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A woman and a man sitting outdoors in front of string lights and a decorated tree at nighttime. The woman has curly dark hair and is wearing a blue shirt over a striped top. The man has a beard, blue glasses, a yellow beanie, and is wearing a light-colored shirt over a striped T-shirt. The woman rests her arm on the man's shoulder, and they both smile at the camera.

Duende Creative House is a Fresno-based strategic marketing and mentorship agency that specializes in brand development, asset creation, event marketing, and inclusive communications support. Our shop is built on strategy, artistry, and the belief that great storytelling has the power to change everything. The company’s goal is to help artists, entrepreneurs, and social good enterprises promote their work so they can better enrich their communities (particularly Fresno County!). Duende also hopes to educate clients (and the general public) on simple ways to improve their own storytelling capabilities in modern, ethical, and culturally competent ways that enhance the overall vibrancy and resilience of the mid-Central Valley of California.

Co-founders Miguel Gastelum and Haley White have worked together creatively and professionally for over a decade, as co-founders of Fresno-based arts and advocacy collective, The Fools Collaborative, as leaders in the Save Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee, and as creative marketers for hundreds of campaigns for United Way Fresno and Madera Counties and other local community business organizations. When a company-wide layoff ended Haley’s time in her director role at UWFM, she saw it as an opportunity. Nonprofits and small businesses are increasingly looking for nimble, values-driven marketing support. Haley knew she and Miguel could fill that gap in service by building something of their own.

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Duende Creative House helps artists, entrepreneurs, and social good enterprises craft authentic, ethical, and culturally competent marketing that is both comprehensible and visually compelling. Through storytelling, design, strategy, and education, we empower our clients to connect meaningfully with their communities and grow with purpose.

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We envision a more vibrant and equitable mid-Central Valley, where small businesses and mission-driven organizations flourish, and local residents have their fair share of resources and opportunity.

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Text reading 'Miguel A. Gastelum' in black letters on a white background.

Co-Founder, Creative Lead

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Miguel earned his BA in Theatre Arts from Fresno State, and since 2017, has been the Communication Specialist for the university’s Department of Theatre and Dance—handling everything from marketing campaigns to show promotions and public engagement.

In addition to this, he’s spent over a decade as a freelance marketing consultant, working with arts organizations, nonprofits, and socially conscious businesses to help them tell their stories in thoughtful, impactful ways. These brands include United Way Fresno and Madera Counties, Encore Theatre Company, The Rogue Performance Festival, The Sojourner Group, and The Creek Fire Recovery Collaborative, among others. Miguel is a co-founder and board member of The Fools Collaborative, an arts advocacy group here in the Central Valley that’s all about community-driven creative work. His theatre and arts background plays a big part in how he approaches design, messaging, and storytelling. He likes to bring a little drama (the good kind), a lot of heart, and a clear sense of purpose to everything he creates.

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Co-Founder, Strategy Lead

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Haley White is a communications professional with decades of experience in the non-profit, business, and education sectors. She most recently served for five years as the Director of Marketing at United Way Fresno and Madera Counties. Prior to that, she worked as a producer and casting director for local video house, Windsong Productions, and as a media technician for Tulare County Office of Education.

A multi-hyphenate talent with an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College, Haley is a strategist, writer, producer, and director. She has consulted for businesses like the Fresno-Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Marketing Plus, and Duncan Enterprises. Haley comes to her marketing work with a strong background in theatre, film, and other creative-focused storytelling. She uses her experience as a community advocate to lead her work and, as such, purposefully crafts equity-centric campaigns and culturally competent, ethically considerate products. Along with Miguel, Haley is one of the co-founders of The Fools Collaborative, a multidisciplinary arts and advocacy collective that produced creative events for the express purpose of bringing awareness to, and raising funds for, an assortment of community, charitable, environmental, and social justice-orientated causes.