In this episode of The Spark, host Mark Scrivner sits down with Mariko Hickerson, CEO of Huckleberry Branding, to explore her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship and how storytelling became the foundation of her agency's approach to branding and search marketing. Mariko shares how her early newsroom experience shaped her perspective on clarity, fairness, and extracting meaningful narratives—skills that now drive her SEO and brand strategy work.

The conversation dives into the realities of running a modern agency: narrowing service offerings, building trust with referral partners, navigating SEO myths, and adapting to emerging technologies like AI and large language models without losing sight of fundamentals. Mariko also offers practical advice for small businesses with limited budgets and reflects on the mindset shifts required to lead a sustainable, people-centered company.

Episode Highlights

• 01:27 – Mariko's path from journalism to marketing and entrepreneurship

• 10:54 – Why storytelling is a competitive advantage in SEO

• 18:24 – How AI and LLMs are influencing modern search strategies

• 21:18 – The Tennessee Whiskey Trail project and earning "street cred"

• 28:17 – What to prioritize when you have little to no marketing budget

• 31:00 – Trust as the foundation of great referral partnerships

Learn More & Connect
Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/
Connect With Mariko Hickerson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marikohickerson/ | https://www.huckleberrybranding.com/
Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com
Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com

In this episode of The Spark, Mark Scrivner sits down with Vincent Phamvan, Founder of Vyten and a three-time CMO, to unpack how mobile apps and AI are reshaping what's possible for small and mid-sized businesses. Vincent shares his journey from enterprise tech and healthcare into building tools that level the playing field for founders, agencies, and service-based businesses.

Together, they explore why mobile-first experiences matter more than ever, how AI-driven automation can dramatically improve client onboarding and support, and what businesses need to rethink about owning their audience, data, and customer experience in an AI-powered world.

Episode Highlights:

• 01:17 – Vincent's background in enterprise tech and early AI adoption

• 03:23 – Why large companies gain unfair advantages—and how tech can close the gap

• 09:01 – Why mobile apps and push notifications outperform email

• 12:47 – How Vyten builds and launches mobile apps in one week

• 17:01 – Using AI to automate workflows without sacrificing quality

• 26:28 – The mobile app features that actually move business KPIs

• 35:11 – Why first-party data is the foundation of AI strategy

Learn More & Connect

Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/

Connect With Vincent Phamvan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentpv | https://vyten.com

Vyten One: https://www.vyten.ai/

Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com

Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com

In this episode, JJ Rosen shares the unexpected journey that led him from a psychology major to founding Atiba, one of Nashville's most enduring technology companies. His story highlights the power of curiosity, adaptability, and empathy—qualities that shaped both the company's culture and its long-term success.

JJ explains how Atiba grew from a one-person operation to a 100-person organization, why "half geek, half human" became a defining philosophy, and how AI is reshaping the future of software development. Through practical insights and memorable stories, he reveals what it truly takes to build a business that lasts.

Key Moments

• 00:00 — How AI is reducing project costs and increasing scalability.
• 01:17 — Creative Assembly's mission and the spark behind the show's purpose.
• 03:00 — JJ's early beginnings and the accidental path into software and IT consulting.
• 13:31 — The origin of Atiba's "half geek, half human" philosophy and why it matters.
• 24:00 — JJ's transition from hands-on coding to leadership and strategy.
• 33:50 — How AI is reshaping development roles, business value, and team structure.
• 46:28 — JJ's reflection on burnout, fulfillment, and blending work with life.

Learn More & Connect

Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/
Connect With JJ Rosen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atibasoftware/ | https://www.atiba.com
Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com
Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com