my name is Nicole parker and I am a passionate Small/micro business advisor for creative founders in Richmond, VA.

I started as a creator and crafter, trained in metal and ceramic design (Craft/material studies BFA from Virginia commonwealth university).

I’ve lived small business my whole life (my grandfather’s business in still going in upsate ny!) and learned early that creative work only sticks when the business side is strong, so I stepped into learning as much as I could about small business operations and building.

Over the last decade, I’ve been the right-hand to notable local founders of creative companies where I’ve been lucky enough to assist running end-to-end production, building storefronts, building wholesale pipelines, and creating organized playbooks.

In 2024, I carried that maker’s mindset into a more regional impact as the Executive Director of a nationally recognized, and federally backed small business resource hub (WBC). in this role, I designed responsive programs, advised hundreds of founders, and convened with a strong founder ecosystem.

Today, I continue helping small businesses of all types (with a specialty in helping designers, artists, makers, and artisan brands) make clear decisions, choose right-sized tools, and build simple systems that respect their voice and capacity.