Distinguished Alumni
Cynthia Marion
Awarded 2015
Houston marketing and advertising chief executive officer Cindy Marion may sell products and services to people around the globe through her award-winning MMI agency—which has been tapped nationally and internationally to create multi-million-dollar ad campaigns—but those who know her say Marion, herself, is a walking advertisement for integrity.
“I have personally seen her pay vendors, even when clients have not paid us, because she says she wants to be able to look them in the eye when she runs into them at the grocery store,” one nominator said.
“Cindy not only possesses the rare combination of savvy, craft and ethics that professionals should aspire to, but she lives them every day,” another said. “Through the years I’ve watched Cindy make tough decisions and continue to inspire her team to deliver excellence without compromise tot the strictest of business ethics.”
Marion started MMI 29 years ago and has shepherded the company from a startup to Houston’s third-largest marketing and advertising agency, with more than 85 employees housed in their own building on Pease St., near Toyota Center in Downtown Houston, and more than $20 million in revenue.
Among its clients have been MD Anderson Cancer Center, NRG and AIG, and the agency was responsible for the Greater Houston Partnership’s “Houston: City with No Limits” campaign.
For her work, Marion won an Emmy award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2008 for a national public service campaign produced for the National Military Family Association and the U.S. Family Health Plan. She also has twice been a finalist for the Gulf Coast E&Y “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award and has been recognized as a finalist three times in the NAWBO “Woman Business Owner of the Year.”
MMI’s marketing strategies and creative works also earned the firm 33 Addy Award wins this year from the Houston Advertising Association, including 12 Gold Awards.
Marion married her SHSU sweetheart, Don Marion, who also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in radio, television and film. They have raised three daughters and focus their time, energy and resources on helping high school and college students, especially those who lack parental support and guidance.
“It’s not enough to say that Cindy has grown a successful company. It simply doesn’t do her justice. Her current and past employees and clients routinely seek out her council, which she tirelessly (and often thanklessly) provides,” a nominator said. “They’re better for it, as am I.”