Marketing Consultants in Chicago to Watch For in 2025

Chicago Marketing Service Providers to Know in 2025

Chicago is known for many things—deep-dish pizza, world-class architecture, and, increasingly, a bustling hub for strategic marketing innovation. As we step into 2025, Digital Reference is proud to introduce our curated list of top marketing consultants shaping brands and businesses across the Windy City.

From freelancers and solo practitioners to firm-based specialists, these professionals are redefining marketing strategy across sectors, with unique relevance for organizations in education, media, tech, and more. Whether you're a school looking to strengthen community engagement or a nonprofit seeking strategic rebranding, this list is tailored for you.

Digital Reference Selection Methodology

At Digital Reference, we believe in clarity, trust, and execution. Each professional on this list was selected through a rigorous, transparent process that included:

• Location Verification: All consultants are located in the U.S. and actively serve the Chicago market.
• Professional Experience: We assessed years in service, notable clients, and industry reach.
• Client Impact: We prioritized consultants with measurable outcomes and tangible brand transformations.
• Thought Leadership: Many of our picks publish, teach, or speak on marketing topics.
• Alignment with Digital Reference Values: We emphasize marketing professionals who offer clarity, demonstrate execution, and build trust.

Featured Marketing Consultants in Chicago

Catie Starr

Founder, Starr Marketing
LinkedIn | Website

Catie Starr helps organizations tell authentic stories that connect. With a background in journalism and public relations, she brings a narrative-driven lens to branding, social media, and content strategy. Through Starr Marketing, she provides strategies, actionable plans, and executive-level marketing leadership to help businesses unlock profitable revenue growth.

Signature Strengths
🎤 Messaging + Brand Voice
🧭 Strategic Communications
📱 Social Media Planning
📝 Content Writing + Editing

Rob Manker

Founder, 2100 Media
LinkedIn | Website

Full-stack marketing and communications strategist driving growth in the healthcare, CPG, media, and higher education sectors. Rob Manker leads 2100 Media, where he offers content marketing, B2B marketing, growth strategy, and more. Rob's blend of newsroom savvy and digital insight positions him uniquely to guide brands in storytelling with integrity and precision.

Signature Strengths
📰 Email Marketing
🔍 Communications Strategy
🎯 Brand Positioning
✒️ Compelling Brand Storytelling

Tracy Parrott

Marketing & Strategy Consultant
LinkedIn

Tracy brings over a decade of experience in integrated marketing, with a particular focus on product marketing and go-to-market planning. She has worked with both startups and Fortune 500 brands to build campaigns that convert and scale.

Signature Strengths
🚀 Product Marketing Strategy
📈 Campaign Development
🤝 Cross-functional Collaboration
🧠 Strategic Insights & Analysis
💡 Customer Lifecycle Marketing

Perry Marshall

Business & Marketing Strategist

LinkedIn | Website

A renowned author and consultant, Perry Marshall has clients in 300 industries. One of his strengths is his capacity to integrate sales, technology, art, and psychology. He advises businesses globally on Google Ads, AI marketing, and revenue growth systems. His work spans education, entrepreneurship, and tech.

Signature Strengths
📊 Paid Advertising (Google Ads, Facebook)
🧮 Published Scientist
📘 Author of Influential Marketing Books
🌍 Global Strategy Advisor
🧠 Marketing Automation

Dana Cox

Business Growth & Marketing Consultant
LinkedIn

Dana Cox supports early-stage and scaling businesses as a marketing consultant. With a sharp understanding of brand identity and campaign execution, she helps teams build systems and structures to support long-term marketing growth.

Signature Strengths
📐 Marketing Operations
🎯 Campaign Planning & Execution
📢 Internal Team Development
⚙️ Overcoming budget constraints

Tim Skau

Creative Director & Digital Designer
LinkedIn | Portfolio

Tim brings a hybrid skillset to marketing with strengths in UX design, branding, and visual storytelling. His portfolio includes interactive campaigns and websites that blend aesthetics with conversion strategy.

Signature Strengths
🎨 Visual Design & UX
🌐 Web + Digital Storytelling
📈 Creative Campaign Strategy
🎥 Multimedia Marketing

Sophia Merlino

Founder, Toile Collective
LinkedIn | Website

Sophia is a strategist and creative director helping brands amplify their missions. She combines community-based storytelling with experiential marketing tactics to build resonance with audiences. Sophia brings brands to life with data-driven campaigns. 

Signature Strengths
🌟 360 Marketing Strategy
🎤 Influencer + Ambassador Strategy
📸 Visual Content Campaigns
👥 Audience Engagement

Steven Hausheer

Digital Marketing Consultant
LinkedIn | Website

Steven Hausheer is a music business consultant and marketing professional with deep roots in the music industry. During his 40 years in the music business, Steven has been an artist manager, a vice president of marketing and promotion, a producer, and a singer-songwriting musician -- living and breathing music with a passion.

Signature Strengths
📊 Performance Marketing
💬 Brand & Business Consulting
⚡ Entertainment Marketing

Jack C. Murphy

Marketing Consultant
LinkedIn | Website

Jack brings storytelling, sales strategy, and brand clarity into focus for clients looking to sharpen their digital identity. His marketing philosophy blends practical tactics with a high-touch client experience.

Signature Strengths
📘 Brand Clarity + Positioning
🔗 AI Strategist
💡 Executive Branding
🧰 Tools & Platforms Integration
🏢 Small Business and Consultant Support

Ava Ohmen

Freelance Marketing Specialist
LinkedIn | Website

Ava supports small businesses and nonprofits with digital strategy, visual branding, and storytelling. She has a particular passion for cause-based work and brings a warm, approachable style to every engagement.

Signature Strengths
🖍 Visual Identity Development
🗣 Storytelling for Nonprofits
📲 Social Media Management
🎨 Canva & Web Design

Why Chicago’s Marketing Scene Needs This Talent

From revitalizing legacy brands to launching campaigns that resonate with diverse, urban audiences, Chicago’s marketing ecosystem demands a rare blend of creativity, strategy, and data fluency. The professionals on this list are helping local businesses, startups, and education organizations punch above their weight in a city known for grit, growth, and great storytelling.

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A Note from Digital Reference 

At Digital Reference, we exist to make it easier to identify the professionals driving change behind the scenes. We know how hard it is to find someone who is both creative and strategic, someone who understands the mission and moves with clarity. That’s why we do the vetting, the connecting, and the curating—so you don’t have to.

Learn more about our mission:

👉About Digital Reference

👉Marketing Professionals: What Are They and What Do They Do?

👉Marketing Consultants in the USA to Watch For 

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