At the CO-100 Awards in Washington, D.C., Alyse Mitten stood among 100 small business honorees recognized for their resilience and creativity. Mitten, founder of Interlace Communications, reflects on 30 years of navigating change in media, technology, and entrepreneurship while building a company that continues to evolve with the times.
Mitten founded Interlace Communications after taking over as executive director of PAAP following the passing of a colleague. She expanded the organization to cover eight states, now operating as the Mid-Atlantic Community Papers Association, while maintaining her executive role. The company initially focused on community print publications, offering design and editorial support to local newspapers.
Over the years, Mitten faced significant industry challenges. The 2008 economic downturn disrupted advertising revenue, prompting platforms like Craigslist to replace traditional print classifieds. These changes required difficult decisions, including downsizing staff, but Mitten leveraged her design background to pivot into digital services. She began creating websites for small businesses, later incorporating social media, blogs, and email marketing to support clients as they navigated the evolving media landscape.
“The only action date of the year, March 4th, was when I got my [AI] certification.”
Looking ahead, Mitten embraces innovation by integrating AI into client workflows, enhancing efficiency and expanding service offerings at Interlace Communications. She encourages small business owners facing similar challenges to remain optimistic, explore new opportunities, adopt proven strategies, and utilize AI tools to solve problems effectively.
To learn more about Interlace Communications, click here.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO-100