Meet Marco Romero of Los Angeles / OC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marco Romero.

Hi Marco, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am from the South Bay area in the city of Lawndale, CA. After high school I started working in retail, and started working at Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2015 while I was working towards transferring from community college to a university with a degree in marketing/advertising. My time at DSG is where I can say that I learned all of the tools that I would carry with me throughout my professional career. Learning from DSG legends like Val, Deon, Andres, Larae, Javier, Sara, Nani, Ashley, and Josh; I learned how to be a great leader and someone who is proud to lead a team and celebrate our accomplishments whether it was a department move, or a new product release, We made the most of every obstacle that came our way. Once I got my degree in Advertising/Public Relations from California State University in 2021, I made the scary decision to completely start over and change career paths going from retail to marketing. I started my marketing career with Shriners Children’s Southern California. I will never forget the amazing memories and lessons learned at DSG, hoping to use my skills to move up quickly and reach the level that I was at in DSG which was an Assistant Manager going to be a Store Manager shortly.

I would not have been able to make this jump in my career without the support of my wife (girlfriend back then). She supported our household while I took over a 50% salary cut in order to go after my dream of being a marketing professional with the ultimate goal of becoming a Chief Marketing Officer or having my own marketing business.

At Shriners Children’s I met my mentor in Connie. She taught me everything she knew in marketing and communications, and gave me the confidence to really hone in on my skills and grow as a professional. Here is where I learned the craft of storytelling for a purpose. meeting the incredible kids at the medical center and getting to share their story whether on social media, press, or the website was an amazing experience. As a marketing professional, I knew that I needed to learn more about the business, not from a non-profit, storytelling aspect, but from a corporate perspective and being able to have a comfortable home life financially. This when I got the opportunity to work in the Marketing Department at the Commerce Casino.

My time as the Marketing & Advertising Manager at The Commerce Casino & Hotel was a pivotal chapter that truly pushed me to elevate my versatility as a marketer and leader. It gave me the perfect launchpad to bring together key elements of my career, combining the narrative storytelling foundation I built at Shriners with dynamic event management and high-impact digital campaigns. I took deep pride in honing my skills in partnership development, forging valuable co-marketing opportunities with external brands and influencers, and creating guest engagement strategies that brought our events to life. Leading my team through every campaign allowed me to refine my approach to integrated marketing while sharpening my ability to deliver measurable results.

It was also a role that taught me invaluable lessons about resilience and adaptability. Navigating a period of organizational transition marked by shifting direction from executive leadership and significant departmental turnover required me to step up as a grounded, steady presence for my team. Even when broader structural changes ultimately led to the department being restructured and laid off, I walked away with immense pride in what we accomplished together. Weathering those high-pressure challenges didn’t just sharpen my strategic mindset, it proved my ability to lead through uncertainty, fueling the vision and drive.

In the midst of one of the toughest summers of my life, I was able to land the Director of Marketing & Strategic position at Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles.

My time as Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications at Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles was one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. Leading our regional marketing and communications strategy allowed me to merge high-impact brand initiatives with meaningful, mission-driven storytelling. From expanding our digital footprint and managing multi-channel campaigns for flagship events like the Wish Gala, to spearheading executive visibility and high-profile media partnerships like our ‘Wish Wednesday’ segments on KTLA, I took immense pride in driving donor engagement and elevating our community presence. Working alongside such a passionate team to help transform wishes into reality reinforced my deep belief in the power of authentic messaging to move people to action.

When an unexpected organizational shift led to my role being laid off this past July, it marked a turning point that ultimately unlocked an exciting new horizon. As I navigate my search for my next full-time executive role, that pivot gave me the courage to step out on my own and officially launch my marketing consulting agency, MR7 Digital Co. Drawing from my hands-on background across corporate hospitality, retail, and non-profits, I am building MR7 Digital Co. from the ground up to help local businesses, especially in hospitality, retail, and law; harness strategic storytelling to build brand authority and drive foot traffic through the door. I am thrilled to build this agency into a true success, bring my expertise to new partners, and see where this next era takes me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
it has not always been a smooth road. Dealing first with the change in financials when I restarted my career put a strain on my personal life, but I was able to get through it. dealing with uncertainty of being laid off twice so close together also puts a lot of stress on myself and my family as we are trying to navigate through this yet again.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Throughout my career in marketing and communications, I have had the opportunity to create and support brand strategies, multi-channel campaigns, and digital initiatives across corporate hospitality, sports retail, and non-profits. My focus has always been on bridging authentic storytelling with measurable business growth. Over the years, I’ve developed a versatile approach, working on everything from short-form video and SEO optimization to targeted campaigns and media partnerships that help build brand credibility and drive foot traffic. Today, as the founder of MR7 Digital Co., I am dedicated to bringing those same strategic principles to small and growing businesses in hospitality, retail, and law.

What I take the most pride in is leading and supporting teams through periods of organizational transition while keeping our core mission and goals on track. During my time as Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications at Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles, I was fortunate to work alongside a dedicated team to strengthen our local presence, supporting initiatives like our ‘Wish Wednesday’ KTLA segments, leadership communications, and campaign roadmaps for events like the Wish Gala. Being able to help simplify complex ideas, keep teams aligned, and turn strategy into real community impact is what truly drives me.

What sets me apart is a varied background and a grounded approach to leadership. Rather than focusing solely on traditional advertising or digital execution, my perspective has been shaped by real-world experience across corporate entertainment, retail operations, and non-profit communications. Navigating complex organizational changes, and ultimately using those lessons to launch MR7 Digital Co., taught me how to combine authentic storytelling with practical, data-backed strategy. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: help a brand’s message connect meaningfully with people while keeping a steady focus on business growth.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My advice would be to really put yourself out there and have real conversations with other professionals like you. Tell them what your goals are and how you would see yourself achieving them. Look to inspire people with your story and goals, and the right people will come to you. I was fortunate to meet my mentor at my first marketing job. Connie and I made a real connection where we both cared and looked to each others successes.

Pricing:

• Contact MR7Digitalco@gmail.com for more information and inquiries

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mr7digitalco.weebly.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-romero-58226395/