Why Cherrytop Exists.
Our story.
Cherrytop is a modern PR and marketing agency built to help brands communicate clearly and move with confidence. Founded in 2023 by Michelle Hayes, the agency was born from two decades of hands-on experience — and a clear vision to bring fresh energy and practical solutions to the way companies approach marketing today.
We bring together strategy, creativity, and smart use of technology to solve real business challenges — without the fluff. From internal alignment to public campaigns, we help teams stay focused, messages stay sharp, and work move forward.
Whether you need a thought partner, a hands-on lead, or someone to fill the gaps, Cherrytop adapts to your team, your goals, and your pace. Our approach is people-first, tech-savvy, and built for how modern businesses actually work.
Meet Michelle.
Michelle Hayes (formerly Uhlfelder) is the founder of Cherrytop and brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and public relations. She began her career at National Public Radio and went on to hold brand strategy roles at Edelman, the world’s largest privately owned PR firm. From there, she led teams at boutique agencies before establishing herself as a trusted consultant, working with both regional and national clients across industries.
Michelle holds a B.A. from Southern Illinois University and completed extensive graduate coursework in Professional Media Management while at SIUC. She has also earned advanced certifications from Cornell University, where she became a certified Marketing AI expert, and Stanford University’s School of Engineering, where she completed a year-long certification in corporate digital transformation.
Her experience spans traditional marketing, PR, brand strategy, internal communications, and digital innovation. She believes emerging technologies like AI can empower more creative work, improve efficiency, and reduce costs — making strategic marketing smarter and more sustainable. Michelle has helped launch successful campaigns for companies of all sizes, from global brands like Walmart, Starbucks, and Tempur-Pedic, to regional icons like the St. Joe Company, Howard Group, and the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and even small businesses like Sundog Books that have earned national attention.
Michelle’s strength lies in seeing the big picture while connecting the details — helping organizations align messaging, goals, and strategy across departments. She’s especially passionate about working with executive teams on thought leadership, and often supports leaders in building their voice on platforms like LinkedIn and within internal communication efforts.
She also gives back through ongoing volunteer work with non-profit and education-based organizations, using her skills to support causes she cares about.
Whether she’s working with a startup or a Fortune 500 company, Michelle’s goal is simple: help your brand stand out and succeed — with a smart strategy and just the right finishing touch.
So, What can she do for you?
Michelle helps businesses figure out what to say, how to say it, and how to get it in front of the right people — both inside the company and out. That might mean leading a full brand launch, running a PR or influencer campaign, improving internal messaging, building executive visibility, or training teams on new tools and AI-driven systems.
Every project is different, but the goal is the same: clear, effective communication that supports real business growth.
how we Work.
No red tape. No fluff. Just honest collaboration, sharp thinking, and smooth execution. We work fast, ask the right questions, and deliver real results — without making things complicated.
Who we help.
We work with bold startups, growing brands, and corporate teams who need a fresh perspective.
Ready to go?
Contact us to schedule a free consultation video call.