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Best Fractional CMOs in Charlotte
Charlotte Interim & Fractional Chief Marketing Officers
Charlotte, North Carolina has long been known as a powerhouse for finance, energy, and logistics. But over the past decade, the Queen City has been steadily reshaping its identity as a hub for marketing innovation. With a growing tech ecosystem, a wave of startups, and established enterprises hungry for sharper digital strategies, Charlotte is fertile ground for modern marketing leadership. That’s where Fractional CMOs come in.
These professionals bring executive-level strategy without the full-time overhead—a perfect match for Charlotte’s mix of high-growth startups, family-owned businesses, and mid-market firms scaling across the Southeast. From B2B SaaS brands to local consumer favorites, Fractional CMOs are shaping how Charlotte businesses tell their stories, win new customers, and compete on a national stage.
At Digital Reference, we’ve developed a methodology rooted in deep research, industry evaluation, and direct impact. Every professional we highlight is chosen because they’ve not only led meaningful marketing strategies but also because they’ve left an imprint on how businesses in Charlotte thrive. Some run their own firms, others operate independently, and many bring decades of leadership experience from corporate marketing roles.
Meet Charlotte’s standout Fractional CMOs
🔶Jaime Lane
Founder, Link Lake Norman
Jaime Lane is more than a marketer—she’s a community builder and a strategist who understands how to blend marketing with local culture. As the founder of Link Lake Norman, Jaime has carved out a niche in helping regional brands amplify their presence while maintaining authenticity.
Her experience is rooted in building integrated marketing strategies that connect not only with customers but with entire communities. That makes her work particularly valuable in a city like Charlotte, where hyper-local connection is as important as national reach.
✨ Highlights from Jaime’s approach:
🚀 Expertise in community-centered branding that resonates with Charlotte-area businesses.
📊 Hands-on experience crafting campaigns that combine digital storytelling with in-person experiences.
🌟 Deep understanding of how local culture influences buying behavior—a strength that’s rare in purely digital-first strategies.
🔶Jenny Tacka
Co-Founder, Brands x Humans
Formerly known as Jenny Farias, Jenny Tacka is the co-founder of Brands x Humans, a consultancy built on the belief that great marketing starts with human connection. Her work centers on bridging the gap between brand strategy and authentic consumer engagement, something that resonates strongly with both startups and established businesses.
Jenny has made her mark in Charlotte by helping organizations that often feel stuck—those with a solid product or service but a brand identity that isn’t connecting. With her approach, she guides businesses through refining their voice, messaging, and digital presence so they can break through the noise.
✨ Highlights from Jenny’s approach:
🧩 Focus on aligning brand values with audience expectations, ensuring every message resonates.
📣 Skilled in helping brands articulate their unique story in a crowded digital space.
🤝 A repetation for being both strategic and collaborative, making her a favorite among growing Charlotte companies.
🔶Brennen Smith
Partner, Lazarus Design Team
As a partner at Lazarus Design Team, Brennen Smith brings a unique blend of strategic insight and creative execution to the table. His role as a marketing leader in one of Charlotte’s most respected agencies positions him as a go-to consultant for companies ready to scale their digital marketing.
Brennen’s expertise is especially impactful for businesses seeking measurable results. He focuses on performance marketing, website design, and data-driven strategies that drive growth, not just impressions. His work often helps clients shift from scattershot marketing to a focused, ROI-centered approach.
✨ Highlights from Brennen’s approach:
📈 Proven success in building digital ecosystems that attract and convert customers.
🎯 Focus on data-backed strategy that aligns creative with measurable outcomes.
💡 A track record of helping Charlotte businesses make the leap from local presence to regional and national visibility.
🔶Olajumoke Abiodun
Founder, Market Edge Advisory
Olajumoke Abiodun is a strategic powerhouse who blends marketing with business development and advisory services. As founder of Market Edge Advisory, she specializes in helping businesses refine not only their marketing but also their overall market positioning.
Her fractional CMO work is distinguished by her ability to navigate complex challenges, particularly for companies facing rapid change or expansion. By aligning marketing with business strategy, revenue growth, and customer retention, she helps organizations create long-term momentum rather than short-term wins.
✨ Highlights from Olajumoke’s approach:
🌍 Experience in global market strategy while staying rooted in Charlotte’s business ecosystem.
📊 Skilled at connecting marketing strategy with sales and operational priorities.
🧠 Known for her ability to turn complexity into clarity, guiding executives toward actionable plans.
🔶Barbara Rozgonyi
CEO, CoryWest Media
Barbara Rozgonyi is a nationally recognized marketing and PR leader who brings her expertise to Charlotte with a focus on communications strategy, branding, and digital leadership. As CEO of CoryWest Media, Barbara’s influence extends well beyond Charlotte, but her impact locally has been equally transformative.
She’s known for helping leaders and brands leverage storytelling and PR to command attention. With a background that spans corporate marketing, consulting, and education, Barbara provides the rare ability to see both the big picture and the tactical details that make marketing campaigns succeed.
✨ Highlights from Barbara’s approach:
🎤 Expertise in public relations and thought leadership positioning.
🌟 Skilled at elevating executive brands alongside company identities.
📚 Frequently sought-after as a speaker and educator, bringing national-level insights back to Charlotte businesses.
Closing Thoughts: Charlotte’s Marketing Future with Fractional CMOs
Charlotte’s economy is as diverse as its people, and in 2025, Fractional CMOs will continue to be the strategic edge businesses need. From Jaime Lane’s community-driven marketing leadership to, to Jenny Tacka’s human-first branding approach, Brennen Smith’s digital-first growth strategies, Olajumoke Abiodun’s data-backed advisory expertise, and Barbara Rozgonyi’s nationally recognized communications work, each of these professionals represents a unique slice of what makes Charlotte’s marketing scene thrive. Together, they are shaping the city’s future by blending creativity, analytics, and strategy in ways that help local businesses punch above their weight in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
At Digital Reference, our goal is to spotlight the consultants shaping cities like Charlotte, ensuring businesses can find the right marketing leadership at the right time. Whether you’re a startup finding your footing or a mid-market player scaling to new heights, these Charlotte-based CMOs bring the experience, creativity, and strategy to help you succeed.
👉 Want to explore more? Here are a few resources to keep the momentum going:
🏈 Customer Research Consulting Services in the USA
🗽 Communications Consulting Services in the USA
🎤 Public Relations Consulting Services in the USA
In short: Charlotte is on the rise, and so are these marketing leaders. And at Digital Reference, we’re here to make sure you don’t just find a CMO—you find the right one.
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