Ground Floor: Founders of ‘Epiphany’ marketing started with their own epiphany

Christa Nelson had an epiphany as she sat across from Anna Patty at a Marion coffee shop one day in May 2016.

'I realized God was sending me the person I needed,” Nelson said.

The two women first met years earlier through a community networking group and were meeting to discuss Nelson's upcoming career change. Then the marketing director for a Cedar Rapids-based law firm, Nelson was preparing to move to a local marketing agency with the idea of purchasing the agency in a year or so when its owner retired.

She was looking for Patty's insights on one of the agency's biggest clients, with whom Patty previously had worked. But the discussion soon evolved.

'We started talking about me coming to work for Christa,” Patty said.

At the time, Patty was working as the communications manager for a not-for-profit organization, with responsibilities for marketing, fundraising and social media management.

'Between the two of us, we can dip into every area of marketing, which is unique,” said Nelson, who previously co-owned a marketing agency in Atlanta. 'Most people find their niche and stay there. As the sole marketing people for a law firm and a nonprofit, we knew how to change hats.”

A few months after that discussion over coffee, Patty joined Nelson at the marketing agency. But instead of Nelson purchasing the existing firm as she originally planned, she partnered with Patty to form a new agency as the old firm wound down.

'We wanted to build our own brand and create our own legacy and company based on what we find most important in the world of marketing,” Patty said.

They opened the new agency, which they named Epiphany, on Jan. 2.

The co-owners described Epiphany as offering branding, design, digital marketing, social-media management, public relations, crisis management and strategic planning.

The firm serves both not-for-profit and for-profit businesses, Nelson said.

'A majority of our clients are new and looking to grow or are at a pivot point of growth,” Patty added. 'We will become an extension of the client and oversee all communication efforts so the message doesn't get siloed.”

As a 51 percent partner to Patty's 49, Nelson has the tie-breaking vote in their new business, but she said it's important that both women have 'skin in the game.”

'So often companies fail because of hierarchy of management,” she said

The partners currently operate the businesses out of their respective homes but are seeking a retail location in Marion. They also plan to hire an assistant, which they said is a higher priority than the space.

Nelson suggested it may take another ah-ha moment to find the right location.

'It will come to us when we're ready.”

l Know a business in operation for less than a year that would make for a good 'Ground Floor” feature? Contact michaelchevy.castranova@thegazette.com.

At a Glance

' Owners: Christa Nelson and Anna Patty

' Business: Epiphany

' Email: spark@sparkanepihany.com

' Phone (Nelson): (319) 431-9720

' Phone (Patty): (319) 231-9582

l Website: www.sparkanepiphany.com