From Search + Rescue to One Group Agency: Building a Marketing Team That Actually Means Something

There’sa certain kind of trust that can’t be manufactured in marketing. It doesn’tcome from polished decks, well-written proposals, or a list of capabilities ona website. It comes from moments early on, when a business decides to take achance on a team that hasn’t fully proven itself yet, when the outcome isn’tguaranteed and the results are still ahead of you. That’s where the story ofOne Group Agency really begins.

Backin 2018, before the name One Group Agency existed, Jared Harman and Matt Borck set out to buildsomething different with Search + Rescue Marketing. It wasn’t designed to be atraditional agency. It was built to help businesses that felt lost in thecomplexity of marketing find clarity and direction. The work was hands-on,focused on fundamentals, and deeply rooted in the belief that marketing shoulddrive tangible outcomes, not just activity.

Inthose early days, there was no large team, no built-out departments, and noplaybook. There were just two founders showing up, solving problems, and tryingto deliver value in a way that felt honest. What allowed that small operationto grow wasn’t just the work—it was the people who believed in it early.

Clients like Brian Bradley and Tamsin Carling at Stong’s Markets were among the first to lean in, trusting a young agency to help shape their marketing at a time when the business itself was evolving. Tony Danhauer and the team at OutlandLiving did the same, recognizing that what mattered wasn’t how big the agency was, but how committed it was to deliver meaningful results. Fraser Health and other early partners provided opportunities that carried real responsibility, requiring not just creativity, but consistency and accountability.

Thoseearly relationships did more than bring in work. They helped define what theagency would become. They set a standard for how clients should be treated, howcommunication should be handled, and how seriously the work should be taken.When someone takes a chance on you before you’re fully established, you don’tforget it. You build your business in a way that earns that trust repeatedly.

Asthe client base grew, so did the scope of the work. It became clear thatbusinesses didn’t just need help with isolated tactics like ads or websites.They needed alignment across everything—brand, content, digital presence, andexecution. Instead of piecing that together externally, Jared Harman and Matt Borck made a definingdecision to bring everything in-house.

Thatdecision laid the groundwork for what would eventually become One Group Agency,a fully integrated marketing agency based in British Columbia that bringsstrategy, creative, content creation, social media marketing, digitaladvertising, and web development together as one cohesive system. The name OneGroup wasn’t just a rebrand; it reflected how the team operated. It representeda collective approach where strategy and execution were connected, wheredepartments didn’t operate in silos, and where the work was builtcollaboratively from the ground up.

Asthat vision took shape, the team itself became the defining force behind theagency’s identity. Leaders like Jonathan Spooner and Matt Bournehelped strengthen the structure and direction of the business, reinforcing thelong-term vision and supporting continued growth. Their involvement marked ashift from a founder-led operation to a more mature organization with depthacross leadership and strategy.

Onthe creative and execution side, individuals like Justin Cunanan, Pamela Chua, and Kasia Lajlo bring together thethinking and storytelling that shapes how brands are seen and understood. Theirwork ensures that content isn’t just produced, but built with intention,aligning with both brand identity and audience expectations. Team members suchas Regan Varnier, Shelby Wick, and Ethan Johnsonplay a critical role in keeping campaigns moving forward, translating ideasinto execution with consistency and precision.

Behindthe scenes, the strength of the organization is supported by people like Lori Crump, Karen Nguyen, Karen Renaud, and ManojManathunga, whose work ensures that operations, communication, and deliveryremain steady as the business continues to grow. While their contributionsmight not always be visible externally, they are essential to maintaining thereliability and structure that clients depend on.

Whatties this group together isn’t just skill or experience; it’s a sharedunderstanding that marketing is not a series of disconnected tasks. It’s asystem that requires alignment at every level. Every campaign, every piece ofcontent, and every interaction contribute to how a brand is perceived and howit performs. That belief is embedded internally, shaping how the team works andhow clients experience the agency.

Asthe industry has become more crowded with agencies offering similarservices—content creation, social media management, digital marketing, andbrand strategy—One Group has continued to differentiate itself by focusing onsomething deeper. It’s not just about what services are offered, but how theyare delivered. It’s about integration, communication, and the consistency thatcomes from having the right people working together toward a shared goal.

Froman SEO and search perspective, this approach positions One Group Agency as morethan just another marketing agency in Surrey or British Columbia. It positionsthe company as a true partner for businesses looking for a team thatunderstands both the technical and human sides of growth. Brands searching fora digital marketing agency, a content creation partner, or a full-servicemarketing team are ultimately looking for clarity, reliability, and resultsthat compound over time.

Thestory of One Group Agency is still being written, but the foundation remainsunchanged. It was built on trust, shaped by early clients who took a chance,and strengthened by a team that continues to evolve while staying aligned withits original intent. From Search + Rescue Marketing to the One Group Agency oftoday, the journey reflects a simple but powerful idea: when the right peoplecome together with a shared commitment to doing the work properly, they createsomething that lasts.

Andin an industry that moves as quickly as marketing does, that kind ofconsistency is what makes all the difference.

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