The work that makes everything else possible.
We’re Upwell Consulting. We work with agency and studio leaders to tackle their toughest challenges: the ones that happen behind the scenes.
Upwell partners Katie Jennings, Rob Harr, and Jody Thornburg have a longstanding dedication to the unglamorous parts of agency life. Bring us the sticking points in your sales pipeline, the red flags in your financial processes, and the complications in your culture. We’ve been focused on solving problems like these for years.
How Can We Help?
hello@upwellconsulting.com
Middlebury, Vermont
& Bellbrook, Ohio
How we’ll work together
Coaching/Consulting
Forgive the cliche, but the most important thing we can do is teach you to fish. Upwell was founded on the idea of bringing you direct, actionable advice from experts who have truly been in your shoes. We can work with you to put the systems and processes in place that you need to track progress and increase revenue.
Project-based Collaboration
We all want to stay focused on the big picture, but let’s be honest, There are times when you have a very specific, very immediate issue that needs to be addressed. When that’s the case, we’re ready to match your urgency. We’ll work with you to schedule a series of meetings that quickly cycle from investigation to strategy to execution. Problem solved.
Fractional Support
Smaller studios and agencies often have to choose between experience and economy. Upwell offers fractional support for your team without the expense of a senior level hire. Expertise? Check. Expertise that doesn’t cost enough to sink your ship? Check. We can originate or fill these roles for your organization, establishing best practices while you’re preparing for the next step.
“I’ve known and worked with both Katie and Rob for years — pretty sure you can’t do better than Upwell for advice and counsel.”
— Tracey Halvorsen, CEO at adeo
Aw shucks.
“A dedicated business developer with an unparalleled talent for crafting exquisite new business proposals, Katie impresses prospects, makes colleagues look their best, and wins clients.”
— Geoff Barnes, Google
“Katie’s someone that I know I can rely on. She’s a careful listener and strategic thinker, and her long career gives her a uniquely valuable perspective on both the art and science of biz dev.”
— Liz Ott, ThreeSpot
“Work with Katie and Rob.
You’ll thank me later.”
— Stacy Spakowsky, PRI
Questions? We have answers.
You don’t even know me. How can you help?
Great, great question. We need to understand your skills, your experience, and the things that are going to make you stand out. Sometimes being too close to the work makes it difficult to see things clearly. Providing an outside perspective is one the most valuable things we can offer.
I need help with biz dev. Can you guarantee a win?
No, we can’t. We’ll optimize everything we touch, but we’re selling your experience, your team, and your products. When there’s a win, that’s where it’s coming from. Just for comparison’s sake, our win rate with most organizations has been 30-40%.
Does operations mean that I can ask you every possible question about running my business?
You can ask! In fact, please do. We have opinions on just about everything, and we’ll get into the weeds with you on delivery, finance, scaling, and team building. If we find ourselves in need of input from legal, tax, or HR compliance specialists, we’ll refer you to those professionals. You’ll probably still have decisions to make that are specific to your business. When you’re ready, we can help you define a path forward.
How do I know that Upwell is right for me?
Let’s just talk about it. That’s always the best way to find out. For background: our experience is focused primarily on working with agencies and studios between five and 50 people. We help our clients grow their teams and grow their revenue, regardless of the services they provide.
Who else are you working with?
We’d ask that too if we were in your shoes. Although we’re happy to tell you all of our stories, we can’t share names with you without getting direct permission from current and past clients. You can expect this same level of discretion if you decide to work with Upwell.
I’m Katie.
Training in journalism taught me to write quickly and clearly. A decade in public relations taught me how to say anything well. I found my way to business development when a friend asked for help with a business proposal. That friend got quite a bit more feedback than he was expecting, and I haven’t looked back.
I’m Rob.
I was a software guy through and through until I found myself at a studio that needed someone to run it. I’m not one to turn away from a challenge, and this was a good one. For the past fifteen years I’ve grown and run Sparkbox while offering guidance to other folks who find themselves in similar circumstances.
I’m Jody.
After years of researching, building, leading, and coaching, I've found that my true joy is making people’s lives better. I design HR programs and processes that benefit both the company and the individual team member. I’m the bridge between organizational efficiency and heartfelt support, and I'm happy to share all I know.
