Curious enough to find the truth.
Experienced enough to move on it.
SMI is a senior-led marketing firm built to help complex organizations reach clarity, make confident decisions and get meaningful work into the market faster.
Built Differently. On Purpose.
SMI was created around a simple belief: clients should have direct access to experienced people who can think strategically, make the work and keep it moving.
Our model is intentionally lean and flexible. We bring the right senior talent to each challenge, stay close from strategy through execution and avoid layers that create distance, delay and unnecessary cost. That structure helps us learn quickly, solve problems with less day-to-day direction and create momentum for internal teams that already have plenty to manage.
We call it being Digitally Native and Curiously Unafraid: comfortable with change, driven by better questions and willing to follow the evidence toward the strongest answer.
What Curiously Unafraid Means
Better marketing starts with better questions. We challenge assumptions, test conventional wisdom and look for the meaningful truth inside complicated situations. We are willing to say what the evidence suggests—not simply what is familiar or expected—because clarity is what allows great work to move quickly.
How We Are Structured
Senior-led
Experienced strategists and makers are directly involved in the work.
Channel and technology agnostic
We recommend what the challenge requires, not what an agency department needs to sell.
Lean and flexible
We assemble the right resources around the problem and scale as needs change.
We connect brand, sales, marketing and technology instead of treating them as separate conversations.
Built for integration
Focused on insight
We use data to guide decisions, improve the work and direct investment.
Leadership
Mark Shrout
CEO
Mark brings decades of experience across brand strategy, content strategy, client leadership and complex marketing initiatives. He is especially skilled at helping organizations clarify the real challenge, align stakeholders and turn strategic direction into work that can move.
Jason Fusco
VP, Digital Strategy
Jason connects digital strategy, marketing technology and execution. His experience spans website initiatives, digital ecosystems, analytics and practical technology decisions that help marketing teams work more efficiently and create better customer experiences.
Michael Paoletti
VP, Experience / Creative Director
Michael turns strategy into clear, compelling experiences. His work spans creative direction, user experience, brand storytelling and digital design—ensuring that the central idea remains intact from early thinking through final execution.
Senior thinking should accelerate the work—not complicate it.
Meet the team built to help you find clarity and get moving.