Calie Wrona

9th June 2025

Let's Eat | Starrdesign

starrdesign has helped dozens of restaurant ventures achieve notable success. With consistent results they can rely on, they earn a return on investment that enables them to scale and reach the next level. Feeling proud and confident, they are well-positioned to take their next right step – whether that’s growing the brand corporately, franchising, or even selling to move on to bigger things.

Smoky Mountain Living • 1st June 2025

Beyond the Beaten Path

Tucked deep in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, Graham County is a hiker’s paradise. From towering ancient forests and picturesque waterfalls to wildflower-blanketed balds and shimmering lake views, these trails aren’t just walks in the woods—they’re your pathway to adventure. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful family outing or an epic backcountry trek, this list will help you discover and plan an unforgettable experience.

starrdesign • 14th May 2025

City Barbeque | Starrdesign

When City Barbeque came to StarrDesign, they weren’t just after a new look—they needed a scalable, cost-effective solution. As a beloved multi-style American smokehouse planning expansion, their existing prototype was too costly to replicate. We stepped in to streamline their concept without sacrificing brand identity.

starrdesign • 29th April 2025

The Buttered Biscuit | Starrdesign

When Anna and Sam Russell, founders of The Buttered Biscuit, set their sights on expanding beyond Northwest Arkansas, they knew they needed more than just additional locations—they needed a strategic transformation. Their vision was clear: refine the brand to its essence, create a seamless guest experience, and optimize back-of-house operations for efficiency and growth. To bring this vision to life, they partnered with us.
We initiated the project with an in-depth customer segmentation study, a...

Skillsets Online/Concise 5 • 8th May 2025

The Introvert’s Guide to Thriving in a Collaborative Workplace

In fifth grade, I won the “Most Talkative” superlative. By “won,” I mean my teacher—perhaps teetering on the edge of a breakdown from listening to me passionately dissect The Series of Unfortunate Events for the thousandth time—easily handed me the title.

Skillsets Online/Concise 5 • 8th May 2025

The Art of Starting Over: Reinventing Yourself Without Quitting or Leaving Your Job

At least once a week, I fantasize about disappearing. Not in a dramatic, "Dateline" kind of way, but in a what if I just moved to Italy and became one of those people who owns a lot of linen shirts kind of way. I want to start over. Wipe the slate clean. Become someone new.

Skillsets Online/Concise 5 • 8th May 2025

Remembering How to Wonder: A Guide to Reclaiming Creativity

I remember being ten years old, lying in the grass, convinced that if I concentrated hard enough, I could hear the Earth spinning. I would spend hours staring at the sky, trying to imagine the vastness of space, the absolute absurdity of existence. I would write poems about things that didn’t make sense—what it must be like to be a cloud, whether or not trees have secrets, and why the number seven feels lucky.

Skillsets Online/Concise 5 • 8th May 2025

The Joy of Learning Something New

A few months ago, in a fit of what I can only describe as a Pinterest-fueled delusion, I decided to learn how to crochet. I pictured something out of a Nancy Meyers movie—me, in an oversized sweater, effortlessly looping yarn into a perfect scarf, possibly sipping tea, becoming a more serene and capable version of myself. What actually happened was several nights of swearing at a tangled mess, producing something that looked less like a scarf and more like a textile-based cry for help.