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Fractional CMOs in Ann Arbor Making Things Happen in 2025
Ann Arbor Interim Chief Marketing Officers to Know
Ann Arbor has long been a hub for ideas, research, and innovation—home to one of the world’s most respected universities, a rising number of startups, and a culture that blends Midwestern values with world-class creativity. As local businesses evolve to meet the demands of today’s markets, many are turning to Fractional Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) to help them define, refine, and scale their brand presence.
At Digital Reference, we’re committed to highlighting the professionals who bring structure and momentum to organizations—often behind the scenes. Fractional CMOs are increasingly the secret sauce behind product launches, go-to-market strategy, brand overhauls, and revenue acceleration. This blog introduces some of the most impactful independent marketing executives operating in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Whether you're a startup in search of early traction or a mission-driven org looking to expand your reach, these fractional leaders are the ones helping Ann Arbor’s innovation economy thrive.
Our Methodology - Ann Arbor Fractional CMO Services
To compile this curated list of Fractional CMOs in Ann Arbor, we evaluated professionals using the following criteria:
- Location: Based in Ann Arbor or actively working with organizations across Southeast Michigan
- Role Type: Provide fractional, interim, or part-time CMO services
- Visibility: Maintain a professional digital footprint (website or LinkedIn profile)
- Experience: Demonstrated track record of marketing leadership across industries
- Alignment: Embody the values of Digital Reference—radical transparency, professional authenticity, and impact-driven work
These marketing executives span a range of specializations—from B2B growth strategy to healthcare brand positioning. Many work independently; others lead their own consultancies.
Meet the Fractional CMOs Making Things Happen in Ann Arbor
Philippe Vella
https://www.linkedin.com/in/philmvella-the-part-time-cmo/
Known as "The Part-Time CMO," Philippe Vela specializes in providing high-impact marketing leadership to small and mid-sized companies across the Midwest. With a structured, analytical approach, he helps organizations clarify their value proposition and turn marketing into a growth engine.
Why He Stands Out:
- Expertise in positioning, messaging, and digital strategy
- Works well with tech startups and complex B2B offerings
- Offers part-time CMO services that are both strategic and hands-on
Philippe is a great fit for founders who want measurable marketing impact without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Dave Haviland
https://www.phimation.com/about-the-founder
As the founder of Phimation Strategy Group, Dave Haviland brings a strategic executive lens to marketing, positioning, and business growth. His firm provides fractional leadership across multiple functions, including the CMO role, often serving second-stage growth companies ready for their next evolution.
Why He Stands Out:
- Works with founder-led and family businesses undergoing transformation
- Helps organizations build marketing teams and strategy from the ground up
- Merges brand and growth strategy with organizational development
Dave is ideal for companies looking to professionalize their marketing infrastructure and align it with broader business goals.
Cory Dunham
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-dunham/
Cory Dunham brings years of experience leading cross-functional marketing and sales teams. As a fractional CMO, he focuses on delivering marketing systems, campaign strategies, and operational clarity to growing companies.
Why He Stands Out:
- Deep experience in B2B lead generation and sales alignment
- Brings a systems-driven mindset to marketing team structure and performance
- Effective in scaling early-growth companies and startup marketing ops
Cory is a builder—ideal for companies with a good product, some traction, and a need for structured marketing leadership.
Michele Szczypka
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-szczypka/
With decades of experience in brand strategy, healthcare marketing, and executive communications, Michele Szczypka brings a seasoned, strategic perspective to fractional CMO engagements. She partners with purpose-driven organizations to create campaigns that resonate and results that scale.
Why She Stands Out:
- Specialized in healthcare, social impact, and nonprofit marketing
- Skilled in brand storytelling, earned media, and cross-platform campaigns
- Known for balancing mission-driven messaging with strategic clarity
Michele is a powerful partner for organizations that need experienced, values-aligned marketing leadership.
Todd Robinson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd23robinson/
Todd Robinson offers fractional CMO services with a focus on digital demand generation, performance marketing, and brand visibility. He has helped startups and scale-ups build pipelines, launch campaigns, and define scalable marketing strategies.
Why He Stands Out:
- Strong background in digital acquisition, SEM, and customer analytics
- Excellent at designing repeatable, scalable growth funnels
- Combines technical fluency with creative insight
Todd is an ideal partner for companies seeking to unlock growth through experimentation, data, and strong brand identity.
Why Ann Arbor is a Hub for Fractional Marketing Talent
Ann Arbor’s proximity to the University of Michigan, growing tech ecosystem, and vibrant nonprofit scene creates a unique environment where startups, scale-ups, and legacy orgs converge. These organizations often need marketing leadership, but not always on a full-time basis.
That’s where fractional CMOs offer the perfect balance:
- Strategic insight, without long-term commitment
- Hands-on execution, without heavy internal hiring
- Scalable leadership, ready when you are
It’s no surprise that Ann Arbor has become a thriving base for independent and fractional marketing professionals.
The Digital Reference POV
At Digital Reference, we’re building a new layer of professional infrastructure—one that’s structured, transparent, and built for the way people work today.
For fractional CMOs, we offer tools to:
- Capture verified references from clients and collaborators
- Showcase marketing outcomes across roles and projects
- Build a reputation that’s portable, transparent, and trusted
We believe that careers should be documented, discoverable, and dignified. And we’re proud to support the marketers doing the real work of growth and brand-building.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s launching a product, redefining a brand, or installing a marketing ops engine, fractional CMOs are driving growth in Ann Arbor’s evolving business scene. These professionals bring leadership without overhead, expertise without ego, and structure without stifling creativity.
Looking for More Michigan Content? Checkout:
Explore Our Global & National Fractional CMO Services Directories
Start here if you're looking for a broad list of vetted agencies and platforms offering fractional CMO services across regions:
Fractional CMO Services in the USA
The U.S. has one of the most developed markets for fractional CMOs, particularly in tech, SaaS, and DTC. With access to world-class operators who’ve led growth at scale, hiring from the U.S. means deep specialization and a high standard for strategic leadership—even on a part-time basis.
Fractional CMO Services in the United Kingdom
UK-based CMOs bring a global sensibility with strong roots in brand-building, storytelling, and demand gen. Whether you're scaling in EMEA or need a transatlantic marketing partner, hiring from the UK often means balancing creativity with commercial acumen.
Fractional CMO Services in Canada
Canada’s marketing consultants offer a unique blend of U.S.-adjacent market knowledge and European-influenced brand thinking. CMOs from Canada are often adept at cross-border strategy, digital-first execution, and cost-effective scaling for both startups and nonprofits.
Fractional CMO Services in Australia
Australia is home to a rapidly growing fractional talent ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on lean growth, ecommerce, and APAC expansion strategy. CMOs here often bring a scrappy, startup-savvy approach—ideal for early-stage or global-minded teams.
Fractional CMO Services in the United Arab Emirates
Hiring a fractional CMO from the UAE gives you access to multilingual, multi-market strategists who understand high-growth sectors like fintech, hospitality, and real estate. With experience operating across MENA and beyond, UAE-based leaders are often skilled in both regional
Fractional CMO Services in India
nuance and global brand building.
India’s fractional CMOs are known for blending strategic marketing with operational efficiency. Many bring deep experience in tech, SaaS, and outsourcing models—and are especially skilled at scaling customer acquisition and digital strategy on tight budgets.
These lists feature curated selections of leading firms and consultants offering fractional and part-time CMO services, often categorized by industry focus, engagement style, and executive depth.
Check Out Our Local Fractional, Part-Time, and Virtual CMO Talent by City
We’ve curated regional directories so you can find fractional CMOs near you—whether you want someone who understands your local market or you’re building an in-person team.
Austin Fractional CMO Services
Austin’s creative-meets-tech energy fuels a vibrant pool of fractional CMOs who thrive in fast-moving environments. Many bring experience across SaaS, lifestyle brands, and B2B marketplaces—perfect for startups with a story to tell and scale.
Boston Fractional CMO Services
Boston fractional CMOs often bring deep experience in healthtech, edtech, and B2B enterprise marketing. With a strong talent pipeline from local universities and innovation districts, these leaders pair analytical strength with strategic polish.
Chicago Fractional CMO Services
Chicago’s CMOs are pros at navigating between scrappy and structured. You’ll find leaders here who know how to scale growth functions for midmarket companies and bring calm to complex go-to-market systems.
Dallas Fractional CMO Services
With a strong presence in healthcare, real estate, and professional services, Dallas-based CMOs often bring industry-specific insights and relationship-first marketing chops—plus the ability to scale regionally and nationally.
Detroit Fractional CMO Services
Detroit is more than automotive—its CMOs are experts in industrial storytelling, brand turnarounds, and community-driven campaigns. Expect leaders who can balance legacy with innovation in highly competitive markets.
Los Angeles Fractional CMO Services
LA-based CMOs bring a strong blend of entertainment, DTC, and brand-forward experience. Whether you’re building a lifestyle brand or scaling a content-first product, these marketers know how to make it resonate—and convert.
New York City Fractional CMO Services
New York’s marketing leaders are built for speed, scale, and big vision. Hiring a fractional CMO here means access to world-class brand architects, revenue ops pros, and category definers who move quickly and deliver results.
Phoenix Fractional CMO Services
Phoenix is emerging as a hub for cost-efficient growth, and its CMOs are leading the charge. You’ll find leaders with expertise in real estate, healthcare, and service-based businesses—great for companies expanding in the Southwest.
San Diego Fractional CMO Services
San Diego fractional CMOs often come with deep domain knowledge in biotech, healthtech, and mission-driven startups. Their approach combines high-level marketing strategy with a clear understanding of regulatory and clinical nuances.
San Francisco Fractional CMO Services
In SF, CMOs are operators as much as storytellers. You’ll find talent with experience in VC-backed startups, PLG models, and growth experimentation—ideal for companies scaling in competitive or saturated markets.
Tampa Fractional CMO Services
Tampa is quickly becoming a go-to market for tech and remote-first startups. CMOs here bring the ability to build growth foundations from the ground up, often for businesses transitioning out of the founder-led phase.
Washington, D.C. Fractional CMO Services
DC’s fractional CMOs stand out for their strategic messaging, policy awareness, and nonprofit expertise. They’re trusted by think tanks, advocacy orgs, and mission-led startups that need to tell complex stories with clarity and credibility.
The individuals featured hererepresent the very best of what Ann Arbor’s marketing leadership has to offer.
Explore their work. Reach out. And when you’re ready to share your story or find your next marketing leader—start with Digital Reference.
– The Digital Reference Team
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