On this special "State of the Industry" episode of In The Business of Something, we dive into the forces shaping the marketing industry for 2025. We are joined by four incredible voices offering diverse perspectives and insights:

• Heather Thompson, Vice President of Strategy, Research, and Engagement at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, discusses the economic slowdown's impact on businesses and consumers.
• Rob Jennings - Founder & CEO of FKA, discusses how economic pressures reshape client strategies and creative execution.
• Robyn Dawson, Media Director at Kick Media, highlights the challenges of tighter budgets and the value of local media.
• Sarah Paterson, a recent NAIT Marketing graduate and ACE volunteer, shares her journey entering a competitive and limited job market.

Together, we explore key challenges, opportunities, and trends, from navigating affordability and demand generation to the evolving dynamics of labour and media buying. Tune in for actionable insights and a well-rounded look at what lies ahead next year for our industry.

On this episode of In The Business Of Something, we dive into the world of video production with Colleen Nuc and Amy McBain, the dynamic duo that fuels Hoopla, scrappy production studio making waves here in Edmonton. We get right into how Colleen started Hoopla looking for more creative opportunity, and eventually brought on Amy. The two of them have carved out a niche in the industry thanks to their creativity, passion, and knack for storytelling. 

From navigating early career challenges to landing big-deal city projects that went viral, Colleen and Amy share insights into their creative process, their recent ventures like self-produced International Women's Day projects, and their aspirations for tackling bigger, bolder productions in the future. 

Whether you're in the industry or simply love some Hoopla, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in the world of video production.

Welcome back for another season of In The Business of Something! The podcast that demystifies the world of advertising and highlights the amazing people in the industry. 

We're excited to kick off the season with Nicola Pringle, an award-winning, locally revered Art Director from ZGM Modern Marketing Partners. Over the course of her career, Nicola has shaped countless brands and marketing campaigns through her incredible artistry and powerful ideas. 

In this episode, Nicola chats with Adam Rozenheart and Brooke Langmaid, from the ACE board, about her journey getting into the world of advertising - including all the big arm-pinching moments and lessons learned along the way. 

Welcome to In The Business of Something, the podcast where we demystify the world of advertising and highlight the unique stories of the people in our industry.

In today’s episode, we get into the business of Toni Benning who is wrapping up her degree at the University of Alberta. We spoke with Toni about:

• What it’s been like as a student in the last few years
• Her plans after graduation
• How the job search is going
• Navigating the pressures of graduating and beginning a career
• What are her career aspirations are

Events:

• Ad Club of Edmonton Events

Welcome to In The Business of Something, the podcast where we demystify the world of advertising and highlight the unique stories of the people in our industry.

In today’s episode, we get into the business of Jeff Cheung who is an award-winning creative. Jeff’s resume includes Ogilvy, Juniper Park, TBWA Vancouver, BBDO and most recently lg2 as Creative Director. He also was one of the judges for the upcoming ACE Awards! 

 We  talk with Jeff about:

• His first couple of years at lg2 
• Slackamole and life as a CD
• Building the Dominos brand by putting pizza over everything
• Snickers “Suit Swag” activation with the Toronto Raptors
• Staying true to yourself and embracing vulnerability
• His experience judging the ACE Awards and the creativity in Edmonton

Events:

• Party with the Ad Gods at the ACE Awards 

Welcome to In The Business of Something, the podcast where we demystify the world of advertising and highlight the unique stories of the people in our industry.

In today’s episode, we get into the business of Puneeta McBryan who is the Executive Director at Edmonton Downtown. We talk with Puneeta about:

• What exactly is a Business Improvement Area (BIA) and how does it intersect with marketing?
• Place brands and why Edmonton Downtown needed one
• The process of branding a place 
• Non-straightforward career paths in advertising 
• Boomer-free career planning advice 
• Embracing uncertainty and staying open to opportunity

Resources:

• Money Feels Podcast 
  • Episode 3: Timelines + Building Your ‘Ideal’ Life
  • Episode 6: The Monetization of Self
  • Episode 11: Setting Financial Goals 

Events:

• ACE Student Resume Building Workshop at DDB

In The Business Of: Cory Sellar

Welcome back for episode #5 of In The Business Of Something! ITBOS is a podcast brought to you by ACE to help introduce more people in Edmonton and beyond to the mysterious world of advertising. 

In this episode, Josh and Moh have the pleasure of talking to Cory Sellar who works at Edmonton Unlimited as a Marketing & Communications Specialist. Cory talks about how his current role is his dream role because it combines his passion for storytelling, video production, and the innovation and technology industry right here in Edmonton. But as you’ll hear from Cory, this role didn’t magically fall into his lap and was a result of years of honing his craft. It’s a testament to Cory’s ability to make the most out of any given situation and continuing to learn and grow as a result. Cory also shares great advice for students about the importance of being patient, following your passions, and navigating the sometimes harsh reality of the job application process. This is the perfect conversation if you’re needing a little inspiration and motivation - Cory is basically the human form of the hands clapping emoji.

Want to learn more about Cory? You can find him here:

Cory Sellar, Marketing and Communications Specialist: @sellarcast

Episodes are released bi-weekly. Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen and follow ACE on Instagram (@adclubedm), Facebook, Twitter (@adclubedm), or LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest episode releases and events. 

Welcome back for episode #4 of In The Business Of Something! ITBOS is a podcast brought to you by ACE to help introduce more people in Edmonton and beyond to the mysterious world of advertising. 

For this episode, ACE President Pablo is subbing in for Moh who was out sick. Josh and Pablo have the pleasure of talking to Mark Watson for an all FKA episode. Mark tells us about his role as a digital designer and what exactly goes into designing things on screens like websites, animated videos, and display ads. We learn about industry terms like UX and UI, the importance of work-life balance, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the power of the continued pursuit of learning. This is a fun conversation you definitely don’t want to miss out on! 

Want to learn more about Mark? You can find him here:

Mark Watson, Digital Design Lead: @markkwatsonn

Episodes are released bi-weekly. Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen and follow ACE on Instagram (@adclubedm), Facebook, Twitter (@adclubedm), or LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest episode releases and events. 

Welcome back for episode #3 of In The Business Of Something! ITBOS is a podcast brought to you by ACE to help introduce more people in Edmonton and beyond to the dynamic world of advertising and all its career paths. 

In this episode, Josh and Moh have the pleasure of meeting Katie Fitzgerald. Katie tells us about her dynamic role at Jobber, one of Edmonton’s proudest tech startups. We also get to hear about Katie’s winding path to where she is now and what she attributes her success so far. 

So if you want to learn more about a career path with a lot of variety and the occasional viral TikTok, give it a listen! 

Want to learn more about Katie? You can find her here:

Katie Fitzgerald, Social Media Strategist: @katiefitzy

Episodes are released bi-weekly. Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen and follow ACE on Instagram (@adclubedm), Facebook, Twitter (@adclubedm), or LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest episode releases and events. 

Welcome back for episode #2 of In The Business Of Something! ITBOS is a podcast brought to you by ACE to help introduce more people in Edmonton and beyond to the mysterious world of advertising. 

On this episode, Josh and Moh sit down with an old friend. Sarah tells us about her first year at her new job! We also dive deep into how and why Sarah moved from agency-side to client-side and how that impacted her perception of the industry. 

Want to learn more about Sarah? You can find her here:
Sarah Brodie, Growth Marketing Specialist: @sarahlengie

Episodes are released bi-weekly. Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen and follow ACE on Instagram (@adclubedm), Facebook, Twitter (@adclubedm), or LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest episode releases and events. 

The Advertising Club of Edmonton's first podcast is official! ITBOS is a podcast brought to you by ACE to help introduce more people in Edmonton and beyond to the world of advertising. 

On our first episode of ITBOS Josh and Moh sit down with the minds behind this podcast's branding. Brooke and Sophia touch on everything from their process of designing the brand to their journeys in advertising so far (the highs and lows). 

Want to check out Brooke and Sophia's work? You can find them here:

Brooke Langmaid, Art Director (ZGM): @brooke.design
Sophia Storti,  Copywriter (ZGM): @notsophiaroma

Episodes will be released bi-weekly. Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen and follow ACE on Instagram (@adclubedm), Facebook, Twitter (@adclubedm), or LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest episode releases and events. 

On this episode of In the Business of Something, we're talking all things banking with co-host Danna Stephens, Associate Director of Marketing at ATB Financial and her colleagues Eldon Kymson and Jenn Manning, Associate Creative Directors at ATB.

Eldon and Jenn share their unconventional career journeys from science and musical theatre to advertising. They discuss their roles in shaping ATB's creative evolution, including how their unique backgrounds help them see creativity opportunity within the practical world of finance. 

Highlighting their work on the recent "Powering Possibility" brand campaign, they emphasize the importance of meeting people where they're at and standing out in the banking industry through a humanized, optimistic vision of personal finance that resonates with a diverse group of Albertans. They also reflect on the benefits of working in-house, where they can infuse the brand’s promise into the company culture, making a tangible impact beyond the traditional limits of advertising.

On this episode of In The Business of Something, we talk with the Best in Show award winners from the 45th Annual ACE Awards. This work was recognized by the esteemed judging panel as a stand-out project, worthy of the global stage. 

Justin Archer and Dennis Lenarduzzi, from Berlin Communications, join ACE President Carla McNeil, to take us behind the scenes of how Confetti Fridays came to life and eventually ended up winning the most prestigious award of the night.

Confetti Fridays was a free summer concert series hosted by Michael Phair, Alberta’s first openly gay city councillor, in the downtown park named after him. Launched in June for Pride Month, the series brought the community together weekly for live music, DJ sets and drag shows. Michael Phair Park is surrounded by a mural titled “Confetti,“ which floods all surrounding walls and sidewalks with a shower of rainbow dots. The look and feel of the lunchtime summer series creative was inspired by this mural along with cues pulled from the Memphis movement and 80’s pop art halftones – which is about the time that Michael Phair was making history here in Edmonton. 

The creative applied the vibrant colours of the pride flag in circle motifs that mimic the confetti mural, creating a joyful and energetic “more is more” aesthetic that celebrates Edmonton’s diversity, the parade of colourful queens who performed at Confetti Fridays, and Michael Phair’s iconic personal style.

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Breanne Kraus, Director of Communications & Marketing at Alberta Cancer Foundation. We sit down with Breanne to learn about the world of cause marketing through the lens of a non-profit organization leading cancer research and patient support in our province.  It's a complex role full of variety that takes you from intimate stories of cancer patients, to breakthrough discoveries,  funding announcements, and major gifts. 

We learn about Breanne’s journey to finally discovering a career that fulfills her every day and how she ended up there after years of searching. From working in publishing to startups, entrepreneurship and finally volunteering for ACF which led to much more. 

Breanne is living proof that every job has a lesson to teach you, and it's all building to something bigger and better that will come eventually if you stay patient, curious, and committed. 

On this episode of In The Business of Something, we're joined by not one but TWO wonderful people, Jeff Caron and Sophie Maisonneuve from Sonder Creative.  This dynamic duo leads a small but mighty design studio here in Edmonton that specializes in branding, web design, and development. 

This episode is hosted by ACE Podcast Chair Josh Radostits and ACE Past President Pablo Herrra Cruz. 

Josh and Pablo sit down with Jeff and Sophie, friends of ACE, to learn about the journey of starting Sonder Creative to step outside the typical 'lanes' of a traditional agency and embrace a more hands-on approach throughout the entire project process. We learn about the benefits of working in a smaller shop, managing a creative partnership, and the constant struggle between entrepreneurial spirit and process. 

Jeff and Sophie share their journeys getting into the marketing world, including Jeff's fully-suited stint at a print shop in town, and what they were both missing when they ended up taking the leap to do their own thing. 

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Chris Henderson, Partner and Chief Strategist at Y Station. This episode is hosted by ACE Vice President Adam Rozenhart and ACE Past President Pablo Herrra Cruz. 

Adam and Pablo sit down with Chris to learn about how the world of market research intersects with our industry, including how proper engagement and consultation unlock critical insights that go above and beyond our typical assumptions. It's a job that takes you from the front lines of engagement on topics like affordable housing and houselessness, to combing through pages and pages of research, to finally consolidating it all down into a digestible report. 

Chris also shares his journey from starting in public advocacy at the University of Alberta's Student Union, to leaping into the world of public relations and communications for Calder Bateman, and finally to going out on his own to start Y Station with ambitions to grow beyond Alberta. 

Maybe you're curious about understanding issues deeper or maybe you still don't know what public engagement is - either way, Chris would like you to smash the play button and learn more about life in research and engagement! 

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Teresa Sturgess, Marketing Instructor at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology). We sit down with Teresa, and ACE President Karla McNeil, to learn about Teresa's journey from working for some of the top agencies and reputable brands in Canada to becoming a local advertising legend with her Promotional Campaign Planning course at NAIT. 

Teresa talks about what inspired her to make the move from industry to teaching, how she stays connected with the industry to keep classes relevant, and how this next generation of students is approaching their career paths. 

If you know Teresa, you're already hitting play - and if you don't, well you are in for a treat! 

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Lynda Vang, Communications Specialist at Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute). We sit down with Lynda, and ACE Communications Chair Kian Javier, to learn all about the world of communications and storyelling at Western Canada's only AI Institute. And no, ChatGPT did not write this episode description - this is 100% human-certified content. 

Lynda talks about the importance of storytelling in helping people along the journey of AI literacy to learn how the technology fits within their lives - including researchers, businesses, and everyday people like teachers and students. We also dive into how you can do globally impactful work from anywhere, which is evident in Lynda's work being published across the globe from outlets like New York Times and Wired. 

Learn how Lynda's gone from an Education major, to working at Berlin Communications and Banff Centre, to ending up at one of the most coveted organizations in Edmonton. 

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Janelle Janis, Executive Director of Event & Business Development at Explore Edmonton. We sit down with Janelle, and ACE Awards Co-Chair Michele Fowler, to learn all about the world of Explore Edmonton's Sport & Culture team. Janelle and Michele are part of bringing some of the largest sports and culture events like the Heritage Classic, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, and JUNO Music Awards to our city.

We learn about Janelle's journey following her passion as a UofA Pandas student-athlete turned sports marketing pro, helping bring some of the biggest sporting events in the world to our city - including the Women's FIFA World Cup which was a dream come true for her. Janelle also speaks about the importance of language in womens' sports and how Edmonton can bring more equitable sports into the global spotlight. 

What do you do when your only proof of work is a haiku—and it actually lands you a job? Jon Manning reflects on his path from actor to award-winning copywriter, the highs and lows of freelance life, and his return to agency work with Brandish. We talk about staying curious, surrendering control (acquiescing—look it up), and what it means to “flex” in this industry. Whether you’re a writer, creative, or just figuring it out as you go, this episode’s got something for you.

What does it take to build a brand that stands for something—and stands the test of time? Kendall Barber, co-founder of Poppy Barley, joins the podcast to share her journey from a marketing career to launching and scaling one of Canada’s most beloved footwear brands.

We dive into Poppy Barley's early days, from the spark of an idea on a trip to Bali to a bold six-month ultimatum that set the business in motion. Kendall opens up about the highs (hitting that first million!) and the hard choices (pivoting from custom footwear to in-stock inventory). Plus, she shares her thoughts on Poppy Barley’s brand longevity, the power of values-driven growth, and the unique challenges—and rewards—of running a company with her sister.

If you're an entrepreneur, a marketer, or just someone who loves a well-crafted brand (or shoe), this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Tune in now!

How do you balance the business side of advertising with the desire to make a real difference in the world? In this episode, we dive into it with Ryan Kelly, Vice President of Communications and Community Partnerships at the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Ryan shares his journey from creative director in top Edmonton agencies to his current role in the non-profit world, where his work directly impacts cancer research and patient support.

We discuss the challenges of aligning personal values with professional work, the transformative power of storytelling and strategy, and the emotional moments that have defined his career—like the riderless bike procession at the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer. Plus, hear the behind-the-scenes story of how Ryan’s team collaborated with the Arkells for a powerful year-end campaign.

Whether you’re a student, a seasoned pro, or just curious about how marketing can drive change, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. Tune in now and rediscover the good that marketing can do!