There’s a story behind the “Antonym” in Antonym Partners.
Founders Ellen Carucci and Andy Marlatt are, it turns out, very different people. For instance…
■ ELLEN comes from the business side of publishing.
● ANDY comes from the creative side.
■ ELLEN grew up in the Northeast.
● ANDY grew up in the South.
■ ELLEN has lots of red hair.
● ANDY has lots of neither of those things.
■ ELLEN sees ‘The Dress’ as blue & black.
● ANDY knows it’s white & gold.
■ ELLEN likes to read Thomas Pynchon and Ann Tyler.
● ANDY still doesn’t understand how Ellen had never heard of Douglas Adams. Seriously, how can you not have heard of Douglas Adams?
In short, they are antonyms of each other.
Except when it comes to working with and for a cause.
Since meeting in Rotary in 2018, Ellen and Andy have worked on dozens of projects together, large and small, for a variety of nonprofits.
→ Innovative fundraisers.
→ Service projects that serve the community and your mission.
→ Messaging that generates buzz.
→ Events that sell out.
Together, they’re creative and focused, innovative and analytical, motivated and motivating.
They’re also understanding. Both Andy and Ellen have worked not only for nonprofits, but IN nonprofits. They know what it’s like – the good, the bad, and the ‘WTF?’ As a result, they see things as they are, and most importantly, for what they can be.
Managing Partner Andy Marlatt has worked with multiple nonprofits, including the Branford Community Foundation, Orchard House, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage Foundation, the Million Mask Challenge, the Branford Microfund, as well as multiple Rotary clubs and local sports leagues. Most of his work is focused on creating and implementing unique ideas for projects and fundraising, and helping groups follow their mission and unify around common goals.
In his other life, Andy is a comedy writer, producer and graphic artist who, among other things, co-created, wrote and produced the BBC television show “Comic Side of 7 Days,” wrote the short film “Tribes” which premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, won Best Screenplay at the Page International Screenwriting awards, and has now been optioned for both stage and screen. He authored the very briefly best-selling satirical book “Economy of Errors,” published by Random House, has written for several British TV and radio programs, and founded the two-time Webby Award finalist comic website SatireWire.
A 1986 graduate of the University of Georgia, he began his career as a journalist and went on to work for multiple newspapers and magazines, and has been published in The Washington Post, the Sydney Morning Herald, Asahi Shimbun, and even in Salman Rushdie’s book, “Step Across This Line,” which is just… weird, right? It still seems weird. Over the years, his favorite review was by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, who called him, “funny, though quite unfair to Argentina.”
After many years in the upscale magazine sector, Managing Partner Ellen Carucci turned her focus to making a difference in her community. She brought her extensive experience in marketing, sales management, and communications at The New Yorker, Vogue, GQ, House & Garden and other titles to a new career in nonprofit development, management, and programming.
As Development Director of Orchard House, a medical adult day center, she was able to combine her affinity for seniors with her talents for fundraising, resulting in significant revenue growth across digital platforms and events.
Over her career, Ellen has been very effective in leading, motivating, and mentoring teams of all sizes. An innate consensus builder, she is also skilled at teasing out the essence of a brand, and executing strategies that communicate and elevate it.
A graduate of Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Medieval Civilization, Ellen is a past Secretary/Board Member for the Friends of the Blackstone Library and is currently President of the Rotary Club of Branford. CT. She also serves on the Elderly Services Commission for the Town of Branford and is also a volunteer for the Agency on Aging for South Central Connecticut’s Friendly Visitor program.