the story of gvb digital marketing
Hi! Welcome. I’m Jen Vincent, founder, owner, digital marketing director, and project manager (all the things that encompass owning a marketing agency) at gvb digital marketing. I am thrilled you are reading our very first blog. I only expect eight people to read this so thank you for being one of them.What could be important enough for me to get out my laptop and write from my parents’ lake house on Memorial Day weekend? Welcoming you to gvb digital marketing, and sharing where we started, what matters to us, and where we’re going.
the lake, the legacy, and the name
It’s fitting really that I’m here at the lake with the idea to start our gvb blog. If you’ve read about the company’s history, then you know that my grandparents inspired the company name: gvb. They were also the inspiration for this family lake house.
My grandparents started a tradition the summer of their 50th wedding anniversary: They rented a house on Lake Martin and had the entire family together for a week of fun and relaxation. All we did was boat, float, nap, and have cornhole tournaments at night. It was such a hit that we made it an annual tradition. Papa and his cornhole partner would win pretty much every time, but one year Nanny and my husband took home the gold and the smile on her face beating her husband (the reigning champion, Papa) was something I can still picture to this day.
Years and years of memories made at the lake with them made it simple for my dad to decide what to spend his inheritance on: a lake house to create more family memories.
creating more room for what matters
Fast forward to Memorial Day weekend 2026: My husband and I are finishing up work on the balcony, my kids are doing belly flops on the couch, and my parents are ecstatic that we arrived at 9:30am after coming through Atlanta traffic.
As I watch my family settle into a long weekend, I’m reminded that the entire reason I started gvb digital marketing was to have a better work-life balance.
I wanted to be less stressed out every work day, and spend more time with the people I love. I’m proud to say that’s exactly what I have afforded myself. Being able to work from the lake or the car on the drive up, and knowing I have many amazing contractors that help keep projects moving means I am not stressed out all day today trying to fit in 7 accounts’ marketing needs before MDW.
In perfect timing as I’m writing this, we are now out, waiting to pick up pizza for dinner. My 4-year-old comes up and asks to “write his name JUST ONCE, PLEASEEEE” on my laptop. The old, stressed-out Jen Vincent would have anxiously said, “No, go play on your [non-functioning] keyboard” but these days I always say yes with a smile.
There are both huge moments (like chaperoning aquarium field trips) and small moments like that where my response is so much more relaxed than it used to be. I can tell I am so much happier now and less ready to snap from stress. My kids get more time with a happier mom, and I wouldn’t go back for anything.
building a human-first agency
I want every single person to be able to:
make their own schedule. I block certain afternoons to get work done. Sometimes that work might be paused for a trip to the nail salon with a best friend.
work when they want. I work until midnight most weeknights so I can take off work on Fridays and any other time I want
work wherever they want. I have worked from the pool, from Italy, from my desk, from my couch… If you work hard and meet deadlines, who cares where you are physically? I trust my employees and treat them like adults.
Although I created this company for myself, this is exactly what I want for all my employees. gvb has hired 19 contractors over 2 years. We have freelancers, people with full-time jobs, and stay-at-home-moms (the hardest job there is — don’t ever try to fight me on the matter).gvb is here to help contractors and brands meet their goals — whatever those may be. These goals could be marketing performance-related or personally driven.
I want this marketing agency to always be human first. Above all, I want us to show our employees, brands, and clients that we care about them on a human level. Nothing is more important than treating people with respect — respect for their time, their money, their goals, and everything they are trusting us with when they choose to work with us.
So if you’re here reading our very first blog post, thank you for being part of the beginning. I’m excited to use this space to share more about the people, values, and work behind gvb digital marketing — and maybe a few real-life moments along the way too. We’re just getting started, and I’m so glad you’re here for it.
