about soulgrown

Grown in the Soul of the South.


Rooted in culture,  Nourished by beauty,  Fostered by people – 


SoulGrown is a digital publication that highlights the culture, beauty, and people making Alabama - the Soul of the South - proud. Founded in 2013 by Ellis Terry, SoulGrown’s mission is to show off the very best of Alabama and contribute to a positive, outside perception. Following its rapid growth on social media, SoulGrown combined with YHN Media Group to launch the online storytelling outlet in April 2021. The platform honors the artisans, traditions (both old and new), food, events and destinations that make Alabama so special. We champion the state’s discoveries and celebrate its hidden delights.

We invest in people. Our team of industry experts produce quality written pieces and high-end imagery that highlight the beautiful people and places that make up the Soul of the South. Let us introduce ourselves.

Our Team

Anna Kathryn Fitch

Content Manager

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Courtney Hancock

Soulgrown CEO

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Ellis Terry

Soulgrown founder

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Courtney Hancock

Soulgrown CEO

Courtney Hancock began her career in marketing & communications after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English from Samford University in 2014. Returning to her first love of writing in 2019, she entered the media industry to help brands creatively tell their stories. Courtney joined Yellowhammer Multimedia as Creative Services Director in June 2021 to assist the business development side in producing innovative messaging and content strategies for advertising partners. In 2022, she was named CEO of SoulGrown to ensure the brand’s continued growth and to serve as a champion for the businesses and people of Alabama. She and her husband Joel have two son’s and reside in Birmingham, AL.

email: chancock@soul-grown.com

Ellis Terry

Soulgrown founder

Alabama native Ellis Terry founded SoulGrown in 2013 while studying at The University of Alabama with a desire to showcase the style and beauty found throughout his home state. Through its unique perspective on Southern culture, today SoulGrown shares the personality of Alabama with people across the world. Ellis and his wife, Emily, reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

email: ellis@soul-grown.com

Anna Kathryn Fitch

Content Manager

A Birmingham native and marketing strategist, Kate Fitch has a passion for utilizing mindful strategies to create meaningful results. After spending several years working and traveling throughout the U.S. and beyond, she has come to appreciate the beauty of home and community. She founded Local Living Birmingham, a directory created to increase visibility for local businesses in her hometown, as a way to express this appreciation. Over the course of her career, she has taken on projects from a range of clients in need of curated, conscious marketing strategies.

email: kate@soul-grown.com

Courtney Ellis

business development

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Walker Miller

art director

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Courtney Ellis

BUsiness development

Courtney Ellis leads business development for SoulGrown and would love to learn more about unique lifestyle platforms that can help grow your business. 

email: courtney@soul-grown.com

Walker Miller

Art director

As Art Director, Walker is in charge of graphic design needs for SoulGrown including images for the site, media proposals, ad creation, and logo design. Originally from Montgomery, Walker now lives in Birmingham.

email: walker@soul-grown.com

Courtney Hancock

Soulgrown CEO

contact

Courtney Hancock began her career in marketing & communications after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English from Samford University in 2014. Returning to her first love of writing in 2019, she entered the media industry to help brands creatively tell their stories. Courtney joined Yellowhammer Multimedia as Creative Services Director in June 2021 to assist the business development side in producing innovative messaging and content strategies for advertising partners. In 2022, she was named CEO of SoulGrown to ensure the brand’s continued growth and to serve as a champion for the businesses and people of Alabama. She and her husband Joel have two son’s and reside in Birmingham, AL.

email: chancock@soul-grown.com

Ellis Terry

Soulgrown founder

contact

Alabama native Ellis Terry founded SoulGrown in 2013 while studying at The University of Alabama with a desire to showcase the style and beauty found throughout his home state. Through its unique perspective on Southern culture, today SoulGrown shares the personality of Alabama with people across the world. Ellis and his wife, Emily, reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

email: ellis@soul-grown.com

Kate Fitch

content manager

contact

A Birmingham native and marketing strategist, Kate Fitch has a passion for utilizing mindful strategies to create meaningful results. After spending several years working and traveling throughout the U.S. and beyond, she has come to appreciate the beauty of home and community. She founded Local Living Birmingham, a directory created to increase visibility for local businesses in her hometown, as a way to express this appreciation. Over the course of her career, she has taken on projects from a range of clients in need of curated, conscious marketing strategies.

email: kate@soul-grown.com

Courtney Ellis

Business Development

contact

Courtney Ellis leads business development for SoulGrown and would love to learn more about unique lifestyle platforms that can help grow your business. 

email: courtney@soul-grown.com

Walker Miller

art director

contact

As Art Director, Walker is in charge of graphic design needs for SoulGrown including images for the site, media proposals, ad creation, and logo design. Originally from Montgomery, Walker now lives in Birmingham.

email: walker@soul-grown.com

Contributors

Eric Velasco

Writer

contact

Eric Velasco is a freelance writer based in Birmingham. He has written for local, regional and national publications for nearly four decades, and was a longtime contributor to Birmingham Magazine. When he’s not cooking, he’s eating.

email: eric@soul-grown.com

Randall Porter

columnist

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With a love for branding and for the creative industries, the past few years have allowed Randall to create a diverse resume filled with experiences in fashion, retail and social media. Along the way, he has filled a toolbox of invaluable interpersonal skills, knowledge of marketing and public relations, and has been honored with opportunities to develop social content and strategies, marketing plans and photoshoots to scale brands such as Aviate and Good Grit Magazine; brands that challenged him to improve each day and allowed constant, innovative thinking as a way of life. His ambitious personality combined with a flair for the social scene has made him one of Birmingham’s most beloved and is exactly why he sits on the board of Young Professionals of Birmingham!

email: randall@therandallporter.com

Holly Swafford

Writer

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Author bio coming soon.

email: eric@soul-grown.com

Jennifer Kornegay

Writer

contact

Author bio coming soon.

email: eric@soul-grown.com

Hayden has been serving small businesses and people with her gifting as a wordsmith for many years. Her goal as a writer is to say it well for you. Hayden will save you time and stress by giving you the power through words to grow and achieve your dreams in your business. Her concise style and way with words brings to light the heart of your brand and presents your message clearly. When you use Words by Hayden you don’t just say it, you say it well.

email: hayden@soul-grown.com

email: eric@soul-grown.com

email: eric@soul-grown.com

Holly Swafford

writer

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Eric Velasco

writer

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Randall Porter

Columnist

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Eric Valesco

freelance writer

Eric Velasco is a freelance writer based in Birmingham. He has written for local, regional and national publications for nearly four decades, and was a longtime contributor to Birmingham Magazine. When he’s not cooking, he’s eating.

email: eric@soul-grown.com

Randall Porter

Columnist

With a love for branding and for the creative industries, the past few years have allowed Randall to create a diverse resume filled with experiences in fashion, retail and social media. Along the way, he has filled a toolbox of invaluable interpersonal skills, knowledge of marketing and public relations, and has been honored with opportunities to develop social content and strategies, marketing plans and photoshoots to scale brands such as Aviate and Good Grit Magazine; brands that challenged him to improve each day and allowed constant, innovative thinking as a way of life. His ambitious personality combined with a flair for the social scene has made him one of Birmingham’s most beloved and is exactly why he sits on the board of Young Professionals of Birmingham!

email: randall@therandallporter.com

Holly Swafford

Writer

Author bio coming soon.

Jennifer Kornegay

columnist

contact

Jennifer Kornegay

columnist

While I'm happiest sharing what I learn about the above, I have written about almost every topic imaginable, and my articles have appeared in magazines and on websites including Garden & Gun, The Bitter Southerner, Condé Nast Traveler, The Local Palate, Southern Living, American Profile, Alabama magazine, Paste magazine, Birmingham magazine, thekitchn.com, Travel & Leisure's website, okra magazine, Good Grit magazine, Edible Lower Alabama, Georgia magazine, Alabama Journey, Southern Lady, Southern Traveler, al.com, rootsrated.com and Alabama Living magazine. I'm also the managing editor of the The Montgomery Business Journal (bi-monthly magazine produced by The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce) and JOY magazine! 

Hayden Sentenn

writer

Hayden has been serving small businesses and people with her gifting as a wordsmith for many years. Her goal as a writer is to say it well for you. Hayden will save you time and stress by giving you the power through words to grow and achieve your dreams in your business. Her concise style and way with words brings to light the heart of your brand and presents your message clearly. When you use Words by Hayden you don’t just say it, you say it well.

email: hayden@soul-grown.com

Graham Brooks

writer

Author bio coming soon.

Emily Safron

Writer

Author bio coming soon.

Walker Miller

Art director

As Art Director, Walker is in charge of graphic design needs for SoulGrown including images for the site, media proposals, ad creation, and logo design. Originally from Montgomery, Walker now lives in Birmingham.

email: walker@soul-grown.com

Partnerships & Collaborations

work with soulgrown

SoulGrown actively fosters partnerships and collaborations with small businesses, organizations, and individuals across Alabama, promoting community engagement and amplifying local voices.

connect with us