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Best Fractional CMOs in Houston
Houston Interim & Fractional Chief Marketing Officers
Houston is a city that thrives on growth. From its globally recognized energy sector to its surging healthcare, tech, and space industries, Houston has always been a place where ambitious businesses find a way to scale. In recent years, Fractional CMO consultants have become a powerful force behind that growth. These leaders are stepping into companies that might not yet need—or can’t yet afford—a full-time CMO, but desperately need executive-level marketing expertise to push their vision forward.
In Houston, the role of the Fractional CMO has taken on an even greater significance. Here, business leaders are often balancing traditional industries with new waves of innovation, and that unique mix demands flexible, data-driven, and visionary marketing leadership. That’s where consultants like the ones we’ve highlighted come in: they aren’t just offering strategy, they’re shaping how Houston brands show up in fiercely competitive markets.
At Digital Reference, our goal is to spotlight the people transforming marketing leadership across the globe. That means providing deep research, hands-on evaluation, and a curated list of consultants who stand out not just for their résumés, but for their impact. This list of Houston-area Fractional CMOs includes solo operators, freelancers, and leaders of firms who’ve all made measurable contributions to the companies they serve.
Now, let’s dive into the Houston Fractional CMO consultants to watch for in 2025.
🌟 Meet Houston’s Fractional CMOs Making things Happen
💠 Paul Fleming
Fractional CMO at Fractical
Paul Fleming is one of Houston’s most dynamic Fractional CMOs, known for his strong belief in delegation as a driver of growth. Through his firm, Fractical CMO, he works with entrepreneurs and small businesses to build lean, effective marketing systems that scale without overwhelming leadership teams.
Paul’s philosophy is simple but powerful: founders shouldn’t get bogged down in day-to-day marketing execution when their focus should be on growth and vision. Instead, he develops frameworks that enable businesses to prioritize what works, automate what can be automated, and outsource what shouldn’t be handled in-house.
What makes Paul stand out?
🔹 Efficiency-driven strategy: Paul has developed repeatable systems that help smaller companies get enterprise-level marketing results without enterprise-level budgets.
🔹 Focus on delegation and systems: His consultancy doesn’t just market—it teaches leaders how to free themselves from the marketing hamster wheel.
🔹 Houston-first perspective: He’s worked with a wide range of Houston-area businesses, especially small-to-midsized firms that need to compete against larger players without overspending.
By helping businesses get out of their own way, Paul’s style resonates with Houston’s scrappy, growth-oriented ecosystem.
💠 Richard Byrd
Fractional CMO & President at BlueByrd
Richard Byrd is the co-founder of BlueByrd Strategic Sales & Marketing Consulting, and his reputation is rooted in bridging the gap between sales and marketing. In fact, that’s one of the major reasons Richard stands out as a Houston Fractional CMO—he doesn’t silo marketing from revenue generation, he ties it directly into business growth.
With a background in corporate marketing leadership, Richard’s consulting approach combines a boardroom-level perspective with roll-up-your-sleeves execution. He’s especially well-regarded in B2B industries, where alignment between sales and marketing is often the missing ingredient for growth.
Richard’s specialties include:
🔹 Sales and marketing integration: Richard has built a reputation for uniting teams that often feel disconnected.
🔹 Fractional leadership for scale-ups: He works closely with growth-stage companies that need seasoned leadership without the full-time cost.
🔹 Proven Houston case studies: BlueByrd has collaborated with several high-profile local businesses in industries like energy, engineering, and industrial services.
Richard’s grounded, no-fluff approach makes him a trusted advisor in Houston’s business community, especially for B2B firms that need marketing to drive measurable outcomes.
💠 Jennifer Petree
Fractional CMO and Managing Partner at Petree Partners LLC
Jennifer Petree is the founder of Petree Partners, and her work as a Fractional CMO has been pivotal for Houston companies navigating competitive and highly regulated industries. With a background spanning multiple sectors, Jennifer is known for her strategic clarity—helping executives cut through the noise and focus on what will actually move the needle.
Jennifer brings decades of marketing leadership into her consulting practice, and she’s uniquely skilled at building marketing strategies that feel both creative and highly data-driven. Whether it’s repositioning a brand, orchestrating multi-channel campaigns, or strengthening a go-to-market approach, her fingerprint on Houston businesses is hard to miss.
Some highlights of Jennifer’s impact include:
🔹 Trusted advisor to executives: Jennifer often works directly with C-suites, offering not just marketing strategy but guidance on overall business positioning.
🔹 Deep Houston roots: Petree Partners has supported Houston’s diverse business ecosystem, from startups to established enterprises.
🔹 Collaborative leadership: She’s known for rallying internal teams and creating alignment between marketing and broader business objectives.
Jennifer’s balance of creativity and executive-level thinking makes her one of Houston’s most respected Fractional CMO voices.
💠 Lillian Pierson
Fractional CMO & Growth Advisor at Data-Mania, LLC
When it comes to data-driven marketing leadership, few can match the expertise of Lillian Pierson. Based in Houston, she brings together her experience in data science, AI, and marketing strategy to help startups and scale-ups thrive in complex, competitive markets.
Lillian is the founder of Data-Mania, where she operates at the intersection of analytics and marketing. Her unique approach to the Fractional CMO role is rooted in turning insights into strategy—helping clients make smarter, faster, and more impactful marketing decisions.
What sets Lillian apart?
🔹 Strong technical background: As a data scientist, she doesn’t just look at marketing metrics—she helps businesses build predictive models to anticipate market trends.
🔹 Focus on startups: Lillian is especially passionate about helping early-stage companies position themselves for long-term growth.
🔹 Houston innovation alignment: Her work pairs perfectly with Houston’s emerging innovation ecosystem, particularly in tech and healthcare.
Lillian represents a new wave of analytical Fractional CMOs, making her an invaluable resource for businesses that want to compete smarter in 2025.
💠 Brianne Wheeler
Founder and CEO of Levitate Marketing
Brianne Wheeler is the founder of Levitate Marketing, and she’s built her reputation as a Fractional CMO who excels in storytelling, branding, and demand generation. Brianne’s career has spanned multiple industries, but she has carved out a strong presence in Houston as a go-to partner for companies that want to build a memorable and differentiated voice.
Her approach is rooted in clarity and creativity. By developing brand narratives that resonate with target markets, Brianne helps companies not just capture attention but sustain long-term engagement.
Highlights of Brianne’s work include:
🔹 Story-driven marketing: She has a unique talent for weaving brand identity into campaigns that build trust and loyalty.
🔹 Fractional executive leadership: Through Levitate, she provides the kind of CMO-level oversight that helps mid-market firms compete with larger players.
🔹 Demand generation expertise: Her strategies consistently drive measurable growth, turning marketing into a revenue engine.
Brianne’s blend of creativity and strategic acumen makes her a standout among Houston’s Fractional CMOs in 2025.
Wrapping It Up: Why Houston’s Fractional CMOs Matter
Houston is no stranger to innovation. It’s a city that thrives at the crossroads of legacy industries and emerging markets, and that mix makes it the perfect environment for Fractional CMOs to thrive. The consultants we’ve highlighted—Paul Fleming, Richard Byrd, Jennifer Petree, Lillian Pierson, and Brianne Wheeler—each bring unique expertise, philosophies, and proven results to Houston businesses.
Houston’s marketing scene in 2025 will be shaped by these visionary Fractional CMOs, and we’re proud to spotlight their work. Whether you’re a startup looking for your first marketing leader, or an established enterprise seeking fresh energy, these consultants represent the best of what Houston has to offer.
At Digital Reference, our mission is to give business leaders access to curated knowledge that saves them time and connects them with the right expertise. We do the research, the vetting, and the evaluation, so you can make decisions with confidence.
👉 For more insights on evolving marketing leadership, don’t miss our guides on
💹 Market Research Consultants in Houston to Watch,
🛒 Top Outsourced & Fractional CMO Agencies in the USA
🏪 Branding Consulting Services in the USA.
Together, these resources provide a well-rounded perspective on how businesses can leverage specialized marketing expertise to drive growth and stay competitive in 2025.
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