Jerry Courtney
Fractional CMO | Driving Growth, Creating Clarity, and Systematizing Marketing for Mid-Market & Small Companies | Know Why. Know How. No Bull.
About
WHAT I DO
With over 25 years of experience across agencies, large corporations, and small and mid-market privately-held businesses, I started Courtney Go-to-Market Strategies to give small and mid-sized companies access to strategic marketing horsepower when and how they need it. I work as a fractional CMO, stepping in to help when growth has stalled, when brands or products need better alignment with the markets they compete in, when marketing systems just aren’t performing - or when a fresh perspective and plan is needed.
My approach is simple: Know Why. Know How. No Bull. I dig into the data and how the business currently goes to market to clarify what’s really holding growth back. Then I connect that clarity with intent through practical go-to-market strategies.
From analysis and planning to managing execution and building systems, I stay hands-on until you need me to hand off. The result is that my clients—founders, CEOs, other CMOs, or PE firms—get unstuck, kickstart growth, and move forward with confidence.
WHY I’M HERE
I’m here on LinkedIn to share my perspective, learn from others’ perspectives, connect here and in real life with people who are interested in my perspective or whose perspective I’m interested in, and build and maintain meaningful professional relationships. If that results in new opportunities or actual business for either of us in the process, wonderful.
I’d prefer to not be pitched unless I ask for it directly. And I will not pitch unless asked to do so.
If that all sounds good to you, let’s connect, give me a follow, or DM me.
Experience
Fractional CMO & Executive Go-to-Market Strategist
Courtney Go-to-Market Strategies LLC · Greater Lexington Area
Apr 2025 – Present(1 yr 1 mo)
Currently leading projects as a Fractional CMO and Executive Go-to-Market Strategist. Driving high-impact marketing initiatives, delivering brand and marketing strategies/plans to drive scalable growth applying go-to-market (GTM) planning, full-funnel marketing strategy, and omni-channel strategy.
Vice President of Marketing and Digital Products
Circle Y Saddles, Inc. · Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Mar 2024 – Mar 2025(1 yr 1 mo)
Focused on customer segmentation, brand positioning and digital products strategy across multiple brands. Led business case for DTC and B2B e-commerce platform migration. 2x digital audience growth across socials, website, and database.
Marketing Director
Whitaker Bank, Inc. · Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Jun 2023 – Mar 2024(10 mos)
Built enterprise-wide marketing processes and systems for 44-location community bank. Created prioritization model across 14 market areas. Instituted quarterly planning sessions with cross-market committee.
Publisher
City Publications Kentucky · Kentucky, United States
Dec 2021 – Jun 2023(1 yr 7 mos)
Launched direct marketing venture targeting affluent homeowners. Matched primary competitor's share of market within 12 months.
Program/Project Leader
Framebridge · Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Oct 2020 – Nov 2021(1 yr 2 mos)
Led the opening of two manufacturing facilities, each in under 4 weeks.
Plant Manager
Framebridge · Lexington, Kentucky Area
Sep 2019 – Sep 2020(1 yr 1 mo)
Achieved 99% on time delivery and reduction of backlog to less than 1 day of work. During COVID, used current machine mix and capacity to develop and distribute a face shield product used by various medical professionals and first-responders.
Vice President Marketing
Ranch Hand · Shiner, Texas, United States
Aug 2015 – Sep 2019(4 yrs 2 mos)
Led new brand identity and brand positioning. Optimized B2B2C channel marketing. Stretched into role with design engineering, reducing time to market for new products.
Senior Vice President, Brand Strategy & Team Management - Strategy3
Ipsos · Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
Jun 2011 – Aug 2015(4 yrs 3 mos)
Part of an elite executive team that built and grew Customer Journey practice into a global product. Trained staff on five continents in the selling and execution process for the product.
Senior Vice President, Executive Media Director
GSD&M · Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
May 2010 – Jun 2011(1 yr 2 mos)
Led the media department of over 100 team members working across all media channels in B2C and B2B. Continuous involvement in business development, high level agency strategy, and cross-functional process optimization and improvement.
Director of Marketing, Acquisition
Capella University · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Nov 2009 – May 2010(7 mos)
Directed the team accountable for 30-40% of company revenue acquisition across all digital assets including website, email, CRM, off-site content, SEO, SEM, affiliate programs, and digital display.
Group Manager, Media Strategy
Target · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Oct 2006 – Nov 2009(3 yrs 2 mos)
Led the team and managed the media agency accountable for more than $500 million in multi-media planning and strategy. Collaborated with Target.com, SEO, SEM, email, and Weekly Ad teams internally, and the creative and digital agencies externally. Received the Pellegrene Award for Marketing Innovation, and the Vice President of Marketing Operations award.
Vice President, Director of Interactive & Digital Media
GSD&M · Austin, Texas Area
Sep 1999 – Sep 2006(7 yrs 1 mo)
Built the digital media team from the ground up, expanding to 30+ team members billing $100+ million. One of the key instigators and drivers of the agency's digital transformation.
Media Supervisor
GSD&M · Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
Jan 1998 – Dec 1999(2 yrs)
Media planning and buying across AT&T business.
Media Planner
Campbell Mithun Esty · Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Jul 1996 – Dec 1997(1 yr 6 mos)
Media planning and buying on accounts such as Andersen Windows, Toro, and Hostess.
Education
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
BS, Advertising
1994 – 1996
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges-Lincoln Trail College
AS
1992 – 1994
Expertise
Specialties
