Top Fractional CMOs in Denver — May 2026
Rankings updated May 2026
Denver fractional CMOs serve a market that's grown rapidly over the past decade, anchored by outdoor and lifestyle brands (Patagonia, REI, BackcountryRyan, Crocs), climate and energy tech (Vail Resorts adjacents, climate startups, clean energy), healthtech (DispatchHealth, SonderMind, Guild Education), and a growing B2B SaaS ecosystem. Hourly rates run $200–$400, with monthly retainers between $7,500 and $18,000 — meaningfully lower than coastal markets while maintaining strong talent quality. The Denver fractional CMO bench skews toward operators from Vail Resorts, Ibotta, SendGrid (Twilio), Otter Products, and the post-cannabis-legalization wave of consumer brands. Many Bay Area and NYC operators relocated to Denver during the 2020-2023 migration wave, adding to the talent depth. Climate tech is a growing specialty here — Denver has more climate-and-energy-focused fractional CMOs than any other U.S. market. Most engagements are remote-first with quarterly on-site availability for Denver-area clients.
10 fractional CMOs in Denver
Evan Padgett
Ex-Techstyle / Ex-Thrive Market / Leader - Integrator - Solutions Architect - Over $1B in Managed Media - Former Digital Agency Operator
Previously at Performance Kitchen Food Is Medicine, Woodmill, PIQED
Kimling Lam
Chief Marketing Officer at Fortis
Justin Bresler
Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President, Marketing and Business Development at Visit Denver, the Convention & Visitors Bureau
Paul Zalewski
Chief Marketing Officer at Red Stag Fulfillment
Lisa Bush
Chief Marketing Officer at Mcdivitt Law Firm
Yulia Pastukhova
Chief Marketing Officer (cmo) at Dorn
Chad Nordhagen
Consultant / Owner & Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at Gloves Off Marketing
Eric Sutfin
Chief Marketing Officer at Social Capital Agency
Brett Schklar
Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at Sage Hcm
Samantha Orihuela
Chief Marketing Officer at Adp
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a fractional CMO cost in Denver?
Denver fractional CMO rates run $200–$400 per hour or $7,500–$18,000 per month. Pricing is 20-30% lower than San Francisco for comparable caliber, partly because of cost of living and partly because the market is still maturing. Climate and outdoor brand engagements typically run $10K–$15K/month.
Are Denver fractional CMOs strong on outdoor and lifestyle brands?
Yes — Denver has the deepest outdoor and lifestyle fractional CMO bench in the U.S. Operators with experience at Patagonia, REI, Crocs, Otter Products, Vail Resorts, and the growing camping/adventure category are clustered here. Filter by 'CPG' or 'Retail' on the directory.
Is Denver a good city for climate tech fractional CMOs?
Yes — Denver has the strongest climate tech fractional CMO concentration in the U.S. The intersection of national renewable energy infrastructure, climate-focused VCs (Energize Ventures, etc.), and the outdoor/sustainability cultural alignment has produced a specialized bench. Search by competency 'sustainability' or industry 'CleanTech / Climate'.
Are there Denver fractional CMOs for healthtech?
Yes — Denver healthtech has grown significantly post-pandemic, anchored by DispatchHealth, SonderMind, Guild Education, and a number of mental health and chronic care startups. The fractional CMO bench is solid but smaller than Boston or SF. Filter by 'HealthTech / MedTech' on the directory.
Do Denver fractional CMOs work with non-Colorado clients?
Yes — most work remotely with clients across the U.S. Many Denver operators specifically prefer remote-first clients in larger markets (SF, NYC, LA, Austin) to maintain client diversity while living in Colorado.
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