The Midwest is home to a deep bench of marketing talent that rivals any coast.
This guide spotlights 40+ marketing leaders who are actively sharing insights, frameworks, and hard-won lessons on LinkedIn.
[PRO TIP: You can also follow Big Shoes Network on LinkedIn.]
These thought leaders span every discipline: brand strategy, B2B demand gen, agency leadership, higher ed marketing, PR, martech, employer branding, and more. Whether you're a junior marketer looking for daily inspiration or a CMO seeking peer-level thinking, this list delivers.
The names are grouped by specialty so you can follow the voices most relevant to your work — or follow them all and build a feed that makes you smarter every morning.
Content marketing, SEO, and analytics
Andy Crestodina · Co-Founder & CMO, Orbit Media Studios · Chicago, IL LinkedIn
Andy is arguably the most-followed content marketing voice in the Midwest. Author of Content Chemistry and creator of the annual Blogger Survey, he posts data-rich infographics and actionable guides on SEO, AI search optimization, GA4, and content strategy almost daily. His mantra — "If you can't disagree with it, it's not thought leadership" — sets the tone for consistently practical, zero-fluff content. A must-follow for anyone in digital marketing.
Joe Pulizzi · Founder, Content Marketing Institute · Cleveland, OH LinkedIn
Widely called the "Godfather of Content Marketing," Joe founded CMI and the Content Marketing World conference (held annually in Cleveland). Author of Epic Content Marketing and Content Inc., he posts about audience-first business models, the creator economy, and content entrepreneurship. He literally defined content marketing as a discipline — and Cleveland remains the spiritual home of the movement because of him.
Lee Odden · Owner & CEO, TopRank Marketing · Minneapolis, MN LinkedIn
Lee pioneered the concept of B2B influencer marketing and has published over 1.4 million words on TopRank's blog. Recognized by Forbes, The Economist, and The Wall Street Journal, he's given nearly 300 presentations in 20 countries. His LinkedIn posts cover B2B content strategy, always-on influencer programs, and SEO — backed by work with LinkedIn, Dell, Adobe, and SAP. He also hosts the Elevate B2B Marketing podcast.
Ali Schwanke · Founder & CEO, Simple Strat · Lincoln, NE LinkedIn
Ali runs the #1 unofficial HubSpot YouTube channel ("HubSpot Hacks") and is the go-to expert for B2B marketing technology in the Plains states. A Platinum HubSpot Solutions Partner and regular MarTech.org contributor, she posts tutorials on CRM strategy, marketing automation, and marketing operations. She makes complex martech accessible — a rare and valuable skill.
Brand strategy and consumer behavior
Todd Kaplan · CMO, North America, Kraft Heinz · Chicago, IL LinkedIn
Previously CMO of Pepsi for 17 years (where he led the first visual rebrand in 14 years and created Bubly), Todd was named to Forbes' "World's Most Influential CMOs" and Adweek's "Brand Genius" list. Now steering Kraft Heinz's $22B North American portfolio, he posts about defending creativity in the age of data, culture-driven marketing, and the tension between brand and performance. Essential reading for brand marketers.
Dr. Marcus Collins · Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Ross School of Business · Ann Arbor, MI LinkedIn
A proud Detroit native, Marcus is both an award-winning practitioner (he ran digital strategy for Beyoncé and developed campaigns for McDonald's, Google, and Nike at Wieden+Kennedy) and a bestselling author. His book For The Culture examines how culture drives consumer behavior, and his LinkedIn posts regularly go viral with sharp cultural commentary through a marketing lens. An Ad Age 40 Under 40 honoree and Thinkers50 Radar Award winner who bridges academia and practice better than almost anyone.
Tom Denari · President & CEO, Young & Laramore · Indianapolis, IN LinkedIn A 36-year veteran of one agency (a rare career arc in advertising), Tom writes for Adweek, Ad Age, Forbes, and Inc. about non-rational motivations in buying decisions and the role of humor in advertising. He hosts the annual "Unreasonable" conference in Indianapolis featuring behavioral scientists and top marketers. Y&L handles DEWALT, Cummins, and Delta Faucet and has been named one of Ad Age's Best Places to Work.
Lydia Michael · Founder & President, Blended Collective · Detroit, MI LinkedIn
Author of Brand Love: Building Strong Consumer-Brand Connections, Lydia is a rising voice in multicultural marketing and brand loyalty. Born trilingual in Germany with Chaldean heritage, she brings a global perspective rare in the Midwest market. A Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumna and Detroit Symphony Orchestra board member, she posts about inclusive branding, personal branding, and culturally aware marketing strategy.
Agency leadership and entrepreneurship
Angela Damiani · CEO, NEWaukee · Milwaukee LinkedIn
A serial entrepreneur who has launched seven businesses over 15+ years, Angela has built a career around a simple idea: belonging is infrastructure, not a perk. Her work with NEWaukee sits at the intersection of experience design, civic engagement, and talent strategy, and she has become one of the most visible champions of Midwest entrepreneurship.
Jessica Henrichs · CEO, Colle McVoy · Minneapolis, MN LinkedIn
Named a 2024 Adweek 50 honoree, Jessica was elevated to CEO in January 2025 after nearly tripling agency revenue and increasing earnings sixfold as President. Colle McVoy has won Adweek Midsize Agency of the Year, Ad Age A-List Standout, and achieved B Corp certification under her leadership. She champions the "magic in the middle" — proving midsized, Midwest-based agencies can compete at the highest level. Clients include Frank's RedHot, La-Z-Boy, HARIBO, and Whirlpool.
Jeff King · Founding Partner, BarkleyOKRP · Kansas City, MO LinkedIn
Under Jeff's 16-year CEO tenure, Barkley earned B Corp status, landed on Ad Age's A-List four times, and was named Adweek's "Fastest Growing Agency." The 2024 merger with Chicago's OKRP created a 700+ employee powerhouse. He posts about purpose-driven marketing, the "Big Indie" agency model, and how independent shops can compete against holding companies. Clients include Burger King, Planet Fitness, and Dairy Queen.
Jon Cook · Global CEO, VML · Mission, KS (Kansas City metro) LinkedIn
Jon leads one of the world's largest marketing agencies — 30,000+ employees in 64+ markets — formed from the VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson merger. VML was originally founded in Kansas City in 1992 and ranked #2 in North America at Cannes Lions 2025. His LinkedIn provides a window into global marketing leadership while maintaining authentic Midwest roots. Clients include Coca-Cola, Ford, Microsoft, and Wendy's.
Drew McLellan · CEO, Agency Management Institute (AMI) · Des Moines, IA LinkedIn
Drew is the definitive voice for agency owners in the Midwest and beyond. AMI serves 250+ small-to-mid-sized agencies annually, and his "Build a Better Agency" podcast is an industry staple. A 30+ year advertising veteran featured in the Wall Street Journal as running "one of 10 blogs every entrepreneur should read," he posts about agency profitability, business development, and talent retention. During COVID, not a single AMI member agency closed.
Anne Zizzo · Founder & CEO, Zizzo Group Engagement Marketing · Milwaukee
Anne built Zizzo Group from a basement startup into one of Milwaukee's largest marketing agencies over 30 years, completing seven acquisitions. She created the branding for the 2024 Republican National Convention's local host committee and is a recurring Milwaukee Business Journal "Power Broker." She posts about community engagement marketing, brand storytelling, and entrepreneurship while also running Zizzo Ventures, a commercial real estate firm.
Jenny Cross · Founder & CEO, TwoTone Creative · West Des Moines, IA LinkedIn
Jenny built TwoTone from scratch in 2014 to a 2x Inc. 5000-listed agency, earning "Best CEO" honors from her local chamber. A StoryBrand Certified Guide, she posts about agency growth, fractional CMO work, and clarifying brand messaging for mission-driven organizations. She demonstrates that nationally competitive agencies can thrive from Iowa.
Natalie Eisenberg · CEO, Click Rain · Sioux Falls, SD LinkedIn
Natalie represents the Dakotas — an underserved voice in Midwest marketing. She hosts the "Agency for Change" podcast and posts about indie agency leadership, strategic planning for associations and cooperatives, and how rural organizations can compete through smart marketing. Her people-centric, servant-leadership approach embodies Midwest values.
Josh Sample · Founder, Drive Social Media · St. Louis, MO LinkedIn
Josh built Drive Social Media from a St. Louis startup into a $40M+ revenue national agency with 250+ employees across six cities. He created Marketing Milk, a proprietary analytics platform, and posts about scaling agencies, AI-powered advertising optimization, and data-driven marketing. Recognized by Adweek and Inc. as one of the fastest-growing agencies in the country.
Jackie Hermes · Founder & CEO, Accelity · Milwaukee, WI LinkedIn
With 100,000+ LinkedIn followers, Jackie is the most prolific marketing LinkedIn creator in Wisconsin. She posts near-daily videos and essays about bootstrapping a B2B SaaS marketing agency, entrepreneurship, and the unfiltered realities of agency life. She built Accelity from a one-woman consultancy with no outside funding and speaks 12+ times per year. Co-founder of Women's Entrepreneurship Week and a Golden Angels Investors mentor.
B2B marketing, demand generation, and martech
Mike Santoro · Board Member & Former CEO, Walker Sands · Chicago, IL LinkedIn
Mike built Walker Sands from a boutique firm to $30M+ in revenue over 16 years, earning 10x Inc. 5000 recognition and Cannes Lions Gold. Named Chicago PRSA's PR Professional of the Year, he posts about B2B marketing strategy, agency leadership, and thought leadership programs. His perspective on making B2B as emotionally compelling as B2C is invaluable.
Amber Naslund · Sales Director, LinkedIn Marketing Solutions · Greater Chicago Area LinkedIn
Amber works at LinkedIn itself, helping B2B brands build thought leadership programs — making her posts about executive branding and B2B thought leadership uniquely authoritative. She frequently dissects what B2B brands get wrong with their messaging and shares practical frameworks for account-based marketing and content strategy.
Bob Domenz · CEO, Avenue · Chicago, IL Bob leads Avenue, a hybrid strategy and creative firm focused on the intersection of B2B branding and private equity — a rapidly growing niche. Published in PitchBook on how PE firms can use branding to speed growth, he launched the B2B Brand Council for peer learning among senior B2B professionals. His posts cover M&A brand integration, mid-market growth, and enterprise value creation through brand.
Kyle Lacy · CMO, Docebo · Indianapolis, IN LinkedIn
One of the most candid B2B SaaS marketing voices on LinkedIn with 60,000+ followers, Kyle publishes the "Revenue Diaries" newsletter and posts openly about attribution models, revenue marketing, imposter syndrome, and the realities of being a CMO. His resume includes Director of Content Marketing at Salesforce/ExactTarget, SVP Marketing at Seismic, and CMO stints at Lessonly and Jellyfish. Author of three books including Twitter Marketing for Dummies.
PR and communications
Kate Lang · SVP, Golin · Greater Chicago Area LinkedIn
A former journalist (7 years at the Indianapolis Star) turned senior PR leader at PRWeek's 2024 U.S. Agency of the Year, Kate posts frequently about how LLMs and AI search are transforming earned media. Her insights on CEO visibility strategy, local media's evolving role, and AI as a force multiplier for communications are must-reads for PR professionals navigating the AI era.
Rick Wion · Head of Corporate Communications, Ingredion · Greater Chicago Area LinkedIn
A former Director of Social Media at McDonald's and VP Digital at GolinHarris, Rick now leads communications at $8B Ingredion. He posts about AI's ROI in marketing, corporate communications strategy, and digital transformation. He's active in Chicago's AI marketing community (AI in CHI events) and speaks at BrandSmart and SXSW.
Megan Shroy · CEO, Approach Marketing · Chicago, IL
Megan's agency won Ragan Communications' "Agency of the Year" Zenith Award (2025), specializing in food & beverage PR and consumer brand communications. She posts forward-thinking content on Reddit marketing for brands, answer engine optimization (AEO), and AI's impact on PR — emerging areas most communications leaders haven't caught up to yet.
Social media, influencer marketing, and the creator economy
Arik Hanson · Independent Social Media Consultant; Adjunct, University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, MN LinkedIn
One of the Twin Cities' most outspoken social media voices, Arik posts regularly about LinkedIn strategy, executive personal branding, platform changes, and occasionally contrarian takes on social media marketing. He teaches at the University of Minnesota and recently went fully independent after advising mid-sized and large companies for years. His commentary cuts through the hype.
Nycole Hampton · Influencer Marketing Consultant & Educator · Chicago, IL LinkedIn
Named to the Top 50 influencer marketing professionals worldwide, Nycole serves on the board of the Influencer Marketing Association and mentors through Sprout Social's Arboretum network. She posts sharp analyses of major brand campaigns (Coca-Cola, Nike, Netflix) and strategic frameworks for building "systems, not just stories" in influencer marketing. Chicago's leading voice in the creator economy.
Joel Beckett · Founder & Board Chairman, The Outloud Group · Detroit, MI LinkedIn
A former Detroit Public Schools teacher who became an influencer marketing pioneer, Joel founded The Outloud Group in 2007 — years before most brands understood the creator economy. His agency has worked with 23andMe, Casper, Dollar Shave Club, and Warby Parker. He posts about influencer pricing models, authenticity in creator partnerships, and diversity in influencer marketing (his agency commissioned a groundbreaking study on Black+ creator representation).
Jeff Sherman · Host of The Upswing · Milwaukee LinkedIn
A civic leader, marketer, and entrepreneur whose work largely revolves around community building and making a lasting impact on Milwaukee, Jeff was one of the co-founders of OnMilwaukee.com— one of the city's most influential digital media platforms. He currently hosts "The Upswing" on 620 WTMJ, a show focused on business and community in greater Milwaukee. His podcasts and interviews even included Big Shoes Network! A Marquette University grad, Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, and one of the youngest people ever appointed to the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Jeff posts about civic marketing, placemaking, local media's future, and Milwaukee boosterism with infectious optimism. If you care about using marketing to build better cities, he's a must-follow.
CMO leadership and in-house marketing excellence
Jim Stengel · Founder, The Jim Stengel Company; Host, The CMO Podcast · Cincinnati, OH LinkedIn
The former Global CMO of Procter & Gamble (2001–2008), Jim was named Ad Age's #1 Power Player in Marketing four times. His bestselling book Grow defined purpose-driven brand growth, and The CMO Podcast features intimate conversations with top marketing leaders from major companies. He posts weekly about CMO leadership, brand building, and marketing measurement. Perhaps the most connected marketing thought leader in the Midwest.
Marc Pritchard · Chief Brand Officer, Procter & Gamble · Cincinnati, OH LinkedIn
As the top marketer at the world's largest advertiser ($8.6B+ ad budget, 300+ brands, $83B+ sales), Marc's posts carry enormous industry weight. A three-time CMO Survey Award winner, he's a pioneering voice on media transparency, diversity in advertising, and the philosophy that brands should be "a force for growth and a force for good." A rare opportunity to hear directly from the most influential brand marketer alive.
Lara Krug · EVP & CMO, Kansas City Chiefs · Kansas City area LinkedIn
The first CMO in Chiefs franchise history, Lara oversees marketing during one of the most dominant dynasties in NFL history (three Super Bowl wins). Named one of Adweek's "Most Powerful Women in Sports," she previously spent 7+ years at Anheuser-Busch InBev as VP of U.S. Marketing for Stella Artois. She posts about sports marketing innovation, global brand expansion, fan engagement, and TikTok strategy (the Chiefs are the #1 NFL team on the platform).
Christine Buck · Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, HIMSS · Chicago, IL Named 2024 AMA Chicago Marketer of the Year — the top individual marketing honor in the city — Christine leads marketing for HIMSS, the leading healthcare information technology organization. She posts about brand storytelling, emotional branding, and healthcare tech marketing. A featured speaker at BrandSmart 2025, she also serves as VP of the Barnett Family Foundation.
Laura Herrera · Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry · Chicago, IL With two decades of experience in the cultural and civic sectors, Laura leads integrated marketing, brand, and revenue strategy for one of Chicago's most iconic institutions. She's built nationally recognized campaigns and Fortune 500 partnerships, and was a featured speaker at AMA Chicago's 2025 CMO Forum on purpose-driven marketing. A standout voice for marketing in the cultural sector.
Marketing education and academia
Tim Calkins · Clinical Professor of Marketing, Northwestern Kellogg · Evanston, IL LinkedIn
Tim has taught 10,000+ Kellogg students over 20+ years and runs the widely covered annual Super Bowl Ad Review. Author of Kellogg on Branding, he posts timely brand analyses (like his take on the Cracker Barrel rebrand) that blend academic rigor with accessible, often viral commentary. He bridges scholarship and practice better than almost anyone in marketing education.
Jim Lecinski · Clinical Professor of Marketing, Northwestern Kellogg · Greater Chicago Area LinkedIn
A former VP at Google who authored Winning the Zero Moment of Truth, Jim now teaches at Kellogg and wrote The AI Marketing Canvas — a practical guide for CMOs implementing AI. He serves as Academic Director of Kellogg's Chief Digital Officer program and posts about AI's reshaping of the marketing organization, digital transformation, and B2B growth strategy.
Niche specialists: employer branding, nonprofit, higher ed, and digital innovation
James Ellis · Chief Brand Builder, Employer Brand Labs · Chicago, IL LinkedIn
Called the foremost authority on employer branding for small and mid-market businesses, James created the first content marketing framework for recruitment marketing. With 25+ years of branding experience, he posts about the intersection of marketing and HR — challenging conventional recruiting thinking and pushing talent acquisition leaders to think strategically about brand. A niche specialist that bridges two disciplines.
Lyn Wineman · President & Chief Strategist, KidGlov · Lincoln, NE LinkedIn
Inducted into the Lincoln AMA Hall of Fame and named Marketer of the Year, Lyn leads a B Corp-certified agency specializing in nonprofit, healthcare, and purpose-driven organizations. She hosts the "Agency for Change" podcast and posts about nonprofit marketing strategy, DEI in marketing, and strategic planning. With 30+ years of experience, she received the AAF-Lincoln Silver Medal for lifetime achievement.
Nancy Kramer · Chief Evangelist, IBM Consulting; Founder, Resource/Ammirati · Columbus, OH LinkedIn
Nancy is a digital marketing pioneer who founded Resource Interactive in 1981 with Apple as her first client — making it one of the world's earliest digital agencies. Her team created Apple's first interactive retail experience and one of the internet's first live streaming events (Victoria's Secret fashion show, memorialized in MIT's time capsule). IBM acquired the 350-person agency in 2016 — the only female-owned business IBM has acquired. Named by Ad Age as one of the "100 Most Influential Women in Advertising," she posts about digital transformation, innovation, and women in technology.
Lori Highby · CEO & Founder, Keystone Click · Milwaukee, WI LinkedIn
A 20-year marketing veteran who created the Social Media Marketing curriculum at Milwaukee Area Technical College and teaches B2B Marketing at UW-Milwaukee, Lori combines agency leadership with education. She hosts a podcast and speaks frequently at PRSA events. Her posts blend practical digital marketing tips with strategic insights on SEO, personal branding, and the shift to customer-controlled buying journeys.
Valerie Jennings · CEO, Jennings Social Media & Martech · Overland Park, KS (KC metro) LinkedIn Valerie founded her agency at age 24 and has won the Gold Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year (Advertising/Marketing/PR), DMN's National Marketer of the Year, and FOLIO's Top Women in Media. She posts about AI-powered marketing, SEO strategy, and digital advertising from a KC-area base, representing the entrepreneurial Midwest founder building a nationally recognized practice.
How to build your Midwest marketing LinkedIn feed
The leaders profiled here span 10 states, 15+ cities, and nearly every marketing discipline — from the person who invented content marketing (Pulizzi in Cleveland) to the person managing the world's largest ad budget (Pritchard in Cincinnati) to a former Detroit schoolteacher who pioneered influencer marketing (Beckett). The through-line is that each of them is actively sharing what they know on LinkedIn, not just occupying a title.
A few patterns worth noting. The Chicago area is a hub, with deep concentrations in B2B, content, PR, and brand strategy. Kansas City punches above its weight thanks to VML, BarkleyOKRP, and the Chiefs' marketing operation. Minneapolis owns B2B influencer marketing and creative agency culture. Cincinnati remains brand management's spiritual home courtesy of P&G. And smaller markets — Des Moines, Lincoln, Sioux Falls, West Des Moines — are producing agency leaders and specialists who prove you don't need a coastal zip code to build a national reputation.
Follow a few from each category, and your LinkedIn feed transforms from a scroll of self-promotion into a genuine marketing education. The Midwest's best are teaching in public every day — all you have to do is hit the follow button.
Final shameless plug: Follow Big Shoes Network co-owners Jason Parry and Tim Cigelske on LinkedIn
