We are A Bold Group Of Innovators
Focused On Elevating
Mission-Driven Brands

We are Innovators
Focused On Elevating
Mission-Driven Brands.

Quite Simply, We:

Elevate Your Mission

Augment Your Team

Expand Your Presence

Spark Your Growth

We fill in the gaps, working with clients who choose to outsource a portion of their marketing team, offering decades of expertise at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee.

MEET OUR TEAM

Dawn Bonnell
President
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Alex Glazier
DESIGNER
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NATE HAINES
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
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RACHEL HILL PONKO
MEDIA RELATIONS / WRITER
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TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH
VISUAL DESIGNER
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Jennifer Jenks
Client Services Manager
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Dakota Pennington
Multimedia Specialist
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Jama Pryor
Account Executive
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Sue Finkam
FOUNDER / FORMER CEO
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Dawn Bonnell
OWNER / PRESIDENT

Dawn Bonnell is an award-winning marketing strategist with more than a decade of experience creating compelling content that is data-driven yet sure to cut straight to the heart of your mission. Dawn’s expertise will allow your team to clarify and energize your brand messaging and better reach others through authentic and actionable content marketing.

Prior to joining FireStarter, Dawn served as senior marketing specialist at Indiana Donor Network, where she developed and implemented brand standards, managed content strategy and spearheaded regional and nationally recognized paid media campaigns. Her attention to the needs of the organ donation and transplantation community earned her recognition as a finalist in the Organic Promotion category of the Social Good Awards, a program created to raise global awareness around the positive impact that brands, agencies and nonprofits can have on society. Dawn’s marketing experience extends to physician specialty groups, major hospital systems such as Indiana University Health, where she served as partnership and events associate, and family-owned businesses such as Case Design Remodeling, where she worked as a marketing director.

As owner and President, Dawn works directly with FireStarter’s mission-oriented clients. “Every day, our clients pour their hearts and souls into their work. I feel immense responsibility that we are as committed to them as they are to doing good in the world. ”

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Alex Glazier
Designer

Alex Glazier isn’t just any designer. He is a designer who believes his work can make a difference in others’ lives and make the world a better place. Alex cares about history, ideas, how we think about things and even how we think about thinking. He cares about context, the big picture and the details.

While Alex currently serves in dual roles at FireStarter and as the brand designer at Lambda Chi Alpha, a career in design wasn’t always a given. Alex started his career in music – working in production, stage crew and live sound – until a turning point in 2014 led him to the world of design. In his free time, Alex enjoys spending time at the climbing gym, riding a bike down the Monon Trail or booking a flight to a far-away location. Fun fact: he once was an amateur boxer who won his first – and only – two fights in the ring.

Alex is proud to be a part of Team FireStarter, which he describes as a genuine group of people who want to make great things happen. “I gravitate toward design work for clients who do social good and support other people living their best life. FireStarter’s clients share these values and more – such as investing in the long-term effort of growing their brand. I’m excited to be exposed to new subject matter, learn new things, meet interesting people and grow as a designer.”

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Nate Haines
Digital Communications Specialist

Nate Haines has a talent and a passion for marketing and creating relevant content for target audiences. He enjoys helping organizations define who they are and identify ways to demonstrate the positive impact they have on the world.

Nate comes to FireStarter from Indiana Donor Network, the state’s federally designated organ recovery organization, where he successfully managed social media accounts across multiple platforms. Nate introduced social graphics and campaign content that increased brand awareness and spiked user engagement by over 120%. He also has proven success with marketing campaigns that have helped grow event registration.

Nate is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of FireStarter’s passionate team of professionals and serve its mission-oriented clients. “I am very impressed with our clients’ desire to serve others. Their service-first mentality is something I’m looking forward to supporting.”

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Rachel Hill Ponko
Media Relations / Writer

Rachel Hill Ponko combines her dual passions for storytelling and strategic marketing to help your organization produce and land media stories that not only exceed your marketing goals but also make your stakeholders proud. Her experience as a marketing strategist, media relations specialist and television news producer ensures she brings a unique perspective to each new project and challenge.

Rachel comes to FireStarter after using her expertise to grow earned media, launch blogs and fine-tune messaging at Indiana University School of Nursing, Indiana Donor Network and the Indiana Historical Society. Prior to working in media relations and marketing, she spent a decade managing newsrooms and newscasts at WISH-TV in Indianapolis, WNDU in South Bend, Indiana, and KOMU in Columbia, Missouri. She is a two-time winner of the regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, which recognize local and national news stories that uphold the Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise, and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community.

Rachel finds daily inspiration in serving FireStarter’s mission-oriented clients. “It is a privilege not only to know these remarkable individuals and organizations making a difference in the world but also to aid in their efforts to reach wider audiences.”

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Taylor Hollingsworth
Visual Designer

Taylor Hollingsworth is an experienced visual designer who specializes in helping companies present their branding in a meaningful way. There is no one more willing than Taylor to meet your looming deadline with urgency, skill and a gracious attitude.

Taylor joined FireStarter after serving as a multimedia designer at Indianapolis-based Indiana Donor Network, where she helped amplify the message of the importance of organ, tissue and eye donation and transplantation. While at Indiana Donor Network, Hollingsworth’s design work earned her recognition as a finalist in the Organic Promotion category of the Social Good Awards, a program created to raise global awareness around the positive impact that brands, agencies and nonprofits can have on society.
Hollingsworth says the opportunity to grow as a designer drew her to the team at FireStarter. “Working with FireStarter’s various clients is an exciting aspect of my role because I’m able to create for and work with companies across the country. I’m also incredibly lucky to work with such a hardworking and talented team. The amount of support we have for one another is truly special.”

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Jennifer Jenks
Client Services Manager

Jennifer Jenks brings a positive, yes-and attitude to FireStarter, where she helps clients take their projects from ideas to industry-disrupting solutions. With more than 15 years of experience in the organ donation space, Jen uses her knowledge to help FireStarter’s clients elevate their mission to save more lives through donation and transplantation.

Prior to joining FireStarter, Jen served as a program manager for the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), a non-profit recognized as the national voice of OPOs. She got her start in the field while working for OPOs such as Tennessee Donor Services in Nashville and Infinite Legacy, then known as Washington Regional Transplant Community, in Falls Church, Virginia.

Throughout her career, Jen has had the good fortune to work with many passionate and selfless people throughout the donation and transplantation community. “It’s an honor to work with companies and individuals dedicated to saving and enhancing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation,” says Jen. “I hope to serve them as they serve others – with respect, open and honest communication, and follow-through that levels up their brand messaging and helps end the wait for lifesaving transplants.”

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Dakota Pennington
Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist, Dakota Pennington blends technical skill and creative diversity in all areas of video production, from camera operation to video editing. Dakota uses his keen eye for detail to help you ignite your organization’s messaging and take it to the next level.

Dakota comes to FireStarter after most recently serving as video content creator at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois. Prior to that, he held membership and marketing roles with the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce and Whitewater Broadcasting, both of which are based out of Richmond, Indiana.

Dakota joined the team at FireStarter after being drawn to its balance of creative freedom and collaboration as well as its focus on companies that serve others. “I’m most looking forward to helping clients take their organizations to another level and helping them grow.”

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Jama Pryor
account executive
Jama Pryor brings more than 20 years of healthcare brand, marketing and communications experience to FireStarter, where she helps manage client brands focused on organ donation and transplantation, organ transplant logistics and air medical. Before joining FireStarter, Jama spent 12 years at Indiana University Health, serving in philanthropy, communications and marketing roles. She led the marketing strategy for IU Health service line brands, including IU Health transplant and orthopedics. Jama recruited Dr. Aaron Carroll, now a celebrated health columnist with the New York Times, to launch “Advances in Transplantation,” a podcast on ReachMD, notable then for its popularity. In 2016, Jama and agency colleagues were recognized with an Indianapolis Gold ADDY Award for their microsite, Race to Recovery, telling the story of IndyCar racer James Hinchcliffe’s recovery from a near fatal accident in 2015. Jama led the storytelling, including interviews with Hinchcliffe and the IU Health care team members, which garnered national press and contributed to a successful fundraising campaign. Prior to joining IU Health, Jama owned a marketing consulting agency providing marketing strategy and writing. Her passion for serving mission-driven organizations is an asset to FireStarter’s client roster and its storytelling firepower. “I’m excited to be part of spreading the good news about how these clients are making a meaningful difference in peoples’ lives and innovating in the healthcare space.”
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Sue Finkam
Founder / Former CEO

FireStarter wouldn’t be where it is today without its founder and former CEO, Sue Finkam, and her vision for elevating the work of mission-driven organizations. After launching FireStarter, Sue went on to lead the marketing firm through its first three years. During that time, she laid the groundwork for the firm’s continued success by assembling a team of experienced, passionate creatives and strategists for whom she served as a mentor, overseeing work on many impactful projects across industries and services.

Under Sue’s leadership, the FireStarter team set the standard for how to brand and market independent physician groups, engaged national and international media outlets to raise awareness of the impact of kidney donation, clarified messaging and executed strategies that increased sales for FireStarter’s B2B clients, and created new branding that helped companies shape their identity.

While these achievements would be noteworthy for any startup, helping organizations succeed has been a hallmark of Sue’s professional career. Prior to launching FireStarter, she helped transform big brands such as Indiana University Health, Skjodt-Barrett Contract Packaging and Indiana Donor Network. She also utilized her expertise in strategic planning, competitive differentiation and identity development to uplift her community of Carmel, Indiana. First elected to the city council in 2012, she served several terms as president, vice president and finance chair before successfully running for mayor in 2023.

Following the election, Sue announced a new chapter for FireStarter under the leadership of Dawn Bonnell, a former partner and content strategist. “I’m confident the FireStarter team is in the best possible hands,” said Sue. “I’m excited to witness their continued excellence in delivering impactful results for our clients and their missions.”

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