For years, I worked in places where the marketing didn't match the mission.
Nonprofit departments where boards cared more about follower counts than actual impact.
Agencies where the real story was that the strategy wasn't working — but we massaged the data anyway.
Organizations that wanted national press coverage without anything newsworthy to say.
And I kept seeing the same two problems:
Nobody knew what made them different
And everyone was overcomplicating everything.
So they chased metrics that looked good in reports but didn't actually move the needle. And they used complicated language that sounded smart but confused the very people they were trying to reach.
I help founders and nonprofit teams stop spinning and start building marketing that actually fits.
In 2023, I went out on my own. Not because I had a grand plan, but because I wanted to work with people who cared more about building something real than inflating their follower count.
I built a six-figure business entirely on referrals — no ads, no viral moments, just doing good work and treating people well.
That experience reinforced everything I believe about marketing.
I don't think you need more tactics. No more industry-jargon. I certainly don’t believe you’ll find the answer in more LinkedIn ‘likes’ or Instagram views.
But I can help you see your business clearly, figure out what matters, speak simply, and give you the confidence to stop second-guessing every move.
That's why I’m here.
What Makes This Different
I don't hand you a playbook and disappear. I stay in it with you.
Big brand thinking, small business reality. I've worked with Fortune 100 companies and scrappy nonprofits. That range means I can see your business from angles many strategists miss… and translate it into something you can actually use.
No cookie-cutter strategy. Every engagement starts with your business, your audience, and your actual goals. The frameworks I use are starting points, not finish lines.
You won't feel talked down to. You've built something real. I meet you there — not with marketing jargon, not with a lecture, but with a real conversation about what's actually going on and what to do about it.
Ben Gist, Farm Journal
“Mary is a quick study who can easily plug into projects with little support. She's a joy to work with and brings a fresh perspective to business needs.”
Ginger Smithwick, Cornett
