She pulled out her phone, hit record, and in that moment, turned a single bite into a viral sensation. In 2024, at the bustling State Fair of Texas, a Dallas-based micro-influencer took a slow, dramatic bite of Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick. The sticky-sweet crunch, the over-the-top reaction—pure marketing gold. Within hours, the video racked up millions of views, setting social media on fire and catapulting an otherwise niche fair snack into national fame.
But this wasn’t just a stroke of luck—it was the work of a carefully orchestrated influencer campaign by 101Media, a Dallas-based agency that understands virality better than most.
And behind that agency? A CEO with the vision to turn momentary internet fame into long-term brand impact. In a city known for its booming marketing industry, who are the leaders engineering these groundbreaking influencer strategies? Let’s meet the top 9 CEOs behind Dallas’ most successful influencer marketing agencies.
Top 9 CEOs of Influencer Marketing Companies in Dallas
Behind every groundbreaking influencer campaign is a CEO with the vision to turn creativity into measurable impact. From pioneering e-commerce platforms to launching AI-powered influencer strategies, these leaders are shaping the future of digital marketing in Dallas—one viral moment at a time.
1. Baxter Box & Amber Venz Box
When it comes to influencer marketing in Dallas, few names carry as much weight as Baxter Box and Amber Venz Box, the husband-and-wife team behind LTK (formerly rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it). Together, they didn’t just build a company—they pioneered an entire industry, transforming social media content into a thriving e-commerce powerhouse.
Amber’s journey from fashion blogger to multimillionaire entrepreneur is the kind of success story social media dreams are made of. After spotting a gap in the market, she co-founded LTK in 2011, giving influencers the tools to monetize their content like never before. The result? Creator Commerce™, a revolutionary model that has empowered thousands of digital creators to turn their personal brands into profitable businesses. With a Forbes 30 Under 30 title and a net worth once estimated at $315 million, Amber continues to redefine what it means to be a creator in the digital age.
While Amber built the creative foundation of LTK, Baxter engineered the platform’s business and technology strategy. With a background in finance, investing, and tech startups, he played a critical role in scaling LTK into a global e-commerce giant. Under his leadership as CEO, the company has partnered with 8,000+ retailers, driven nearly $5 billion in annual sales, and turned influencer marketing into a mainstream revenue channel.
From a small startup to a global leader in influencer marketing, LTK has helped create over 1,000 influencer millionaires and remains at the forefront of digital commerce. .
2. Ahmed Khalaf
In the fast-paced world of influencer marketing, Ahmed Khalaf has built POMOROI into a powerhouse of data-driven strategies and brand storytelling. As the Founder and CEO, he has taken the agency from a promising startup to a leading full-service marketing firm in Dallas, known for its performance-driven influencer campaigns that turn engagement into measurable growth.
Ahmed’s background is a blend of sales leadership and digital marketing innovation, with over 18 years of experience in helping brands scale. Before launching POMOROI, he led sales expansions at Hearst, growing digital markets across multiple U.S. cities.
Founded in 2016, POMOROI is built on integrated marketing solutions that go beyond the standard "set it and forget it" approach. The agency specializes in brand identity, digital strategy, and influencer partnerships, ensuring every campaign adapts in real-time for continuous optimization. With clients spanning retail, tech, healthcare, and real estate, POMOROI’s reach is as diverse as its expertise.
Certified as a Semrush Agency Partner, POMOROI’s data-backed strategies have earned it a place among Dallas' top influencer marketing firms.
3. Ladd Biro
When it comes to influencer marketing and brand storytelling, Ladd Biro is a name that stands out in Dallas. As the Founder and Principal of Champion Management, he has spent over two decades crafting high-impact marketing strategies that drive engagement, build buzz, and deliver results.
Ladd’s career is a masterclass in strategic brand building. With over 35 years of experience in marketing, communications, and public relations, he has worked with major brands, athletes, and influencers to create omnichannel campaigns that truly move the needle. From his early days in sports marketing with American Airlines to leading PR initiatives for top-tier brands, his expertise spans traditional media, digital strategies, and influencer partnerships.
Founded in 2002, Champion Management started as a sports and entertainment marketing firm but has since evolved into a full-service PR and influencer marketing powerhouse. The agency specializes in media relations, social media, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals with college athletes, and high-profile celebrity collaborations. With a holistic marketing approach, Champion seamlessly integrates multiple strategies to maximize brand awareness and audience engagement.
4. Amy Power
With over 30 years of experience in public relations and marketing, Amy Power has built The Power Group into one of Dallas’ top PR and influencer marketing agencies. Her role as CEO has led the firm to national recognition, helping brands tell their stories, build influence, and navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Founded in 1999, The Power Group blends classic PR principles with modern digital strategies. The agency specializes in media relations, social media, influencer partnerships, crisis communications, and event marketing, ensuring brands have a strong, authentic voice in the market. Whether working with startups or nationally recognized brands, Amy and her team bring a mix of creativity, strategy, and data-driven execution to every campaign.
Amy has positioned The Power Group as a leader in influencer marketing, leveraging micro-influencers, AI-driven insights, and niche creators to maximize brand impact. Beyond running a top-tier PR and marketing firm, Amy is also deeply involved in leadership and mentorship. As President of the Dallas chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization and a Forbes Agency Council contributor, she’s dedicated to empowering businesswomen and fostering innovation in marketing.
Recognized with multiple industry awards—including Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces and PR Daily’s Digital PR Awards—Amy Power continues to set the standard for influencer marketing and brand storytelling in Dallas.
5. Kristen Standish
With a career spanning over 20 years in marketing, media, and e-commerce, Kristen Standish is redefining influencer marketing through data-driven innovation. Her involvement with VizSense has resulted in a leading AI-powered consumer insights company that blends cutting-edge technology with strategic influencer campaigns to help brands maximize their reach and impact.
Founded in 2015, VizSense is more than just an influencer marketing agency—it’s a MarTech powerhouse. By using proprietary AI technology, the agency identifies emerging trends, audience behaviors, and brand sentiment, ensuring that every campaign is optimized for performance and measurable ROI. VizSense specializes in micro-influencer marketing, leveraging a mix of AI analytics and human expertise to create highly targeted, high-impact campaigns.
Before taking the helm at VizSense, Kristen founded RazHer Collaborative, a women-owned marketing agency dedicated to supporting BIPOC and mission-driven brands. She also played a pivotal role in scaling and selling Grapevine Village, one of the first SaaS-based influencer marketing platforms, proving her talent for turning startups into industry leaders.
Under Kristen’s leadership, VizSense is at the forefront of AI-driven influencer strategies, helping brands navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. With expertise in AI, consumer behavior, and digital storytelling, she’s not just keeping up with trends—she’s creating them.
6. Josh Whitaker
With over 20 years of experience in marketing, strategy, and digital innovation, Josh Whitaker has built iluminere into a go-to agency for full-funnel digital marketing and influencer campaigns. As a Managing Partner, he combines creativity, technology, and media to deliver high-impact marketing strategies that drive real business growth.
Founded in 2014, iluminere is more than just a digital agency—it’s a marketing powerhouse that helps brands cut through the noise with bold, data-driven strategies. The agency specializes in social media management, digital advertising, and influencer marketing, crafting campaigns that engage audiences and maximize ROI.
Whitaker and his team believe in aggressive innovation, constantly testing and refining strategies until they find winning solutions. This fail-fast, adapt-fast mentality has positioned iluminere as a leader in digital transformation, helping brands connect with the right influencers, optimize content, and turn engagement into conversions.
Before co-founding iluminere, Josh held leadership roles at The LOOMIS Agency, To Create Action, and Red Bull, where he honed his expertise in marketing strategy, brand development, and digital media. His background in helping challenger brands gives him a unique perspective on how to maximize impact without overspending—a philosophy that defines iluminere’s approach today.
7. Asheesh Bhardwaj
For over 15 years, Asheesh Bhardwaj has been at the forefront of digital marketing, influencer strategy, and brand storytelling. As Founder and CEO of Addictive Media, he has built an innovative agency that blends creativity with data-driven execution, helping brands connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.
Founded in 2008, Addictive Media specializes in influencer marketing, social media campaigns, and brand management, curating influencer partnerships that resonate with target audiences and drive real engagement. With a vast influencer network spanning multiple industries, Addictive Media ensures brands collaborate with the right voices to maximize visibility and impact.
Asheesh’s expertise extends beyond influencer marketing—his background in UI/UX design, digital strategy, and growth marketing gives him a unique ability to craft seamless brand experiences. From boosting organic traffic by 347% to growing social media followings from 10K to 2M, his approach to digital branding is both highly creative and performance-driven.
Beyond Addictive Media, Asheesh has played a pivotal role in growth marketing for major brands and continues to push the boundaries of influencer-driven campaigns. With a passion for innovation and a commitment to delivering measurable results, he is shaping the future of digital marketing, influencer strategy, and brand engagement—one creative campaign at a time.
8. Jordan Nix
As the Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of The Nix Company, she has built a full-service agency that blends strategic storytelling with bold, eye-catching design to help brands stand out in the digital space.
Founded in 2018, The Nix Company is a Dallas-based agency specializing in social media management, content creation, and influencer marketing. Whether working with international candy brands, consumer packaged goods, commercial real estate firms, or startups, Jordan and her team develop custom marketing strategies that drive engagement, brand loyalty, and sales.
With a keen eye for design and a deep understanding of digital trends, Jordan has built an agency that doesn’t just keep up with social media shifts—it stays ahead of them. From sourcing and negotiating influencer collaborations to managing full-scale brand campaigns, The Nix Company ensures that every partnership maximizes visibility and impact.
Before launching The Nix Company, Jordan honed her expertise as Director of Social Media & Digital Marketing at International Food Associates, crafting brand strategies and influencer-driven campaigns for national and global brands. Her experience in e-commerce, digital advertising, and community engagement makes her a trusted leader in the influencer marketing space.
9. Benjamin B. Kaplan
Few leaders in influencer marketing and digital PR bring the analytical precision and viral marketing expertise of Benjamin B. Kaplan. Kaplan, the Founder and CEO of TOP Agency, has built a global marketing powerhouse that seamlessly integrates influencer marketing, public relations, and data-driven strategy to help brands break through the noise.
Founded as a network of specialized agencies, TOP Agency operates in 20+ countries, offering brands full-service influencer marketing solutions that go beyond traditional outreach. By focusing on mid-tier influencers who have achieved viral success, Kaplan’s team ensures authentic, high-impact brand partnerships that drive measurable results.
TOP Agency doesn’t just connect brands with influencers—it optimizes the entire process, from sourcing and negotiations to content creation, campaign execution, and analytics. With proprietary methods like A/B testing PR pitches and analyzing audience sentiment, Kaplan has transformed influencer marketing into a scientific discipline.
A Harvard-trained economist, Kaplan’s career spans media, technology, and strategic communications. Before founding TOP Agency, he was a syndicated columnist, media spokesperson for major brands like Dr. Pepper, and a guest expert on Oprah and Good Morning America. His ability to blend storytelling with data has made him a sought-after thought leader in viral marketing and audience growth strategies.
Shaping the Future: Dallas’ Influencer Marketing CEOs Leading the Charge
The success of viral campaigns like 101Media’s Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick proves that influencer marketing is both an art and a science. But behind every viral moment is a visionary CEO turning engagement into business impact. From Amber Venz Box revolutionizing e-commerce with LTK to Ahmed Khalaf’s data-driven strategies at POMOROI, these leaders are redefining the way brands connect with audiences. Whether through AI-powered insights, influencer collaborations, or bold creative storytelling, these CEOs are setting new standards for the influencer marketing service firms in Dallas—proving that innovation is the true currency of digital success.
