It wasn’t simply one other vacationer advert. It was a cultural assertion wrapped in a Spanglish tagline, a rhythmic pulse that echoed by means of TikTok, Instagram, and tv screens nationwide. Filadelfia — You Gotta Really feel It wasn’t only a marketing campaign; it was a motion. In 2019, Go to Philadelphia flipped the script on conventional tourism advertising, tapping into the facility of Latinx influencers to reintroduce the town in a means it had by no means been seen earlier than.
The outcome? A viral explosion of vibrant visuals, emotional storytelling, and a five-part video collection that turned on a regular basis vacationers into engaged contributors. However behind the scenes of this wildly profitable marketing campaign was one thing much more compelling—the strategic masterminds shaping the way forward for influencer advertising in Philadelphia.
Who’re the visionaries pulling the strings behind these groundbreaking campaigns? Meet the highest 10 CEOs of Philadelphia’s most influential marketing agencies—the architects of viral moments, model revolutions, and social media dominance.
High 10 CEOs of Influencer Advertising Firms in Philadelphia
Behind each viral marketing campaign and brand-defining second, there’s a visionary pulling the strings. Philadelphia is house to a few of the most progressive influencer advertising companies, led by CEOs who’re redefining digital affect, engagement, and storytelling. These leaders aren’t simply following traits—they’re creating them.
1. David Neff
David Neff has been shaping Philadelphia’s advertising panorama for many years, constructing Neff into an award-winning, full-service agency identified for its experience in branding, promoting, and PR. Since launching in 1987, he has championed an built-in strategy, combining public relations, social media, media shopping for, and internet growth to create campaigns that do extra than simply attain audiences—they resonate.
His agency has turn out to be a go-to accomplice for industries starting from actual property to hospitality, tourism, and B2B firms. Influencer marketing performs an important position in Neff’s technique, making certain manufacturers join authentically with digital audiences by means of fastidiously curated partnerships. Shoppers persistently see outcomes, with leaders like Kim McCully, CEO of twenty first Century Cyber Constitution Faculty, crediting his group with delivering year-over-year enrollment development.
Past driving consumer success, Neff’s influence is acknowledged industry-wide, with quite a few awards highlighting his agency’s excellence in advertising innovation. His lively presence on Instagram and X (previously Twitter) retains him engaged with rising traits, cementing his status as each a strategist and thought chief.
2. Benjamin B. Kaplan
Few advertising leaders perceive the mechanics of virality fairly like Benjamin B. Kaplan. On the helm of TOP Agency, he has turned his agency into a worldwide community spanning 20+ nations, specializing in the whole lot from PR and influencer advertising to polling, market analysis, and political advocacy.
His strategy to influencer advertising is deeply analytical, leveraging data-driven methodologies to determine creators who persistently produce viral content material. Reasonably than counting on conventional movie star endorsements, his company prioritizes high-engagement mid-tier influencers—those that foster real viewers connections and ship superior ROI.
Past main a global agency, Kaplan is a Harvard-trained economist, writer, and media character with over 5,000 TV and radio appearances, together with Oprah and Good Morning America. His insights on digital affect, PR, and branding have formed fashionable advertising methods, incomes him recognition as a high {industry} knowledgeable.
With a agency grasp on each media traits and technological developments, Kaplan continues to push the boundaries of influencer advertising, making certain that TOP Company’s purchasers aren’t simply a part of the dialog—they drive it.
3. Benjamin B. Kaplan
Featured twice on our checklist, Benjamin B. Kaplan can also be the founding father of PR Hacker. Since launching the company into the mainstream in 2013, he has pioneered an strategy that optimizes campaigns by means of real-time A/B testing and analytics, making certain manufacturers maximize their influence.
PR Hacker focuses on the facility of mid-tier influencers, recognizing that authenticity and engagement are key to efficient model partnerships. Regardless of using smaller creators (in comparison with celebrities) the company has labored with international names like Budweiser, Meow Combine, and Postmates, crafting influencer-driven campaigns that really feel natural and ship tangible outcomes.
Kaplan’s experience extends past advertising—his background as a Harvard-trained economist permits him to strategy influencer technique with precision, treating campaigns as iterative experiments designed for optimum attain. His deep {industry} information has led to options on main media shops, in addition to spokesperson roles for manufacturers like Dr. Pepper and Uncover Card.
With a presence in Philadelphia, PR Hacker blends nationwide media affect with localized experience, making it a powerhouse in influencer-driven storytelling. Whether or not engineering viral holiday campaigns by means of Nationwide At this time or refining PR methods together with his Check, Optimize, Carry out (TOP) methodology, Kaplan continues to form the way forward for digital affect.
4. Bill Gehrman
For practically 20 years, Invoice Gehrman has been redefining how locations market themselves, turning cities, museums, and cultural establishments into must-visit experiences. En Route Marketing, the company he based in 2007, makes a speciality of the sort of advertising, utilizing public relations and influencer partnerships that transcend promotion to inform a compelling story.
His expertise in tourism advertising runs deep. Earlier than launching En Route, he served as Director of Advertising for the Philadelphia Conference & Guests Bureau, the place he performed a pivotal position in shaping the town’s tourism enchantment. At this time, his company continues that mission, working with purchasers to draw guests, increase engagement, and foster long-term neighborhood influence.
Influencer collaborations play an important position in En Route’s success, making certain that advertising efforts really feel genuine and credible. Whether or not selling new museum reveals, launching city-wide tourism initiatives, or elevating cultural festivals, Gehrman’s group connects manufacturers with the fitting digital voices to maximise engagement.
However his ardour extends past advertising—he’s a devoted advocate for Philadelphia’s cultural and financial development. His dedication to vacation spot storytelling and influencer engagement ensures that each locals and guests expertise the town in a means that’s significant and unforgettable.
5. Kate Marlys
If there’s a pulse on Philadelphia’s cultural scene, Kate Marlys has her finger on it. Philly PR Girl, her child, has advanced from a particular occasions weblog right into a powerhouse for event planning, influencer collaborations, and social media strategy. With its signature mix of PR savvy and Philly grit, the agency ensures manufacturers aren’t simply seen—they’re talked about.
Understanding that influencer advertising thrives on authenticity, Marlys and her group craft campaigns that resonate with actual audiences, constructing community-driven engagement somewhat than fleeting visibility. Marlys has constructed extra than simply an company—she’s cultivated an unlimited community of media professionals, influencers, and {industry} leaders. This means to forge lasting relationships has earned her agency options in Philadelphia Journal, Philadelphia Type, Fox29, and NBC10, in addition to recognition with the Who’s Subsequent in Communications award by Billy Penn.
Past PR, she’s an innovator. In 2018, she launched Photograph Pop Philly, the town’s first interactive artwork pop-up, proving that social media, native artwork, and experiential advertising could be a game-changing mixture.
6. Patrick McKenna
For Patrick McKenna, influencer advertising is all about efficiency. Main DMi Partners, a full-service digital advertising company, he has constructed a agency the place data-driven methods meet high-impact influencer collaborations.
Since founding DMi in 2003, McKenna has taken a results-first strategy, crafting tailor-made influencer advertising options that prioritize engagement, conversions, and ROI. His company is a leader in affiliate marketing, working with main networks like LTK and ShopStyle to attach manufacturers with the fitting digital voices. Not like companies that focus solely on attain, DMi ensures influencer partnerships align with measurable enterprise goals.
McKenna believes relationships drive long-term success, whether or not with purchasers, associates, or his inside group. This dedication to firm tradition has positioned DMi Companions on AdAge’s Finest Locations to Work checklist for 2025, a mirrored image of his people-first management.
With 20 years of expertise shaping digital advertising in Philadelphia, McKenna continues to push the boundaries of influencer and online marketing, proving that robust partnerships gas sustainable enterprise development.
7. Marc Brownstein
Few advertising leaders mix legacy with innovation as seamlessly as Marc Brownstein. Underneath his management, Brownstein has advanced from a family-run company right into a nationally acknowledged powerhouse, providing model technique, digital media, PR, and influencer advertising.
Recognizing the facility of influencers in model storytelling, Brownstein launched Poster Little one in 2023, a devoted influencer relations division designed to maneuver past self-importance metrics. By prioritizing credibility, model alignment, and high-quality content material integration, this initiative redefines how manufacturers interact with digital creators.
Brownstein’s status extends properly past his company’s partitions. Named certainly one of Philadelphia Enterprise Journal’s Most Admired CEOs in 2024, he has solidified his standing as an {industry} chief dedicated to creativity and enterprise excellence. Underneath his steerage, the company was additionally a finalist in Adweek’s 2023 Small Company of the Yr Awards.
With greater than 30 years within the {industry}, Brownstein has mastered the artwork of name evolution. Whether or not by means of influencer campaigns, digital storytelling, or strategic PR, his company continues to prepared the ground in Philadelphia’s advertising scene.
8. John M. Bertino
Advertising choices could make or break a model, and John M. Bertino ensures firms select properly. By means of The Agency Guide (TAG), he connects companies with top-tier marketing agencies, together with leading influencer marketing firms, making certain manufacturers discover companions who ship actual influence.
TAG isn’t only a referral service—it’s a fastidiously curated community of over 200 vetted companies, designed to assist companies navigate an oversaturated advertising panorama. Whether or not firms want experience in influencer partnerships, digital PR, or content material advertising, Bertino’s group matches them with specialists who align with their objectives.
His background in search engine optimization, content material technique, and digital advertising, mixed with years of agency-side expertise, offers him a singular perspective on what makes a advertising agency really efficient. Earlier than launching TAG in 2014, he labored hands-on in these fields, gaining the perception wanted to assist manufacturers make investments properly.
Past company matchmaking, Bertino shares his experience on The Area of interest Advertising Podcast, providing steerage on influencer advertising, model partnerships, and area of interest advertising methods. His means to mix advertising technique with {industry} insights makes him a key determine in Philadelphia’s enterprise ecosystem.
9. Rachel Vandernick
Rachel Vandernick has made it her specialty to assist magnificence, way of life, and journey manufacturers scale by means of the facility of influencers and digital mediums. However as a substitute of chasing viral moments, her company, The Vander Group, focuses on integrating influencer-generated content into paid promoting methods. The outcomes communicate for themselves—campaigns that drive 30% over goal retail clicks, Amazon rankings that surge by 40% week-over-week, and measurable income development for international manufacturers.
With expertise spanning search engine optimization, paid media, and influencer activations, Vandernick has labored with top-tier manufacturers like Neutrogena, RoC Skincare, and Costco. Her data-backed methods make sure that influencer advertising isn’t only a branding train—it’s a revenue-generating machine.
She’s additionally an educator and speaker, serving as adjunct school at Delaware County Neighborhood School and main {industry} coaching classes. Executives at Nuuly (URBN) and Go to Philadelphia have praised her means to combine seamlessly with advertising groups, optimizing methods for optimum efficiency.
From TikTok ads to Pinterest methods, Vandernick is redefining how manufacturers use influencer advertising to drive measurable outcomes.
10. Rakia Reynolds
On the helm of Skai Blue Media, Rakia Reynolds leads a group of strategists, content material creators, and branding consultants who remodel visibility into affect. Extra than simply an company, SBM operates as a creative powerhouse, mixing public relations, influencer advertising, and experiential storytelling to craft campaigns that spark engagement and drive lasting influence.
With a presence in Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles, her agency has constructed a status for elevating {industry} leaders and international manufacturers alike. Shoppers like Airbnb, Nasdaq, Comcast/Xfinity, Dell, Serena Williams, and Jill Scott flip to SBM for its means to seamlessly combine genuine storytelling with strategic influencer partnerships. Reynolds ensures manufacturers aren’t simply a part of the dialog—they outline it.
Her background as a TV producer earlier than pivoting into branding offers her a pointy intuition for narrative and viewers engagement. Past company work, she’s a acknowledged thought leader, sharing insights with Forbes, Inc.com, HuffPost, and Quick Firm. Inc. Journal named her certainly one of 27 Enterprise Leaders Aiming to Change the World, whereas the New York Girls in Communications honored her with the 2024 Matrix Award.
Whether or not she’s shaping the technique behind Serena Williams’ WYN Magnificence model, commanding the stage at TEDx and SXSW, or serving to manufacturers navigate the intersection of commerce and tradition, Reynolds stays a pressure within the evolution of influencer advertising and artistic storytelling.
Shaping the Way forward for Influencer Advertising: Philadelphia’s High 10 CEOs Main the Manner
In a metropolis that thrives on innovation, the CEOs of Philadelphia’s high influencer advertising companies are redefining the panorama with cutting-edge methods and impactful campaigns. From crafting viral tourism experiences to engineering data-driven digital outreach, these leaders are proving that influencer advertising is extra than simply traits—it’s a robust enterprise engine.
Their companies focus on the whole lot from PR and branding to content material creation and digital development, providing companies that elevate manufacturers past visibility to actual engagement and income. As Philadelphia cements its place as a advertising powerhouse, these CEOs proceed to push the boundaries of affect, technique, and success.
In regards to the Writer
Author
Nadica Naceva, Head of Content material at Influencer Advertising Hub, is a seasoned author and reviewer with in-depth experience in digital and content material advertising. Leveraging her in depth expertise in guiding content material creation and strategic path, Nadica brings a important eye and analytical strategy to reviewing articles and academic items. Her dedication to accuracy, integrity, and innovation with every evaluation helps IMH develop as a number one supply in influencer advertising. Her insights are backed by first-party information, making certain content material meets the very best requirements of relevance.
