Justin Eklund
CEO & Chief Brand Strategist
Disciplined in equal parts marketing strategy and creativity, Justin’s drive to create impact fuels everything he does. He’s passionate about leading our team and clients toward ongoing success and sustained growth. Before founding Grove9, his professional journey included time building brands at Associated Advertising Agency, various nonprofits, Pathway Church, and independent consulting. Justin’s love of missional marketing is rivaled only by his devotion to his family, coaching volleyball, singing Jimmy Buffett songs, and a good cup of coffee.
Lynn Deckinger
Director of Brand Strategy
Lynn’s countless curiosity, leadership, and love of data help our team solve client needs and deliver results. With her three-decade proven marketing track record, it’s clear to see how much she values doing work that matters. She has been instrumental in fostering success for Exploration Place, EmberHope Youthville, Wichita State Foundation, Sedgwick County Zoo, Star Lumber, and more. In addition to seeing purpose-driven clients grow, Lynn loves seeing her plants and her faith grow, traveling anywhere, and spending time with her family.
Christina Bluml
Brand Strategist / Copy Editor
With a strong background in nonprofit marketing, education, and banking, Christina brings 30 years of insightful thinking, organization, and creativity to the table. Under her watch, Exploration Place, Commerce Bank, and Bishop Carroll High School saw strong advances in marketing, communications, and public relations. She has served on several community boards and is active with her church. She was also named AMA Wichita Nonprofit Marketer of the Year and Wichita Business Journal’s Women Who Lead – Marketing. Christina enjoys traveling, preferably near the ocean, savoring a good cup of coffee, and spending time on her back patio with family and friends.
Betsy Auchterlonie
Brand Strategist
Betsy brings a sharp eye for digital trends, a strategic mindset, and a passion for storytelling to every project she touches. With a background rooted in social media strategy and content development, she knows how to turn engagement into real connection. She thrives on creative problem‑solving, fresh ideas, and helping brands show up authentically online. When she’s not creating ways to tell your story, you’ll find her directing children’s theatre or planning her next adventure.
For impact. for life.
We’re a different kind of marketing agency.
Grove9 is a faith-driven, full-service, strategic foster care and PRC marketing and advertising agency.
We help on-mission foster care agencies and pregnancy resource centers find more foster parents, serve more clients, and grow their revenue and donors to make more impact.
What’s with our name? It’s all about mission. Whether it’s helping foster kids find forever homes or donors to foster generosity, we are inspired by our clients’ missions and the way they embody the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Hint, there are nine of them.)
Our Code
Marketing makes a difference
We believe smart marketing can help organizations make a real difference in this world. We believe in being a part of that.
Think before we tell
We believe success always starts with strategy.
There's power in partnership
We believe partnerships are just as important as projects. Our priority is serving our clients. When they win, we win.
Stories matter
We believe every organization is unique and has a powerful story to tell. We help you find it, refine it, and build your brand on it.
God gets the glory
We believe that all we are, and all we have, is from God. He’s the author of creativity, strategy, and transformation. We are humbled and grateful to be stewards of those gifts for our clients. Read our Core Values and Statement of Faith here.
Join Us – Current Opportunities
Senior Brand Strategist
About Grove9
Grove9 is a full-service, mission-driven marketing agency based in Wichita, KS, dedicated to helping faith-driven organizations clarify their brand, grow their revenue, and make a greater impact.
Senior Brand Strategist Role Description
The Senior Brand Strategist plays a pivotal leadership role within Grove9, managing key client relationships and accounts, guiding brand strategy and execution, and driving growth opportunities for both clients and the agency. This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, marketing, and business acumen, balancing high-level brand management with day-to-day client engagement, agency strategy, and new business development. The right candidate will bring significant experience in organizational growth to help Grove9 achieve its goals and increase impact for our agency and the clients we serve.
Key Role Responsibilities
Account Management & Leadership
- Serve as the senior point of contact for key client accounts, ensuring satisfaction, retention, impact, and account growth. Lead the development and execution of comprehensive brand and marketing strategies, from positioning and messaging to campaign rollout.
- Translate client objectives into actionable plans—balancing creative vision with measurable organizational impact.
- Successfully set and manage budgets, timelines, and resources, ensuring account and agency profitability.
- Contribute to agency leadership planning and strategy to guide and shape Grove9’s marketing and processes to maximize growth and impact.
New Business Development
- Identify and pursue opportunities to expand existing accounts and attract new clients aligned with Grove9’s capabilities, mission, and verticals.
- Partner with leadership to craft compelling proposals, presentations, and pitches that showcase Grove9’s strategic and creative strengths and heart for Kingdom impact.
- Build and maintain a strong network of industry relationships within target audiences to support long-term business growth.
Qualifications
- Exemplify and live out the Grove9 core values, mission, and code.
- 5+ years of experience in brand management, marketing strategy, or agency leadership.
- Proven success managing large or complex client accounts with strategic oversight and project management.
- Strong understanding of brand strategy, marketing communications, digital ecosystems, and AI tools.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage multiple priorities, and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
- Passion for, or experience with, faith-based child and family-serving organizations, including foster care, adoption, and/or pregnancy resource centers.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for building brands, growing business opportunities, and creating Kingdom impact.
Contact Justin Eklund or apply here.
Freelance Team Members
If you have a heart for impact and a desire to use your talents to grow the good, come work with us.
Opportunities include graphic design, copywriting, web design, social media, and more.
If you think you’ve got what it takes, email us at [email protected].
