of anything from government contracts to live events.
He’s written scripts, shot and edited video. He now manages a staff.
Yet what makes Joe’s eyes light up is the challenge of a concept.
“I love sitting, brainstorming, and saying, ‘What if?’” Monahan said with a smile.
He’s at the perfect marketing agency for that — because his department can make video magic for clients.
A resident of Martins Ferry with wife Kimberly and daughter Lena (where he also serves as a church Deacon), Joe’s love of work started early.
“My mother always complained about us watching too much TV and now I can say I was studying for my career,” he chuckled. “But where the passion really began was in college. On a whim, I bought a little TV card that captured video from VHS tape, whatever I had at the time.
“But we would play flag football. I’d grown up watching NFL Films narrated by Steve Sabol. I was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. They were in the championship years, and I’d watch the films over and over. I always enjoyed the way they were edited to the music, with slow motion. Football kind of is opera-like. It always seemed so artful to me.
“Well, when I went to [Ohio State], I had a cousin who lived in Columbus and asked him to take a camera and shoot our intramural flag football games. I said I didn’t even know what I’ll do with it. He shot six or seven games. I’d take that film back and edit it NFL-Films style. One day, I sat down to do it at 9 o’clock in the morning. The next thing I knew, it was 10 p.m. I hadn’t eaten; I hadn’t showered. I did just that. I thought, ‘I like this.’ It took off from there.”
A love was born. Joe and Pat shot video of weddings, etc.
“Finally, one day after we moved back [to the Ohio Valley] from school, I said, ‘Why don’t we just do this?’ We started our own studio, having no idea what we were doing. Here was a computer. Here was a camera. So, we started Shooters. All we really knew was we loved it.”
The brothers continued to work on their craft for 17 years at Shooters before moving to Wheelhouse in 2016.
And now? With all the experience gained, what’s Joe’s favorite part of the job? You guessed it.
“Of course, there’s the video side,” he said. “Yet now I gravitate toward coming up with an idea and then figuring out how to execute it. Since I work with talented editors/visual effects people, it opens up all my creativity.
“If you don’t have that ability on staff, your ideas are scaled down. But because we at Wheelhouse have all this ability, I love approaching projects knowing we can go anywhere. What metaphor can I draw from this? How can we tell the story?”
Monahan said that feathers into one of his favorite projects each year: marketing Oglebay’s Festival of Lights.
“Yes, it’s about turning on the Christmas lights,” he said. “Cars drive through, and people go, ‘Oh ah!’ And we’ve shown that. We showed the lights and the people driving through. It was straight forward. But then we asked, ‘Are we just going to do that over and over again?’ We thought, ‘How can we present that in a way that’s more compelling, more fun? What tells more of a story?’”
In this case, inspiration came from a trip with daughter Lena.
“I ran into Santa Claus one day, while taking my daughter to the library to have photos with him. I looked at him and thought, ‘That really is Santa.’ He perfectly looked the part. I found out who he was and started building stories around him.
“We showed Santa going in wanting to use the 3-D glasses. Then the next year, what about him lighting up the lights? What if he’s flying through on his sleigh and turns the lights on?
“That’s what I like. Bordas & Bordas. They are attorneys. They litigate. What can we do with that? Well, their slogan is, ‘Fighting for Justice.’ Who else fights for justice? Well, superheroes. Batman sits in his cave, watches and helps people. We portrayed Jamie Bordas doing just that.”
It’s what separates Wheelhouse Creative from other agencies.
“I’ve often said, many marketing agencies have creative people and graphic designers, but what sets us apart is our ability to go beyond that. We have the ability to use a green screen. We have the ability to make a scene look real. We have the ability to make creativity come to life.
“We can match the creativity instead of being limited.”
So, if you’re interested in effectively marketing your company, open your mind to the possibilities that Joe Monahan and the rest of the Wheelhouse staff offer.
Call us today at 304-905-6005!