OUR TEAM
A COLLECTIVE OF STRATEGISTS + CREATIVES
Since co-founding The Social Agency in 2008, Kirstin has led innovative PR and social media campaigns for a diverse roster of clients, including the City of Richmond, BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, White Spot Restaurants, UBC Sauder School of Business, and Coast Mental Health. Her strategic approach and creative vision have helped shape compelling narratives across sectors.
Prior to launching TSA, Kirstin served as Communications and Program Manager at DigiBC, where she played a pivotal role in industry engagement. She also founded and produced the Vancouver International Digital Festival (VIDFEST), steering the event through five successful years as its Creative Director.
Beyond her agency work, Kirstin has shared her expertise as an instructor in UBC Continuing Studies’ Social Media program and contributed to the arts and academic communities through board roles with the Burnaby Arts Council and SFU’s Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology.
Kirstin holds a BA in Communications and recently earned her Master’s of Publishing (MPub), allowing her to channel her skills into promoting the stories she loves most: books.
Monica’s career in PR and strategic communications began in the glory days of BC’s tech industry, when she worked as a marketing manager for the New Media Innovation Centre, BC Biotech and New Media BC, before branching out and co-founding The Social Agency in 2009.
She’s never looked back. When Monica was in Elementary School, she dressed up as a Business Woman for Halloween (more than once!) and business is clearly in her blood. Today, she continues to love helping other business owners bring their dreams into the 3D realm.
Passionate about her community, Monica has worked alongside charitable organizations such as The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC, REED, Just Work and Flavours of Hope. She’s worked as an industry instructor at UBC, teaching in their Award of Achievement in Social Media program. Monica runs the go-to spiritual platform, Head + Heart, where people can get weekly wellness news and inspiration to live their highest potential.
Sonam is a driven and passionate communicator who brings a dedication to helping clients build brand awareness and reach their online marketing goals.
Having joined the TSA team back in 2014 (shortly after attaining a Diploma in Public Relations from Kwantlen Polytechnic University), Sonam has worked with a variety of clients and businesses from nonprofit organizations to food and restaurant-related businesses to credit unions and more. With a keen eye-for-detail and deep understanding of the ever-involving marketing world, Sonam knows what it takes to strategically market a product or service, and helps clients improve communication efforts each and every day.
When she’s not on the grind, you can find Sonam in the kitchen pursuing her passion of cake decorating, or whipping up some delicious meals.
A long-time freelance member of our team, Lygia Valezi is a Graphic Designer and Digital Strategist with an excellent track record for helping businesses successfully showcase their brands and products to engage and grow their target audiences. With a keen sense for developing visual identity, she’s grown the communities of a wide variety of brands online – from insurance companies to children’s clothing brands. Originally from Brazil, Lygia has worked for key players in the Brazilian fashion industry before moving to Canada in 2016 to seek new challenges. In Vancouver, she has managed projects related to Social Media, Web Design, Branding and Digital Advertising, gaining extensive hands-on experience in the local market.
Lygia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, a post-graduate degree in Sales and Marketing, and a diploma in Merchandising. She also has numerous digital platform certifications, including Google Adwords.
Lygia is a big fan of trying everything at least once, from Krav Maga classes to European-swordplay lessons to scuba diving in the Sunshine Coast.
Krystal is a public relations and social media strategist with a passion for building meaningful relationships with her clients first and foremost. From writing press releases and crafting the perfect pitch to creative and strategic content creation, Krystal has worked across multiple industries to help businesses and brands tell their stories and get noticed where it matters.
In addition to a BA in Communication Studies, Krystal has a Public Relations Certificate from Simon Fraser University and brands she has worked with over the years include Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, Science World, and the Vancouver Canucks.
As a born-and-raised Vancouverite, Krystal now calls Vancouver Island ‘home’. When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her outdoors with her family – which includes her husband, two young sons and their adorable yellow lab – doing something quintessentially west coast, whether it’s rock climbing in the summer, ski touring in the winter or surfing (albeit not well!) all year round.
Lorena is a detail-oriented and creative content strategist and online business manager with a passion for helping clients elevate their businesses through design, copywriting, social media management, and project management.
A lifelong student of the evolving world of digital marketing, public relations, and online business management, her formal education includes a Diploma in Public Relations from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Among her career highlights are the critical partnerships and strategic alliances she’s built on behalf of her clients with media outlets such as The New York Times, ELLE, SELF, Flare Magazine, and the Globe and Mail.
Though she now resides in Toronto, Lorena can always be found searching for cozy cafes on rainy days, forever a Vancouverite.
Channing Rodman is a social media and communications specialist. With 15 years of experience working in communications, Channing applies her community-based values to help clients get meaningful conversations started – from tiny neighbourhood projects to some of BC’s biggest non-profits, universities and crown corporations. As a writer and editor, Channing has produced content for some of Canada’s best-loved websites and apps, including Aisle, Better Together BC, Coast Mental Health Foundation and We Heart Local BC. When she isn’t writing, or cooking (or writing about cooking) she also occasionally teaches workshops – most recently on images, comics and storytelling at Carleton University.
A former Vancouverite, Channing is now based in Ottawa, Ontario with her family.
Rosa Pearson, founder of the eponymously named studio, has a career in design spanning over twenty years. She honed her clever, minimalist aesthetic in Vancouver creative agencies with clients such as Starbucks, Evian, and Purdy’s Chocolates, before opening her own boutique design studio. Rosa Pearson Design specializes in brand identity work and logo development, creating brands that are both beautiful and effective, communicating quality at every touchpoint. We are happy to offer their services to our clients.
A true Westcoaster and foodie, when she’s not working you can usually find her walking, snowshoeing, and brunching in Vancouver, Tofino, and LA, along with her husband and two boys.
To view client work, visit: www.rosapearsondesign.com