Our Story
Making exceptional marketing and branding accessible to businesses at every stage of their journey.
We started Barrena with one main mission: to make the branding and marketing process feel more human. We were tired of watching businesses flounder under outdated strategies and overpriced packages that never saw results. We knew we could make the entire experience better for everyone.
At Barrena, we take the time to understand what your business really needs, so we can match you with the right solutions.
Our menu of marketing and branding services is offered à la carte, so you can pick what fits and save on what doesn’t. And then we get it all done faster than the sluggish timelines of a big agency.
Company Milestones
Years Building Brands & Marketing Strategies
Repeat or Referral-Based Work
Industries Served
Custom Strategy and Execution
OUR PEOPLE
Kelly Barrena
Kelly Barrena is the Co-Founder and CEO of Barrena Branding, providing executive leadership across team operations, client strategy, and delivery. She oversees the vision and strategic direction of the firm, working closely with founders and executive teams as a trusted advisor. Kelly leads the team behind the brand, setting strategic frameworks, guiding positioning and go-to-market decisions, and ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment across all client work.
With 15+ years of experience spanning global SaaS, high-growth organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures, Kelly brings a measured, data-informed perspective to every engagement. Her leadership style emphasizes accountability and strategic foresight, enabling both clients and internal teams to operate with focus as they scale.
Fun Fact: Kelly has traveled to over 25 countries, but has at least 25 more on her bucket list! On the top of her list are Tanzania, Vietnam, Argentina, and Antarctica.
Alberto Barrena
Alberto Barrena is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Barrena Branding, bringing 14+ years of experience across operations, finance, and business strategy. He leads the agency’s operational, financial, and legal foundation, providing structure across accounting, contracts, process improvement, risk management, and sales operations. Alberto’s leadership ensures the business is built to scale responsibly while supporting long-term growth.
Alberto brings a global perspective shaped by working across industries and international markets. His focus is on how strategy actually shows up in day-to-day execution. He holds an MBA and an undergraduate degree in Law, and is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Fun Fact: Alberto comes from a tiny Roman village in Spain where everyone knows each other. He appreciates different cultures, and authenticity in both people and business.
Emma
Emma manages project coordination across multiple client accounts, keeping timelines, deliverables, and teams on track. She works closely with the team to support smooth execution and consistent delivery across campaigns. Known for her organization and follow-through, Emma helps keep complex projects moving forward.
Fun Fact: Emma ran her first half-marathon in 2025!
Bradley
Bradley leads growth marketing initiatives focused on driving demand, improving conversion, and scaling results across client programs. His work spans CRM-driven automation, email nurture programs, outbound campaigns, and lead generation. With a strong analytical mindset, he creates comprehensive reporting frameworks that uncover insights and guide strategy.
Fun Fact: Bradley cultivates a collection of rare houseplants from around the world.
Sarah
Sarah is a content writer and digital strategist specializing in B2B tech. She supports strategic positioning and messaging through SEO-driven copywriting and social media content for SaaS companies, global brands, and growing businesses. Her work helps translate complex ideas into engaging content across channels.
Fun Fact: Sarah once taught chess to kids over Zoom, and a few have gone on to become chess tournament winners!
Brett
Brett is a marketing strategist and copywriter with eight years of experience driving growth for B2B and B2C brands across finance, technology, and cybersecurity. Known for transforming complex ideas into engaging, results-driven campaigns, Brett has helped brands from gritty startups to large enterprises strengthen their market presence through integrated digital marketing strategies.
Fun Fact: Brett survived a snowstorm in the mountains of Norway without camping gear… just for fun.
Brooke
Brooke is a front-end web developer and designer with 14 years of experience in tech. She builds highly strategic, conversion-focused websites that balance UX/UI best practices with clean, responsive design. Known for her attention to detail, Brooke creates thoughtful interactions, subtle animations, and polished user experiences that support performance and usability.
Fun Fact: Brooke became a digital nomad in 2017 before it was “trendy” and lived and worked all over the world. Her favorite spots include Mexico and Indonesia.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned web developer and designer with decades of experience building thoughtful, well-crafted digital experiences. He brings a strong technical foundation and design sensibility to every project, creating websites that are reliable, intuitive, and built to last across evolving platforms and technologies.
Fun Fact: Eric also cuts hair for unhoused youth in his local community.
Melissa
Melissa has over 13 years of experience managing organic search, website optimization, and data analysis for clients across diverse industries. She also leads market research, surveys, and performance analysis to inform strategy. Melissa is known for her strategic mindset, ability to simplify complex SEO concepts, and dedication to delivering results that make a measurable impact on client growth and visibility.
Fun Fact: Melissa spent 5 years in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic before starting her marketing career.
Bryan
Bryan Larkin is a digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience managing $60M+ in advertising spend. He specializes in AI-integrated performance marketing across Google, Meta, and LinkedIn, delivering scalable, data-driven growth. His approach focuses on high-ROI strategies and professional campaign management tailored to diverse business sectors.
Fun Fact: If Bryan weren’t in marketing, competitive ear wiggling might be his next career move.
Kellyann
Kellyann is a lifecycle marketer with 13 years of experience helping brands connect with people across every stage of the customer journey. She specializes in email copywriting and content strategy that turns insight into action. Her work focuses on writing clear, targeted content, building thoughtful lifecycle flows, and refining customer journeys to drive engagement and retention. Whether she’s shaping messaging or improving how brands show up over time, her goal is simple: make marketing feel useful, intentional, and worth paying attention to.
Fun Fact: Kellyann is fluent in American Sign Language.
Emily
Emily is an experienced art director and designer specializing in brand development and visual communication. She combines a strategic mindset with a refined aesthetic to create cohesive, enduring design systems across print and digital platforms, bringing a thoughtful and consistent approach to every project.
Fun Fact: Emily studied landscape painting in Ireland one summer.
Kylee
Kylee is a brand and graphic designer with over six years of experience, specializing in bold, memorable brand identities and digital experiences. She brings a highly creative approach to brand development, illustration, and UX design, helping brands stand out while staying cohesive across digital and visual touchpoints.
Fun Fact: Kylee is obsessed with traveling and loves dogs. She has 1 dog and has fostered almost 5 others this year.
Stephanie
Stephanie is a senior designer and brand strategist with nearly a decade in branding and 15 years in art and design. Her work sits at the intersection of creative intuition and clear business thinking, tying logos, color, and typography back to a brand’s story, audience, and goals so the work feels both emotionally resonant and strategically sound.
Fun Fact: Stephanie once met Stan Lee and had him sign a portrait she drew of him.
Ashley
Ashley is a seasoned PR expert and strategist with 14 years of experience, known for crafting compelling narratives and executing effective media strategies. She excels in healthcare, technology, and regulated industries, ensuring impactful brand awareness and media coverage.
Fun Fact: Ashley has never had a sense of smell (but her PR savvy more than makes up for it).
Jessica
Jessica is a PR specialist with extensive agency, in-house, and public sector experience. She excels in bringing stories and innovations to life, finding unique voices for clients, and captivating target audiences to achieve maximum media exposure.
Fun Fact: Jessica rescued a yellow lab from China.
Kristina
With over 13 years of experience, Kristina is a highly sought-after professional photographer who has worked with renowned companies and celebrities, including Trulieve, UFC, Alex Rodriguez, Ciara, and Jeff Bezos for Blue Origin. A respected leader in her field, Kristina regularly speaks at photography conventions nationwide, sharing her expertise and inspiring both aspiring and seasoned photographers.
Fun Fact: As a 10-year-old, Kristina was a writer for the St. Pete Times' XTeam, interviewing Nickelodeon stars.
Jordan
Jordan is a professional video producer and director. He has worked with Fortune 50 to 500 companies worldwide and has been featured in Forbes and Inc.com. He is known for producing high-quality brand story videos, client testimonials, social ads, and creative product demo videos.
Fun Fact: Jordan and his wife were set up by their grandmas, who were best friends in the 60's and were reunited after years apart.
Zach
Zach is an animated video specialist with over a decade of experience creating motion graphics and animated content for brands. He focuses on videos that simplify complex ideas, support marketing and storytelling goals, and enhance digital experiences across campaigns, websites, and social channels.
Fun Fact: Zach and his wife share their home with nine rescue pets: six dogs and three cats.
Kellen
Kellen Walker has 18 years of experience in media and over 15 years of experience producing podcasts. He has created shows for industries such as healthcare, tech, automotive, and finance, helping companies convey important ideas in a clear and engaging way. As a producer and host, he focuses on helping brands tell their stories and connect with their audiences.
Fun Fact: Kellen is a car enthusiast and watch collector.
Ahmed
Ahmed brings over 10 years of experience in IT, specializing in cybersecurity incident response, threat modeling, and infrastructure security. He supports Barrena by strengthening our security posture, improving monitoring and compliance, and implementing scalable systems that reduce risk as the agency grows.
Fun Fact: Ahmed has traveled to five of the seven continents.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
At Barrena, our core values guide our methods and our wins.
We're not generalists. Our senior team is composed of advanced specialists, each acutely focused on their unique area of expertise. We pair this with the flexibility of a boutique agency that can pivot quickly and adapt to emerging marketing trends.
We build connections with clients through trust, empathy, and authenticity. We come to the table with respectful and collaborative energy, expecting the same in kind.
We meet or exceed deadlines, achieving undeniable results with leaner, more targeted methods.
We offer superior, results-focused branding and marketing services that help clarify your messaging and multiply your brand reach.
Why Work With Barrena
We work all over the world
With a remote-first team that spans the globe, our talent isn’t limited by location. So you gain access to top strategists and creatives no matter where your business is.
.jpg)
.jpg)
