What We Are Not

Hickman Consulting Partners is not a traditional consulting firm.  We do more than observe, analyze and drop off a report.  We understand what it takes to create effective plans and processes, because we all have implemented our own plans and been held accountable for results.  We work with you as a team to ensure that our projects deliver the results you need. 

We refuse to nickel and dime our clients.  You'll be pleasantly surprised to find that we don't bill you for every hour we spend working to drive results for you.  We understand that you have planned a budget for our project, and we pride ourselves in sticking to it.

We don't treat your marketing budget as someone else's money.  We carefully consider every investment we recommend, just as if your marketing budget were our own.  We work with you to maximize every dollar spent.  Our consultants have worked with national US companies with large media budgets as well as startups and companies in developing countries with very limited funds to invest. 

For the duration of our project - and often longer - we are part of your team.

About the Principal

Mary Ellen Hickman is a seasoned brand manager and marketing strategy consultant with more than a decade of experience and results in the US and overseas.  She has successfully built and implemented numerous marketing plans, from developing brand strategy and communications to executing consumer promotions and grassroots marketing initiatives.  She provides concrete solutions that drive short- and long-term revenue growth. 

Her qualifications include:

• In-market expertise in the highly competitive market of US consumer packaged goods, particularly in new brand strategy development and new product launch
• Experience developing and evaluating TV, radio, print, outdoor and web advertising at Coors, Warner-Lambert and Kraft
• Expertise in leading cross-functional teams to deliver strong results
• International consulting and marketing experience in Ukraine, Russia and Germany

She has successfully applied her skills across diverse businesses, including national and international consumer packaged goods, non-profit organizations and small businesses.  She has worked with international companies with multi-million dollar budgets and startups with limited resources, and is known for her ability to creatively develop programs and tactics that both meet the needs of the organization and maximize every dollar spent.

Mary Ellen specialized in general management and marketing to receive her MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.  She graduated cum laude from Georgetown University with a degree in Russian language and Russian area studies.