In Episode 1 of the Front Burner Marketing Podcast, we dive into the importance of authenticity in business. 🔥
Join Jay Kozar, Growth Strategy Director, and Kendra Morvillo, Director of Operations, as they discuss how Front Burner Marketing’s core values—create connections, do the right thing, keep the heat up, empower growth, and cultivate joy—shape everything from internal team dynamics to client relationships.
This episode covers how Front Burner’s values-based hiring, daily reinforcement of values, and team-building activities contribute to a supportive, collaborative environment. Learn about the company’s commitment to work-life balance, transparent client relationships, and selective client onboarding, ensuring a strong alignment of goals and values. Discover how Front Burner’s growth mindset and dedication to authentic, human-centered marketing set them apart in an industry increasingly driven by AI content.
Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, tune in to hear how Front Burner Marketing brings the same dedication and authenticity to every client.
In this episode of The Spark, hosts Jay Kozar and Kendra Morvillo dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and its integration into marketing and daily life. From early explorations of AI in 2017 to the pivotal impact of ChatGPT, they discuss how their agency embraced AI through their innovative "Project Spark" initiative.
Discover their experiments, successes, and lessons learned while using AI for content creation, marketing strategies, and even personal communication. They also share insights into overcoming skepticism, the experimental nature of AI tools, and how they’ve harnessed its potential for both themselves and their clients. Whether you’re curious about AI’s evolving role in business or looking for practical tips on leveraging it effectively, this conversation offers an engaging and insightful look into the future of technology in marketing. Tune in to get inspired, informed, and sparked into action!
This week, we turned the lens on ourselves, mapping out our buyer’s journey and realizing just how complex (and messy) things have become. We talk about:
🔥 The ERP exploration journey—why now?
🔥 Breaking free from spreadsheet overload (we love data, but enough is enough!)
🔥 The real cost of inefficiencies in growing an agency
🔥 Why marketing tech stacks need to be scalable (and why so many aren’t)
🔥 How we’re preparing for a more efficient, data-driven future
Scaling isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. If you’re an agency or business going through similar growing pains, we’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below and let’s talk.
They don’t call us Front Burner for nothing! In this episode of The Spark, hosts Jay Kozar and Kendra Morvillo dive into one of our core values: Keeping Up the Heat – the driving force behind everything we do.
We talk about why marketing should never be put on the back burner, how to balance forward motion with solid foundations, and why smart strategy backed by data is key. From competitor analysis to cutting-edge tools, we share insights on how businesses can stay ahead without burning out.
💡 Key Takeaways:
🔥 The importance of constant momentum in marketing
📊 Why data-driven decisions matter
🛠️ How to leverage tools and trends without wasting time or money
🎙️ Why even we got called out for not taking our own podcast advice! Ready to turn up the heat on your marketing? Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and let’s spark some serious growth!
In this special edition of The Spark, we’re flipping the mic and showcasing a client success story from the inside out. Join host Kendra Morvillo and guest Jim Artale of EmVision Capital Advisors, recently recognized by Forbes as a 2025 Best-in-State Wealth Management team.
Together, we dive deep into:
• EmVision’s transformation from Embrescia Wealth to EmVision Capital Advisors
• How marketing strategy helped scale both brand and business
• Lessons learned from 7 acquisitions in just 6 years
• Building trust, process, and client-centric growth in a regulated industry
• Why working with an external marketing partner made all the difference
💡 Whether you're a financial advisor, small business owner, or scaling entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical insights on leadership, branding, and business development.
🔗 Learn more: https://emvisioncapital.com/
Is AI the end of SEO as we know it?!
AI is shaking up search, and everyone is asking the same question: Is AI killing SEO? In this episode of The Spark, co-hosts Jay Kozar and Kendra Morvillo break down what’s really happening with AI-driven search, how SEO is evolving, and why authentic content is more important than ever.
We Cover:
🔥 How AI-generated search results are changing SEO
🔥 The real impact of AI Overviews and zero-click searches
🔥 Why E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust) is the key to staying relevant
🔥 The importance of authentic, human-driven content
🔥 What Bing rankings have to do with AI search results 👀 (Hot tip alert!)
🔥 SEO best practices that still matter in 2024 and beyond AI isn’t killing SEO—it’s changing the rules. If you want to stay ahead, understanding how search works today is critical.
Ever feel like your tech stack is running your business instead of helping it? In this episode of The Spark, we call out the bloat—those overpriced, underused platforms draining your budget and sanity. We dive into SaaS fatigue, why some tools that once served SMBs now chase Fortune 500s, and how to spot when your stack is more fluff than function.
We also (lightly) introduce Lead Igniter—our homegrown solution to bloated software. Built for small teams that need real results, not more noise.
• Real talk about AI hype
• Strategy-first advice for marketers
• A final gut-check: is your stack serving you—or the other way around?
Ready to rethink your tools? Let’s spark that fire.
20s Takeover: How to Actually Market to Gen Z We’re the generation with the most spending power in history—so why are brands still marketing like it’s 2012?
In this episode of The Spark , Gen Z account managers Noelle and Bailey step in to break down what actually works when marketing to their peers. From why traditional marketing misses the mark to how TikTok and Instagram became search engines, they cover the habits, preferences, and platforms that matter to Gen Z—and what makes us scroll right past your brand.
🎯 Why Gen Z doesn’t care about polished ads
📱 How TikTok Shops and influencer-style content drive buying decisions
🔥 Real talk on what makes marketing stick (spoiler: it’s not Google)
💡 Campaigns that nailed it—and why authenticity always wins Want to reach Gen Z?
Start by listening to them.
In this episode of The Spark, Kendra Morvillo sits down with Laura Steinbrink, CEO of Emerald Built Environments and President of Sustainability at Crete United. Together, they unpack the evolution of Emerald’s marketing journey—from DIY HubSpot struggles to a high-performing, content-driven strategy that helped double the company’s revenue twice and ultimately led to its acquisition.
Laura shares what it’s like to be a “dream client,” her love of big ideas (hello, 365 Days of Sustainability), and how staying hands-on in marketing helped build a standout brand in a complex field. We cover:
✅ Why brand and authenticity matter in niche industries
✅ Building trust and partnership between agency and client
✅ How content + HubSpot + consistency = search success
✅ Pivoting language to survive the anti-ESG wave
✅ Why investing in strategic marketing pays off—long term
If you’re a business owner wondering what great marketing collaboration looks like—or how content can truly drive growth—this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.
In business, growth doesn’t always come from doing more — sometimes it comes from stopping the things that no longer serve you.
In this episode of The Spark, we’re talking about the power of unlearning — the habits, processes, and mindsets we’ve had to leave behind to make space for smarter, more intentional growth at our agency. Inspired by Dharmesh Shah’s idea that “unlearning is the #1 skill for business leaders,” we’re sharing the 7 (okay, 8!) things we’ve stopped doing that made the biggest impact. Here’s what we cover:
Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or just rethinking your workflows, this conversation will challenge how you think about progress. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to stop.