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Best Fractional CMOs in Kansas City
Kansas City Area Fractional CMOs
Kansas City isn’t just about barbecue, jazz, and the Chiefs—it’s also one of the fastest-growing hubs for marketing innovation in the Midwest. The city’s unique mix of startups, small businesses, and legacy brands means that companies here need smart, flexible leadership to keep pace with changing customer behaviors. That’s where Fractional CMOs step in.
At Digital Reference, we’ve spent countless hours researching and evaluating local leaders to build this curated list of professionals. Some are solo operators, others run agencies, and a few are deeply embedded in well-established firms. What they all share is a proven ability to help Kansas City organizations sharpen their marketing strategy, align sales with messaging, and scale smarter.
If you’re new to the concept, Fractional CMOs bring the expertise of an executive marketing leader without the cost or permanence of a full-time hire. For growing companies in Kansas City, that means access to top-tier strategy that’s budget-friendly and adaptable.
Now let’s meet the Kansas City consultants shaping the marketing future.
🌟 Meet Kansas City’s Fractional CMOs Making Things Happen
💠 Joel Crampton
Founder, CMO Alpha
Joel Crampton is a name synonymous with marketing clarity in Kansas City. As the founder of CMO Alpha, Joel helps B2B and B2C companies unlock growth by transforming disjointed marketing efforts into aligned, measurable strategies. With a background that combines business operations and creative leadership, Joel thrives at the intersection of data and storytelling.
What makes Joel stand out as a Fractional CMO is his ability to diagnose bottlenecks quickly and then implement systems that elevate both brand and revenue. His work focuses on sustainable, repeatable processes rather than one-off campaigns—a crucial difference for companies scaling in competitive markets.
✨ Highlights about Joel:
🔹 Deep experience in revenue operations, ensuring marketing and sales teams actually work together.
🔹 Known for building end-to-end customer journeys that improve retention as much as acquisition.
🔹 Works hands-on with leadership teams to create scalable growth playbooks tailored to their stage of business.
Joel’s blend of big-picture thinking and operational detail makes him a trusted advisor to growth-minded Kansas City companies.
💠 Anne Fundakowski
Founder, Funda Marketing
With a career that spans corporate strategy and entrepreneurial consulting, Anne Fundakowski has carved out a strong niche as a marketing leader who can simplify complexity. At her firm, Funda Marketing, she serves as a Fractional CMO for companies needing a thoughtful, structured approach to growth.
Anne’s background includes working with both global corporations and local startups, giving her a rare perspective on how to scale strategies up—or refine them down—for the right stage of business. She’s especially passionate about positioning and messaging, helping organizations find a voice that resonates authentically in crowded markets.
✨ Highlights about Anne:
🔹 Expertise in brand positioning, ensuring companies stand out with clear, differentiated messaging.
🔹 Strong focus on integrated marketing strategies that balance digital campaigns with traditional channels.
🔹 Advocates for story-driven marketing that connects emotionally with audiences, not just transactionally.
Anne brings not only strategic rigor but also a collaborative style that empowers in-house teams to execute with confidence.
💠 Mara Beaman
Founder, Optimize Digital
Mara Beaman is the driving force behind Optimize Digital, a Kansas City-based consultancy that provides marketing leadership on a fractional basis. Known for her adaptability, Mara partners with organizations to solve real marketing problems while keeping long-term growth in focus.
Mara is a Fractional CMO who thrives on helping companies make sense of their digital landscape. From SEO and content strategy to conversion optimization, she ensures that marketing not only looks good but also delivers tangible business outcomes.
✨ Highlights about Mara:
🔹 Skilled at turning complex data into clear, actionable insights for leadership teams.
🔹 Experienced in performance-driven digital marketing, with a strong track record in demand generation.
🔹 Collaborative leader who integrates seamlessly with in-house staff and outside partners.
Her approach reflects Kansas City’s entrepreneurial energy—practical, grounded, and results-oriented.
💠 Sarah Koci Scheilz
Co-Founder, The Connection Shop
Sarah Koci Scheilz brings a creative and relational lens to marketing leadership. As co-founder of The Connection Shop, she helps brands go beyond tactics to foster meaningful relationships with their audiences. Her work as a Fractional CMO emphasizes community engagement, storytelling, and values-driven marketing.
Sarah’s background includes years in content creation, nonprofit marketing, and organizational leadership, which gives her a unique perspective on how to connect with audiences on a human level.
✨ Highlights about Sarah:
🔹 Expert in values-based marketing that aligns brands with customer beliefs.
🔹 Strong advocate for content strategies that prioritize authenticity over gimmicks.
🔹 Skilled in community-focused campaigns that build trust and loyalty.
In Kansas City, Sarah stands out as someone who understands that marketing is more than metrics—it’s about connection.
💠 K.C. Lull O’Rourke
Founder, KCLO Communications
K.C. Lull O’Rourke leads KCLO Communications, a consultancy focused on helping organizations communicate with clarity and impact. With a background in corporate communications and brand leadership, she brings a sharp, strategic approach to her role as a Fractional CMO.
K.C. has partnered with businesses of all sizes, from startups to established enterprises, always tailoring her approach to meet specific goals. Her emphasis is on integrated communications, making sure every touchpoint—from digital ads to internal messaging—feels cohesive and consistent.
✨ Highlights about K.C.:
🔹 Strong expertise in corporate communications and public relations.
🔹 Skilled at aligning brand strategy with operational objectives.
🔹 Known for coaching executive teams on how to communicate more effectively with stakeholders.
Her work reflects Kansas City’s balance of tradition and innovation: grounded in strong communication principles while open to new channels and tools.
Wrapping It Up: Kansas City’s Fractional CMO Landscape
Kansas City’s marketing ecosystem is vibrant, diverse, and on the rise. Leaders like Joel Crampton, Anne Fundakowski, Mara Beaman, Sarah Koci Scheilz, and K.C. Lull O’Rourke are at the forefront of helping businesses navigate growth with clarity and confidence. Whether it’s through digital innovation, brand storytelling, or integrated communications, each of these Fractional CMOs brings a distinct approach to solving business challenges.
At Digital Reference, our mission is to make marketing leadership more accessible. We research deeply, vet extensively, and surface professionals who are shaping the future of their cities. That way, businesses can find the right fit for their unique needs.
👉 To keep learning about the evolution of marketing leadership, check out:
- Local Listings of Fractional Chief Marketing Officers
- Communications Consulting Services in the USA
- Content Marketing Consulting Services in the USA
- Branding Consulting Services in the USA
From barbecue joints looking to expand nationally to tech startups seeking their first marketing leader, Kansas City businesses have access to some of the best marketing minds in the country. And at Digital Reference, we’re here to make sure you know exactly where to find them.
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