Carl Cleanthes is a lifelong resident of Hampton Roads Virginia and a serial entrepreneur. He received his BFA from Old Dominion University in 2008. Carl also graduated from the Virginia Scaling-For-Growth program, a “street-wise MBA” as a part of cohort 3, and he continues to serve as a multi-purpose resource for the new cohorts.

Carl comes from a long familial line of artists and entrepreneurs. He founded Epic Made in 2005 (formerly known as Creative Art & Design Studios), and with it helped to normalize the work-from-home, self-motivated artistic guild space for businesses. Carl believes that artists thrive when given the space and freedom to work in the way that best suits their needs and lifestyle. Carl also used his business acumen, passion for the environment, network, and know-how to advocate for more sustainable design practices in all aspects of business/brand representation. He also believes that the NFT space can create legacies for artists, working to pioneer royalty-infused blockchain transactions- creating financial futures for artists that match their cultural contributions.

Carl is currently the East Coast Regional Rep for the Graphic Artists Guild as well as serving on the advocacy committee. He is also the immediate past president of the Hampton Roads Chapter of AIGA. He served there since 2016 including president for 3 years. During this service, he has mentored countless up-and-coming design students through portfolio reviews, guest lectures, and meet-and-greets. Carl believes that it is important to be reachable and available as a CEO to all those seeking guidance. He has dedicated his life to building a guild of driven artists and passionate content creators who value their craft as much as he values his business and has a genuine pride for the work that is produced.

Carl is also an urban homesteader, believing that a sustainable lifestyle is practiced in all aspects. He shares his knowledge of growing, heirlooms, seed harvesting etc on his own content page known as “Colorful Carl.” He is also a husband of nearly 2 decades, and father to a semi-feral gamer boy that is the light of his life.