We imagine, collaborate, design and create - to help you connect.
Our starting point is always people. Your customer, your audience, your community, your team. Who are you speaking to and what is the message you're hoping to share? We are passionate about connecting and engaging people because this is how knowledge is shared, behaviours are changed and brands or visions are brought to life.
The Level Crew
Katy Mandeno
Director - Strategy, Communications and Engagement
Katy is a strategic communications and engagement specialist with over 25 years' experience in communications, marketing and business development. Katy has a love for storytelling - of brands, organisations and people. She thrives on bringing together different perspectives and ideas to collaborate and create meaningful outcomes, especially between business and community. A qualified journalist, Katy has worked across many sectors, both at governance and management level.
Rob Farrier
Art Direction & Brand Strategy
After decades of design experience, Rob has an outstanding ability to interpret even the most ordinary brief and deliver exceptional, intelligent, timeless designs. Just as comfortable with print or web, Rob has a genuine artistic flair that can make everything from a gin bottle label to an annual report look appealing. Unfortunately, his NBA career didn't take off but he enjoys his full-on life of family and adventure.
Suz Epskamp
Digital Marketing & Communications
An experienced digital marketing practitioner, Suz is brilliant at building robust online profiles and navigating social media. There's nothing she loves more than planning and executing a well-oiled social media digital marketing campaign, from strategy and messaging to roll-out, monitoring and reporting. Our world-renowned office barista and treat-jar filler, Suz loves sport of any description... you name it, she plays it!
Laura Clotworthy
Communications & Marketing
Laura has a passion for content-led storytelling and data-driven campaigns, combining her skills and experience in marketing and business. Over the past 10 years, Laura has worked in London, Auckland and Stockholm with SMEs as well as international brands such as Unilever, L’Oréal, Vodafone and Marks & Spencer. Laura is a genuine people person who loves sport, supporting her community and her rescue dog Sydney.
Marama Godfrey
Digital & Print Design
Marama is a young and enthusiastic graphic designer who brings fresh curiosity to any design. Despite her young age, Marama is a big-picture thinker, well-grounded by her awesome whānau, and with a genuine passion for helping people, both at work and in the community. With talents in both print and digital media, there’s nothing she won’t tackle, and her results are awesome! Away from work, Marama loves poetry, gardening and attempting to not burn biscuits.
Sarah Benikowsky
Business Manager
Sarah has a diverse background in data and information management, organisational strategy and archives preservation across not-for-profits, government agencies and business. She brings a depth of experience and creative pragmatism to design solutions where people, processes, and systems work harmoniously together. Outside of work, Sarah has a passion for governance, drawing, printmaking, collecting books and uranium glass, and is an avid Dungeons and Dragons enthusiast!
Tony Coyle
Development Lead
Tony is a highly experienced full-stack developer and our web development team leader. He loves a technical challenge and designs application solutions that create exceptional customer journeys. He's worked with marketing agencies, start-ups and businesses in Europe and Australasia, and is now living the off-grid dream by the beach! Tony's also a local Coastguard Skipper (and self-appointed Rum Captain). He brings a boatload of knowledge and good vibes to the Level team!
Phil Brooke Smith
Web Development
Phil is a highly experienced web developer who specialises in WordPress and has a particular affinity for eCommerce. Phil is a hard-working guy who prides himself on delivering exceptional standards, turning web development into a genuine craft. Phil is a real family man and dedicated taxi service to support the pursuits of his highly talented offspring.
Jade Moore
Office Manager
Jade brings her impeccable organisation and management skills to the Level family. Her first-hand experience running a successful family business for more than 12 years fuels her passion to help our clients raise their profile with strategic communications and design. When she’s not busy helping Level’s clients, Jade is the ultimate super-mum, doing rugby and dance runs and taking her kids off travelling to explore new countries.
Jo Lees
Automated & Email Marketing
Automated marketing is a powerful tool that can enhance audience engagement for any business - and Jo is an expert. With her background in WordPress development, Mailchimp and email marketing, Jo has exceptional knowledge when it comes to using automated marketing to save time, increase e-commerce profits AND make for happier customers. A self-confessed yogi, Jo lives for great laughs, coffee and ocean swims.
Kirsty Hughes
Facilitation and Engagement
After three decades of supporting, establishing and running highly successful businesses, Kirsty understands the importance of a solid strategic foundation. She has the engagement and facilitation skills to capture the needs of all, and then develop strategies to bring them to life. Kirsty is a big fan of sea swims, horse rides, great novels and black coffee, not always in that order.
Chris Anderson
In memoriam (1980-2021)
Chris was a founding partner in Level and key in building the company to its current success. Chris' legacy continues through the extensive and incredibly talented work he produced for hundreds of clients in his career of more than 20 years. During his 5 1/2 years with Level, Chris produced exceptional work for many clients that will live on - locally and beyond - to reflect his strong work ethic, exceptional strategic and design skills and dedication to his clients.
In the community
Over the years, we've enjoyed volunteering time and expertise to support a range of community organisations across Tai Tokerau. We're passionate about contributing to our community and love to see grassroots dreams come to life, and long-standing organisations succeed and grow.
Hospice House Tour
The Level team were delighted to support the 2020 and 2022 Hospice House Tours, providing design, comms and marketing support, community engagement, sponsorship and volunteering on the weekend itself :) 2022 raised a whopping $65,000 for North Haven Hospice!
Dress for Success Northland
Dress for Success (DFS) is committed to empowering women into new phases of their life. In Tai Tokerau, their vision is: Tutuki Pai Nga Wahine Katoa - Every Woman Succeeds. We loved helping DFS run their first two 'Walk in Wardrobe' events, upcycling surplus clothing back into the community and raising funds to continue delivering their valuable services.
Whangarei Fringe Festival
Whangārei Fringe Festival is a two-week festival of weird and wonderful creativity, including theatre, circus and art. Level has been delighted to support with the development of the festival's sponsorship strategy for the last two events, as well as event marketing.
Beagle Radio 88.1fm
Beagle Radio was established in Whangārei in 2014 by a group of like-minded musos who wanted to be able to listen to better radio. The station runs out of 116 Bank Street and you can tune in on 88.1 or stream live on their website. Level helped Beagle Radio develop a logo, branding and promotional material (as well as tuning in and turning up to gigs).
Hundertwasser Arts Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery
The Level team were proud to support the HAC fundraising team back in 2016 with a fundraising campaign strategy and brand as they began their journey to gather support and financial contributions from individuals and funding bodies around New Zealand. It's great to know we played a small part in making this brave vision a reality.
Volunteering Northland
Volunteering Northland support hundreds of people every year into volunteering opportunities across the region. Level has enjoyed supported the organisation over the years with a wide range of communications and marketing needs.
Te Kowhai Print Trust
Te Kowhai Print Trust is a fine art printmaking facility unique to Whangārei. It operates as a workshop and educational facility and the Level team has been proud to support their community engagement mahi and strategic planning over the years.