BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Playback58@gmail.com

COURTLAND—Crystal Marketing Solutions is a relatively new company that spreads the word about other businesses.

Owner Crystal Butler has one client, Armstrong Wealth Management Group, which she has worked with for six years.

“Crystal was our director of business development for over three years,” said Reginald A.T. Armstrong, president and senior client wealth manager. “During that time, her marketing acumen, creativity and graphic design skills helped us completely upgrade our brand image.”

Between her junior and senior years at Franklin High School before graduating in 2002, Butler did an internship in the Office of Institutional Advancement at Paul D. Camp Community College. She did another internship for graphic design with S/W Printing in Florence, S.C., during her senior year at Francis Marion University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in visual arts.

An internship at First Reliance Bank lasted a couple of years. After graduating from PDCCC and Francis Marion in May 2006, Butler worked full-time at the bank.

She became responsible for developing a brand image and managing Web site content, but also creating, printing and distributing printed materials as well as LED signage and screens.

Her work with the Armstrong Group followed in August 2008.

In 2009, Butler earned a master’s degree in business administration from Francis Marion.

The return to Virginia came about through friends. She reconnected with Allen Butler, a high school acquaintance, and they married. He’s with Isle of Wight County Public Utilities, and she works from their Courtland home.

“It was tough at first, the transition,” said Butler. “I’m calendar oriented now. But wasn’t like that when I was younger. I do pretty well. I get to utilize my degree.”

An inspiration throughout has been her mother, Annette Edwards, who has operated an antiques shop and is human resources manager at PDCCC.

Outside of work, Butler is on the marketing committee for Focus United Engaged Leaders with the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce, membership chairwoman for the Tidewater Alumnae of Zeta Tau Alpha and Western Tidewater Tennis Association, a co-captain of a U.S. Tennis Association-Women’s Tennis Team 3.5; and a member of River of Life Baptist Church.