ABOUT

MY STORY

I started Light Vowel because I kept seeing the same problem: brands with something genuinely worth saying, buried under generic content that sounded like everyone else. Strategy without soul. Creativity without direction. I wanted to do something about that.

Over the past decade, I've worked with startups, nonprofits, local businesses, and everything in between—helping them uncover what makes them distinct, shape it into a clear message, and carry it consistently across every channel. Whether that's a two-day brand workshop, a custom website build, or managing their social presence long-term, the throughline is always the same: authentic storytelling done with intention.

I'm not a big agency. I'm one person who cares a lot—which means you work directly with me, from the first conversation to the final deliverable.

MY MISSION

To help brands tell their story in a way that feels true—not manufactured. In a world oversaturated with content, authenticity isn't just refreshing. It's what gets remembered.

WHAT I BELIEVE

• Authenticity first: Real stories, told honestly, connect in ways that polished messaging never can.
• Strategy behind every creative choice: Good work isn't just what looks or sounds nice—it's what moves people toward something.
• You're a partner, not a client: I invest in your long-term success, not just the deliverable in front of us.
• Diverse voices make better stories: The more perspectives at the table, the richer and more resonant the work becomes.
• Keep learning: The landscape changes constantly. I stay curious so the work stays sharp.

A LITTLE ABOUT ME

Troy McCleve

Founder & Creative Director

I've spent over a decade in brand strategy, content creation, and creative direction—working across industries and formats to help organizations communicate more clearly and connect more authentically. I'm also a certified Color Code trainer, a former podcast co-founder, and someone who genuinely gets excited about a well-crafted brand brief. When I'm not working, I'm usually chasing a new podcast or exploring whatever content format just dropped.

WHY "LIGHT VOWEL"?

Vowels are the smallest elements in language that make everything flow—the sounds that let consonants become words and words become meaning. That's the kind of work I try to do: find the subtle, essential thing at the center of a brand and let everything else move through it. It's a small name for something I think matters a lot.

Ready to tell your story?
Let's talk about what your brand is trying to say—and how to say it in a way that actually lands.