Meet Katie Ehlenbeck | Small Business Growth & Marketing Partner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Ehlenbeck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After more than a decade in corporate sales, I realized I was done with the grind. I had worked hard to become a top performer, but deep down, I knew chasing quotas and commissions wasn’t the kind of success that fulfilled me.

Coming from a family of small business owners, I’d seen firsthand what it takes to build something from the ground up — the long hours, the heart, the risk, and the reward. My heart knew it was time to pivot and use my skills in a way that actually made a difference. I wanted a career where I was truly helping businesses succeed and creating real impact for the people behind the brand.

I’ve always been fascinated by buyer psychology — what makes people say ‘yes,’ and why they choose to buy. That curiosity evolved into an obsession with growth strategy: how to attract the right people, connect with them authentically, and turn that connection into measurable results.

As I began mentoring others and applying what I’d learned through both experience and study from top marketing minds, the pull to build something of my own became impossible to ignore. That’s when I launched Ivy Edge Marketing — a digital marketing agency built on the principles of buyer psychology, strategic growth, and genuine partnership.

What began as curiosity about why people buy has grown into a mission to help small business owners scale with confidence, clarity, and results they can feel proud of.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets Ivy Edge Marketing apart is that I don’t sell ad campaigns — I build growth systems that actually make sense for real businesses. So many agencies chase metrics like clicks and impressions. I care about what happens after someone clicks — the story they step into, the experience they have, and how that moment turns into loyalty and revenue.

Leaving the corporate world wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. I was tired of being hidden behind a corporate façade — disconnected from the people whose success my work was actually impacting. I wanted to be a true partner in my clients’ growth, to work alongside business owners instead of behind a brand name.

There were plenty of hard lessons along the way: learning when to trust my gut, when to pivot, and that slow, intentional growth often builds the strongest foundations. But every challenge made me sharper and more grounded in what I do — helping small businesses not just look good online, but actually grow.

What I’m most proud of is that Ivy Edge was built with intention, not ego. It’s about bringing strategy and heart together — helping small business owners finally see marketing as a growth engine, not a gamble.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a Colorado native, it’s been amazing to watch this state evolve over the past 15 years. What I love most is that no matter how much it grows, it never loses its sense of adventure.

If a friend came to visit, I’d start with a day in Denver — brunch at Snooze (because you can’t not), a walk through the murals and breweries in RiNo, and maybe dinner at a local favorite like Linger or El Five for those unbeatable skyline views. RiNo, especially, has such a creative pulse — the art, the people, the energy — it just feels alive.

Then we’d head to the mountains, because you can’t experience Colorado without that mountain air. I’d take them to Breckenridge for the mountain town charm, the food, the excitement, and the views. And of course, a trip to Glenwood Springs is a must. I grew up going to the Glenwood Hot Springs every year with my family, and it’s still one of my favorite places in the state. There’s something about soaking in those hot springs surrounded by mountains that feels grounding and nostalgic every single time.

In between, I’d show them the smaller things that make Colorado special — farmers markets with local artists, catching a concert at Red Rocks (it’s pure magic, no matter how many times you’ve been), and grabbing coffee at a tucked-away roaster in a mountain town.

Colorado is one of those places that keeps changing but somehow still feels like home — where you can find big city creativity one day and total peace in nature the next.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who’ve shaped my journey, but if I had to dedicate this shoutout, it would go to two groups. First, my family — especially my parents — who showed me what hard work, resilience, and entrepreneurship really look like. Growing up around small business owners taught me that success comes from grit, heart, and community.

And second, to the mentors and peers I’ve met along the way in the corporate and marketing world — the ones who openly shared their knowledge, challenged me to think bigger, and reminded me that strategy and heart can coexist in business. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to take the leap from the corporate world and build Ivy Edge Marketing into what it is today.

Website: https://ivyedgemarketing.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivy.edge.marketing

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-edge-marketing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivyedgemarketing

Image Credits
Laura Esmond, Reese & Co Portraits – www.reeseandcoportraits.com