Who We Are + Why It Matters
We’re more than just a group of marketing and operations experts.
We share our individual expertise as a collective… because bringing your business dreams to life requires intricate collaboration.
That’s what makes us unique: we work together as a team to hold up the behind-the-scenes of your business.
(And we have fun doing it!)
Get to know our agency experts below!
Get to know our agency experts below!
Meet Amber
Certified Business Strategist, Founder of The AK Collective
For over 20 years, Amber has worked behind-the-scenes of 6- and 7-figure businesses, helping iconic brands (like Banana Republic, DISH Network, and Gap) and internet-famous entrepreneurs get their marketing, operations, and teams in order.
She believes we can change the game of business as it exists today – by prioritizing impact over influence and real relationships over empty follows.
Amber’s background, certifications, and experience empower purpose-driven entrepreneurs to rise above the day-to-day details so they can focus on the big picture. Her unique approach seamlessly integrates operations, marketing strategy, and team management, as well as mindset and business strategy.
And she’s on a mission to help you step into your role as visionary without letting your client experience suffer, so you can serve more people and make more money.
Amber is a wife, mom, and book hoarder. She loves awkward ice breakers, ALL genres of music, and her Maltese pups.
Meet the AK Collective Team
Alycia Buenger (she / her)
Copywriter
Alycia writes sales page copy, sales and nurture emails, and website content. She’s also a published essayist (on Substack), a sometimes-teacher of movement and meditation, and a deschooling parent of two girls. Alycia enjoys reading novels with coffee in-hand and attempting to homestead (though she lives in a city apartment). Alycia lives in Ohio with her family and a bright-orange cat.
Ashley Mingee (she / her)
Magical Magician with Design, Automation & Integration
Ashley is behind-the-scenes in the design of every client sales page and sequence. She’s both creative and strategic: She uses her magic to automate and integrate client systems with ease! Outside work, she enjoys refurbishing antique furniture, shopping with her girls, and spending summer days at the beach. Ashley lives with her husband and two kids in Montecito, Illinois.
Courtney Vowel Woodward (she / her)
Virtual Assistant
Courtney does everything from creating content to SEO optimization to calendar management (and more!) She’s a former music teacher with experience as a band, orchestra, and choral instructor. She’s also the author of a children’s book! Courtney lives in Virginia with her husband and two kids. She enjoys traveling (but hates cooking!)
Diwata Base (she/her)
Virtual Assistant
Diwata comes to the table with 12+ years of experience in online business. She’s here to assist our clients with everything behind-the-scenes! Diwata enjoys spending time with her family (plus two dogs and a house-ful of cats!) and surfing… Netflix. She specifically loves binge-watching documentaries, Lucifer, and The Crown.
Erin Amani (she/her)
Social Media Strategist
Erin creates content marketing strategy and plans for implementation (and everything that comes after!) When she’s not inside our clients’ social media accounts, Erin spends her days wrangling her toddler son, binge-watching KUWTK, or relaxing poolside with a gossip magazine.
John Hutcherson (he / him)
Website & SEO Specialist
John solves SEO puzzles (because this part of business is forever-changing!) Outside work, John is also a Bear Grylls Survival Academy instructor. He enjoys traveling, spending time outside, relaxing with a good book, and (sometimes) showing off his salsa + bachata dance moves. He lives in North Carolina.
Katie Truman (she/her)
Executive Assistant
Katie is a virtual business expert who loves the techy side of things. Whether that’s building websites, fixing integration issues, optimizing landing pages, or just about anything else, she’s up for the challenge.
When Katie isn’t working, she’s spending time with her three kids and husband, a small menagerie of pets, and a jungle’s worth of plants at home.
Lesley Mitchell (she/her)
Executive Assistant
Lesley keeps things running smoothly for The AK Collective – and our clients! When she’s not on the clock, she enjoys cooking delicious meals (or eating peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches), lounging by the pool, and sometimes catching a Golden Knights hockey game! Lesley lives with her partner in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mackenzie Roark (she / her)
Content Editor
Mackenzie writes and edits client website and sales page copy (and more!) She spends her evenings and weekends playing gigs with her band – from local bars and breweries to backyard concerts! Mackenzie lives in Virginia with her dog, Zuzu.
Mary Williams (she / her)
The Ghost in the Machine
Mary works behind-the-scenes to organize and optimize digital systems. She’s a former librarian who brings her organizational expertise to our business and client accounts! Outside work, she enjoys hiking through old growth forests, sewing for cosplay, watching copious amounts of HGTV while cooking up the veggies from her garden, and (of course!) reading. Mary lives in Vancouver, Washington, with her cat, Mr. Rubert Giles.