The Organization

Established in 1992, the Regional Family Resource Network (RFRN) is funded by the WV Department of Health and Human Resources. The organization exists to support and empower children, families, and communities in Boone, Kanawha and Putnam counties. While RFRN does not provide direct service, it is committed to providing a broad range of support to communities.

Every county in West Virginia has a family resource network. RFRN serves three counties and is therefore a regional network. Helping community groups work together to identify and address local issues, raising community awareness of the issues affecting children and families, and promoting various opportunities for families to impact the decisions that affect them are central to the work of RFRN.

The Decision to Overhaul

Many of the companies and organizations that hire Jamie to build or enhance their website are focused solely on their website; however, some are looking for more. It was during an RFRN board meeting that a review of current organization materials prompted the board’s decision to change RFRN’s entire look. 

Michele Bowles, executive director, remembers that meeting well. “We decided to revise our strategic plan – this meant our whole marketing plan including our website and logo. It was all dated and we just needed an overhaul.”

One of the board members reached out to an associate for referrals to web designers. The associate had worked closely with Jamie and right away recommended him. “We didn’t have a lot of discretionary funds, and that was a primary factor in determining who we would choose,” recalls Michele. Jamie and Michele met twice in person and they decided that Jamie was the right fit to undertake RFRN’s overhaul project.

The Process and Products

Jamie was tasked with redesigning RFRN’s website, logo, and marketing materials that included letterhead and larger event materials. His initial meetings with Michele gave him all the information he needed to move forward, except that Jamie took another important step. “He came to an event we had just so he could see how we worked and to get a sense of the organization.”

Some of Jamie’s deliverables were on a strict timeline due to upcoming events, and other aspects of his work were less rushed. Jamie combined what Michele and the board wanted with his sense of the organization to create designs that were much more appealing.

“Our logo definitely makes our organization look more up to date and professional, and it gives us a better presence,” Michele comments. The total package of redesigns have made a positive impact on RFRN, including a website that is more functional and easier to navigate.

The Future

Michele believes that more and more families will access the RFRN website, and that their experience will be informative and positive. The sheer volume of redesign work that Jamie completed is extensive – “I think he even designed a tablecloth for us!” she notes. And so, what does the future hold?

Well, with regard to any upcoming redesign projects: “We’ve talked about what we might do,” Michele responds. For now, RFRN has a newly designed website, logo, letterhead and marketing materials, which they feel very good about.

Bricks Without Straw is a digital agency and design agency based in South Charleston, WV United States and Ota, Tokyo, Japan.

We offer a range of web design services including: web development, e-commerce services and email marketing. We also offer a range of graphic design services including logo design and exhibition stands.

We love working with clients of all sizes in a range of industry sectors, creating and implementing inspiring and hard working concepts and campaigns for business-business and business-consumer clients.

Valicia Leary

Bricks Without Straw has continued to exceed our expectations with their design work, support and attention to detail. We would highly recommend their services. They have a wonderful team and we enjoy our working relationship with them.

Carol Fulks

Bricks Without Straw has continued to exceed our expectations with their design work, support and attention to detail. We would highly recommend their services. They have a wonderful team and we enjoy our working relationship with them.

Patti Hamliton

Bricks Without Straw is bringing our association into the 21st Century! He brings us ideas and innovation for our web site and other tools of technology that help us enhance our image and our message.

Rebecca McPhail

Bricks Without Straw has continued to exceed our expectations with their design work, support and attention to detail. We would highly recommend their services. They have a wonderful team and we enjoy our working relationship with them.

Bill Raney

Jamie is one of the most committed and energetic professionals we have ever worked with over the years. He seems to work all the time with full 24-7 accessibility and immediate response. Bricks Without Straw has raised our collective confidence for maximizing opportunities in today’s world. We simply could not have done it without them.

Jan Vineyard

The demands and responsibilities to our members mandate that the online presence of our associations and our internet capabilities are reliable and seamless. Add creativity to that mix and one gets the complete package with Jamie Summers-Brown and his staff at Bricks without Straw.