Built by Entrepreneurs Who Understand the Real Challenges of Marketing Online
We’re not a big agency with cookie-cutter packages or a bunch of marketing jargon. We’re Tona and Al- two entrepreneurs who’ve spent years in the trenches, figuring out what works (and what doesn’t) when you’re trying to grow a business online without losing your voice, your time, or your sanity.
We’ve been where you are- overwhelmed, frustrated, unsure who to trust, and trying to piece together strategies that actually work. We know what it’s like to feel behind and to wonder if digital marketing is just too complicated or made for someone else. That’s why everything we build is focused on clarity, confidence, and making sure you never feel like you're doing this alone.
Where It All Started
When we started Called To Edify® Boutique in our Oak Forest, Illinois apartment in the summer of 2011, we had $300, a prayer, and a shared desire to fill our home with Scripture-inspired decor that reminded us of God’s truth. After seeing how expensive Christian wall art could be, we realized—we could make our own.
Al brought the graphic design. Tona brought the poetry. And what began as framed artwork for our own walls quickly turned into something much more.
Friends and family started asking for their own pieces. We kept creating. And from that, Called to Edify was born. As we grew (seven website changes, three logo updates, and four print-on-demand providers later), we shifted into apparel, gifts, and encouragement-focused products for everyday believers.
Al built our first website, and every version since. He took what he learned and started offering those services to others. Meanwhile, Tona worked behind the scenes handling social media, content creation, SEO, and email marketing, while learning every piece by doing it firsthand.
Built From Real Experience
Tona learned SEO, blogging, email strategy, and content planning because she had to and not because it was trendy. Each tool she’s developed reflects that journey: simple, strategic, and designed to reduce overwhelm.
Al’s path began with instructional systems design and technology. He worked with companies like McGraw Hill and Pearson Education, supporting and building educational platforms. After transitioning from a role with Chicago Public Schools, he poured his energy into building websites for small businesses and nonprofits.
Al is now a self-taught Wix website designer with over a decade of experience helping businesses from janitorial companies and artists to nonprofit leaders. Al builds clean, functional, and effective online spaces. Together, we bring strategy and heart to every single project.
"Al and Tona didn’t just build a website—they walked with me every step of the way. I never felt like I was doing it alone. The whole process felt personal and empowering."
Ashley T., Scentsory Collection
Why We Built the Toolkit
We didn’t build another trendy AI tool. We created real content marketing tools for small business owners who want to post consistently, email with confidence, and show up in a way that feels like them.
Too often, entrepreneurs open tools like ChatGPT and don’t know where to start. Or worse, they get a generic result that doesn’t reflect their voice.
So we built something better:
A toolkit that makes content creation easier, more strategic, and a lot less overwhelming.
Our AI-powered email, social media, and audience tools are tailored to help you:
-
Stop overthinking what to say
-
Create content faster
-
Stay consistent without sounding like everyone else
-
And most importantly, use tools that adapt to your business, not the other way around.
What We Believe
-
We believe every business deserves a website that works for them and not the other way around.
-
We believe content should sound like you, not like a robot.
-
We believe real connection matters more than going viral.
-
And we believe that clarity, confidence, and consistency can transform the way you show up online.
-
Our faith is at the heart of everything we do, but you’ll mostly see it in the way we serve, speak, and care deeply about helping others.
So if you're:
-
Ready for a website that reflects your business and actually works?
-
Tired of overthinking every post and email?
-
Craving support that feels human, not automated?
You're in the right place.
Ready to stop blending in and finally show up for your business the way you've always wanted to?
Whether you need a website that does more than just sit pretty, or tools that help you post and email consistently without the stress, we're here to help you show up with confidence. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. You just need the right support, the right tools, and the right team behind you. Let’s build something that works for you.