Meet Us
How Can We Help Businesses Find Their XFactor Impact?
That’s the question posed by Julia Fitzgerald and Mary Ellen Dugan, two research-savvy marketing executives. A dynamic duo who have been building B2B and B2C brands and moving products & solutions for decades. With their combined years of hard-won insights working with iconic brands across industries, they have built careers spotting trends and identifying X Factors to grow businesses.
Mary Ellen earned her MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and Julia received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. But these two Buckeyes started their journey from the same campus at The Ohio State University Business School. Aligned with their Big 10 business degrees and midwestern sense of practicality and humor, these two traded insights and wisdom throughout their career paths. With their complementary expertise, Julia and Mary Ellen are the perfect partners to lay out actionable strategies for tapping into Gen X's unparalleled influence as consumers, culture-shapers, and revenue makers.
B2B AND B2C BRAND EXPERIENCES
Meet Mary Ellen
Mary Ellen Dugan has been rocking the B2B CMO and marketing leader role for two decades. After mastering research-backed branding as a practice lead at WPP’s Landor Group, she became the marketing expert in digital informed growth platforms. On the cutting edge of technology marketing, Mary Ellen orchestrated game-changing initiatives for brands like Dell, Indeed, WP Engine, and Envestnet, driving millions in revenue through authentic customer connections and brand experience. She has spearheaded two generational research studies and was the Executive Producer of documentary “makeSHIFT” that examines the ever-changing digital technology trends.
Meet Julia
Julia Fitzgerald has been a powerhouse CMO and brand strategist for over 20 years, leading turnarounds and fostering brand affinity everywhere from beloved toy companies to Fortune 100 retailers. Named one of Brand Innovators Most Influential CMOs, she cut her teeth at Hallmark Cards before leading well-known brands like Vtech, Kmart, Sylvan Learning, Thermos, American Lung Association and Build A Bear to new heights via her uncanny ability to connect with consumers. She is also the author of “Midsize” an Amazon best-selling book on strategies for successful marketing in mid-market companies.