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Fractional CMOs in Ann Arbor Making Things Happen in 2025
Ann Arbor Interim Chief Marketing Officers to Know
Ann Arbor has long been a hub for ideas, research, and innovation—home to one of the world’s most respected universities, a rising number of startups, and a culture that blends Midwestern values with world-class creativity. As local businesses evolve to meet the demands of today’s markets, many are turning to Fractional Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) to help them define, refine, and scale their brand presence.
At Digital Reference, we’re committed to highlighting the professionals who bring structure and momentum to organizations—often behind the scenes. Fractional CMOs are increasingly the secret sauce behind product launches, go-to-market strategy, brand overhauls, and revenue acceleration. This blog introduces some of the most impactful independent marketing executives operating in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Whether you're a startup in search of early traction or a mission-driven org looking to expand your reach, these fractional leaders are the ones helping Ann Arbor’s innovation economy thrive.
Our Methodology
To compile this curated list of Fractional CMOs in Ann Arbor, we evaluated professionals using the following criteria:
- Location: Based in Ann Arbor or actively working with organizations across Southeast Michigan
- Role Type: Provide fractional, interim, or part-time CMO services
- Visibility: Maintain a professional digital footprint (website or LinkedIn profile)
- Experience: Demonstrated track record of marketing leadership across industries
- Alignment: Embody the values of Digital Reference—radical transparency, professional authenticity, and impact-driven work
These marketing executives span a range of specializations—from B2B growth strategy to healthcare brand positioning. Many work independently; others lead their own consultancies.
Meet the Fractional CMOs Making Things Happen in Ann Arbor
1. Philippe Vella
https://www.linkedin.com/in/philmvella-the-part-time-cmo/
Known as "The Part-Time CMO," Philippe Vela specializes in providing high-impact marketing leadership to small and mid-sized companies across the Midwest. With a structured, analytical approach, he helps organizations clarify their value proposition and turn marketing into a growth engine.
Why He Stands Out:
- Expertise in positioning, messaging, and digital strategy
- Works well with tech startups and complex B2B offerings
- Offers part-time CMO services that are both strategic and hands-on
Philippe is a great fit for founders who want measurable marketing impact without the overhead of a full-time hire.
2. Dave Haviland
https://www.phimation.com/about-the-founder
As the founder of Phimation Strategy Group, Dave Haviland brings a strategic executive lens to marketing, positioning, and business growth. His firm provides fractional leadership across multiple functions, including the CMO role, often serving second-stage growth companies ready for their next evolution.
Why He Stands Out:
- Works with founder-led and family businesses undergoing transformation
- Helps organizations build marketing teams and strategy from the ground up
- Merges brand and growth strategy with organizational development
Dave is ideal for companies looking to professionalize their marketing infrastructure and align it with broader business goals.
3. Cory Dunham
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-dunham/
Cory Dunham brings years of experience leading cross-functional marketing and sales teams. As a fractional CMO, he focuses on delivering marketing systems, campaign strategies, and operational clarity to growing companies.
Why He Stands Out:
- Deep experience in B2B lead generation and sales alignment
- Brings a systems-driven mindset to marketing team structure and performance
- Effective in scaling early-growth companies and startup marketing ops
Cory is a builder—ideal for companies with a good product, some traction, and a need for structured marketing leadership.
4. Michele Szczypka
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-szczypka/
With decades of experience in brand strategy, healthcare marketing, and executive communications, Michele Szczypka brings a seasoned, strategic perspective to fractional CMO engagements. She partners with purpose-driven organizations to create campaigns that resonate and results that scale.
Why She Stands Out:
- Specialized in healthcare, social impact, and nonprofit marketing
- Skilled in brand storytelling, earned media, and cross-platform campaigns
- Known for balancing mission-driven messaging with strategic clarity
Michele is a powerful partner for organizations that need experienced, values-aligned marketing leadership.
5. Todd Robinson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd23robinson/
Todd Robinson offers fractional CMO services with a focus on digital demand generation, performance marketing, and brand visibility. He has helped startups and scale-ups build pipelines, launch campaigns, and define scalable marketing strategies.
Why He Stands Out:
- Strong background in digital acquisition, SEM, and customer analytics
- Excellent at designing repeatable, scalable growth funnels
- Combines technical fluency with creative insight
Todd is an ideal partner for companies seeking to unlock growth through experimentation, data, and strong brand identity.
Why Ann Arbor is a Hub for Fractional Marketing Talent
Ann Arbor’s proximity to the University of Michigan, growing tech ecosystem, and vibrant nonprofit scene creates a unique environment where startups, scale-ups, and legacy orgs converge. These organizations often need marketing leadership, but not always on a full-time basis.
That’s where fractional CMOs offer the perfect balance:
- Strategic insight, without long-term commitment
- Hands-on execution, without heavy internal hiring
- Scalable leadership, ready when you are
It’s no surprise that Ann Arbor has become a thriving base for independent and fractional marketing professionals.
The Digital Reference POV
At Digital Reference, we’re building a new layer of professional infrastructure—one that’s structured, transparent, and built for the way people work today.
For fractional CMOs, we offer tools to:
- Capture verified references from clients and collaborators
- Showcase marketing outcomes across roles and projects
- Build a reputation that’s portable, transparent, and trusted
We believe that careers should be documented, discoverable, and dignified. And we’re proud to support the marketers doing the real work of growth and brand-building.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s launching a product, redefining a brand, or installing a marketing ops engine, fractional CMOs are driving growth in Ann Arbor’s evolving business scene. These professionals bring leadership without overhead, expertise without ego, and structure without stifling creativity.
The individuals featured here—Philippe Vela, Dave Haviland, Cory Dunham, Michele Szczypka, and Todd Robinson—represent the very best of what Ann Arbor’s marketing leadership has to offer.
Explore their work. Reach out. And when you’re ready to share your story or find your next marketing leader—start with Digital Reference.
– The Digital Reference Team
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