ABOUT STIGMA's STORY
How Stigma M&D Started
This isn’t a sanitized founder story. It’s personal. It’s imperfect. And it’s real.
Stigma was born during a hard season of recovery in Missoula, Montana—when freelance work became a lifeline, and honest, people-first marketing became the only kind that made sense. This is Paule’s story—and the roots of everything we do at Stigma.
A Personal Note
"My name is Paule, & I'm a recovering pastor."
Hi. My name is Paule, and I’m a recovering pastor.
My relationship with marketing and development didn’t start in business school—it started years ago, long before Stigma existed, through church work, burnout, and a life that kept unraveling until I had no choice but to rebuild it differently.
Stigma M&D came out of that process. It wasn’t a neat, intentional launch—it was survival at first. A mix of freelancing, figuring things out, and refusing to fake it anymore.
At the center of Stigma is this belief: your story—whether you’re proud of it or not—is your most powerful resource. That’s true in life, and it’s true in business. Trying to close the gap between “authenticity” and what most people call marketing mirrors my own efforts (and failures) to live a more honest life.
This page isn’t polished the way “strategic web copy” is supposed to be. It’s not built for conversion metrics or attention spans. But it’s real.
- How Stigma M&D Began -
Personal Recovery To Development & Marketing
I’ve never had a linear path—not much about my journey has been traditional, and neither is Stigma Marketing & Development.
Stigma started as Stigma Designs over 20 years ago while I was working at a sign shop and managing restaurants. I was a self-taught designer, building logos, graphics, and websites while balancing leadership roles in business and ministry. But life, as it often does, took unexpected turns.
I became a pastor, eventually starting a church here in Missoula. I believed in the power of community, in creating spaces where people could be honest about their struggles, their faith, and their doubts. But while I was helping others, I was also quietly falling apart. Alcoholism crept in, and before long, it consumed me. I lost the church, my direction, and nearly my life.
- Fast Foward 6 years -
2 Rehabs & 1 Suicide Watch Later
After one rehab, I spent a few years in the misery of my drinking. My last relapse put me in the hospital with a BAC of .407 and landed me 5 days on suicide watch. On the way to my second rehab, I was ready to do whatever it took to get my crap together. Recovery isn’t just about getting sober—it’s about rediscovering who you are, addressing the underlying reasons for substance abuse, and dealing with the aftermath of a life in denial.
In the aftermath of my addiction, I started doing ASAM (Addiction Severity Index) development work for the same rehab I had just gone through, as well as for other mental health clinics. That experience led me to write and secure a DPHHS grant for suicide prevention for a local mental health clinic, allowing me to combine my background in development, leadership, and mental health with marketing in ways that actually helped people.
During this time, I also went back to school, pursuing an MBA in Marketing. But life threw another curveball. I took a break from school to run an Arby’s restaurant, managing operations and teams while reevaluating what I truly wanted to do with my skills, my knowledge, and my story.
Our Partners
Our Partners
- 2024 -
A Year of Clarity
As it is with recovery, during the holidays of 2023, while GMing a local Arby's in Missoula, MT, I became aware of how much more I was avoiding and the amount of work to "fix" my past was immense. The distance from my children and the damage I had done had forced me into a hole, confused about what to do with my skills, passions, and training. One thing was clear, though - fast-food management was not the direction my life wasn't to take and I needed to make more changes.
Last year, I made the choice to go all in—to live authentically, use my talents fully, and build something real. Stigma Marketing & Development was reborn, not just as a marketing firm, but as a fusion of everything I’ve learned: strategy, branding, leadership, personal development, and problem-solving. Over the past year, we’ve refined our business model, embraced AI, built an Authentic Marketing Philosophy & Model, and committed to serving our clients in a way that truly aligns with who we are.
- 2025 -
A Year for Growth
Today, Stigma M&D isn’t just about design, marketing, or branding. We:
- Work with retainer-partners to provide ongoing marketing, branding, and development support.
- Take on strategic projects that align with our philosophy of authenticity and human-centered marketing.
- Launch training programs focused on leadership, marketing, and communication.
- Are actively developing Every Human’s Journey—a separate initiative designed to help individuals navigate growth, transformation, and purpose.
Through all of this, I’m still working on dealing with the wreckage of my past, finding joy in the process, and continuing to evolve both personally and professionally. I don’t have all the answers, but what I do have is the commitment to do the work, to build something real, and to help others do the same.
"What does your name mean?"
STIGMA is about the ideas that get in the way of good ideas:
"Stigma" isn’t just a name—it’s a challenge. People and businesses get held back by labels, assumptions, and limiting beliefs. We exist to help people break through those barriers, own their narrative, and redefine their identity on their own terms. The story we tell and the way we tell it matters.
![vecteezy_alpaca-animal-icon_57789896 [Converted]-03](https://stigmamarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vecteezy_alpaca-animal-icon_57789896-Converted-03.png "vecteezy_alpaca-animal-icon_57789896 [Converted]-03"){kind=icon}
...and the llamas?
Cuz they're cool...
We loved llamas before it was cool. Llamas are resilient, adaptable, personal, and unapologetically weird. They’re a reminder that branding and marketing don’t have to be boring, safe, or predictable. Like us, llamas stand out, show up, and take care of their own.
Llamas don't care if you think they're weird.
- OUR PROCESS: How Stigma Works -
A Relational, Collaborative Approach
Every partnership begins with a conversation—not a pitch, not a pre-built strategy, but a real discussion about your business, vision, culture, challenges, resources, and goals. We take the time to understand where you are and where you want to go before exploring ideas together. If there’s something Stigma Marketing & Development can do to help, we build a plan that makes sense for both of us—clear, intentional, and built for real impact.
This process ensures that every collaboration is thoughtful, strategic, and built on trust—because marketing and development should feel like a natural extension of your vision, not a forced transaction.
STEP 1: Connect
It all starts with reaching out and a conversation—whether that’s through a contact form, an application, or a direct conversation. No pressure, no gimmicks—just an opportunity to kick ideas around and see if it's a good fit.
STEP 2: BrainStorm!
We meet—either in person in Missoula or remotely—to explore your ideas, challenges, and potential solutions. Together, we clarify your vision and develop a plan that aligns with your business and available resources.
STEP 3: Implement
With a clear strategy and agreed-upon roles, we move forward. Work begins after the first payment, ensuring everything is structured, expectations are set, and the plan is ready to be executed effectively.
![vecteezy_alpaca-animal-icon_57789896 [Converted]-05](https://stigmamarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vecteezy_alpaca-animal-icon_57789896-Converted-05.svg "vecteezy_alpaca-animal-icon_57789896 [Converted]-05"){kind=icon}
CASE STUDY: How Dr. Schweitzer Started a Business
with Stigma's M&D Partner Program.
When Dr. Don Schweitzer launched Sierra Counseling and Coaching, he knew he needed to build a strong online presence—but he didn’t know where to start. Stigma Marketing & Development helped Don create a dynamic website, optimize his SEO, and develop a content strategy that included blogging, MailChimp newsletters, and consistent social media posts. We provided personalized coaching, content creation, and even book development, helping him expand his reach and better serve his growing community.
Get In Touch...
And let's see what happens.
Have a question? Need help untangling your marketing or development strategy? Whether you're exploring a partnership, scheduling a free brainstorm, or just reaching out, we'd love to hear from you.
📅 All new clients and M&D Partners start with a meeting—remote, phone, or in-person—so we can understand your needs and see if we’re the right fit. We take on clients case by case and aim to respond within 2-3 business days.
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