Our Team of Strategists, Designers and Developers
At Anchor, we value collaboration, candor, flexibility, wonder, altruism and excellence. We love getting to combine our knowledge and experience towards helping organizations further the good they are doing.
Danielle Gagner
The Captain
Danielle began her marketing journey in investments before transitioning over to a kids and family speciality agency, where, as Business Development and Marketing Manager, she teamed up with prominent family brands like the BC Lions, Boston Pizza, Toronto Blue Jays, Cracker Barrel, and the Boston Red Sox. She later joined an agency specializing in charity and non-profit work as Marketing Director where she advanced her experience in media placements, awareness campaigns and niche market strategy with large and small nonprofit organizations. In 2018, Danielle launched Anchor Marketing, a boutique agency with a strategy-first approach where Danielle and her crew are passionate about helping nonprofits with their strategy, brand identity and awareness, fundraising and donor communications. Anchor helps their clients chart their marketing course, while providing the necessary tactical suggestions and executional support to reach their destination.
Rhoda Brooks
First Mate
Rhoda and Danielle worked together before Anchor Marketing was even a thought. Their love for strategy, good creative and collaboration made for a great team, and Rhoda was proud to jump on board when Anchor set sail. Rhoda has worn many hats as Anchor has grown, and now, with the growth of an amazing crew, serves as the Captain’s right hand. Rhoda has a Fine Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge and was owner of a successful photography and design business for 10 years before entering the world of marketing. To top it off, she also brings a wealth of experience from working with a major Canadian nonprofit in donor cultivation and event planning!
Sam Kirk
Client Success Director
From financial services marketing, starting his own graphic design and communications shop, running political campaigns, and helping found a tech startup in mobile marketing, Sam brings close to 25 years of experience in helping companies and charities accomplish their marketing and fundraising goals. Sam’s takeaway philosophy… strong relationships make successful partnerships.
Becoming the communications director for an international development charity was where Sam first discovered the world of fundraising and became a marketer for good. In 2017, Sam joined a marketing agency as an account manager working solely with nonprofits on brand, web development, and organizational strategy. He later joined a direct response marketing agency in 2021 to head up the strategy and account management team before joining the Anchor crew in 2023.
Dennys Elali
Business Operations Director
Dennys oversees business operations and finances at Anchor. With an educational background in business and an emphasis on operational research, Dennys has worked with small businesses since 2010. He loves creating systems and structures that enable small companies to grow while keeping their roots. He is detailed with a natural gift for numbers, procedures, and people. Dennys enjoys working in the background while using his analytical skills in the decision making process – helping the Anchor crew to stay on course!
Rachel Bell
Marketing Director
Rachel brings a wealth of experience to the team at Anchor. From logistics management for the immense growth of Saje Natural Wellness, brand strategy and direction of 8 separate brands under the umbrella of Pacific Bottleworks (GoodDrink), to marketing director at a private liberal arts university, we are happy to have her aboard! Rachel is passionate about innovation and has great depth of experience across multiple platforms, including: social, digital, video and print. Rachel loves collaboration, strategy, and teamwork and is constantly looking at new ways of inspiring creativity within her crew.
Joanne Yen
Account Director
For the past 11 years, Joanne has been honing her skills in graphic design, video production and event management, while partnering with clients to help make their visions come true. Her wide cross section of clients and experience in the marketing industry makes her a valuable team player and diligent problem solver. Joanne uses her unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities within each project to determine what is needed to bring them across the finish line. At Anchor, she has found her home and love for account and production management, with a passion to help our clients move their mission forward!
Jobina Bardai
Account Manager
Jobina loves being a part of AMI’s crew, where she combines her many years of expertise as the right-hand to some of the UK and Canada’s most well-known companies’ CEOs and founders and her love for leading projects. Jobina thrives on staying ahead of the curve and anticipating client needs in order to ensure a smooth execution and great client experience. From account and project management, to client and vendor relations, Jobina is a star in our books!
Natalia Suarez
Admin Manager & Digital Marketing Specialist
Natalia is an integral part of the behind-the-scenes well-being of Anchor. She has a love of learning and is also working on her degree with a major in entrepreneur leadership. Natalia’s organizational and digital marketing skills, along with her proactiveness and quick learning, keep Anchor healthy and moving ahead. She is a wonderful team player and is passionate about doing work that relieves stress and helps others.
Ronald Nganga
Senior Visual Designer
Ron has been developing eye-catching and memorable designs across a variety of mediums and platforms for over 10 years. As a graduate of Simon Fraser University with a degree in Interactive Arts & Technology, Ron trained in the SFU internship program which introduced him to the corporate/organization world where he learned how to integrate his skills with the marketing needs of clients. Post internship, Ron has worked with a large variety of both corporate and nonprofit clients. His strength in creative direction and composition is equally matched in his knowledge of tools and technical know-how. Ron knows what questions to ask to get to the core of what needs to be done and the best way to do it! Ron also happens to be one of the three core crew from the setting sail of Anchor in 2018.
Kenan Philips
Visual Designer
Kenan is a key designer and web developer at Anchor Marketing, who enjoys helping organizations build their brand and website from the ground up! He is detail oriented, passionate about good design, and loves working with clients who are making a difference in their communities and around the world. Kenan brings a deep level of nonprofit design experience from his previous employer that our clients certainly benefit from.
Woojin Lee
Visual Designer
Once a sea shanty singing sailor in the South Korean Navy, it can only be destiny that Woojin would set sail with Anchor Marketing (although he might tell you our uniforms aren’t as fancy).
Since majoring in business and design management, Woojin has been refining his skills in UX/UI design, project management, and marketing to the benefit of our clients. From visually striking Sci-fi movies, to BC’s mountainous landscapes, Woojin has a keen eye for visual design—and a wave of creativity to support it.
Derek Nobert
Senior Copywriter & Content Strategist
Derek left the frozen prairies to seek fame and fortune out west—he found neither, but he is warmer now! The meandering road of life has given him a unique mix of expertise and viewpoints, from being an EA to a First Nations Chief in northern Alberta, to owning his own business for over a decade, to serving as the interim marketing director of a liberal arts university. Today—as Senior Writer and Content Strategist for Anchor Marketing—Derek is using his love of language and words to help clients tell more compelling stories and multiply their impact in creative new ways.
Land Acknowledgement
Anchor Marketing is an agency that works in the nonprofit, charity and education sector. Our team is made up of settlers, immigrants, newcomers and descendants of colonizers.
We are located on the shared, traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the scəw̓aθən, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, and other Hun’qumi’num speaking people. We hold deep gratitude towards the historical and ongoing stewardship of these sacred lands by the Peoples who are connected to her.
We acknowledge how the marketing industry perpetuates harmful stereotypes of Indigenous and other marginalized peoples. As a team we hold ourselves accountable to critically reflect on the role marketing has played and take the steps within our power to end the harm it has caused. We are all in different stages of our decolonization journey and we are committed to both the unlearning and learning needed and we invite correction. Our team welcomes opportunities to work in partnership with Indigenous creators, amplify Indigenous voices, and ensure fair representation of Indigenous People with all the clients that we work alongside.
When our clients excel, the communities they serve benefit and we consider it the best success we could strive for.
Our Voyage Together
Discovery Session
We ask hard questions to ensure the key stakeholders are aligned and blind spots are being accounted for.
Strategy Development
We take a methodical approach to setting strategy that is informed by experience, research and best practices.
Project Planning
Your dedicated account manager will curate your creative team and produce the timeline and milestones for the project.
Team Kickoff
We believe in Murphy's law so we make sure we plan for it but walking through the plan with your team to see if there are any potential risks or problems.
Content Creation
Everything we produce is bespoke and tailored to meet your specific goals.
Proofs + Feedback
We believe that a project is a best done as a collaborative effort between your team and ours, which is why we provide 3 rounds of edits at both the writing and design stage.
Launch + Execution
We keep a close eye on things from launch to finish and make adjustments as needed to ensure a successful outcome.
Review & Recommendations
Looking back always provides valuable insights and learning for us and our clients that can help inform future decisions and projects.
Our Achievements
Winner 2021 Hashtag Awards
Best Direct Mail Campaign
Winner 2021 Hashtag Awards
Best In Show for Medium Marketing Agency
Winner 2021 Hashtag Awards
Best Direct Mail Campaign
What People are saying
