Hunter Marketing is proud to announce that our founder and CEO, Elspeth “Elle” Paige-Sack, recently joined the Columbus Chamber of Commerce on an episode of their podcast, “cbuzz,” to share her journey from industry veteran to founder of a thriving marketing agency.
From Pizza to Purpose
A natural salesperson and wickedly competitive creative thinker, Elle has an impressive marketing background that includes big brand names like Papa Johns, where she led innovative campaigns in cross-promotional and sports marketing. After nearly a decade of raising the bar for Papa Johns, Elle dreamed of doing something other than pizza. Thus, she shifted to the agency world, where she worked with some of the world’s biggest and best creative agencies and got the chance to expand her expertise to a variety of industries.
However, this still wasn’t enough for Elle; she continued to seek new ways to challenge herself. The ultimate moment of transformation came when she found out she was going to be a mom to her daughter, Madison Rose. She said, “Finding out that I was going to be Madison Rose’s mom was the trigger that I needed to overcome all of those fears and nervousness [about starting a business] because I had this person who was going to look up to me who I needed to make proud.”
Fueled by this newfound clarity and drive, Elle launched Hunter with a mission to tell meaningful stories, align with like-minded clients and create work that resonates deeply with its audiences.
The Values that Drive Hunter
Elle built Hunter on a foundation of integrity, creativity and joy. “Integrity is all we have,” she said, whether that means being true to yourself or bringing authenticity to your work.
A true optimist, Elle believes in bringing joy to our work, team and clients. “I want the people who work with us to know that we see ourselves as part of their team, and when they come to talk to us, it should be fun, because we’re thinking about creative ways to solve their marketing challenges.” From working with nonprofits to professional sports teams, Elle prioritizes alignment with shared values and authentic storytelling.
As a woman-owned business, Hunter’s mission includes uplifting others. Elle launched the Madison Rose Initiative, a philanthropic program offering up to $2,500 in free marketing support to minority-owned businesses. “We prioritize giving back,” she said, demonstrating a commitment to leveraging success for good.
Evolving with Changes and Challenges
Elle reflected on the challenges of adapting to entrepreneurship, becoming a mom and navigating the pandemic. “Reaching out to the very first employee I hired was terrifying,” she admitted. “She believes in me and trusts me, and I can never let her down.” That mentality has remained a guiding principle for Elle as Hunter has grown — building trust both within our team and with our clients.
The marketing industry is ever changing, and Elle ensures that Hunter stays ahead of the curve. She sees technology, particularly AI, as a valuable tool rather than a threat. “It hasn’t taken anyone’s job and it never will, but it enhances the work we’re doing,” she explained. From analyzing data to building detailed audience profiles, AI has helped Hunter deliver faster, smarter solutions for our clients.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Elle is now preparing to expand Hunter’s reach, including launching a sports marketing arm. “I always go back to looking for allegiances in partnership marketing,” she said. “I’m working on a big plan to bring a sports marketing arm into Hunter because I love the work, and the team loves the excitement.” Despite this growth, Hunter remains grounded in its mission: to create impactful work that matters.
For women considering the leap into entrepreneurship, Elle offered this wisdom: “Align yourself with an army of people who are like-minded and think like you do, share ideas, don’t be afraid to trip — I make a lot of mistakes, but I’m learning from them, and I’m getting stronger from them.”
“Don’t apologize. Think thoughtfully about what you’re doing and why, then GO! You got this!”
Elle’s story is one of courage, growth and impact. As Hunter celebrates its fifth anniversary, it’s clear we are just getting started.