Professional Profile

Strategic communication leader, agency founder, marketing strategist, educator, and business operator with more than 20 years of experience across advertising, media, digital strategy, analytics, brand development, client service, financial services marketing, and agency operations.

Founder and CEO of HIFI Agency, a Raleigh-based financial services marketing firm serving banks, credit unions, fintech companies, wealth management firms, payments companies, mortgage organizations, and financial technology brands. Since founding HIFI in 2020, Hunter has led the agency from startup to a 25-person firm projected to approach $8 million in revenue in its sixth year. In 2025, HIFI was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America, ranking #2,799 nationally and #70 in North Carolina.

Hunter’s career spans agency leadership, enterprise digital product management, bank marketing and analytics, client service, creative strategy, and entrepreneurship. Across senior roles at HIFI Agency, Mabus Agency, First Bank, BB&T / Truist, Three Ships, and S+R Communications, he has built teams, led client and executive strategy, managed digital and media programs, developed marketing operations, and helped organizations connect strategic communication to measurable business outcomes.

His teaching interests focus on the business realities of modern advertising, public relations, and strategic communication: how agencies operate, how clients make marketing decisions, how media and creative work are budgeted and billed, how data should inform but not distort decision-making, and how students can develop the business judgment needed to succeed in communications careers.

Teaching and Professional Education Experience

Hunter has taught professional education programs for banking executives, marketing leaders, communication professionals, compliance officers, and small business owners, with a focus on translating marketing, media, data, technology, and business strategy into practical leadership and organizational decision-making.

Faculty / Instructor   –   American Bankers Association Bank Marketing School  |  Emory University, Atlanta, GA  |  2017 to Present

Teach professional education sessions for bank marketing leaders and rising financial services professionals, with emphasis on marketing strategy, digital transformation, customer experience, data-informed decision-making, and the evolving role of marketing inside financial institutions.

Faculty / Instructor   –   Southeastern School of Banking  |  2020 to 2025

Taught professional education sessions for banking leaders on marketing strategy, customer experience, digital transformation, data-informed decision-making, and the role of communications in organizational growth.

Faculty / Instructor   –   North Carolina Bankers Association  |  2025 to Present

Teach “Bank Marketing and Your Role,” a foundational course for banking executives on how marketing functions inside a financial institution, including marketing’s relationship to brand, product, digital strategy, customer experience, analytics, and organizational growth.

Instructor / Lecturer   –   North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center  |  2012 to 2017

Taught classes for small and midsize business leaders across North Carolina on technology, marketing strategy, consumer behavior, data, and business transformation.

Professional Experience

Founder and CEO   –   HIFI Agency  |  2020 to Present  |  Raleigh, NC

Founded and currently leads HIFI Agency, a specialized marketing firm focused on banks, credit unions, fintech companies, wealth management firms, payments companies, mortgage organizations, and financial technology brands. Built the agency from startup to a 25-person firm projected to approach $8 million in revenue in its sixth year. Led the agency to recognition on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America, ranking #2,799 nationally and #70 in North Carolina.

–   Lead agency strategy across brand development, media planning, digital advertising, analytics, creative development, content, video, email marketing, UX/UI, website development, influencer marketing, and sports marketing.

–   Advise executive-level clients on marketing strategy, media investment, customer acquisition, brand positioning, campaign development, and go-to-market planning.

–   Developed HIFI’s service model into an integrated offering spanning strategy, media, creative, digital, analytics, content, web, and campaign execution.

–   Led the development of a proprietary data tool that integrates 20+ sources of analytics and customer intelligence.

–   Oversee agency operations, pricing, staffing, client relationships, profitability, scopes of work, retainers, project delivery, and business development.

–   Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team across media, creative, strategy, analytics, project management, content, and client service.

–   Help clients connect marketing activity to measurable business outcomes, including lead generation, customer acquisition, brand awareness, deposit growth, product adoption, and long-term customer value.

–   Hire, train, and develop early-career marketing professionals, with an emphasis on strategic thinking, client communication, business judgment, and practical execution.

Chief Strategy Officer   –   Mabus Agency  |  2017 to 2020  |  Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Helped reposition the creative firm to serve the financial services sector, contributing to significant revenue growth, stronger strategic focus, and improved digital marketing capabilities.

–   Led strategy for financial services clients, including banks and related financial organizations.

–   Helped the agency sharpen its positioning around financial industry expertise.

–   Developed internal training protocols to improve digital marketing capabilities and understanding of financial industry rules.

–   Supported agency growth, client strategy, and service evolution during a period in which the firm doubled revenue.

Senior Vice President, Marketing and Analytics   –   First Bank  |  2013 to 2017  |  Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Recruited by the CEO to build a new marketing and data intelligence team for a growing community bank. Led marketing and analytics during a period in which the bank tripled in size and became the largest community bank headquartered in North Carolina.

–   Built and led a marketing and analytics function from the ground up.

–   Oversaw brand, marketing, digital, data intelligence, and customer growth initiatives.

–   Connected marketing strategy to business expansion, customer acquisition, and organizational growth.

–   Helped modernize the bank’s approach to marketing, analytics, customer data, and strategic communication.

–   Worked across executive leadership, retail banking, digital banking, product, operations, and customer experience functions.

Digital Channel Product Manager   –   BB&T / Truist  |  2012 to 2013  |  Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Oversaw BB&T’s retail online presence, a major digital banking platform serving more than two million visitors per day.

–   Managed digital channel strategy and product experience for a high-volume enterprise banking platform.

–   Worked across digital, customer experience, product, and marketing functions.

–   Developed experience in large-scale digital operations, financial services technology, and enterprise stakeholder management.

Director of Client Services   –   Three Ships  |  2010 to 2012  |  Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Led client service for top-grossing clients at an emerging digital agency.

–   Managed strategic client relationships for high-growth digital marketing programs.

–   Oversaw client communication, account strategy, campaign performance, and service delivery.

–   Developed experience in digital media, performance marketing, analytics, and agency operations.

Account Manager / Digital Strategist   –   S+R Communications  |  2005 to 2010  |  Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Began agency career across account management and digital strategy roles at a pharmaceutical and medical communications agency.

–   Managed client relationships and supported digital strategy for healthcare and medical communications clients.

–   Developed foundational experience in agency operations, client service, regulated-industry communication, campaign execution, and strategic planning.

–   Built early expertise in digital communication, client management, and complex industry messaging.

Selected Speaking, Lectures, Keynotes, and Panels

Delivered dozens of lectures, keynotes, workshops, panels, and professional education sessions for banking associations, financial services executives, marketing leaders, communication professionals, compliance officers, and small business audiences across the United States.

“Speed, Strategy, and Compliance: A Smarter Approach to Modern Digital Marketing”

Kadince  |  2026  |  Scheduled Lecture

Lecture for compliance officers and legal executives on the impact of AI on agency-client relationships and the evolving role of compliance in modern digital marketing.

“Strategic Marketing: Eliminating Five Critical Blind Spots”

Financial Brand Forum  |  2022  |  Keynote

Keynote for financial services executives on marketing blind spots affecting brand participation, product connection, customer context, and funnel analysis.

“The Magic of Marketing Automation Is Doing More With Less”

Virginia Bankers Association  |  2021  |  Keynote

Keynote for executive and middle-management banking leaders on marketing automation, data strategy, customer journeys, and scalable communication programs.

“The Modern Bank Marketing Department”

Virginia Bankers Association  |  2021  |  Lecture

Lecture for bank management leaders on connecting brand, product, digital, data, customer experience, and marketing operations inside a modern financial institution.

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”

American Bankers Association  |  2021  |  Panel

Panel for bank executives on how chief marketing officers and marketing leaders can earn a stronger role at the enterprise leadership table.

“Your Data Opportunities Defined”

Ohio Bankers League  |  2021  |  Lecture

Lecture for retail and marketing leaders on translating data and analytics into practical communication, marketing, and customer engagement applications.

“Accelerate Innovation”

Total Expert  |  2021  |  Panel

Panel for mortgage, banking, credit union, and fintech executives on the innovations shaping modern customer experience.

“How to Transform Communication With Data-Driven Techniques”

International Association of Business Communicators  |  2016  |  Lecture

Lecture for business leaders on applying enterprise data science concepts to communication strategy for small and midsize organizations.

“How Organizations Prepare for the Next Era of Technology”

Small Business and Technology Development Center  |  2015  |  Lecture

Lecture for small and midsize business leaders across North Carolina on the impact of data, emerging technology, AI, and evolving consumer discovery behavior.

Media, Publishing, and Thought Leadership

Founder and Host   –   Financial Experience Podcast  |  2020 to Present

Created and hosted an industry podcast focused on marketing, customer experience, innovation, leadership, technology, and growth in financial services. Produced nearly 100 episodes featuring prominent leaders across banking, fintech, financial technology, customer experience, and financial services marketing. Website: financialexperiencepodcast.com

Selected Client and Industry Experience

Hunter has advised, supported, or led marketing strategy for organizations across financial services, banking, fintech, financial technology, mortgage, payments, and wealth management.

Selected organizations include Centier Bank, ConnectOne Bank, Bank of Utah, Park National Bank, Veritex Bank, Total Expert, Q2, KlariVis, Kiavi, and Midland Credit Management.

Selected Areas of Professional Expertise

Strategic Communication and Marketing Leadership

Brand strategy; marketing strategy; strategic planning; campaign development; customer experience; executive communication; go-to-market strategy; marketing transformation

Media, Digital, and Analytics

Digital media strategy; paid search; paid social; programmatic media; media planning and buying; marketing analytics; funnel analysis; customer acquisition; performance measurement

Agency Business and Operations

Agency positioning and specialization; service-line development; pricing; scopes of work; retainers; budgeting and billing; staffing; client service models; profitability management; entrepreneurship

Financial Services, Teaching, and Leadership Development

Bank and credit union marketing; fintech marketing; compliance-conscious creative and media strategy; trust-based communication; professional education; executive workshops; team training; early-career mentoring

Awards and Recognition

–   Inc. 5000, HIFI Agency, 2025: Named one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, ranking #2,799 nationally and #70 in North Carolina.

–   American Advertising Federation ADDY Awards, 2016: Gold ADDY for “Single Spot,” Hagler Farms; Gold ADDY for Farms Campaign; Mosaic Award for Diversity, Pine Knot Farms.

–   Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America.

Board and Community Service

Board Member   –   City of Raleigh Museum  |  2025 to Present

Support the organization’s mission to preserve and share Raleigh’s history.

Basketball Coach   –   White Memorial Presbyterian Church  |  2013 - 2016

Volunteer youth basketball coaching.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies   –   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  |  2005

Minor: Spanish