If you’re not in the answer, you’re not in the game. That’s the new SEO reality according to SUSO Digital, which just launched a dedicated AI SEO service aimed at helping brands and agencies land in the responses of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews.

This isn’t a tweak to traditional search strategies—it’s a ground-up rethinking of how SEO works in an AI-first world. With the advent of generative search, where users often never even see traditional search results, SUSO Digital’s new platform is designed to optimize content for the decision layer—the LLM itself.

“AI Search isn't an update; it's a reset,” said Will Bagnall, CEO of SUSO Digital. “If you’re not in an LLM’s answer, you’re not even in the running.”

Beyond Rankings: Targeting the Recommendation Layer

SUSO’s AI SEO solution is built on four key pillars—each designed to influence how LLMs summarize, recommend, and link to brand content.

1. Market Monitoring
SUSO actively tracks how AI models talk about your brand compared to competitors, pulling data from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews. The goal? Understand your AI reputation footprint.

2. AI-Ready Content Optimisation
Forget keyword stuffing. This is about structuring information the way AI models understand it—clear, well-linked, and semantically rich—so your content gets selected, not ignored.

3. Consistent Content + AI Signals
SUSO publishes new, model-optimized content with built-in signals aimed at LLM ingestion. This helps brands seed answers proactively and stay top-of-mind in model outputs.

4. Analytics & Attribution
Here’s where SUSO gets serious: a proprietary tool that tracks AI visibility—from ChatGPT mentions to AI Overview appearances—and attributes traffic, keyword wins, and branded search lift to those placements.

Real-World Results: AI Traffic That Converts

The performance metrics from early adopters are compelling. One U.S.-based SaaS company working with SUSO captured over 200 direct referral visits from ChatGPT in May 2025 alone and ranked for 681 keywords within Google’s AI Overviews.

These aren’t vanity metrics—they’re early proof points for a shifting paradigm in digital visibility.

White Label Ready: Built for Agencies

Recognizing that agencies are scrambling to stay relevant in the face of AI disruption, SUSO has made the platform fully white-label ready. Agencies can integrate the service seamlessly into their offerings—positioning themselves as ahead of the curve without building in-house AI expertise from scratch.

To sweeten the deal, SUSO invites agencies to join its Partner Club and receive complimentary AI visibility reports for their clients. This serves as both a diagnostic and a sales tool, showing clients what they're missing—and how to fix it.

Why This Matters: SEO Has a New Audience—LLMs

The core insight here is strategic and simple: Google may still index your content, but ChatGPT decides what people see. That means traditional metrics like SERP rankings are no longer the only battleground.

“SEO now extends beyond Google—it’s about what AI says and how often it says it,” Bagnall emphasized.

As generative AI begins to act as a first layer of interpretation and recommendation, influencing that layer becomes the new priority for digital marketers.

This AI SEO service isn’t just a product launch—it’s a signpost for the future of search. And for agencies, waiting on the sidelines might mean becoming invisible—literally.

SUSO Digital

Founded over a decade ago, SUSO Digital has earned a reputation as an elite white-label SEO partner for agencies worldwide. With its latest expansion into AI SEO, the company combines deep SEO expertise with cutting-edge approaches to LLM visibility, content engineering, and attribution modeling—helping brands show up not just in search results, but in the answers themselves.

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In an attention economy dominated by algorithmic reach and transactional engagement, MarketCast’s 2025 Brand Fandom 50 study cuts through the noise with a powerful insight: love still leads.

After surveying more than 20,000 U.S. adults and analyzing nearly 300 brands across three years, the leading marketing research firm has identified the brands that go beyond awareness to embed themselves in consumers’ daily routines, emotional lives, and cultural conversations.

At the top of the list? Amazon, Google, YouTube, Apple, and Walmart—companies that aren’t just used but felt.

“The strongest brands today aren’t just seen or heard—they’re experienced,” said Ed Trujillo, SVP of Brand Solutions at MarketCast. “When brands become part of life’s rhythm, fandom follows.”

From Utility to Identity: What Builds Brand Fandom?

The Fandom 50 report isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a deep dive into how emotional connection translates to business resilience—especially in today’s climate of economic uncertainty and shifting consumer priorities.

Key insights from the report include:

• Daily Touchpoints Drive Devotion: Top brands like Amazon (#1) and Apple (#4) excel not just for product quality but omnipresence—from shopping and delivery to content and communication, they’re embedded in how we live.

• Fandom = Business Health: Brands with high Fandom scores outperform competitors on purchase intent and brand resilience. According to MarketCast, two-thirds of tracked brands saw revenue movements align with Fandom scores.

• Affection Isn’t Always Trust: Tech brands tend to earn high emotional scores, but trust can lag. Amazon bucks the trend, boasting 82% Overall Love and 74% Overall Trust—a rare dual win.

• Cross-Generational Appeal Matters: Brands like Chick-fil-A and Levi’s score consistently high across all age and income brackets, proving that strong narratives and experiences transcend demographics.

• Income Shapes Brand Perception: While Walmart ranks #5 overall, Costco and The Home Depot gain ground among higher-income groups—highlighting how notions of “value” evolve with purchasing power.

• Joy, Nostalgia, and Style Win: Brands like Oreo, Nintendo, and Levi’s continue to perform by tapping into timeless emotional drivers. Oreo scores 83% Love among 35–49-year-olds. Nintendo wins big with Gen Z, and Levi’s thrives among both Gen Z and Millennials.

The 2025 Top 10 Brands by Fandom

1. Amazon

2. Google

3. YouTube

4. Apple

5. Walmart

6. Netflix

7. Coca-Cola

8. Visa

9. Levi’s

10. Samsung

This list reflects not just market dominance, but emotional depth—a signal that fandom is increasingly synonymous with staying power.

Why Fandom Is the New Brand Equity

The business case for brand fandom has never been clearer. While many metrics look backward—sales, impressions, clicks—fandom looks forward. It predicts not only who will buy, but who will stick with you through a pricing shift, product delay, or PR crisis.

“Brands that build fandom aren’t just loved—they’re resilient,” said Trujillo. “They outperform competitors in good times and bad because their fans give them room to grow, fail, and recover.”

With the advent of generative AI, changing search behaviors, and digital fatigue, emotional loyalty is emerging as the most defensible brand asset.

MarketCast’s Approach: Measuring What Matters

Powered by its proprietary Brand Tracking Plus framework, MarketCast’s study is one of the first to quantify fandom as a business metric. The model doesn’t just track brand awareness or sentiment—it digs into emotional intensity, brand utility, cultural presence, and behavioral loyalty.

And because it’s longitudinal—spanning three years—it offers a real view into what drives durability, not just buzz.

Final Take: Brand Fandom Is the Business Moat of the Future

For CMOs, brand strategists, and media planners, the message is loud and clear: in 2025, brand love is more than marketing fluff—it’s a business advantage.

With consumer trust in institutions declining and attention spans splintering across platforms, fandom is what makes a brand matter when price and convenience are equal. It’s what makes people stick with you—and stand up for you.

So whether you’re a Fortune 500 titan or an upstart challenger brand, the path forward is the same: go beyond awareness and build emotional capital. Because the brands that feel like home don’t just survive—they lead.

MarketCast

Headquartered in Los Angeles, MarketCast is a leading research firm focused on advertising effectiveness, brand tracking, and fandom analytics. With a team of researchers, data scientists, and media experts, MarketCast helps brands maximize the impact of their advertising, messaging, and customer experiences—delivering insights that drive both love and loyalty.

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In the era of digital overload, static content is a non-starter. Attention spans are short, user expectations are high, and authentic engagement is the currency that counts. Riding this wave, Mango Animate has officially launched Mango AI, an intuitive AI-powered talking avatar generator that lets anyone—from educators to marketers—create lifelike avatar videos in minutes.

The product isn’t just another animation tool. It’s a full-stack AI video engine that combines natural voiceovers, expressive avatars, and multilingual capability into a seamless user experience, effectively lowering the barrier to entry for high-quality content creation.

“Today, digital interaction is all about authenticity, engagement, and emotional connection,” said Winston Zhang, CEO of Mango Animate. “Our AI talking avatar generator meets exactly this demand.”

Lifelike Avatars—No Animation Experience Needed

At its core, Mango AI transforms plain scripts into professional-grade videos featuring expressive, talking digital avatars. Users can select from a rich gallery of pre-made avatars—diverse in gender, ethnicity, age, and occupation—or customize their own by uploading a portrait photo.

The process is strikingly simple:

1. Pick an avatar (or upload your own).

2. Enter your text script.

3. Select an AI-generated voice.

4. Customize background, music, and format.

5. Export in minutes.

The tool handles lip-syncing, gestures, and facial expressions, simulating human delivery with uncanny realism.

High-Impact Customization Without the Learning Curve

Where many AI video tools stop at basic animation, Mango AI pushes further with robust customization features. Users can:

• Adjust subtitle fonts and resolution

• Add intro/outro sequences

• Personalize background music and scenes

• Tailor aspect ratios for various platforms (YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.)

This makes the platform ideal for marketing campaigns, training content, e-learning modules, product demos, and even multilingual communications, thanks to built-in translation tools supporting 120+ languages.

“The avatars have changed the dynamics of my classroom,” one educator shared. “My students are more engaged, more interactive, and more attentive.”

AI Voices That Speak Your Language

Mango AI’s text-to-speech engine pulls from top-tier providers like AWS Polly, Microsoft Azure, and Eleven Labs, giving users access to natural-sounding voices across multiple languages and tones. Each voice is automatically synced with the avatar’s lip and facial movements.

For brands and global teams, this multilingual capability is a game-changer. It enables hyper-localized marketing, cross-border product training, and personalized customer outreach—without expensive dubbing or voiceover work.

Content Reimagined: From Blogs to Briefings

One of Mango AI’s most powerful use cases is content repurposing. Think blog posts transformed into compelling visual explainers. Dry training manuals reborn as engaging onboarding modules. Static product pages turned into interactive spokesperson videos.

In corporate settings, the avatars breathe life into internal communications—policy rollouts, executive announcements, and compliance training—making them more likely to stick and resonate.

Built for Educators, Marketers, and Brands Alike

Self-media creators can accelerate content production and differentiate themselves with personality-packed videos. Marketers gain a scalable way to humanize brands, promote offers, and explain products. Educators can build immersive lessons tailored to diverse learning styles.

With video translation baked in and white-label-ready formats, Mango AI opens the door to broad usage across education, business, entertainment, and social platforms—without technical friction.

Prioritizing Ethics, Security, and Ownership

In a digital age where data misuse and deepfake concerns loom large, Mango AI is designed with user control and ethical transparency in mind. Users retain full ownership of their content, and Mango Animate emphasizes privacy-first development.

This ethical stance is part of what makes Mango AI stand out—not just as a feature-rich tool, but as a trustworthy partner in AI-powered creativity.

The Bottom Line: Mango AI Closes the Gap Between Vision and Execution

By making humanlike avatar videos accessible to all, Mango AI isn’t just meeting a market need—it’s reshaping how digital content is conceived, created, and consumed. Whether you’re a solo creator, brand strategist, or corporate trainer, the platform delivers fast, polished, emotionally resonant video at scale.

And in a world where connection increasingly relies on content that feels real, Mango AI offers a compelling proposition: let your message speak—literally—for itself.

Mango Animate

Mango Animate is a leading developer of AI-driven creative tools that simplify video production for marketing, education, business, and beyond. Its tools focus on accessibility, innovation, and user empowerment, enabling people of all backgrounds to create high-quality content with minimal effort and maximum impact.

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In the home services sector, showing up in the right place at the right time specifically at the top of local search results can make or break a business. Recognizing this, Core6 Marketing, a digital agency focused on contractor success, has launched a new offering: AI-driven local SEO services tailored for trades in Salinas and Monterey.

Designed to meet the unique needs of plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, roofers, landscapers, and general contractors, the service merges artificial intelligence with proven hyperlocal SEO strategies. The result? A smarter, faster path to map pack visibility, lead generation, and long-term digital dominance.

“Contractors are facing more online competition than ever,” said Phil Fisk, CEO of Core6 Marketing. “We developed this AI-powered solution to give local trades a smarter, more sustainable way to be found by the people in their community who need them most.”

Beyond Keywords: Smart, Local, and Built for Mobile Behavior

With the shift toward mobile-first and voice-driven search, traditional SEO tactics no longer cut it. Core6’s platform tackles this by incorporating real-time search trend analysis, AI-assisted content generation, and Google Business Profile optimization, ensuring their contractor clients are not just visible—but competitive.

Here’s what the full-service package includes:

• Hyperlocal Keyword Targeting: AI models analyze search trends and user behavior specific to the Salinas–Monterey corridor, enabling ultra-precise keyword targeting.

• AI-Generated Content: Articles, service pages, and FAQs are created with voice search and user intent in mind—ideal for terms like “best plumber near me” or “Monterey emergency HVAC repair.”

• Google Business Profile Optimization: From category selection to post scheduling and review response management, Core6 ensures that clients' profiles are maximized for map visibility.

• Citation Management: Listings are automatically corrected and synced across local directories and niche platforms, reducing NAP inconsistencies that can sabotage rankings.

• AI-Powered Competitor Analysis: Real-time benchmarking identifies keyword gaps, backlink opportunities, and SERP wins—allowing contractors to respond to competitors faster and smarter.

• Custom Dashboards: Clients can view local keyword rankings, clickthrough rates, and engagement data through Core6’s live reporting portal, making ROI tracking painless.

Why It Matters: Local SEO Is Evolving, and AI Is Leading the Way

The launch isn’t just timely—it’s tactical. With over 50% of local searches now conducted via voice, and Google doubling down on location-based indexing, contractors must evolve or get buried beneath a sea of generic listings.

Core6 Marketing positions itself as the local ally for small service businesses trying to navigate this complexity. Unlike national platforms that offer one-size-fits-all SEO bundles, Core6 customizes each campaign around:

• Service areas (e.g., Salinas proper vs. Monterey County)

• Trade-specific keyword sets (e.g., “24-hour electrician” vs. “landscape designer”)

• Regional customer behavior

“Whether someone says ‘electrician near me’ or ‘Monterey roofing company,’ we want our clients to be the ones showing up at the top of the results,” said Fisk.

A White-Hot Moment for Location-Based Search

This rollout comes at a moment of accelerated search behavior change. Consumers increasingly expect instant answers, mobile-first design, and proximity-based results. And for trades like HVAC and plumbing, where urgency is the name of the game, visibility equals velocity.

Core6’s approach recognizes that showing up in Google’s local 3-pack, appearing in voice search recommendations, and maintaining consistent citations are now essential—not optional—for growth-focused contractors.

Final Take: AI-Powered Local SEO That Works as Hard as the Trades It Supports

While AI dominates headlines for its use in large-scale enterprise marketing, Core6 proves there’s enormous value in applying it locally and pragmatically. The new SEO offering isn’t about gimmicks—it’s about helping real businesses in real communities become the obvious choice when customers search for services they need most.

And for the many contractors who don’t have the time or expertise to optimize their own visibility? Core6 offers a plug-and-play engine that delivers qualified leads without the SEO guesswork.

Core6 Marketing

Core6 Marketing is a contractor-first digital marketing agency based in California. Specializing in local SEO, paid ads, and lead generation strategies for trades, Core6 empowers small service businesses to stand out in competitive regional markets. Their latest AI-powered SEO solution is available for contractors in Salinas, Monterey, and surrounding areas.

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As enterprises increasingly seek clarity and orchestration in a fragmented AI services market, Altimetrik is doubling down on its strategy by appointing Gurvinder Sahni as Chief Marketing Officer. The announcement comes at a pivotal time for the company, which positions itself as a pure-play AI, data, and digital engineering powerhouse amid surging enterprise demand for scalable AI enablement.

Sahni joins from Persistent Systems, where he led the company’s transformation into a modern AI- and platform-led challenger brand. At Altimetrik, he will report directly to CEO Raj Sundaresan, spearheading global marketing efforts, brand repositioning, and ecosystem engagement across key verticals and geographies.

“Gurvinder joins us at a defining moment,” Sundaresan said. “His ability to translate complex narratives into compelling positioning, coupled with a strong execution mindset and deep industry relationships, will be instrumental in amplifying our differentiated approach.”

A Marketing Veteran for a New Era of AI-First Growth

With more than 20 years in tech marketing, Sahni brings credibility and a track record of elevating challenger brands into recognized leaders. During his time at Wipro, he built out the analyst relations function, developed strategic engagements with the World Economic Forum and NASSCOM, and worked closely with leading advisory and analyst firms such as Gartner, Forrester, IDC, and Everest Group.

His role at Altimetrik is broader and more critical. As AI hype proliferates and enterprises seek substance over flash, Sahni is tasked with cutting through the noise—sharpening Altimetrik’s AI-first narrative and making it accessible, relevant, and differentiated.

AI Marketing Needs a Translator—Sahni Steps In

Altimetrik’s pitch is bold but timely: Enterprises don’t need another point solution; they need an engineering-first orchestrator that can bring together AI, data, cloud, and platform modernization in small, agile increments. It’s a message that’s easy to say, but harder to communicate across C-suites and crowded advisory landscapes.

Sahni's appointment is a strategic move to change that. His mission?

• Elevate brand positioning to reflect Altimetrik’s AI-first leadership

• Create measurable marketing impact aligned to business outcomes

• Strengthen visibility with analysts, partners, and enterprises

• Translate AI capabilities into business-relevant value propositions

• Expand ecosystem momentum, including strategic AI partnerships with players like OpenAI

“Altimetrik is doing something fundamentally different,” Sahni noted. “Its engineering strength, entrepreneurial culture, and Digital Business Methodology give it the credibility to be a true AI-first partner. I look forward to building brand equity and creating lasting impact through modern, data-driven marketing.”

Why It Matters: AI Adoption Is Harder Than It Looks

According to a World Economic Forum report, over 74% of enterprises struggle to adopt AI at scale. The challenge isn’t finding tools—it’s implementing them in ways that deliver ROI, quickly, and without disrupting existing operations.

Altimetrik claims to address this gap through its incremental, product-oriented approach, backed by a global team of over 6,000 practitioners in software, cloud, and data. It’s this no-nonsense, delivery-first approach that Sahni is now responsible for broadcasting at global scale.

The firm has already earned industry recognition:

• Named a Major Contender in Everest Group’s BFSI IT Services Specialists PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025

• Ranked as a Product Challenger in ISG’s Provider Lens™ 2024 for Advanced Analytics and AI Services

Sahni’s arrival is expected to solidify Altimetrik’s standing as a go-to partner for enterprises looking to modernize with purpose—not just chase the AI trend.

A Modern CMO for a Modern AI Services Firm

What sets Sahni apart is his blend of strategic depth and tactical execution. At Persistent, he oversaw end-to-end brand modernization efforts, expanded analyst visibility, and led high-impact storytelling initiatives across multiple verticals.

Now at Altimetrik, Sahni will focus on:

• Developing customer-centric messaging

• Aligning go-to-market execution across sales, marketing, and partnerships

• Scaling brand awareness in North America, India, and emerging markets

• Driving analyst relations and global events strategy

• Launching thought leadership that positions Altimetrik as a pragmatic AI partner, not just a player

His experience working directly with CEOs, boards, and ecosystem stakeholders positions him well to integrate marketing strategy with Altimetrik’s broader business objectives.

Final Word: Signal in the AI Marketing Noise

In a crowded landscape where AI-first messaging often borders on gimmickry, Altimetrik is betting on clarity, outcomes, and engineering credibility. Sahni’s appointment is more than a marketing hire—it’s a signal that the company is ready to scale, differentiate, and lead in a market that increasingly demands real results.

As the AI arms race accelerates, Altimetrik’s human-centered, delivery-focused approach may be the steady hand that enterprises need. And now, with Sahni on board, they might finally hear about it loud and clear.

Altimetrik

Altimetrik is a pure-play AI, data, and digital engineering company helping enterprises unlock business value through incremental digital transformation. Its unique Digital Business Methodology enables clients to scale innovation faster without disrupting core systems. With 6,000+ global experts and partnerships with tech leaders like OpenAI, Altimetrik is redefining how enterprises orchestrate AI and cloud modernization strategies at scale.

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In an era of deepfakes, digital blowups, and AI-generated confusion, communication has never been more high-stakes. A new eBook titled Command the Conversation: Next Level Communications Techniques, launched today, aims to equip leaders with the tools to rise above the noise and lead with clarity, confidence, and control.

Written by Richard Torrenzano, a veteran crisis and reputation strategist, the book distills decades of high-level experience into actionable tactics for executives navigating today's AI-powered, hyperconnected environment.

At a time when brand perception can swing in milliseconds and stakeholder trust is more fragile than ever, Command the Conversation delivers a blueprint for mastering digital-era communications—whether in the C-suite, in front of investors, or under the media spotlight.

More Than a Guide—A Playbook for Power Communicators

This is not your typical leadership book. Think of it as a communications survival kit for modern business leaders. Each chapter is adapted from previously published, bylined articles in Fortune, Directors & Boards, CCBJ, and NACD Directorship, giving readers a mix of real-world insights and proven approaches.

Topics include:

• Engaging AI-aware stakeholders with purpose and precision

• Avoiding common missteps in media interactions and digital PR

• Managing crisis communications during cybersecurity breaches

• Elevating personal and corporate brands under digital scrutiny

• Reclaiming the narrative in high-stakes moments

In a rare move for a leadership release, the book also includes "Tips for Success" after each section—succinct, practical advice tailored to today’s volatile business and media environment.

Grasso Sets the Stage

The foreword is written by Dick Grasso, former CEO and longest-serving chairman of the New York Stock Exchange. Grasso, a stalwart of corporate governance and strategic leadership, lends gravitas to the book’s central thesis: in a digital-first world, communication isn’t an accessory—it’s armor.

“Richard Torrenzano understands that leadership today isn’t just about decisions—it’s about delivering those decisions with impact,” Grasso writes. “This book is a timely and necessary resource for any executive serious about commanding trust in the age of AI.”

Authored by a Voice from the Front Lines

Torrenzano isn’t just theorizing—he’s battle-tested. As the former chief spokesman and member of both the Management and Executive Committees of the NYSE, he’s stood at the crossroads of media, money, and crisis. He now leads The Torrenzano Group, a firm known for steering organizations through reputation and brand turbulence.

With a sharp focus on cybersecurity, AI, brand integrity, and stakeholder trust, his latest work continues a trajectory shaped by his earlier co-authored best-seller Digital Assassination, a warning bell about online attacks published over a decade ago—long before cancel culture or viral takedowns entered the business lexicon.

Give Back While You Read

In a novel philanthropic twist, Command the Conversation invites readers to donate any amount they choose to one of two children’s charities—the Police Athletic League or the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots—in exchange for their copy of the book. The initiative blends leadership development with social impact, offering executives a way to grow while giving back.

A Must-Read for Today's Decision Makers

Whether you're a CEO managing shareholder trust in a volatile market, a CMO protecting brand equity in an era of misinformation, or a founder stepping into the spotlight for the first time, Command the Conversation is built to help you lead louder, smarter, and stronger.

In a world where AI-generated content is blurring truths and weaponizing narratives, the ability to “own the message” is no longer optional—it’s existential.

As Torrenzano puts it:

“If you’re not shaping the story, you’re probably being shaped by it.”

How to Access

Executives and professionals can download the eBook and make their charitable contribution through The Torrenzano Group’s official site or by searching Command the Conversation eBook.

Author

Richard Torrenzano is CEO of The Torrenzano Group, a leading reputation and crisis management consultancy. With experience spanning Wall Street, Washington, and the world stage, Torrenzano is a trusted advisor on AI, cyberattacks, financial markets, and corporate branding.

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LIMELIGHT, the growth communications agency known for serving legal, professional services, and B2B tech clients, just made a bold play for expansion—naming Amy Hanan as its new Chief Growth Officer. With decades of experience leading digital transformation at firms like LRN Corporation, ALM Media, and Reorg Research, Hanan steps in to supercharge LIMELIGHT’s marketing innovation and client growth services at a critical inflection point for the agency.

A Digital-First Vision for B2B Growth

As CGO, Hanan will helm the agency’s digital and growth marketing services—from strategic GTM execution to revenue acceleration—bringing both scale and sophistication to LIMELIGHT’s rapidly expanding client base. She also joins the agency’s fractional CMO practice, supporting clients who need executive-level marketing guidance without hiring full-time.

“Amy is a proven marketing leader who understands how to build modern, digitally fluent programs that move the needle,” said Kenny Gary, CEO and founding partner at LIMELIGHT. “She’s an ideal fit as we deepen our offering to meet the complex, evolving needs of today’s B2B brands.”

It’s a timely move. As B2B companies face pressure to deliver measurable impact in tough markets, they’re leaning into outsourced growth strategy, brand storytelling, and marketing operations that blend creativity with analytics.

Battle-Tested Experience in Complex Markets

Before joining LIMELIGHT, Hanan was Chief Marketing Officer at LRN, a global compliance and ethics SaaS platform serving over 3,000 organizations. There, she led a full-scale brand modernization initiative, helping position LRN as a strategic player in an increasingly crowded category.

Her earlier roles at ALM Media, Baretz+Brunelle, and Octus (formerly Reorg Research) further cemented her credentials in content-led growth, audience development, and digital marketing. Across all these roles, a common theme emerges: translating complex value propositions into high-performing customer journeys.

“Amy’s depth of experience in content, digital strategy, and brand storytelling aligns perfectly with LIMELIGHT’s mission,” said Erin Harrison, CCO and founding partner. “She shares our passion for elevating clients at the intersection of innovation, influence, and impact.”

More Than Growth—A Strategic Evolution

Hanan’s appointment signals more than a title change—it’s a strategic elevation of the agency’s growth engine. With her guidance, LIMELIGHT is expected to:

• Expand digital marketing service offerings

• Enhance performance-led content strategies

• Deepen CMO-level advisory support for clients

• Establish new strategic partnerships

• Grow its geographic and sectoral footprint

“The agency has built a stellar reputation helping clients lead in complex markets,” said Hanan. “I’m excited to bring fresh strategies and a digital mindset to help those brands unlock new growth possibilities.”

The Bigger Picture: Growth-as-a-Service

Hanan’s hire reflects a growing trend in growth-as-a-service models—a hybrid of strategic advisory and hands-on marketing execution tailored for specialized B2B sectors like legal, fintech, and compliance tech. With marketing increasingly accountable for business results, LIMELIGHT’s integrated model appeals to firms that need more than brand polish—they need pipeline.

And as AI reshapes martech stacks, privacy tightens targeting options, and buyers demand authenticity, agencies like LIMELIGHT that blend communications savvy with performance marketing are well-positioned to lead.

About LIMELIGHT

LIMELIGHT is a growth communications and marketing agency focused on professional services, legal services, B2B technology, and innovation-driven industries. The agency helps brands build influence, drive demand, and achieve measurable impact through PR, content strategy, brand development, and digital marketing.

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Gray Media, Inc. has appointed Shalayna Valencia as the new General Manager and Director of Sales for KOSA-TV, its CBS affiliate in Odessa, Texas—a move that reflects the company’s continued focus on cultivating proven local leadership amid an evolving media landscape.

With over two decades of experience in broadcast and digital advertising, Valencia’s appointment signals a push toward stronger cross-platform strategies for Gray’s West Texas properties, where local storytelling and market familiarity remain essential.

“Shalayna is a dynamic and accomplished leader with deep roots in West Texas and an exceptional track record across broadcast and digital sales,” said a company spokesperson. “Her strategic mindset and people-first leadership style are a perfect match for KOSA’s next chapter.”

A Career Built on Community and Cross-Channel Growth

A native of Levelland, Texas, Valencia is no stranger to the Permian Basin media scene. She began her career as an Account Executive at KWES in Midland/Odessa before rising through leadership roles at Townsquare Media, where she served as Market President, and more recently at Hearst, where she led as Digital Sales Director.

Valencia has been widely recognized for her ability to drive results while cultivating high-performing, community-centric teams. Her arrival at KOSA comes at a time when local broadcasters are navigating the increasing intersection of traditional TV and digital engagement—with stations expected to deliver not just viewership, but integrated audience experiences across web, social, mobile, and OTT.

“I’ve always believed in the power of local media to uplift communities and inform citizens,” Valencia shared in a prepared statement. “This opportunity to return home and lead one of the most trusted local brands in the region is both humbling and exciting.”

The Broader Play: Gray Media’s Hyperlocal Focus

Valencia’s appointment aligns with Gray Media’s national strategy of empowering local stations with autonomy, innovation, and accountability. As the largest owner of top-rated local television stations in the U.S., Gray serves 113 markets—and in 78 of those, it owns the #1-rated TV station.

This hyperlocal dominance is bolstered by a robust portfolio that includes:

• Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency

• Leading Spanish-language affiliates, with the largest Telemundo group in the country

• Production arms like Raycom Sports and Tupelo Media Group

• Studio facilities including Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios

While national media brands chase scale through programmatic and streaming, Gray’s model is about deepening its local advantage—and that means investing in the right leaders for the right markets.

“When you combine Shalayna’s West Texas roots with her expertise in digital and broadcast growth, you get a leader uniquely capable of connecting with both audiences and advertisers in a meaningful way,” the company added.

Why It Matters

With linear television viewership continuing to evolve, and digital-first consumers increasingly fragmented across platforms, local stations face rising pressure to do more than broadcast news. They must deliver integrated marketing solutions that work across Google, Meta, CTV, and traditional channels. Valencia’s mix of small-market insight and digital acumen positions her to build revenue while preserving editorial integrity—a delicate but essential balance in local journalism.

Her leadership also represents an important signal that Gray is doubling down on trusted talent to lead in a time of massive industry transformation—where AI tools, first-party data, and omnichannel reach will decide who survives and who fades.

Gray Media, Inc.

Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE: GTN) is the largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the United States, serving 113 television markets and reaching approximately 37% of U.S. households. The company operates leading Spanish-language and English-language broadcast brands, along with a growing portfolio of digital and video production businesses. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Gray is committed to empowering communities through journalism, innovation, and local leadership.

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