Creative. Strategic. Faith-Fueled.
Hi, I’m Andrea Smith...
I’m the founder of CWS Consulting — and before I ever built websites for a living, I ran real things.
I’ve managed nonprofits.
I’ve helped lead ministries.
I’ve owned and operated small businesses where the work didn’t stop when the website went live.
I know what it feels like to juggle a hundred responsibilities, make decisions all day long, and still lie awake wondering if the systems you’ve built are actually helping… or quietly adding weight.
That lived experience is why I don’t design websites as “online brochures.”
I design them the way I learned to run businesses.
Why the Brick-and-Mortar Approach Still Works Online
Every successful business I’ve ever been part of — nonprofit, ministry, or small business — followed the same basic pattern.
People notice you. They step inside.
They understand what’s being offered.
And they’re guided clearly to what comes next.
That’s not marketing theory. That’s just how people work.
When I began building websites, I saw quickly that the same principles that have guided successful brick-and-mortar businesses for decades still apply in the digital space. Your website has a sidewalk. (Search results. Social links. Word of mouth.) Your storefront has a front door. (Your homepage.) Once someone steps inside, they should be able to move naturally — without confusion or friction — toward the next step. (Clear, concise navigation.) You have a sales floor...Whether your goal is sales, donations, registrations, or bookings, this is where interest turns into action. And you should have a counter where real work happens. This is where forms are submitted, appointments are booked, events are registered for, donations are made, and purchases are completed — all without unnecessary friction. This is often the missing piece for most websites. The systems that carry the weight. When any one of these pieces is unclear, overloaded, or hard to find, people don’t complain. They just leave. My goal is to help you see your digital presence the same way you see a physical brick-and-mortar space. Together, we can design it to work for you - and lighten the load.
Why I Do This...
I do this because I’ve lived it — not just from one angle, but from many.
I’ve been a small business owner where the work didn’t stop when the doors closed.
A nonprofit leader trying to balance mission, money, and people — all at the same time.
A ministry leader carrying responsibility without always having authority.
A wife and a mother learning, like so many others, how to juggle work, family, faith, and exhaustion without dropping what matters most.
I know what it’s like to be deeply invested in what you’re building — and quietly overwhelmed by how much of the weight still rests on your shoulders.
I also know this: Most leaders don’t struggle because they’re doing things wrong. They struggle because everything depends on them. A while back, I ran into a friend and asked a simple question: “How’s the business going?” She teared up and said, “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.” In that moment, I knew two things very clearly. My experience had given me the ability to see what was happening beneath the surface. And I knew I had to try to help. That’s why I do this work. Not to build prettier websites — but to build systems that give people back time, clarity, and confidence. So they can lead well. Create freely. And carry less alone.
How We Work Together
Working with CWS Consulting is meant to feel supportive, not overwhelming.
I don’t believe in rushing to solutions or handing you a long list of tools you’re expected to manage on your own. I start by listening — asking questions about what’s working, what feels heavy, and where things tend to get stuck.
From there, we focus on clarity.
That means choosing systems intentionally. Designing pathways that make sense. And building only what actually carries weight for your day-to-day work. I don’t disappear after launch, and I don’t believe a website should be something you’re afraid to touch. My goal is to create something you understand, trust, and can grow into — with guidance when you need it. This work is collaborative by design. You bring your knowledge of your organization. I bring structure, strategy, and perspective shaped by real-world experience. Together, we build systems that support your mission, respect your time, and make forward progress feel possible — not exhausting.