As agencies face rising pressure to specialize, scale, and prove business impact, Elysium Marketing Group is adding something many founder-led firms wait years to formalize: outside perspective at the top.

The full-service marketing agency has announced the formation of its inaugural Board of Advisors, a strategic move designed to support its next stage of growth as it deepens its focus on franchise, restaurant, and multi-location brands. Founded in 2015 by Elyse Lupin, Elysium has steadily expanded its footprint across digital marketing, public relations, and creative services—and now appears to be professionalizing its governance to match its ambitions.

Why an advisory board—and why now

For growing agencies, advisory boards often signal a shift from founder-led momentum to more deliberate, scalable growth. In Elysium’s case, the timing reflects both market dynamics and internal maturity.

The agency has carved out distinct niches in the franchise and restaurant sectors, industries facing their own digital transformation challenges—from local SEO and reputation management to brand consistency across locations. As client needs become more complex, agencies increasingly rely on multidisciplinary insight to guide strategy, operations, and risk management.

Elysium’s newly formed board pulls expertise from finance, legal, HR, franchising, and hospitality—areas that directly intersect with the agency’s core client base.

Meet the 2026 Board of Advisors

The Elysium Marketing Group 2026 Board of Advisors includes senior leaders with operational and executive experience across multiple industries:

• Veronica A. Cram, MBA, MAcc, Founder and Chief Consultant, InSight Strategic Solutions

• Maureen DiStefano, CFE, Director, Potbelly Sandwich Works

• Steve Lupin, Esq., Partner, Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

• Marcia O’Connor, CEO and Founder, The O’Connor Group

• Shawn Utke, CEO, The Friendly Toast

Collectively, the group brings hands-on experience in financial strategy, franchising operations, legal governance, human capital, and hospitality leadership—disciplines that often sit just outside a traditional agency’s core competencies but heavily influence client outcomes.

Strategic guidance over surface-level advice

According to Lupin, the board isn’t about optics—it’s about accountability and insight.

“While Elysium has evolved significantly from our early days, I recognize the value of collaborating with professionals esteemed in their industries who can provide smart guidance and critical insights,” Lupin said. “These individuals are lending their time and counsel as we prepare for pivotal growth and long-term success.”

That framing matters. Advisory boards can fail when they exist in name only. Elysium’s emphasis on “critical insights” suggests the board will play an active role in shaping decisions related to expansion, positioning, and client strategy.

A broader agency trend takes shape

Elysium’s move mirrors a broader trend across the agency landscape. As marketing firms compete not just on creativity but on strategic depth, many are borrowing from private equity and enterprise playbooks—introducing advisory boards to de-risk growth and sharpen focus.

This is particularly relevant in sectors like franchising and hospitality, where marketing outcomes are tightly linked to operational realities. An agency that understands unit economics, labor challenges, compliance, and multi-location governance is better positioned to deliver results that extend beyond impressions and clicks.

By formalizing access to that expertise, Elysium is signaling to clients—and competitors—that it intends to operate with greater strategic rigor.

What it means for clients and partners

For Elysium’s clients, the advisory board could translate into more informed strategy, better alignment with business realities, and a stronger long-term partner. For the agency itself, it’s a foundation for sustainable growth that doesn’t rely solely on founder intuition.

As marketing agencies continue to mature alongside their clients, governance and guidance are becoming competitive advantages in their own right. Elysium Marketing Group’s first advisory board marks a clear step in that direction.

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