Our Story
Founded by two marketing, innovation and consumer insights leaders, Lumin Strategy was born to make your world a little brighter. While our focus is to shine a light on your company’s strategic marketing, our years of experience and keen understanding of your world can make your your direction clearer, your efforts more effective, and your dollars spent more impactful.
Because we've been in your situation before, we're able to partner with you to help you solve problems creatively and quickly. Our team of solutionists is known for revealing the not-so-apparent marketing ideas. Our goal, always, is to help you find that elusive path, the correct door, and right key that’ll transform your company’s trajectory. Ultimately, to deliver what every company wants: profitable, healthy growth today and tomorrow.
John P. Connelly
Managing Partner & Founder
John P. Connelly is a seasoned marketing strategist and business transformation leader with over 25 years of experience driving brand growth, innovation, and revenue acceleration for Fortune 500 companies, emerging brands, and private equity-backed ventures. His expertise spans brand positioning, consumer insights, digital transformation, and marketing optimization. Throughout his career, John has consistently revitalized brands, launched category-defining products, and maximized marketing investments to deliver substantial ROI.
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John has held leadership roles at major companies such as Newell Brands, Kellogg’s, SC Johnson, and Darden Restaurants, where he managed multi-million-dollar budgets and led high-performing teams. His achievements include spearheading the transformation of Newell’s North American home appliances division, launching innovative products like Mr. Coffee Iced, Frappe, and Latte, and driving Kashi and Bear Naked’s media evolution from traditional TV to high-impact digital platforms. At LongHorn Steakhouse, he developed the award-winning “You Can’t Fake Steak!” campaign, which contributed to 12 consecutive quarters of sales and guest count growth. His impact extends globally, having led innovation and market expansion for SC Johnson brands across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
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Before founding Lumin Strategy, John spent years as a consultant helping brands navigate market disruption, reposition for growth, and develop breakthrough consumer experiences. He worked with McCormick & Company, Beam Suntory, Weleda, Sleep Number, and Glanbia Nutrition, advising on brand strategy, omnichannel marketing, product innovation, and consumer engagement. His ability to balance short-term performance with long-term financial and equity accretion has made him a trusted advisor to leadership teams seeking to unlock new growth opportunities.
John holds an MBA in Marketing & Corporate Finance from Penn State University and a BA in Economics & German from the University of Michigan. In addition to his professional accomplishments, he is passionate about mentorship and community service, volunteering at the Samaritan Resource Center in Orlando. He is also a dedicated swim dad and foster dog advocate, embodying a commitment to both professional excellence and making a positive impact beyond the business world.​​
Mark Gilley
Managing Partner & Founder
Mark Gilley is a highly accomplished VP of Consumer Insights & Analytics and Brand Strategy with over three decades of experience driving significant growth and profitability for major brands. His expertise spans consumer insights, marketing analytics, brand positioning, advertising and team leadership. He has a proven track record of developing and implementing successful marketing campaigns that generate substantial ROI, often turning around declining trends and contributing to 5 Billion in sales. Throughout his career, Mark has consistently demonstrated his ability to build high-performing, inclusive teams and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.
His experience includes leadership roles at prominent companies such as Red Lobster, The Clorox Company, Kraft, The Quaker Oats Company and Foote Cone and Belding, where he managed multi-million-dollar budgets and led teams of up to 30 members. His contributions have resulted in substantial achievements, such as stabilizing sales and delivering consistent quarterly growth, increasing marketing ROI by significant percentages, and launching award-winning campaigns. Mark’s expertise extends to various qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including syndicated data analysis, ethnographic research, consumer and needs-based segmentation, and marketing analytics.
His educational background includes an MBA from University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business and a B.S. from University of California, Davis, further underscoring his strong foundation in business and strategic thinking.
Beyond his professional achievements, Mark is also a dedicated volunteer, providing guidance to students at Full Sail University and offering essential support at the Samaritan Resource Center for the Homeless. His commitment to both professional excellence and community service highlights a well-rounded individual dedicated to making a positive impact.
Marie Ostarello
Creative Director & Board Member
Marie Ostarello is an inspiring advertising veteran with deep roots in large to mid-sized agencies in Chicago and Boulder, Colorado, as well as a decade on "the client side" at in-house agencies and as a consultant. With decades of experience as a creative director, copywriter, design expert and producer, she has worked on and led teams for numerous national and global brands, including Horizon Organic, Hunter Douglas, First Data, Natural Grocers, Pharmaca, Florsheim Shoes, Westin Hotels, Ambu medical devices, Globus & Cosmos, MCI Worldcom, Aetna, Montgomery Ward, Bernina sewing machines, Bang & Olufsen, AT&T, Harris Bank, Schwinn Fitness, Good Karma, Made in Nature, Vantiv/Worldpay and more. Her expertise ranges from natural foods to luxury brands to medical devices, and everything in between.
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Marie received her MFA in Writing in 2001 and, besides being a copywriter, is a Pushcart-nominated literary writer. Her fiction, poetry and essays have appeared in a number of prestigious journals.