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LINDA HANDLEY Marketing Consultant for Small Businesses

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Linda Handley is a dedicated business growth and visibility strategist with over 15 years of experience helping organizations strengthen their presence, attract clients, and scale sustainably. A proven leader and strategic thinker, she has supported more than 100 organizations, raised over $100M, and launched initiatives that directly impacted over 100,000 people. Passionate about driving positive change, Linda thrives on building collaborative environments that simplify marketing, inspire creativity, and deliver meaningful results.

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As Seen On

Linda Handley has made it her mission to help others and improve the lives of those around her, often through creative and unconventional means going beyond volunteering and donating to her favorite charities. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, where she received both her BS and a Masters in Health Administration, she began working in informational technology at a leading medical center with likeminded people, while devoting her free time to working with non-profit organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club.

A Mission to Help Others

Growing up in Hershey, Pennsylvania as the older of two children, Linda and her family enjoyed a close relationship and she experienced a traditional childhood where she learned strong values and a deep sense of caring for others from her parents. To this day, she sees how these formative years have continued to shape and guide her, both professionally and personally.

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A Shift in Career and Life Perspective

Linda happily worked as a healthcare administration professional for years before she began to see a shift in the environment of the company. As the focus became more about the bottom line, she noticed profit-driven attitudes replacing the philanthropic and genuine feel that had previously been the atmosphere. Just as her professional discontent was beginning to grow, her father was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. While traveling home to be with him every other weekend and still maintaining a full-time schedule at work, including a busy travel schedule, Linda experienced a moment of awakening. She realized that her job was no longer fulfilling her emotional and charitable needs and that she needed something else in her life to do so.

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Entrepreneurial Ventures and Marlin Property Management

In December 2007 after much soul searching and contemplation, she formed Marlin Property Management, a real estate investment company. With a focus on urban restoration, including purchasing homes, renovating and leasing them, Linda and her business partner began their first project, restoring a 100-year-old home. After construction and renovations, emails from the happy tenants of Marlin’s first project still provide Linda with happiness.

A three-story white house with a purple front door, a small front porch, and a gabled roof, situated along a street with some greenery and trees overhead.

Exterior of a building with a green metal roof, large glass windows, and a glass door, with a sidewalk and landscaped area in front, under a blue sky with clouds.

Throughout the time of forming Marlin and renovating the first home, Linda stayed on at her corporate job. Finally, after being told that her department needed to strip millions from their budget in order to post a profit, she approached her business partner and began to develop a plan to leave her job and focus solely on real estate and other charitable endeavors.

Book cover titled "Inspired Entrepreneurs: A Collection of Female Triumphs in Business and Life," featuring a portrait of a woman named Linda Handley, with colorful floral and butterfly designs on a light background.

Publishing and Honoring Her Father’s Legacy

Now a fully self-employed entrepreneur, Linda is focusing her time and her talents on the projects that mean the most to her. The property management company continues to improve urban homes and provide great places for people to live—affordably. In 2009 she published a children’s book written by her father, Squeeky and Louie, a childhood favorite of hers. Proceeds from the book go to the American Cancer Society.

Linda’s moving journey is featured in the book Inspired Entrepreneurs: A Collection of Female Triumphs in Life and Business. Published in May 2010, and released on KINDLE, the book highlights successful entrepreneurs and their professional as well as personal voyages. Linda’s chapter focuses on how she was able to leverage her professional experience into a career that is aligned with her personal values and what she sees as her life work. From July 1, 2010, onwards, proceeds from the book go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

A hand-drawn cartoon depicting mice with large ears and small bodies, standing on a tiled floor in front of a wall with a grid pattern. The wall has text that reads 'SQUEKY and LOUE' in large letters.

Two people standing and smiling, holding an oversized check made out to U Can B for fourteen thousand dollars, dated December 5, 2016, from Verizon, memo STEM, signed by Bill Carnahan.

Building Bridges for Business and Community Impact

While continuing her real estate investment work, Linda launched Building Bridges for Business, a nonprofit organization that brought together the region’s wealth of resources, tools, and organizations. Its career education program, UcanB, was an in-school program providing career exposure and awareness. UcanB included a proprietary curriculum, access to the educational film series Coffee With™ on CBS/KDKA digital, in-person interactive discussions with business and regional leaders, opportunity/job fairs, and virtual career coaching.

Recognition and Community Impact

Linda was named one of the Top Ten Power People in Pittsburgh and has received numerous awards, including Pittsburgh Woman of the Year – Community Service, for her contribution to organizations and nonprofits. She lives in Western Pennsylvania, where she enjoys empowering and educating fellow entrepreneurs and nonprofits.

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Awards & Certifications

Pittsburgh Woman of the Year Community Service
Master s Degree University of Pittsburgh,

MHA/MBA
Six Sigma Certified
HubSpot Certified

Our Testimonials

Linda is a wonderful, effective, and intuitive leader with extensive experience in both for-profit and nonprofit environments. She has developed innovative offerings and programs for industry leaders and schools across the region. She has a natural talent for assembling teams and is an exceptional connector of people. Selfless, focused, and dedicated, she is a valuable business partner to any organization.

CHRISTOPHER E.
Linda was extremely kind and patient with me as a new Executive Director, helping me navigate the world of foundations. She was always available to answer questions and provide guidance, support, and encouragement throughout the entire process. The biggest benefits we received were a greater understanding of the foundation landscape and the development of a precise strategy for this work. Her team provided us with an immeasurable amount of help and leadership.

Rich G.
Linda Handley is a skilled fundraising, marketing, and public relations consultant. Meeting Linda was an eye-opening experience for me. She’s a quick thinker, energetic and ready for challenges. She approaches and solves problems in an insightful and refreshing way. Linda is a real joy to work with. With her extensive qualifications and certifications in Inbound and Social Media, she offers a highly beneficial one-stop-shop.

ELIZABETH B.
Linda Handley and her team are highly experienced and knowledgeable in both for-profit and nonprofit consulting. I have had the pleasure of working with them on various projects, primarily in nonprofit development. Their forward-thinking approach and expertise in the field are unmatched. Linda is also extremely motivated, and her work truly speaks for itself. Lastly, her passion for what she does is evident in everything she undertakes.

TOM S.
Linda Handley and her team are skilled Fundraising, Marketing, and Public Relations, Consultants. Meeting Linda was an eye-opening experience for me. She’s a quick thinker that’s energetic and up for challenges. With all of her qualifications and being Inbound and Social Media Certified, she provides a beneficial one-stop-shop

Mel H.

My work is guided by the Community-Led Growth Loop, a proven 6-phase framework for helping small businesses grow with clarity, connection, and community.

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