Recognized Partnership Marketing Leaders 2025

I have been in marketing for nearly two decades after watching the movie "What Women Want" and telling myself I wanted to work in marketing. Starting at the age of 16 as a telemarketer, I managed to work up the different levels and now specialize in demand generation, content marketing, and marketing automation, working with a variety of tools such as HubSpot, Wistia, PartnerStack, Pendo, Riverside, StoryLane, Google Adwords, and WebFlow. Over the years, I have been fascinated by all things marketing and technology. Even though my career started with telemarketing, trade show demonstrations, and graphic design, it quickly transitioned into web design, digital marketing, and content marketing in 2009. The reason I love digital marketing is that it is always changing. Although businesses should stay true to their brand, values, and strengths, they always have new ways of sharing their stories, values, and advice through different channels. I am continuously excited to discover and implement these new strategies in the companies I work for. Having experience with small businesses and startups as well as working for marketing agencies and Fortune 500 companies, I understand the benefits of creating processes and structure so that all members of the team can engage and collaborate and create a positive experience for customers. I truly believe that if you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together. By working together and building off the strengths of everyone on the team, the sky truly is the limit.

John H. Corcoran is a former White House Writer, speechwriter, an attorney, an author and a B2B podcasting expert. He started his career as a Writer in the Clinton White House, and today is cofounder of Rise25, LLC with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, who is the longtime host of the top rated INspired INsider podcast, and former senior producer for one of the earliest groundbreaking business podcasts. Rise25 helps B2B businesses to connect with their ideal clients, referral partnerships and strategic partners using done-for-you podcasts and content marketing. Rise25 has worked with clients ranging from a division of Berkshire Hathaway to one of the nation's largest live event ticket sellers, along consulting companies, advertising agencies and law firms. Rise25 provides both high-level strategy around how to get great ROI and leverage with a podcast; and their platform and team distributes those podcasts across all the major podcast platforms and social media. He is a recovering attorney and the creator of Smart Business Revolution and the Smart Business Revolution podcast, where he shares strategies for using intentional relationship-building to grow your network and your income, and since 2010 he has interviewed hundreds of successful entrepreneurs about how they have used relationships to grow their businesses and their careers. He is an active member of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) San Francisco, where he serves on the board. He is the author of 3 books about relationship building and client acquisition, and has been profiled in Forbes and in the books Entrepreneurial You (Harvard Business Review Press 2017) and Stand Out (Portfolio 2015) by Dorie Clark, The Connector’s Advantage (Page Two 2019) by Michelle Tillis Lederman, Success Is In Your Sphere (McGraw-Hill Education 2019) by Zvi Band, and The Successful Mistake by Matthew Turner, and his writing has appeared in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Art of Manliness, Lifehacker, Business Insider, and numerous other publications, blogs and websites. He lives in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife and 4 kids.

Santiago Marin is a SaaS partnerships and partner success leader with experience across North America, Europe, and Latin America. His work sits at the intersection of partnerships, customer success, and operating execution, with a growing focus on partner ecosystems and practical uses of AI that improve visibility, prioritization, and decision-making. He can comment on SaaS partnerships, partner success, partner ecosystems, customer retention, and AI-enabled operating clarity. Quoted in Consultant Magazine on early value creation through clearer priorities, faster decisions, and stronger execution.

Maritza Davila is a highly respected business growth strategist who helps business owners drive predictable revenue growth with a team they trust to execute. As the creator of the G.R.O.W. Methodology, Maritza specializes in guiding owners of teams between 5 and 50 employees to prioritize focus to their team so they can drive high impact execution. With over a decade of experience in operations and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, she has partnered with prominent companies both locally in Southwest Florida and nationwide, where her strategies have driven outcomes such as a 5x revenue increase in just 3.5 months and guiding a client from $1.7 million to $4 million in revenue in one year. Maritza has been featured in articles by Authority.com, LeadGrowDevelop, SmallBizLeader, and CEO Official Magazine, and she’s spoken at events like “If You Can See Her You Can Be Her,” a leading businesswomen’s empowerment event. She regularly shares insights on influential leadership podcasts, including The Uncommon Leader, The End in Mind: Personal Development for Entrepreneurs, and Conversations for Leaders & Teams. Maritza delivers clarity, confidence, and predictable growth for business owners who want to lead strategically and take their organizations to the next level. To learn more visit www.opt360.co.

Paul Parnell is the founder of Level Up Roofer Marketing, a revenue-focused growth firm helping $3M+ home service businesses scale profitably using Google Ads, automation, and AI-driven follow-up systems. A former roofer turned performance marketer, Paul is the creator of the “$500 Per Hour Rule,” a practical framework built around Profit Per Sales Hour (PPSH). PPSH is designed to eliminate vanity metrics and refocus owners on what actually matters: how efficiently sales time converts into real, take-home profit. Beyond growth strategy, Paul is deeply focused on helping business owners build companies that support strong families, not compete with them. His work emphasizes sustainable scale, clear operating systems, and leadership structures that allow owners to be present at home while building thriving family-first businesses and family teams. Paul regularly advises on paid search strategy, marketing automation, sales efficiency, and designing businesses that grow revenue without sacrificing health, marriage, or family culture. To learn more or connect, visit leveluproofermarketing.com.

As Founder and CEO of Direction Inc., I architect organic search engine strategies driven by expert teams where technical excellence meets revenue acceleration. Our proven approach delivers an average 312% increase in quality leads, and 70% drop in patient acquisition costs for healthcare practices.Our mission at Direction? To create an organization where our team and customers thrive, delivering at least a 3x ROI within 12 months for our healthcare partners.Our values of Innovation, Value Creation and Elite Performance drive our operating system as we strive toward our vision of becoming the undisputed leader in healthcare SEO, helping practices attract 50-200+ new patient inquiries monthly.We engineer strategies to match intent at scale, creating sustainable inbound patient growth systems for dental practices, orthodontists, mental health providers, and plastic surgeons ready to be the leader their market.The Direction Difference:-Healthcare-Focused: Unlike broad-market SEO firms, we've targeted our expertise solely to healthcare SEO-Search Intelligence Architecture: We convert complex organic search and generative engine algorithms into revenue opportunities-Optimized Lead Acquisition Engineering: We building fast, sustainable growth frameworks with 61% lower cost per patient vs. paid ads-Market Dominance Blueprint: We transform websites into reliable lead and patient-acquisition powerhouses-Systematic Organization: We run on EOSMy obsession with business and digital marketing began early—from running an eBay business at nine, to coding my first website at 14, to buying and selling domain names, then going all-in on SEO since 2014. This foundation, combined with leading elite military intelligence teams through multiple overseas deployments, created a unique methodology:-Military precision and resilience into digital strategy and algorithm update intelligence, anticipating and capitalizing on search engine changes-Intelligence-driven market and competitor analysis, transforming search data into actionable strategies while identifying untapped market opportunities through systematic pattern recognition and prediction modeling-Team-centric leadership execution models forged in military intelligence operations, creating rapid-deployment SEO teams that adapt to algorithm shifts with military precision while maintaining focus on targetsReady to transform your digital presence from visible to unstoppable? Let's architect your path to practice growth with proven results that speak for themselves.

Jeremy Barker is the co-founder of VIDA Marketing and author of Aligned & Unstoppable: The Small Business System for Predictable Growth Without the Chaos. With more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing operations and business development, Jeremy has spent his career studying why businesses struggle to grow despite hard work and good intentions. His answer is always the same: misalignment. After two decades inside manufacturing plants watching companies chase output while ignoring broken foundations, Jeremy transitioned into business operations and marketing, where he now helps small business owners build the clarity, systems, and structure needed for consistent, predictable growth. His expertise spans business operations, marketing strategy, sales alignment, and organizational systems. He has worked with small business owners across industries to identify the bottlenecks holding their growth back and replace chaos with a repeatable, unified approach. Jeremy is available to speak to topics including small business growth, operational alignment, marketing strategy, why more leads don't fix broken systems, and building a business that runs with intention rather than reaction.

Welcome to my profile! As an entrepreneur and visionary, I'm passionate about building a global conglomerate of businesses that operate under a decentralized management model. My focus is on business growth, leadership, and personal development. Through my experience, I've gained valuable insights on what it takes to succeed in today's competitive marketplace, and I'm excited to share my knowledge with others.If you're interested in staying up-to-date with the latest business trends and insights, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. By subscribing, you'll receive exclusive access to my tips and strategies for success, as well as insights into my entrepreneurial journey.Join me on this exciting journey of growth and discovery, and let's build a brighter future together. Subscribe to my newsletter today!

Innovative eCommerce and digital marketing leader with 15+ years of experience driving multi-million-dollar revenue growth through SEO, paid media, and omnichannel strategies. Proven track record in building high- performing teams and achieving up to 900% organic sales growth. Expertise in eCommerce platforms, customer retention, and performance marketing.

Meet Georgi Petrov, the driving force behind AIG MARKETER, a dynamic digital marketing agency. A multifaceted entrepreneur, he not only owns thriving multi-7-figure online stores but also curates insightful content on his blog at georgiadvice.com. On his YouTube channel, he generously shares his vast experience. Holding an MBA and boasting 13+ years in digital marketing, Georgi has helped countless startups, coaches, and Fortune 500 giants across 13+ markets. A Google and Meta certified pro, Georgi personifies digital success.

Rick Gardiner is a leading voice in affiliate and partnership marketing. As the Founder and CEO of iAffiliate Management, he helps DTC e-commerce brands scale customer acquisition through high-performance affiliate programs and strategic partnerships. With over 20 years of experience, Rick is known for his clear, actionable insights and his ability to simplify complex digital strategies into real-world growth playbooks. His agency is boutique by design—built around deep expertise, elite execution, and a commitment to quality over quantity. Under Rick’s leadership, iAffiliate Management has become a trusted partner to some of the most influential brands in the market. Rick is a former Division I athlete, a passionate entrepreneur, and a sought-after media source on topics including affiliate strategy, partner channel optimization, performance marketing trends, and scaling e-commerce growth. He’s available for expert commentary, interviews, and contributions that explore the future of digital partnerships and performance-based marketing.

Renee Radabaugh is the Founder and President of Paragon Events, an award-winning experiential marketing and association management firm founded in 1989. With more than 36 years of industry experience, Renee is a trusted expert in corporate events, experiential marketing, association management, incentive programs, and destination management. She has been featured in MPI Magazine and recognized by Smart Meetings, BizBash, Meetings Today, and the South Florida Business Journal for her leadership and innovation. Known for her strategic approach and crisis-ready execution, Renee helps organizations elevate live experiences while protecting budgets and delivering measurable results.

From a past marked by transracial adoption, the loss of a parent, a traumatic assault, and teen incarceration, A. Margot Blair emerged with unwavering resilience, determined not to be defined by her hardships. Today, she is a respected Bible Teacher, Learning and Development Specialist at a technology company, Leadership Consultant, and Retreat Host. With over a decade of experience and currently pursuing her Doctorate in Leadership, she empowers women at the intersection of faith and leadership. As a trained and seasoned consultant, A. Margot coaches, mentors, and consults with women leaders across various sectors. Her expertise has fueled a 23-city tour, three professional development conferences, a $500K+ partnership portfolio, and the creation of seven personal and professional development resources—including books and courses. She has been honored as a Top 40 Under 40 Leader, a Top 35 Millennial Influencer, and the recipient of three state proclamations presented by Phoenix mayors. Her clients have included Comerica Bank, Grand Canyon University’s Honors College, and employees from LinkedIn, the Dallas Mavericks, ADP, Toyota, Prudential, and more. A former Forbes Business Coach and contributor, she teaches companies and leaders how to implement the blueprint that helped her build a thriving, multi-6-figure partnership portfolio. A. Margot’s work has been featured on The 700 Club, Fast Company, Esther Press, Lifeway, Goodwill AZ, Zapier, SCORE, and America’s Small Business Development Center. She is also a regular content partner for the YouVersion Bible App—with over 10 Bible plans—and a contributor to Esther Press, Journey Magazine, and other publications. Most importantly, A. Margot Blair is the wife of Vincent and the proud mother of her bonus children, Esaias and Alyvia, and her preschooler, Luke.

I don’t just build marketing strategies—I work with exceptional teams to engineer growth systems that unlock real momentum and measurable results. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside brilliant people across manufacturing, wellness, retail, online education, and more. Together, we’ve identified white space in crowded markets and made small but pivotal changes that led to big outcomes—scaling businesses from 7 to 8 figures, revitalizing sales pipelines, and bringing new ideas to life. I’ve been fortunate to lead teams responsible for over $100M in annual revenue, launch entire product divisions, and develop marketing systems that stand the test of real-world execution. The results have been consistent: smarter strategies, stronger teams, and scalable growth. Today, as the Founder of Peak 10 Marketing, I help manufacturing and high-ticket service companies transform marketing from a guessing game into a precision-tuned revenue system. Our Modular Marketing System is designed to generate 100+ high-value quotes in just 90 days, using first-party data, automation, and proven buying behavior. If you’re looking for a collaborative partner who thinks like an owner, listens deeply, and builds for the long game—let’s connect. Book a complimentary call and get my Growth Engineering Manual : https://peak10marketing.com/consultation

Mike Montague is the founder of Avenue9, a Human-First AI Marketing® agency, which helps companies scale growth with his Human+AI Capability Map™. He is known for practical frameworks that turn AI into a trained teammate rather than a generic content tool, helping teams increase productivity, improve customer experience, and build trust at scale. He has worked with global brands including LinkedIn, HubSpot, Uber, ThermoFisher Scientific, Sandler, Jiffy Lube, Zoom, Bud Light, and the Kansas City Chiefs, and now, he uses his decades of past marketing experience and the AI tools of the future to help small businesses SMBs market like big brands. Mike is the author of the upcoming book Human-First AI Marketing. His previous books, Playful Humans was an Amazon #1 Best-Seller in the Happiness category, and LinkedIn The Sandler Way was a collaboration between LinkedIn and Sandler sales training that was downloaded by more than 80,000 people. Mike is an accomplished speaker and entertainer, performing on over 3,000 stages as a keynote speaker, game show host, and radio DJ, including performing with Billy Idol, Frankie Valli, and speaking at industry-leading events like Inbound and ATD. He has interviewed over 1,000 sales, marketing, and leadership experts on his multiple business podcasts, which have collectively garnered over 4 million downloads. As a former web developer of over 200 websites, he also regularly speaks about SEO and the transition to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). He is widely known for a simple philosophy: AI should amplify authenticity, not replace it with automation. His work centers on turning AI into a trained teammate that enhances human creativity, judgment, and connection. Quote Angles and Talking Points for Journalists - Why AI is intensifying work instead of reducing it, and what leaders should do about it - The difference between AI as a tool and AI as a trained teammate - How small businesses can compete with enterprise marketing teams using AI - Why trust is replacing traffic as the primary growth metric - The rise of Answer Engine Optimization and how AI is changing discovery - How to redesign marketing roles for the Human+AI era - The risks of generic AI content and how to preserve brand voice - What executives get wrong about AI adoption and productivity - How to build human connection at scale with AI systems Short Bio or Introduction: Introduction Mike Montague is a leading voice in Human-First AI Marketing. His company, Avenue9, is an AI-powered marketing agency helping small businesses scale without burning bridges or blowing out their budgets. Mike has worked with giant brands like LinkedIn, Uber, Zoom, Bud Light, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s authored two books: LinkedIn The Sandler Way and Playful Humans, and his podcasts have over 4 million downloads. Now, he uses his decades of past marketing experience and the AI tools of the future to help small businesses amplify their marketing impact.

I am the Managing Partner at Great Impressions Advertising and Marketing, a full-service advertising and marketing agency, and Websites and Digital, the spin-off digital marketing agency. With over 40 years of experience in advsrting and marketing, I provide expert guidance and leadership to organizations looking to accelerate their revenue growth and optimize their sales and marketing efforts. I work with clients on a part-time or project basis, giving them the benefit of a high-level executive without the full-time commitment. I leverage my expertise in performance and growth marketing, as well as my extensive network of industry contacts and partners, to streamline processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement effective strategies to drive results. I am passionate about helping organizations reach their full potential and delivering results that make a real impact.

Innovative and strategic-thinking leader with the proven expertise, passion, and determination to pursue all avenues to accelerate revenue/profit gains. Repeated success designing/launching profitable new products/programs, securing new partnerships, conceiving/executing innovative technology, software, marketing and sales strategies. Extensive experience overseeing operations, software development, software deployment, change management, developing detailed business plans for clients and company, and successfully executing capital fundraising programs. Strong educational and professional business information systems background.. Specialties: · --Dynamic Leadership --Software Project Management --Partnership Building --Strategic Business Planning --Online Marketing --Sales Training --Sell & Buy-Side Mergers & Acquisitions --M&A Due Diligence --New Business Development --Enterprise Lead Generation --Integrated Marketing --Financial Accounting/Reporting --Cash Flow Management --Product Implementation --Content Marketing --Link Building --Technical Online Search Optimization

Kristopher Michael Wood Behavior Design Strategist. Founder of iLLOGICAL iNFLUENCE. Director of Brand Storytelling at Lotos Nile. Kristopher Michael Wood works at the intersection of behavioral science, brand strategy, and storytelling, helping organizations move people to act. He is the Founder of iLLOGICAL iNFLUENCE, a behavior design consultancy that uses ethical influence and human-centered design to shape decisions, build trust, and change outcomes for clients ranging from professionals and nonprofits to Fortune 500 teams. He also serves as Director of Brand Storytelling at Lotos Nile, a Nashville-based marketing and communications firm where he builds brand systems and campaigns rooted in behavioral evidence rather than guesswork. Kristopher is one of a small handful of practitioners trained directly by the three figures often referred to as the grandmasters of human behavior: Dr. Robert Cialdini, Dr. BJ Fogg, and Rory Sutherland. He is a founding member of the Cialdini Institute and a Certified Cialdini Coach and Consultant, applying Cialdini's seven principles of influence to marketing, UX, and brand systems. He completed Behavior Design Expert Training with Dr. BJ Fogg of Stanford University, and he earned the Mark of Distinction in Rory Sutherland's MAD//Masters program. He is also a Certified Member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists (GAABS) and holds a certification in Online Influence Fundamentals from the Online Influence Institute. His professional certifications further span Apple Search Ads, Google's Generative AI Learning Path, Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce, Google Data Analytics, Google UX Design, Google Project Management, LinkedIn Decision Intelligence, and Management Consulting Foundations through Skillfully. Before moving into strategy, Kristopher spent more than two decades working at the highest levels of live production. He served over a decade as an Automated Lighting Programmer for The Late Show with David Letterman and toured worldwide as a programmer and technician for Radiohead, Elton John, Cher, Sheryl Crow, and Roxy Music, every one of whom is now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His credits include the Grammy Awards, the Olympics, the Democratic National Convention, and the NBA Finals, along with technical work for Vari-Lite. That career taught him about timing, spectacle, and human response in real time, lessons that now inform how he designs behavior change for brands. He is the author of two books. New York Birds Don't Climb: Ernest Hemingway and the City (2023) is a literary study of Chicago, Paris, and New York as forces that shaped Ernest Hemingway, drawing primarily on Hemingway's preserved correspondence. Business Lessons from Taylor Swift: What Every Business Can Learn from a Global Icon is the first business book to analyze Taylor Swift's career as a case study in storytelling, personal branding, and strategic positioning, and it became a best-seller in its category. His shorter writing appears regularly in McSweeney's Internet Tendency, The American Bystander, Points in Case, Weekly Humorist, Humor Times, and Sorbet Magazine, where he serves as Political Correspondent. His political commentary has run in The Portland Press Herald, the Sun Journal (Lewiston, ME), and the Kennebec Journal. He has completed formal Satire Writing I and II training at The Second City. Kristopher holds a Master of Arts in History and Literature from Columbia University, where he was part of the Hemingway, Italy, and the Literary Imagination program, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from New York University. He completed additional academic work in Literature at École Normale Supérieure and in History at Université Paris-Sorbonne, and earned an Associate degree from Full Sail University. During his undergraduate years at NYU, he was recognized with the Founder's Day Award (2014), the Harvey J. Stedman Award (2014), the McGhee Scholars Scholarship (2011 and 2012), and the Bernard Osher Scholarship (2010 and 2013). He also served as an Editorial Intern at George Mason University's History News Network and earlier worked as an Education Consultant at ENREACH Education in Chengdu, China. His proprietary frameworks include BRAVO for Brand Storytelling, a structured method for applying behavioral science to brand narrative, and his consulting practice covers behavior design, Cialdini-grounded persuasion, UX strategy, brand psychology, decision intelligence, and persuasive copywriting. Kristopher lives and works in Hailey, Idaho.

Greg Schuman is a pioneer in lenticular printing, with over 33 years of experience pushing the boundaries of dynamic visual storytelling through this specialty print medium. As the founder of World3D, he has established himself as a leader in the industry, helping the world's largest brands, agencies, marketers, and designers create eye-catching, motion-based visuals that engage audiences in unique and immersive ways. Under Greg’s leadership, World3D has worked with top-tier clients across advertising, retail, and entertainment, transforming static images into interactive, multi-dimensional experiences. His expertise spans everything from high-impact marketing applications, to art installations, to business leadership, making him a sought-after voice in the evolving world of print innovation.

Brett Farmiloe is the Founder & CEO of Featured. Featured connects subject-matter experts with top publishers to increase their exposure and create quality, ready-to-publish Q & A content. More than 50,000 experts answer questions on Featured to get their insights published in articles on Fast Company, Entrepreneur.com, and 1,000+ more publishers. With 1M+ answers received, Featured is unlocking the full potential of human knowledge, one answer at a time. Previously, Brett founded and ran Markitors, a digital agency for small businesses, for 10 years before a successful acquisition. More stuff... Brett's first company, Pursue the Passion, was a career education startup that took Brett and three friends on two cross country roadtrips to interview people about how they found passion in work. One of the biggest takeaways? That people don't have a meaningful outlet to share the expertise they've accumulated in their lifetime. Other career highlights: - Helped the actor Hugh Jackman launch a charitable coffee company (acquired by Keurig) - Published Author (sold 1,000 copies...lots of them to people in Duluth, MN) - Keynote Speaker (100+ speeches from Alaska to Miami, including a TEDx) - First Mailchimp Expert west of the Mississippi - Founder of Digital Marketing company that is one of the best places to work in Arizona (Best Companies 100, Phoenix Business Journal) - Contributor to Forbes, SHRM, Thunderbird, Huffington Post, Mashable, TIME, NextWeb, Etc - Once was sponsored by a food company with unlimited supply of Hot Pockets. Proceeded to eat Hot Pockets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 30 days to bootstrap a startup. Never has ate a Hot Pocket again. Projects In Development... // Revival of the World Pillow Fight Championships