Your Story
Our Inspiration
Our Values
The Story Atelier replicates the warmth and intimacy of sharing stories among family at a relative’s house.
Inspired by Makayla’s favorite pastime of sitting at the dining room table and talking with her grandmother about their heritage at her Naples, Florida, home, our unique atelier embodies this essence of Italian culture: to provide a welcoming and cozy environment that invites you to bring all your thoughts and experiences to the table (whether we meet face-to-face or via phone).
While you may be familiar with what is referred to a writing agency, crafting a project at The Story Atelier is more than spewing out facts and putting eloquent words together. It’s about bringing the warmth, authenticity and artistic perspective to every client and challenge. We strongly believe that the most powerful writing begins with genuine curiosity for you and your story and a passion to deliver your experience in a custom way that inspires the world around us.
The Story
We live our lives hoping that one day our stories will transcend from our generation to the next – that our life experiences and lessons learned will be passed on from children to grandchildren and beyond, that our company’s history will be passed on from its founding team to its predecessors. We cherish these memories, accomplishments and hardships with the goal of one day passing the message on, whether verbally or through the written word.
But, how many of us actually succeed in sharing these stories?
Makayla Smit created The Story Atelier for just this – to help those who yearn to document the many important experiences of their life and career through a custom, tailored process that is built on the foundation of authentic storytelling and an artistic perspective.
The Team / mother-daughter duo
Makayla Smit
Deeply inspired by people’s stories and the experiences they have faced, Makayla Smit founded The Story Atelier with the goal of helping others take ownership of their own legacies.
As the second eldest of five children and a small part of a beautiful extended family, Makayla found a profound interest in the life experiences of her parents, grandparents and ancestors from an early age. She carried this passion for the beauty of life far into her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, where she majored in journalism and continued with her master’s at Georgetown University where she specialized in integrated marketing communications. Whether it was through university research, freelance projects or her career in the communications and consumer packaged goods industries, her dedication to connecting with others and sharing their unique stories has been woven into every new opportunity she takes.
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Makayla’s diverse writing portfolio includes various projects such as profiles, feature stories, children’s books, copywriting, biographies, speeches, press releases and radio ad scripts. She is passionate about helping others share their thoughts and opinions through writing, especially when they find it difficult to do so. Her writing philosophy is built on the belief that the best writers do not necessarily equate to the best storytellers, but instead, those who can deeply connect with the client and empathize with the story tell the most colorful tales that lasts for generations.
A Naples native and a natural advocate for a tight-knit community, Makayla finally settled in Naples in 2020 when her husband, Giovanni, moved from The Netherlands to the quaint southwest Florida beach town they happily call home. Born a hobbyist, you can always find Makayla writing, collaging, cooking, baking, reading, working on a new project, or enjoying time with Gio and their son, Winston.
Cheri Connor
A mother of five beautiful children, a board member of a local nonprofit and an active advocate in the community, Cheri Connor brings her innate gift for nurturing relationships and advocating for others’ legacies to The Story Atelier. Cheri dedicates her life to helping individuals – whether it’s her own children or strangers – to create and share a legacy they are proud of.
Originally from Oakland City, Indiana, Cheri graduated from the University of South Florida with a dual degree in psychology and speech pathology which led to 25 years of working with children in Collier County. In 2021, Cheri started her adventure in career recruiting, an outlet that has given her a stronger reach to help others build the life they envision for themselves by connecting them to companies and job positions where they can excel.
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Through The Story Atelier, Cheri helps clients decipher the many chapters and experiences in their life that take priority for their life story book. With Cheri’s guidance, experience and comfort, the client can ensure that they will be walked through the consultation and planning process with her unique, seasoned perspective.
Known for her boundless energy and passion for life, Cheri is constantly on the move, engaging in a myriad of activities. Whether she's volunteering, shopping, working, or cherishing moments with her husband, Barry, and their five children, their spouses and grandchildren, Cheri leads a fulfilling and vibrant life that is apparent with every client she meets at The Story Atelier.
