Ervin & Smith
Ervin & Smith is a women-owned, Omaha-based marketing consultancy serving mid-market and PE-backed companies through executive advisory, brand strategy, and marketing activation, structured around proprietary frameworks like the Strategy Diagnostic and Fractional CMO model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ervin & Smith does
Ervin & Smith is a privately held, women-owned marketing consultancy headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, founded in 1983 by Doug Smith. The firm serves growth-minded mid-market companies (typically $10M-$100M+ in revenue), private equity-backed and founder-led businesses, and enterprise divisions seeking senior-level marketing clarity without hiring a full-time CMO. Visible client logos span agribusiness (Scoular, JDH, Green Plains), insurance (biBerk, THREE Insurance), financial services (FNBO, Nelnet Bank, Carson Group, Diamond Hill, Moody's Analytics), education (Mercy High School, Creighton University), healthcare staffing (RTG Medical), retail (Borsheims), and nonprofit (Live On Nebraska), with documented outcomes including $5B+ post-rebrand business growth (Scoular), 62% brand lift and $1.5M incremental revenue (biBerk), and 427% website inquiry increases (Mercy High School).
The firm's offering is structured around three core service lines — Executive Marketing Advisory (including fractional CMO retainers), Brand Strategy and Renewal, and Marketing Activation — delivered through proprietary engagement frameworks such as the Strategy Diagnostic, GTM Reset, Brand Blueprint, Boardroom Clarity Deck, and Brandformance Methodology. The technology stack is platform-agnostic and partner-driven: Top 3% Google Partner status, HubSpot, GA4, Looker Studio, Tableau, Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, and DSPs. The firm complements internal client marketing teams rather than displacing them, and publishes a free resource library (AEO/GEO Toolkit, Brand Platform Worksheet, Marketing Strategy Starter) for top-of-funnel demand generation.
Revenue mechanics blend project-based professional services (Strategy Diagnostic, GTM Reset, Brand Blueprint, Activation), monthly recurring retainers (Fractional CMO Advisory), and variable scope creative/activation work. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and no external funding rounds have been reported. The company is led by an all-women executive team under President & CEO Leanne Prewitt (joined 2016, elevated to CEO 2026), with Chief Client Officer Katie Herzog and CFO Brittany Wozny. Ervin & Smith became a Certified B Corporation in March 2025, joined by only ~80 other women-owned B Corps globally in advertising/marketing, and currently operates with a headcount in the 11-50 range.
Ervin & Smith firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ervin & Smith
- Legal name
- Ervin & Smith Advertising and Public Relations
- Website
- https://ervinandsmith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ervin & Smith is a women-owned, Omaha-based marketing consultancy serving mid-market and PE-backed companies through executive advisory, brand strategy, and marketing activation, structured around proprietary frameworks like the Strategy Diagnostic and Fractional CMO model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ervin & Smith industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marketing Consultancy
- NAICS
- Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Management Consulting Services (54161), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Advertising Agencies (541810)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sales Enablement & Revenue Operations (RevOps) Tools & Services (BPAFAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Ervin & Smith is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ervin & Smith business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Strategy Consulting: Project-based and scoped strategic consulting engagements including Strategy Diagnostic, GTM Reset, and Brand Blueprint engagements for marketing maturity assessment and planning
- Fractional CMO Advisory: Monthly retainer-based ongoing advisory services where clients retain Ervin & Smith long-term as strategic advisors or fractional CMOs, participating in leadership meetings and guiding marketing direction
- Marketing Activation and Creative: Variable engagement pricing for brand, creative, media, and campaign execution services supporting strategy implementation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Strategy Diagnostic - project-based assessment |
| Other | Multi-year contract | GTM Reset / Brand Blueprint - scoped engagements |
| Subscription | Monthly | Fractional CMO Advisory - monthly retainer |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Activation & Creative - variable scope |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ervin & Smith product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ervin & Smith is a strategic marketing consultancy delivering three core service lines: Executive Marketing Advisory (fractional CMO services providing senior-level strategic guidance to CEOs and leadership teams), Brand Strategy and Renewal (research-backed brand platform development), and Marketing Activation (campaigns, content, creative, and media execution that connect strategy to measurable business outcomes). Engagements are delivered through structured proprietary frameworks including Strategy Diagnostic, GTM Reset, Brand Blueprint, and Fractional CMO Advisory retainers.
Product overview
Ervin & Smith is a strategic marketing consultancy offering a portfolio of professional services centered around three core offerings: Executive Marketing Advisory (fractional CMO services), Brand Strategy and Renewal, and Marketing Activation. The consultancy operates through structured engagement frameworks including Strategy Diagnostic, GTM Reset™, Brand Blueprint, and Fractional CMO Advisory. Additionally, they provide downloadable resource tools including the AEO & GEO Toolkit, Brand Platform Worksheet, Marketing Strategy Starter, Brandformance Worksheet, and Brand Refresh Worksheet. Their proprietary Boardroom Clarity Deck is a tool for translating marketing strategy for executive audiences. The firm bridges strategy and execution without the overhead of traditional agency models.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Marketing Advisory
- Brand Strategy and Renewal
- Marketing Activation
- Strategy Diagnostic
- GTM Reset
- Brand Blueprint
- Fractional CMO Advisory
- Boardroom Clarity Deck
Quantifiable outcome
- Companies experience clarity within first 2-4 weeks; meaningful marketing and business impact within 60-90 days
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Ervin & Smith
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ervin & Smith technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature5 records
Ervin & Smith partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- eCreamerycoreCustom ice cream brand partnership for RTG Medical Traveler Appreciation Campaign. Created custom pints featuring photos of real traveling nurses, combining personalization with brand positioning for healthcare staffing industry.
- Google/YouTubecoreTop 3% Google Partner agency with access to world-class Google data scientists. Partnership for media planning, GeoX testing, brand lift studies, and campaign optimization. Data scientists helped develop tests measuring incremental brand and revenue lift.
- Bill Sitzmann PhotographyminorLocal Omaha photographer engaged for Mercy High School campaign photoshoot to capture powerful images of real students across academics, athletics and the arts.
- Access PeriodcoreOmaha nonprofit dedicated to ending period poverty. Team volunteered to pack over 200 three-month supply kits; demonstrates commitment to community impact and local nonprofit partnerships.
- Advance Omaha FundminorDonated $5,000 to initiative raising money for local organizations invested in increasing diversity in creatives, marketers and developers in Omaha.
- CEOs for CODEminorPledge through Greater Omaha Chamber supporting diversity, opportunity and equity initiatives.
- Siena Francis HousecoreOmaha nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness. Team volunteered for pantry and stock room organization; demonstrates commitment to community service.
- The Union for Contemporary ArtminorLocal nonprofit supporting North Omaha community through arts classes, artist residency, exhibits, social justice programming and community garden. Partner for quarterly Creative Academy Days team building and creative inspiration.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ervin & Smith competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Duct Tape Marketing: Franchised marketing consultancy network serving small and mid-market businesses with structured marketing strategy frameworks. Comparable fractional / consultancy model and SMB-to-mid-market target segment.
- Barkley: Kansas City-based independent creative agency serving mid-market and challenger brands with brand strategy, advertising, and media. Comparable Midwest independent agency with brand-led positioning and similar client profile.
- Match Marketing Group: Toronto-based brand consultancy serving mid-market and enterprise clients with brand strategy, design, and activation. Comparable scope and senior-led consultancy model.
- Chief Outsiders: Fractional CMO firm providing executive marketing leadership to mid-market companies on a part-time retainer basis. Highly comparable to Ervin & Smith's Fractional CMO Advisory offering and mid-market target segment.
- BrandExtract: Houston-based brand consultancy and creative agency focused on brand strategy, identity, and marketing activation for mid-market B2B and B2B-adjacent clients. Direct overlap in Brand Blueprint and brand renewal service lines.
- Riester: Phoenix-based integrated advertising and brand agency with strong mid-market and Western US client base. Comparable in offering integrated brand strategy, creative, and media services to growth-oriented companies.
- KidGlov: Omaha-based boutique marketing and branding agency serving nonprofits and mid-market companies. Same regional market, similar size band, and overlapping brand strategy / creative service mix.
- Brokaw: Cleveland-based brand and marketing agency serving mid-market challengers with full-service brand strategy, creative, and media. Similar positioning as a leaner independent alternative to holding-company agencies.
- Gravity Group: Indianapolis-based independent brand and marketing agency serving mid-market clients. Comparable Midwest independent agency with similar full-service brand + activation offering.
Broad incumbents
- VMLY&R: Global WPP-owned advertising and brand agency network serving enterprise clients with full-service brand, creative, and media capabilities. Broader scale and portfolio but overlapping in mid-market brand strategy and activation work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ervin & Smith social profiles
Digital presenceErvin & Smith compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Ervin & Smith financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ervin & Smith leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Ervin & Smith funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ervin & Smith M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ervin & Smith
What does Ervin & Smith do?
Ervin & Smith is a strategic marketing consultancy delivering three core service lines: Executive Marketing Advisory (fractional CMO services providing senior-level strategic guidance to CEOs and leadership teams), Brand Strategy and Renewal (research-backed brand platform development), and Marketing Activation (campaigns, content, creative, and media execution that connect strategy to measurable business outcomes). Engagements are delivered through structured proprietary frameworks including Strategy Diagnostic, GTM Reset, Brand Blueprint, and Fractional CMO Advisory retainers.
Is Ervin & Smith a public or private company?
Ervin & Smith is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Ervin & Smith founded?
Ervin & Smith was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ervin & Smith based?
Ervin & Smith is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ervin & Smith make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Strategy Consulting is the primary driver. The others are fractional CMO Advisory and marketing Activation and Creative.
Who are Ervin & Smith's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Duct Tape Marketing, Barkley, Match Marketing Group, Chief Outsiders, BrandExtract, Riester, KidGlov, Brokaw and Gravity Group. VMLY&R is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ervin & Smith have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ervin & Smith.
What industry is Ervin & Smith in?
Ervin & Smith's product category is Marketing Consultancy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAFAJ, Sales Enablement & Revenue Operations (RevOps) Tools & Services. Its NAICS code is 541613 and its SIC code is 8742.