Within the vibrant streets of Phoenix, the 2021 Rue 21 Delight marketing campaign grew to become a textbook instance of how influencer-driven advertising can do extra than simply promote—it will probably spark real connections and amplify a model’s voice on social points. Led by The Lilac Agency, this marketing campaign tapped into the simple energy of social media influencers to showcase Rue 21’s unique Delight assortment throughout Delight month.
By enlisting creators on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, they elevated Rue 21’s message of inclusivity and variety, turning a vogue assortment right into a celebration of delight.
What made this marketing campaign stand out wasn’t simply the flashy visuals or the model publicity—it was the genuine, heart-felt tales influencers shared via TikTok movies, carousel posts, and Instagram Tales. These creators introduced their private Delight journeys to life, resonating deeply with the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. The outcome? An enormous spike in impressions and engagement that not solely met however exceeded expectations. It’s clear that influencer marketing, when achieved proper, can transcend past model consciousness and spark actual social impression.
And talking of Phoenix, as influencer advertising continues to reshape the panorama, let’s dive into the highest CEOs of the city’s best agencies leading the cost. These movers and shakers are the masterminds behind campaigns like Rue 21’s, shaping the way forward for how manufacturers join with numerous, engaged audiences.
Prime 9 CEOs of Influencer Advertising and marketing Firms in Phoenix
The masterminds behind Phoenix’s prime influencer advertising companies aren’t simply operating companies—they’re redefining how manufacturers join with audiences. These CEOs have constructed powerhouse firms that craft viral campaigns, drive engagement, and switch influencers into model ambassadors.
1. Brianna Doe
Brianna Doe is rewriting the principles of influencer advertising—actually. The founding father of Verbatim runs a boutique agency that makes a speciality of influencer partnerships, content strategy, and development advertising, serving to manufacturers make an impression in a world the place consideration is fleeting.
Her insights don’t keep behind closed company doorways. Via Stop The Scroll, her podcast, and a LinkedIn e-newsletter with 200,000+ subscribers, she demystifies digital advertising for manufacturers trying to minimize via the noise. This thought management has landed her in Quick Firm, CNBC, HubSpot, and on stage at Stanford, Sprout Social, and HubSpot conferences.
Recognition follows the place outcomes lead. She’s been named a Top 30 RevOps Leader, a Top 100 B2B GTM Female Leader, and a Top 50 Global LinkedIn Creator—a powerful feat for somebody who’s labored with business giants like Dropbox, HubSpot, and Sprout Social.
Outdoors of labor, storytelling takes completely different types—whether or not in a darkish movie show, watching stand-up comedy, or obsessing over the Oxford comma. A love for mentorship, movie festivals, and meals adventures along with her fiancé and two canines retains life as dynamic as her profession.
2. Brandon Tigrett
Main The Tigrett Agency in Scottsdale, Brandon Tigrett merges industrial pictures, storytelling, and strategic advertising to create campaigns that go away a long-lasting impression.
His company is greater than a advertising agency; it’s a content powerhouse. Providing every part from influencer partnerships to high-end video manufacturing, Tigrett ensures manufacturers like Puma Hoops, Jollibee, LifeWTR, and Therabody stand out in aggressive industries.
Creativity extends past his company partitions. A devoted health fanatic and whiskey aficionado, he brings a pointy eye for visuals formed by years of portrait and lively way of life pictures. This eager sense of aesthetics influences each marketing campaign, making storytelling the spine of his work.
Tigrett’s impression hasn’t gone unnoticed. Membership within the American Advertising Federation Phoenix underscores his status as a pacesetter in branding and artistic technique. His philosophy? Advertising and marketing isn’t about pushing merchandise—it’s about fostering emotional connections.
3. Chris (CJ) Johnson
Chris (CJ) Johnson has constructed one of many Southwest’s most formidable unbiased advertising companies, trusted by manufacturers like Pink Bull, Microsoft, Apple, and BMW.
His company, LaneTerralever, stands aside by placing clients first. Each marketing campaign, whether or not in influencer advertising, model technique, or digital engagement, is tailor-made to create genuine, long-lasting connections. No cookie-cutter influencer offers—solely partnerships designed for impression.
Beneath his course, LaneTerralever has helped manufacturers just like the Arizona Cardinals, Lyft, and Phoenix Youngsters’s Hospital forge deeper relationships with their audiences. AI in influencer marketing is one other of his specialties, guaranteeing manufacturers leverage know-how to reinforce—not substitute—human creativity.
Past LaneTerralever, he’s a part of Expertise Dynamic, a collaboration between his company and Persuade & Convert, designed to create seamless buyer journeys. Effectivity, innovation, and data-driven decision-making are his emblems.
4. Tatiana Bolaños
Tatiana Bolaños is reshaping the influencer business. The Lilac Agency, based in 2015, is greater than a enterprise; it’s a motion constructed on inclusivity, range, and psychological well being advocacy.
Her company operates with a “psychological well being first, enterprise second” mindset, treating expertise as household reasonably than simply names on a roster. Specializing as a multicultural influencer agency throughout magnificence, vogue, LGBTQ+, and physique positivity areas, The Lilac Company ensures each marketing campaign resonates with cultural authenticity.
Manufacturers like Gillette, Estée Lauder, Converse, and Amazon Prime belief her company to convey illustration into their advertising. Whether or not amplifying Hispanic Heritage Month or championing inclusivity with Rue 21, each venture leaves an impression.
Bolaños leads with objective. A proud advocate for the Latinx creators, she ensures underrepresented voices are heard—and valued. When not shaping the way forward for influencer advertising, she’s spinning, mountaineering, or vibing to reggaetón.
5. Becca Booker
Becca Booker turns influencer advertising into an artwork and a science. Main Homemade Social, the boutique company she based, she makes a speciality of crafting data-backed campaigns that have interaction Gen-Z and millennial audiences.
Her company’s success speaks volumes. Identified for targeted influencer strategies, social media administration, and Fb promoting, Home made Social has helped manufacturers like Derma Well being Pores and skin & Laser maximize publicity and engagement.
However her affect extends past advertising campaigns. She’s an advocate for feminine management, psychological well being in digital areas, and creating work environments that steadiness ambition with well-being. In 2021, she expanded her company and rebranded to mirror an excellent stronger imaginative and prescient.
She doesn’t simply develop manufacturers—she educates others on how you can do the identical. Talking engagements and contributions to CanvasRebel Magazine make her a trusted voice in advertising circles.
6. Joe Maglio
Joe Maglio is popping McKinney into an promoting powerhouse. Since taking on as CEO in 2018, he has expanded the company’s footprint to incorporate key places like Durham, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and New York—all whereas delivering award-winning work for Popeyes, Blue Diamond Growers, Little Caesars, and Samsung.
His background consists of management roles at Havas, Publicis, and Ogilvy, giving him a deep understanding of name storytelling. In 2023, he made certainly one of his boldest strikes but: acquiring August United, a top-tier influencer marketing agency, totally integrating influencer technique into McKinney’s DNA.
Beneath his management, McKinney has been named an Ad Age A-List Agency Standout and a 2024 Best Place to Work, with accolades from Cannes Lions, Effies, CLIO, and The Webby Awards. He’s additionally taken the helm at Barbarian, one other Cheil Worldwide company, increasing his impression even additional.
His involvement with the 4A’s board and VCU Brandcenter retains him plugged into the way forward for advertising, guaranteeing McKinney stays forward of business shifts.
7. Tyler Rathjen
Tyler Rathjen blends branding, PR, and influencer advertising into one seamless technique. On the helm of Decibel Blue, he has reworked the company right into a powerhouse throughout Phoenix and Denver.
Rising via the ranks since 2006, he grew to become a associate in 2016 and now leads an company recognized for influencer campaigns with manufacturers like PetSmart, Floyd’s 99 Barbershops, Cox Communications, and Baskin-Robbins. His Public Engagement™ packages guarantee campaigns aren’t simply seen—they resonate.
His monitor report speaks for itself. Driving 78% income development for My Sister’s Closet, launching over 100 Dunkin’ Donuts places, and incomes OBIE Award recognition place him in an elite firm.
Past advertising, he’s an advocate for training and neighborhood initiatives, serving on the board of Phoenix Suns 88 Charities.
8. Juan E. Galvan
A serial entrepreneur and digital advertising strategist, Juan E. Galvan has spent the previous decade redefining the intersection of know-how, advertising, and enterprise development. Because the CEO of Kobe Digital, he leads a performance-driven agency that makes a speciality of influencer advertising, net improvement, and video manufacturing, serving to manufacturers create high-impact digital experiences.
Juan’s experience extends far past conventional advertising. He’s additionally the Founding Associate of QLE Ventures, an funding group targeted on scaling digital companies and tech firms via mergers and acquisitions. His expertise in lead era, conversion optimization, and inbound advertising offers him a data-driven edge in influencer advertising, guaranteeing that campaigns don’t simply generate engagement—they drive actual enterprise development.
Beneath his management, Kobe Digital has developed a strategic method to influencer advertising, providing manufacturers insights into choosing the best creators, maximizing ROI, and leveraging social media presence for impression. His capacity to merge creativity with analytics has made Kobe Digital a go-to company for companies trying to scale.
Past enterprise, Juan is a lifelong entrepreneur who has acquired seven digital firms with out utilizing his personal cash, proving his capacity to determine, put money into, and develop high-potential companies.
9. Jonathan Heit
Jonathan Heit co-founded Allison Worldwide and turned it right into a global leader in integrated marketing and communications. In January 2024, he took the helm as World CEO, succeeding Scott Allison and ushering in a brand new period of development, innovation, and digital transformation.
Allison Worldwide stands out for its cutting-edge method to influencer advertising, mixing model transformation, status administration, and AI-driven influencer strategies to create impactful campaigns. By integrating AI influencers and data-backed storytelling, the company is redefining how manufacturers have interaction with audiences in an evolving digital panorama.
With a presence in Phoenix, Allison Worldwide leverages its regional experience to assist manufacturers join with native markets whereas sustaining a worldwide attain. Beneath Jonathan’s management, the company continues to push boundaries, using the most recent traits in digital media, branding, and expert-building to ship results-driven advertising methods.
Jonathan’s profession is a testomony to his strategic imaginative and prescient and management, having served as World President and COO earlier than getting into the CEO position. His deep understanding of digital media and positioning has made Allison a trusted associate for manufacturers trying to navigate the trendy advertising ecosystem.
Shaping the Way forward for Influencer Advertising and marketing in Phoenix
In Phoenix, the rise of visionary CEOs in influencer advertising is unmistakable. From fastidiously curated influencer campaigns just like the viral Phoenix Style Week to groundbreaking methods shaping native and nationwide manufacturers, these CEOs usually are not simply following traits—they’re creating them.
Main companies reminiscent of Verbatim, The Tigrett Company, and LaneTerralever have redefined how manufacturers join with their audiences, mixing creativity, knowledge, and genuine storytelling. As Phoenix continues to thrive as a hub for influencer advertising, these CEOs and their companies are undoubtedly on the forefront, driving the way forward for digital advertising within the area.
In regards to the Writer
Author
Dan Atkins is a famend search engine optimisation specialist and digital advertising guide, acknowledged for reinforcing small enterprise visibility on-line. With experience in AdWords, ecommerce, and social media optimization, he has collaborated with quite a few companies, enhancing B2B lead era methods. His hands-on consulting expertise empowers him to impart superior insights and modern techniques to his readers.
