You bring the spark.
We help it rise.
Who We Are
Ember & Rise is led by a marketing strategist and a creative director who come from two very different worlds … and that’s exactly the point.
Melissa leads growth strategy, performance marketing, and brand positioning, with a background spanning eCommerce, CPG, wellness, and local service brands. Her focus is clarity: understanding what actually drives revenue, where brands get stuck, and how to align marketing with business goals.
Melissa also works with select companies as a Fractional CMO, providing senior marketing leadership without the cost of a full-time executive.
Corey leads creative direction and video storytelling, bringing a cinematic lens shaped by years in the TV, film, and stunt industries. His work focuses on movement, emotion, and narrative – turning ideas into visuals that connect and convert.
Together, we bridge the gap between creative that looks good and marketing that actually performs.
Where We Do Our Best Work
(What we love working on)
Wellness & Functional Health
Boutique Fitness
Recovery & Performance
Med Spas
Medical Weight Loss
Wellness Brands & Start-ups
Consumer Packaged Goods
Supplements & Nutrition
Apparel & Footwear
Creator-Led Product Brands
Scaling DTC Brands
Product Launches & Start-Ups
Founder-Led Lifestyle Brands
Automotive service
Luxury home services
Experience-driven brands
Community-focused businesses
Premium local brands
Real Estate & Design
Luxury Real Estate
Boutique Developers
Hospitality Projects
Custom Home Builders
Interior Design & Architecture
Outdoor Living
The brands we work best with care deeply about how people feel when they experience their business. They value authenticity, creativity, and long-term growth and understand that the strongest marketing happens when strategy and storytelling work together.
How We Work
We don’t sell packages.
We build partnerships.
Our process is designed to uncover what actually moves the needle, then bring it to life through strategy, creative, and execution that feels aligned, intentional, and human.
We work as an extension of our clients’ teams. That means taking the time to deeply understand the business, the goals, and the realities behind the brand.
This level of context allows us to make smarter decisions, move faster, and stay genuinely invested in long-term growth.
Our work often includes:
- Growth and messaging strategy
- Paid media and performance marketing
- Cinematic video and brand storytelling
- Conversion-focused websites and funnels
Every engagement is tailored.
Every decision is intentional.
We care deeply about the people behind the brands, and that care shows up in the work.
Leadership Team
Melissa Hwang
Founder & Strategy Lead
Melissa brings 20+ years of experience helping businesses grow through strategic marketing, paid media, SEO, and digital growth initiatives.
Specialties:
- Growth Strategy
- Google Ads
- Meta Ads
- SEO / AEO / GEO
- Website Optimization
Corey Diamond
Creative Director & Executive Producer
Corey is a professional filmmaker and stunt performer who brings cinematic storytelling and creative production expertise to every project.
Specialties:
- Brand Films
- Short-Form Video
- Social Storytelling
- Creative Production