Strategic Marketing Tools

Meet Your Calgary Marketing Team

Fiona Friesen, Chief Visionary

A Certified Duct Tape Marketing Coach, Fiona’s passion is small business. In small groups or individual sessions, she coaches entrepreneurs to install a systematic, strategy-based marketing program that’s tailored to their objectives. Since founding Glue in 2004, Fiona’s felt and addressed the marketing pain of over 200 business owners, with special expertise in B2B and professional service industries. She loves watching entrepreneurs grow and enjoy their business through the work they do together, and is as committed to ensuring their success as they are.

Fiona’s intuition, knowledge and engaging style gets small business owners excited about the potential of their business while coaching them on how to take their marketing to the next level. Her entrepreneurial spirit and creativity extend into her free time as well, as she pursues a personal interest in photography and a small jewellery design business.

Katie Leahul, Marketing Master

As Marketing Master, Katie advises clients in every phase of their business relationship with GlueEd.  She leads GlueEd’s information sessions; consults clients on the best programs for their goals; and connects graduates with tools to build upon their marketing foundation.

Katie loves building strategies and brainstorming innovative ideas to help a business succeed in its market. She understands that each business decision an entrepreneur makes has an effect on their success. This knowledge drives Katie to ensure each client gets exactly what they need to meet their business goals.

Kristen Draney, Project Manager

Kristen is a main point of contact for GlueEd clients during Duct Tape Marketing programs, and for graduates’ Marketing Menu projects. She helps clients put their vision in a tangible format and guides them through to their goals. Kristen is always available to answer any questions or solve any problems clients might have. She is also responsible for ensuring GlueEd’s team is kept on track with all projects and milestones.

Kristen brings fresh ideas to every project. She loves working with small business owners and getting to know and understand their needs and wants. Innovative and responsive, Kristen is there for each GlueEd client with full, tailored support.

Phillip Wheaton, Production Manager

As Production Manager, Phillip oversees the development and design of marketing deliverables for GlueEd graduates. He directs the creative workflow and completion of projects, all with an eye for clear and effective design tailored to each client’s need. He feeds off entrepreneurial energy and enjoys learning about new businesses, industries and models through the process of design. A designer with vision, Phillip is adept at translating theory and trends into practical, capable marketing materials.

Phillip has played a critical role in Glue’s design and client service since 2007. He believes that good design is merely one part of an overall marketing strategy, and is constantly evolving to see Glue’s clients get the best first impressions possible.

Samantha Garner, Marketing Copywriter

Samantha helps each GlueEd graduate communicate their messages concisely, consistently and stylishly. She aligns herself with each graduate’s goals, personality and natural voice, ensuring their written material accurately represents their objectives and unique difference.

Active in the marketing and communications industry since 2003, Samantha enjoys the entrepreneurial spirit and loves finding just the right way to express a thought. She uses her talent with words to give graduates content that complements their vision and gets them excited about their marketing.

Jason Friesen, Audio Engineer

Jason composes and records custom music, voiceovers, and sound effects for GlueEd graduates. This brings a unique dimension to their projects, helping graduates differentiate themselves from the crowd.

With years of experience in recording engineering and audio production, Jason enjoys adding another layer of creativity to graduates’ projects. He takes pride in translating technical concepts into easy-to-understand terms that help graduates see how audio engineering can improve their marketing.

Our Story

Fiona founded Glue in 2004 to partner with Calgary’s business owners, helping them craft more strategic marketing solutions. With its roots in design, Glue’s entrepreneurial mindset helped clients build their business and gave them strategic advice to increase their sales. In 2008, Glue Solutions became one of the few agencies in Canada authorized to teach the Duct Tape Marketing Program.

GlueEd was launched in 2010 in response to overwhelming positive feedback from clients who had gone through Fiona’s Duct Tape Marketing coaching sessions. Through GlueEd’s systematic, community-focused and strategic marketing education, business owners are given real tools to grow confidently in the direction of their dreams.