A Proven Marketing Expert

Jean Gianfagna has been planning, creating, and implementing successful, integrated marketing communications plans and programs for more than 40 years.

After holding high-level advertising and marketing management positions at ad agencies and a large business-to-business company in Washington, DC, she moved to Cleveland and launched her own advertising and marketing agency in 1992.

Though she had no contacts in Cleveland, Jean built a dynamic marketing advisory firm that has served prominent clients for more than 30 years and won dozens of awards for marketing excellence.

Jean has become a marketing strategy expert. She is a frequent speaker on marketing, branding, and advertising. Her Smart Marketing Strategy blog has garnered more than half a million views.

Jean has been honored to receive many awards for marketing and entrepreneurial achievement:

  • Induction into the American Advertising Federation-Cleveland 2025 Hall of Fame

  • Top 10 Women Business Owners in Northeast Ohio Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners

  • Rainmaker in Marketing and Communications Excellence from Northern Ohio Live

  • Enterprising Woman of the Year Award from Enterprising Women magazine

  • Distinguished Marketing & Sales Award from Sales & Marketing Executives of Cleveland

  • Induction into the Hall of Leaders, a lifetime achievement award from the Direct Marketing Association of Washington, DC

  • Direct Mail Vendor of the Year from the Cleveland Postal Customers Council

A respected leader in the advertising and marketing industry, Jean has served as:

  • President of the American Advertising Federation-Cleveland

  • Member of the AAF District 5 Board of Directors

  • President of the National Association of Women Business Owners-Cleveland

  • President of the Direct Marketing Association of Cleveland

  • Vice President of the Direct Marketing Association of Washington

  • Data & Marketing Association Ethical Business Practices committee member

Community Leadership and Education:

Jean has actively supported nonprofit organizations, serving multiple terms on the Boards of Directors of University Hospitals-St. John Medical Center, The Gathering Place, and the American Cancer Society-Cuyahoga County.

Jean holds a B.S. in Journalism summa cum laude from Ohio University and was named the University’s Outstanding Journalism Graduate. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Jean was inducted into the Thomas A. DeVilbiss High School Alumni Hall of Fame.