Some milestones look good on paper. Others stop you in your tracks and remind you how far you’ve come. For us, being named a 2026 Small Business Summer honoree was the second kind.
Sur-Ryl Marketing was named one of five businesses honored through the 2026 Small Business Summer program, presented by the Los Angeles Sparks and Lendistry. The program celebrates women, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC-owned small businesses making a meaningful impact in their communities. This year’s recognition felt especially significant because, for the first time, the program expanded beyond the Los Angeles area to small businesses across the country.
The recognition is especially meaningful to our founder and CEO, Sequoia Houston.
“I’m incredibly honored to be selected by the Los Angeles Sparks and Lendistry,” she said. “Lendistry has supported my growth as a business owner for years, and what they do for small businesses is life-changing. I’m grateful to be part of it.”
That support resonates deeply because championing other people’s missions is what we do every day. As a story-led agency, we help organizations find the heart of what they do and translate it into marketing that drives results.
Founded as a consultancy in 2009 and evolved into a full-service agency in 2014, Sur-Ryl Marketing is a WBENC-certified, woman-owned firm that pairs thoughtful strategy with compelling creative and collaborative partnership.
That approach shapes our work with organizations such as Los Angeles World Airports, ICF Foundation and ToolHound, each of which trusts us to help move meaningful work forward.
More than anything, this recognition belongs to the clients who have trusted us with their stories, the team that has helped build this agency and the communities our work is meant to serve.
It’s another milestone in a story we’re still writing.