Marissa Fortson

About

Brand marketing expert specializing in consumer startups and emerging brands, with experience in strategic partnerships, brand identity, social media, and influencer strategies. Proven track record of leading marketing teams and launching successful campaigns with major brands.

Experience

• Head of Marketing (Consumer) · AvantStay2021-01-01 – Present
• Marketing Consultant/Advisor · marsfortson.com2017-01-01 – Present

  • Interim brand marketing lead for startups and emerging brands • Provide consulting expertise and execution on brand identity and messaging, content and social media, PR, partnerships, influencer strategy, activations, and digital • Clients included: Joymode, Harper Wilde, CryptoKitties, Beekeeper’s Naturals, Stix, Banner Health, NomNomNow, Renew, BringFido, Working Not Working • Served as Interim VP of Marketing for Stix (getstix.com), a women's DTC health brand

• Glynn 100 Member and Partner · Glynn 1002022-05-01 – Present
• Head of U.S. Marketing · CASETiFY2019-01-01 – 2021-01-01

  • Led all U.S. marketing efforts across PR, social, influencer, and other brand marketing, managing an in-house marketing team of 7 alongside third-party agencies & vendors • Developed strategic brand voice and owned global brand messaging and copy • Successfully negotiated and launched major partnerships with Netflix (Stranger Things), NBA, Malala Fund, Buzzfeed, Alice & Olivia, and more • Grew and led U.S. operations for a 10-person marketing & creative team

• Director of Marketing & Communications · Sandwich Video2016-01-01 – 2017-01-01

  • Brand strategy: refined and promoted Sandwich Video's brand as a video agency making TV and web commercials for major tech and consumer clients, including HP, Airbnb, Lyft, Uber, TrueCar, Starbucks, and Salesforce • Digital, social media, and comms strategy: Owned and managed all social and digital channels for Sandwich Video, and led earned media efforts for trade and tech PR • Provided strategic advisory services, including brand messaging/positioning, copywriting, social media strategy, and overall launch strategy for agency clients

• Director of Marketing · DogVacay2014-01-01 – 2016-01-01

  • Partnerships: identified and developed strategic partnerships with campaigns across content, SEO, social, PR, email, and offline, with partners such as: hotels.com, HomeAway, Animal Planet, and West Elm • Product marketing: ran consumer insights research and drove adoption of new products for both sides of the marketplace in collaboration with product, engineering, ops, and customer care teams • PR/Comms: oversaw PR agency and internal team to create and execute an earned media strategy • Supply acquisition: led new supply acquisition strategy to grow DogVacay host community through paid performance channels and owned/earned media • Initiated and developed other integrated marketing efforts like local marketing, a referral program, and social/content campaigns

• Co-Founder/CEO · Co-Ed Supply2012-01-01 – 2014-01-01
• Global Development, Parks & Resorts · The Walt Disney Company2010-01-01 – 2012-01-01
• Investment Banking Analyst (Tech, Media, & Telecom) · Goldman Sachs2008-01-01 – 2009-01-01

Education

• University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of BusinessB.S., Business Administration
• The Wharton SchoolMBA (on leave), Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

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