Sometimes, the biggest impacts begin with something small.

For Shenna Mae Padayao (a.k.a. Tokii) and Jacob Brown, co-founders of CritCreations, that “something small” is an enamel pin.

What began as a passion for creating beautiful, educational artwork has grown into a full-time business with a powerful mission: helping people connect with nature, celebrate culture, and learn about the world around them through thoughtfully designed collectible pins. More importantly, they’re proving that creativity can inspire conservation and that anyone, regardless of age, can make a meaningful difference.

When CritCreations decided to create a series of invasive species awareness pins, they wanted the project to have a lasting impact beyond education. Rather than simply selling the designs, they committed to donating a significant portion of the proceeds to an organization dedicated to invasive species management.

But which organization?

Instead of making a random choice, they reached out to ecologists they knew and asked who was making the greatest difference in invasive species education and management. Former ecologist Winterra Art didn’t hesitate.

“NAISMA,” was the recommendation.

Today, those donations are helping support NAISMA’s mission to empower invasive species professionals across North America through education, outreach, collaboration, and science-based management.

A Lifelong Love of Nature

Tokii’s passion for conservation didn’t appear overnight.

Born in the Philippines and raised in the United States, she developed an appreciation for wildlife and ecosystems from an early age. Watching the natural world and learning how easily it can be disrupted left a lasting impression.

Like many conservationists, she credits hours spent watching Steve Irwin and Sir David Attenborough documentaries with fueling her curiosity about wildlife and environmental stewardship.

That curiosity eventually led her into STEM.

She participated in the Disney Dreamers Academy, a program designed to inspire young people interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. From there, her career took some remarkable turns.

Tokii became the youngest engineer at Lockheed Martin, worked in cybersecurity, contributed to visual effects projects, and even helped create CT scans of fossils, allowing researchers to study ancient specimens in new ways.

Despite an impressive engineering career, creativity never stopped calling.

Eventually, she and Jacob took the leap to build CritCreations full-time.

More Than Beautiful Pins

Every CritCreations design tells a story.

Whether highlighting wildlife, celebrating culture, or introducing people to invasive species, each pin is carefully researched and intentionally designed to spark curiosity and conversation.

The invasive species collection has become an unexpected but effective outreach tool.

A pin might begin as a piece of artwork, but it often becomes a conversation starter about ecology, biodiversity, and the importance of protecting native ecosystems.

For NAISMA, that’s exactly the kind of awareness that leads to meaningful action.

A Partnership Built on Complementary Strengths

While Tokii is often the face behind the artwork and scientific inspiration, she is quick to point out that CritCreations is truly a partnership.

She credits Jacob Brown with helping transform their shared vision into a successful business.

His strengths in management, finance, research, and storytelling complement Tokii’s artistic and technical expertise, allowing the pair to turn ideas into products that educate, inspire, and make a tangible difference.

Together, they’ve created a company where art and science work hand in hand.

A Message for the Next Generation

Although both Tokii and Jacob are still in their twenties, they’re already demonstrating that age is no barrier to creating meaningful change.

Tokii hopes their journey encourages others to use whatever talents they have to improve the world around them.

“Jacob and I are only in our 20s, but I’d like everyone to know that we all have the ability to make a difference. Everyone has the power to make a change.”

It’s a simple message, but one that perfectly reflects why CritCreations chose to support invasive species awareness.

Whether it’s through engineering, art, research, education, or simply starting a conversation, every action matters.

NAISMA is grateful to Tokii, Jacob, and the entire CritCreations community for believing in our mission and helping spread awareness about invasive species across North America.

Their story is a reminder that making a difference doesn’t always begin with a grand gesture.

Sometimes, it starts with a single pin.