About us

We believe in content marketing that feels good to create—and receive.

As your trusted content marketing partner, we meet you where you are and help you get where you want to go. Our expertise lies in getting to the heart of your story and translating that into premium content that builds trust, drives growth, and reflects your mission.

We’re a team of senior-level content professionals committed to ensuring every piece of work resonates with your audience while staying true to your values.

Read our B Corp Story and check out our 2024 Impact Report.   

Our Purpose and Values

Why do we do what we do?

We’re a Certified B Corp because our commitment to positive impact runs deep. We know that heart-centred communication, and yes, even marketing, can be a force for good, fostering genuine connections that enable purpose-driven businesses to grow and thrive, creating positive impact in a world that needs it.

We’re committed to the UN SDGs of quality education, gender equality, and decent work and economic growth. Read our B Corp Story and check out our 2024 Impact Report.   

Our values guide everything we do:

CREATIVE EXCELLENCE

We deliver unique, high-quality work that exceeds expectations.

Authenticity

We're honest, transparent, and encourage others to show up as their true selves.

Respect

We treat everyone—team members, clients, partners, and community—with care and empathy.

COLLABORATIVE STRENGTH​

We work as true partners, knowing we achieve more together.

RESOURCEFULNESS​

We use our creativity, wits, will, and experience to find the smartest solutions.

How we work

Your trusted content team, scaled to your needs.

Think of us as your fractional content marketing team. We excel at partnering with small marketing teams, amplifying your impact through strategic planning, premium content creation, and transparent reporting.

Discovery and Strategy

We start every partnership with deep discovery to understand your goals, audience, and unique positioning. Together, we create a strategic roadmap that clarifies your path forward.

Systems and Processes

With strategy in place, we establish the tools and workflows—from content planning to publishing and reporting—that keep your content operations running smoothly.

Content Creation and Partnership

You’ll work with a dedicated team including a Project Manager, Lead Strategist, and content specialists who understand your mission. We collaborate closely to create content that drives real results.

Senior-led,
curated teams

Each of our clients is assigned their own curated content marketing team, which serves as an extension of yours. All content is vetted by our senior team before it ever reaches your eyes for review and approval.

Our Team

Shannon Emmerson
Founder & CEO

With 25+ years in content strategy and marketing, Shannon founded Forge & Spark in 2012 to unite her passions for storytelling and social impact. Under her leadership, the agency became a Certified B Corp in 2022 and a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) in 2023.

Shannon has developed content strategies for brands including L’Arche International, Electronic Arts, Science World, and Amy’s Organics. She teaches purpose-driven content strategy and is the author of Content With Purpose: Messaging and Marketing With Impact.

Inspired by: Small acts of courage, honesty, and compassion.

Lisa Manfield
Editorial & Story Director

Lisa oversees content creation and editorial quality across all client work, ensuring strategy translates to impactful results. An instructor at SFU and Capilano University, she brings 20+ years of content strategy and editorial expertise.

Her background includes launching innovative publications and working with brands like London Drugs, Vancity, and the University of the Fraser Valley.

Dreams of: Content that inspires positive change.

Lara Kroeker
VP, creative strategy

Lara is our Webby award-winning visual storyteller and Emily Carr graduate who ensures our clients’ stories come to life across all platforms.

She’s worked with CBC, Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Douglas Coupland, and numerous environmental organizations.

Her proudest achievement? Building two solar-powered wells in Tanzania that are still providing water today.

Believes in: Glue guns and glitter.

Colby Spencer
Director of Ops

With 15+ years in marketing and advertising agencies, including four years at one of Canada’s largest agencies, Colby brings operational excellence to everything we do. She leads our project management team and champions the processes that keep our work running smoothly.She plays bad cop to wrangle projects, but has a warm and beautiful heart.

Colby is also the creator and host of Vantropolis, a podcast featuring Vancouver’s film and television industry.

Inspired by: Finding creative solutions to complex problems

Julia Kwan
SENIOR CONTENT Strategist

Julia is a unicorn, specializing in both content strategy and project management, bringing strategic chops as well as organizational know-how to the table. Her experience ranges from roles in advertising, non-profit, health, education, and organizational design with organizations like DDB Canada, BC Women’s Health Foundation, and BCIT.

Believes in: the power of kindness (and women’s equity).

Kirsten Rodenhizer
Senior Editor & Strategist

Kirsten is an editor, writer and content project manager who is passionate about helping clients bring their stories to life across platforms. With a background in magazine editorial, she asks the right questions, and expertly gets to the heart of your story.  

Inspired by: Finding the right words to connect with any audience.

Ren Reed
Senior Designer

Ren is a senior-level designer with a background in magazine and editorial design. She has a passion for all things Adobe and learning new skills. She is THE person we turn to for restaurant recommendations.

Dreams of: Exploring the world.

Christina Tran
Designer

Christina is a graphic designer and illustrator focused on the art of storytelling through the combination of bold imagery and conceptual thinking. She is relentless in her pursuit for creative solutions, particularly in the local non-profit sector and impact space.

Passionate about: Decorating her workspace with art and trinkets.

Olivia Stedman
Content Strategist

With 5+ years of experience as a Content Strategist and Creator, Olivia is keen about using exciting visuals, unique storytelling, and data-driven insights to create out-of-the-box strategies. She’s an entrepreneur and creative at heart.

Believes in: Kindness, optimism, and baking good for her neighbours.”

Chelle Morgan
Senior Content Strategist

A storyteller at heart, Chelle has experience both brand-side and client-side developing robust strategies for digital comms, social media, influencers, email, editorial, and paid media. 

Passionate about: Inventive beauty

Sara MacKay
Visual Designer

Sara is a graphic designer with a penchant for entrepreneurship (and tasty cocktails). She specializes in digital design and is obsessed with all things social media.

Dreams of: Seaside passionfruit mezcalitas with a bowl of fresh guac.

Karina Perez Content & Social Media Associate

Karina is passionate about digital transformation and creating seamless digital experiences. She has worked in marketing for a global consumer technology brand and in digital communications and web development for the federal government, as well as educational and non-profit organizations. 

Loves: UX and the art of journey mapping

Kelsey Westbrook
Project Manager

When not sailing BC’s coastal waters on her aptly named sailboat Zig-Zag, Kelsey is a Project Manager with 10+ years of PM experience across the digital marketing landscape. She is a champion of process and believes most problems can be solved with the right Excel spreadsheet.

Dreams of: Days spent at sea, as far away from cell reception as possible.

Bronwyn Wilson
Project Manager 

Passionate about social media strategy and execution, Bronwyn has worked with the Vancouver Aquarium and alive Magazine, and assisted international businesses to find growth opportunities in the Canadian market.

Believes in: Always smiling, compassion, and getting outdoors.

Esther Mutinda
Project & Content Coordinator

Esther supports F&S from Mombasa, Kenya, providing our clients with top-notch research, project coordination, copywriting, and social media support. She has won our internal ‘Kindest Spark’ award for infinite years running. 

Passionate about: Digital literacy and helping others learn.

Saranne Wentholt
Agency Coordinator

As an experienced Project Coordinator, Saranne brings many talents to the team. With a passion for fostering company culture, she is currently the B Keeper at Forge & Spark – ensuring that we stay on track for our B Corp goals.

Wakes up to: Snuggles with her family in their giant family bed.

Megan Susara
Designer

Megan is a dynamic creative & storyteller, specializing in motion design, with experience in branding, production, and staring at the ocean. Although working from home is a dream, she deeply values team collaboration and loves finding creative buddies.

Passionate about: Seeing the spark in people’s hearts

Hanna Clark
Content Strategist

Hanna specializes in crafting compelling digital content. She finds inspiration in the power of human connection and storytelling.

Passionate about:Mental health advocacy and all things wellness.

SHANNON EMMERSON / FOUNDER & CEO

With 25+ years experience in content strategy and marketing for brands and agencies, Shannon knows that it’s all about genuine connection. Shannon founded Forge & Spark in 2012 to unite her passions for storytelling and social impact, seeing the agency become a Certified B Corp in 2022, and a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) in 2023. She has served as a strategist and storyteller for brands including L’Arche International, Amy’s Organics, Electronic Arts, Genus Capital, Science World, London Drugs, and CPA Canada. Shannon teaches and speaks on purpose-driven content strategy and messaging, and is the author of Content With Purpose: Messaging and Marketing With Impact, publishing in 2024.

Electronic Arts  |  Science World  |  L’Arche International
Genus Capital Management (B Corp)  |  Spatial Research & Design  |  Reid’s Automotive Recycling (B Corp)  |  Fisher Investments  |  Canada Wide Media / BCBusiness / BCLiving / GardenWise  |  BCAA  |  The Giustra Foundation  |  London Drugs  |  CPA Canada  |  Minerva BC (Non Profit)  |  Canterbury Coffee  |  ONE Coffee  |  Christie Stoll Fitness  |  B2Gold  |  Calibre Mining  |  Grupo Bimbo
Magazines Canada / Magazines BC  |  Geist Magazine  |  Rulesware  |  Active Patch Technologies  |  Kristian Domingo Foundation  |  fit52  |  Hanx101  |  Vancity  |  YMCA of Greater Vancouver  |  Hospital Show  |  Help Texts (formerly Grief Coach)  |  BC Alliance for Arts  |  VancouverMom.ca  |  CharliAI  |  Within People  |  Galiano Conservatory  |  TrendTex  |  The Cut  |  Omorfia Medical Clinic  |  Avante POP Displays  |  E.B. Horsman & Son  |  Albrite  |  Alinker  |  Amy’s Kitchen / Amy’s Organics (B Corp)  |  University of the Fraser Valley  |  Imme & Cycurid  |  ReWeaving Wealth / Renewal Partners  |  JOEY Restaurants  |  ECHO Storytelling

Expertise

Content Marketing Strategy, Messaging Strategy, Content Operations & Training, Content Development, Brand Storytelling, Digital Marketing, Corporate Communications and Knowledge Management
 

Education

Bachelor of Journalism, Carleton University
Master of Arts (Literature), Concordia University
 
Shannon sings and plays guitar in a band called Hot Flash 🤘
 

Lisa Manfield / Editorial Director

Lisa is the Editorial and Story Director for Forge & Spark, and oversees content creation and editorial quality for clients in a wide range of sectors, ensuring that strategy translates to implementation and results. A former instructor of web writing and SEO for Simon Fraser University and Capilano University, she has worked as a content strategist, writer and editor for 20+ years. She has developed content and strategy for a range of clients, including London Drugs, Vancity and the University of the Fraser Valley.

Previous clients

London Drugs  |  Canada Wide Media  |  SFU  |  UBC  |  Capilano University  |  Vancity  |  BCAA  |  BC SPCA  |  Central 1 Credit Union  |  Magazines Canada  |  Mags BC  |  Editors Association of Canada  |  Science World  |  PARC Retirement Living  |  Genus Capital Management  |  University of the Fraser Valley

Expertise

Editorial direction, content strategy, multimedia storytelling, writing/editing, content ideation and planning, SEO

Education

Bachelor of Applied Science in Communications

Lisa’s background is in magazine publishing, and she has been lucky to work on many cool magazine projects throughout her career, including launching a bilingual magazine for youth that was distributed to every college and university in Canada, as well as a 2010 Vancouver Olympics Games digital publication, which subsequently became a popular BC lifestyle magazine.

Lara Kroeker / Creative Director

Lara is Forge & Spark’s Creative Director, and is an Webby award-winning visual storyteller, designer/developer and strategist who has worked with clients like CBC, Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Canada Wide Media, and Douglas Coupland. Lara is a graduate of Emily Carr University in communication design and has worked as a designer, developer, and creative director on big and small teams for the last 20 years. She has worked with nonprofits and environmental organizations such as Innovation Africa, The environmental youth alliance and the Canadian Labour congress; with artists like Douglas Coupland; journalists like Neil Macdonald from CBC News; and with broadcast TV like the Down2Earth Series on APTN and Green Heroes on TVO. She ensures that our clients work tells a consistently compelling story online, creating visual narratives and optimal user experiences across platforms and channels.

Previous clients

Douglas Coupland | Project Inside Out | CBC | Down2Earth TV Series (APTN) | Green Heroes Mini Series (TVO) | Vancouver Olympics | Orato | Innovation Africa | Canadian Labour Congress | Environmental Youth Alliance

Expertise

Visual storytelling, design/developer, content strategy, creative director, user experience

Education

Communication Design from Emily Carr

A project Lara is most proud of is building two solar powered wells in Tanzania where she worked over the course of five years. The wells are still pumping water today.

Colby Spencer / Director of Operations

Colby Spencer is the Director of Operations at Forge & Spark and brings 20+ years of experience in marketing, advertising, digital and creative production agencies, including four years at one of the largest advertising agencies in Canada. She also has overseas experience in London, UK and Melbourne, Australia. She’s worked across a vast client base at both agency and client-side, from start-ups to CPG and blue chip brands from telecom to food service. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Liberal Arts Certificate from Simon Fraser University, as well as a Marketing Management diploma from BCIT. Colby leads all things process at F&S, championing agency best practice and overseeing the Project Management team along the way! She plays bad cop to wrangle projects, but has a warm and beautiful heart.

Previous clients

McDonald’s  |  Daiya  |  LikeMeat
Harmless Harvest  |  POM  |  Wonderful Pistachios  |  South by Southwest (SXSW)  |  Concord Pacific  |  BOSA Properties  |  Vega  |  Hardbite Chips  |  VRX Studios  |  FortisBC  |  Miyoko’s Creamery  |  The Little Potato Company  |  Revered Cinema  |  TELUS  |  Cisco

Expertise

Director of operations, senior project management, client management, creative resourcing, business development and growth,

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Liberal Arts Certificate (SFU)
Marketing Management Diploma (BCIT)

Colby is a podcaster! She’s both the creator and host of Vantropolis, a podcast of conversations with the various folks working in Vancouver BC’s booming film and television industry.