who we are

Ex Waitress is a collective of creatives passionate about uplifting small businesses. Our team of full-time members, interns, and freelancers operate from a perspective of mutual respect and collaboration to build social media and marketing that allows smaller brands to take the center stage.

Carissa Duhamel

Owner/Founder
Carissa Duhamel is, in fact, an exwaitress – though today she’s best known as the founder of Ex Waitress, a social media and digital marketing collective dedicated to helping small businesses stand out. She began her career in the early days of Instagram and went on to hold roles as Social Media Director at Box 8 Creative, Social Media Editor at Fine Homebuilding magazine, and Audience Development Strategist at the Taunton Press. Along the way, she’s built audiences in the hundreds of thousands for clients across industries including hospitality and food & beverage, financial services, nonprofits, publishing, and real estate/AEC.

At Ex Waitress, Carissa leads with a mix of storytelling and strategy, crafting holistic campaigns that bring together social media, branding, influencer partnerships, and content creation. She’s driven by a belief that marketing is less about selling and more about honoring the effort behind every business – and making sure that effort is seen.

Allaire Bartel

Creative Director
Allaire is a Creative Director who helps brands cut through the noise with strategy-driven visuals and clear, consistent storytelling. With over a decade of experience spanning fashion, fine art, food, architecture, medicine, and wellness, she brings an editorial eye and strong project management skills to every project. She’s partnered with brands like Rothy’s, Yale University, St. Regis Hotels, and goop, and her work has appeared in Vogue, Architectural Digest, and Town & Country.

Passionate about the intersection of creativity and clarity, Allaire draws on her background in photography and design to lead campaigns that not only look beautiful but actually move the needle for clients.

Juliette Gondon

Content Creator
Juliette is a content creator and operations expert who helps brands show up with personality and a clear creative flow behind the scenes. She’s spent years in the tech startup world building systems and helping teams scale. Now? She’s back to her roots in social media, channeling her knack for eye-catching, scroll-stopping, content that performs and stands the test of time. Passionate about creating in every sense, Juliette runs her own custom charm accessory line, taps into her past life as a fashion blogger, and brings a trend-savvy spark and ease to everything she touches.

Deja Senna-Leslie

Paid Ads Specialist
Deja is a Paid Ads Specialist who helps brands grow by building awareness and driving measurable business results. With a background spanning arts, agency, and nonprofit work, she brings a creative and strategic perspective to every campaign. Deja applies her diverse experiences to craft strategies that not only perform but also connect with audiences on a deeper level. She is passionate about culture, music, and the arts and how these influences can inspire business growth and innovation.

Kaleb Coulter

Video & Content Editor
Kaleb is an editor with nearly two decades of experience, having worked with major acts like RuPaul, social media creators such as Amandumb, and on numerous personal projects – building a portfolio that spans a wide range of content types and client projects. Alongside editing, he has spent 15 years as a music producer and mix engineer, most recently contributing to RuPaul’s 2025 release and producing much of the music featured in Ex Waitress’ content. His creative range also extends into photography and graphic design, with years of experience in shooting, editing, and full-scale production.