Description

Company: Upframe Creative
Owners: Shay Vandendriessche, Carrie Kuhl, and Hannah Merritt
Year Started: 2019
Employees: 1-10

What happens when three solo entrepreneurs, once direct competitors, join forces? In this episode, Carrie, Shay, and Hannah of Upframe Creative reveal how they merged talents to build a tight-knit, high-performing agency in rural South Dakota. You’ll hear real talk on defining roles, maintaining culture, and what it really takes to grow without losing control.

Inside this episode:

• Why treating a partnership like a marriage is the key to success
• The surprising advantage of hiring people with an “entrepreneur’s heart”
• How to protect your culture when expanding your team
• The moment they knew they’d found the perfect agency niche (and why it matters)

Want a more clarity and control for your agency in 2026? An Agency Story has three coaching spots available for 2026. Let’s see if one of those spots is right for you. Visit AnAgencyStory.com and click “Let’s Talk.”