Today we’d like to introduce you to Brent Bowen.
Hi Brent, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve spent nearly 30 years at the intersection of marketing, storytelling, and technology, helping brands connect with people in ways that create value. Much of the first 20 was spent innovating and leading teams for Fortune 500 companies such as JP Morgan and T-Mobile. Our work was featured by the likes of Gartner, Nielsen Norman Group, NPR and Wall Street Journal because we helped set the stage for how industries like financial services and telecommunications would implement a given marketing technology in the years to come.
I didn’t start out in digital marketing. My career began in more traditional communications and marketing roles, but each time a new technology revolution came about — from internet/intranets, social media, podcasting to now artificial intelligence — I naturally gravitated toward the work. I put myself knee deep in it. A hardwired curiosity led me to the forefront of how business strategy, creativity, and data could come together to tell better stories and provide solutions to clients.
That curiosity led me to launch Sparkcade Marketing, a Kansas City–based consultancy that helps organizations turn complex marketing challenges into clear, measurable growth. We focus on marketing and content strategy, content storytelling (including podcast and vidcasts), and search visibility (SEO). We also offer communications and marketing solution training, such as AI and LinkedIn training, for internal teams because the way people discover and interact with brands is changing fast.
Since launching Sparkcade, we’ve worked with more than 50 companies including Academy Bank, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CPKC, H&R Block, Iron District, SelectQuote, Spencer Fane, T-Mobile, and UMB.
At its core, Sparkcade was born from a simple belief that marketing should be fun, human, and focused on you. We blend modern strategy with client-first values. The entire team has worked on the client side at some point in their career, so we’re hyper-focused on helping clients with actionable insights and ready-to-go deliverables.
We also love to give back and extend our curiosity into our communities. I’ve taught at the University of Kansas Integrated Marketing Communications Master’s Program and currently co-host the CultivatED Marketer podcast, a show built to help communications and marketing professionals grow in a world that’s constantly evolving. Additionally, our team leads charitable marketing efforts for Kansas City nonprofits TeenTix KC and Walkin’ & Rollin’ Costumes.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d say the road has been more like a game map than a straight line. It’s been full of detours and mistakes that teach you something new every time.
Launching Sparkcade wasn’t about chasing the next trend, it’s about helping organizations match our expertise to their needs so they can best deliver for their customers.
Aside from several personal challenges over the past few years — helping care for a terminal in-law during the pandemic and supporting my spouse as she battled cancer into remission — the biggest challenge has been learning when to push beyond our given scope because no strategy lives in a silo and should be part of an integrated approach where everything works together. As an example, one of our search visibility (SEO) clients didn’t see success until we started facilitating meetings with the technology team and removing obstacles that were dependencies for other deliverables.
Like any entrepreneur, there also have been moments of balancing creative energy with business discipline. Periodic reflection on our own strategy and remembering why we started the company have been critical, particularly when we think about our own growth.
Each challenge has sharpened our approach. It pushed us to design systems and training that make complex things simple … and actionable. Whether that’s demystifying AI, unlocking new visibility through Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), or helping brands rediscover their story through podcasts, we’re committed to teaching and building based on your needs, not ours.
In short, the journey hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been rewarding. We’ve met and worked with amazing people, helped our communities and allowed us to share in a bit in our clients’ successes.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Sparkcade is a marketing and storytelling consultancy built for the modern era of search, AI, and brand experience. We help organizations get found, stay relevant, and connect with audiences through strategy, storytelling, and smart use of technology.
What sets us apart is our ability to bridge creative and analytical worlds. We bring together the soul of storytelling with the science of SEO, content strategy, and AI-driven insights. Our clients aren’t just chasing rankings or clicks, they’re building systems that grow visibility and trust across every platform, from Google to ChatGPT.
We also put a huge emphasis on education. Through Sparkcade trainings, workshops, and the CultivatED Marketer podcast, we help marketing and communications professionals develop their skills and stay future-ready.
And of course, we strive to keep it fun. The “Sparkcade” name comes from our belief that marketing should feel like pressing start on a new game — creative, strategic, and just a little nostalgic when it comes to valuing great partnerships. We help brands rediscover that spark that made them excited to play in the first place.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a long list of people who’ve shaped our path — mentors, collaborators, clients, and friends who’ve believed in the work and, more importantly, the why behind it.
Professionally, I owe a lot to Matt Tidwell, PhD, my long-time co-host on the CultivatED Marketer podcast. Matt has this rare mix of strategic depth and human connection. He’s been a role model in being present within the communications community and a steady sounding board through the podcasts evolution. Julie Masson, our newest co-host, has brought fresh energy and insight that’s helped take the show to another level.
I’ve also been lucky to work with incredible clients who’ve trusted us to help shape their brand stories. Partners at places like the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Dickinson Financial (Academy and Armed Forces Banks), Fineline HR, Macklin Connection, UMB and YMCA of Greater Kansas City have not only inspired the work but reminded us that the best marketing starts with shared purpose.
And then there’s the communications and marketing community friends (a special shout out to monthly connects like Lynn Zimmerman), industry peers and member organizations, such as the Kansas City chapter of International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and Social Media Club (KC chapter is coming back I hear), who have helped us showcase the work we were doing and propped us up for amazing opportunities internationally and on stages such as Digital Summit. They make the conversations feel like a never ending brainstorm to happy hour.
The Sparkcade team, my family and close friends have been the ultimate co-op players. They’ve reinforced my personal values and remind me that balance, curiosity, and a little humor keep the spark alive.
Sparkcade may have started with me, but it’s really a reflection of all those people who believed in building something meaningful together.
Pricing:
- Ongoing SEO + GEO Programs: begin at $4,000–$8,000/month, depending on the number of markets, platforms, and competitive depth.
- Podcast or Video Strategy + Production: custom packages begin around $5,000/project, with full-service production and optimization available.
- Training & Workshops (AI, SEO, Social Media): range from $1,500–$10,000, designed for communications and marketing teams or executives looking to improve upon their digital strategy.
- Content + Storytelling: Priced according to scope and market.
- Marketing Strategy + Consulting: Priced according to scope and market.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sparkcade.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sparkcade/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sparkcademarketing
- Other: https://www.cultivatedmarketer.com/
