Jackie Hermes

Accelity

We help companies grow faster with bold sales and marketing processes that actually work—not the “push content and say a prayer” method that many agencies use.

Our team is a blend of bold thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and data enthusiasts who love turning challenges into wins. We’re obsessed with helping businesses scale by delivering smart, tailored strategies that convert leads into loyal customers.

With our friendly, hands-on approach, Accelity is more than just a partner—we’re an extension of your team. Whether it’s building brand awareness, generating demand, or optimizing for conversion, we make marketing make sense.

DM me 👉 let’s create something bold together.

Founder & CEO

Just A Girl Inc.

Advisory Board Member

gener8tor

Startup Mentor

Building Brave

Mentor to Female Professionals

The Commons

Mentor

Women's Entrepreneurship Week

Women's Entrepreneurship Week is an event series that spark business and economic growth by showcasing, educating and connecting women entrepreneurs and professionals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and beyond.

Learn more at https://www.wewmke.com/

Co-Founder

Golden Angels Investors

Advisor

Sweet Monkees

Sweet Monkees are delicious dairy-free cookies made with healthy ingredients, found at select Milwaukee area grocery stores and Milwaukee-area events. I built this business from the ground-up, marketing and successfully selling to over 10 grocery chains over 3 years. In 2014, I sold this business to focus on Accelity.

Owner

Zywave

I managed the marketing department at Zywave. As product marketers, we focused on go to market strategy and brand awareness. In addition, my team created joint sales and marketing communications and demo materials to speak to clients in a meaningful way. The marketing department also manages zywave.com content and Zywave's social media presence.

Head of Marketing

The Market Analyst is a marketing and product management role. I was the analyst on Zywave's best selling product—Broker Briefcase Benefits. In this role, I studied market developments and maintained an understanding of the constantly changing field. In addition, I conducted won, loss, exit, and other partner interviews to gain a deeper understanding of Zywave's broker clients. Another key piece of this role is analyzing product performance monthly to identify hot topics, product usage trends, and focus for content to reinforce product roadmap.

Market Analyst

I worked to brand Zywave as a premiere Milwaukee employer and expand local awareness. Presented at speaking engagements on local campuses, at job fairs, and other volunteer opportunities. I was part of a task force that pioneered Zywave's social media presence by writing vision documents, evaluating reporting tools, holding company-wide training sessions, and creating pages on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.

Recruiting Consultant

GE Healthcare

Worked in the cardiology department to expanded Computed Tomography marketing library by coordinating image layouts and text in customer brochures, Powerpoints, and other materials. In addition, I founded the Marketing Path program to enhance associates knowledge of the role of Marketing in Healthcare. My team led a business improvement project that concentrated on increasing Net Promoter Score in the cardiology department. Finally, I provided sales support for 14 Account Managers who exceeded an sales target of $56 million in 2008.

Sales & Marketing

Growing B2B software co's w/ marketing that *actually works* | founder + CEO @ Accelity | built from $0 to 7-figures with no funding

It all started in 1986 in Lansing, Michigan.

Kidding. (Well, not really, but that’s not how I’m going to start this story.)

I started my entrepreneurial journey with cookies. Really. A vegan cookie company… and I wasn’t vegan (I gave it a shot and dang, it was hard!). I turned four cookie recipes into a business—designing packaging, finding a kitchen and making the cookies, eventually outsourcing production, then selling and establishing distribution to 12 grocery stores around Wisconsin.

The cookies taught me how to hustle. As a 24-year-old MBA, I definitely didn’t picture myself hoisting up tents at farmers markets to hand out $5 bags of cookies, or being the demo lady at the grocery store, but there I was. I still had a full-time job running the marketing department at a SaaS company, and a baby.

I’m so grateful for that experience because the money I made helped me start Accelity. What began as a one-woman consultancy blossomed into a kick-ass team of 20 and counting and a group of amazing, loyal clients all over the US.

LinkedIn has been a HUGE contributor to our growth over the past few years. I got talked into—okay, almost forced; I really, really didn’t want to do it—publishing videos about my entrepreneurial experiences in mid-2018 and have steadily grown an audience since. The LinkedIn community has given me so much love and support and I could not possibly be more grateful for the opportunities.

Outside of my professional life, I was a foster parent for two years and two of my three beautiful kiddos were adopted in Milwaukee. People always ask about hobbies, so here you go: lots of travel, fitness, exploring Milwaukee, and playing a lot of Taco vs. Burrito with my kids.

We help B2B software companies grow faster with bold sales and marketing processes that actually work—not the “push content and say a prayer” method that many agencies use.

We’re different. An agency born from software, our team has years (and years) of hands-on experience working with high-growth B2B software companies.

Want to know how we do it? Check out the links below.

Every time I step into a new culture, meet new people, learn new customs, and see how others live, I come home a little bit different.

And that shift impacts how I lead, work, and show up for others.

Over time, those small changes add up. They make you more patient, more curious, more open.

The more I travel, the more I realize it’s not an escape or a break.

It’s a chance to expand your worldview and become a fuller version of yourself. ❤️


“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness;

And many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.

Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

-Mark Twain


📸: Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca with my husband Ryan Calton (photos 1, 2); views from Chefchaouen (photos 3-4); breakfast in Fez (photo 5); the golden doors at the Royal Palace of Fez, Morocco, with my dad and bonus mom 🤗 (photo 6)

It all started in 1986 in Lansing, Michigan.

Kidding. (Well, not really, but that’s not how I’m going to start this story.)

I started my entrepreneurial journey with cookies. Really. A vegan cookie company… and I wasn’t vegan (I gave it a shot and dang, it was hard!). I turned four cookie recipes into a business—designing packaging, finding a kitchen and making the cookies, eventually outsourcing production, then selling and establishing distribution to 12 grocery stores around Wisconsin.

The cookies taught me how to hustle. As a 24-year-old MBA, I definitely didn’t picture myself hoisting up tents at farmers markets to hand out $5 bags of cookies, or being the demo lady at the grocery store, but there I was. I still had a full-time job running the marketing department at a SaaS company, and a baby.

I’m so grateful for that experience because the money I made helped me start Accelity. What began as a one-woman consultancy blossomed into a kick-ass team of 20 and counting and a group of amazing, loyal clients all over the US.

LinkedIn has been a HUGE contributor to our growth over the past few years. I got talked into—okay, almost forced; I really, really didn’t want to do it—publishing videos about my entrepreneurial experiences in mid-2018 and have steadily grown an audience since. The LinkedIn community has given me so much love and support and I could not possibly be more grateful for the opportunities.

Outside of my professional life, I was a foster parent for two years and two of my three beautiful kiddos were adopted in Milwaukee. People always ask about hobbies and to be honest, I don’t have many, but they include: lots of travel, fitness, exploring Milwaukee and playing a whole lot of Taco vs. Burrito with my kids.

CEO @ Accelity | Growing companies w/ marketing that *actually works*

When I was younger, I thought being taken seriously meant being “professional” 24/7.

By that, I mean: careful with my words. Polished and super buttoned up. Always in heels because I thought there was some kind of power dynamic in play (Seriously.) Trying to be something I just wasn’t.

As a young woman leading a company, I didn’t want to say anything wrong, be too casual, or be MYSELF.

Over time, in business, I realized that everyone’s performing a little. They want to sound smart. They’re protecting their turf. They’re trying to say the “right” thing.

But when I started showing up as me—the weird jokes, off-the-cuff comments, a little self-deprecating humor—something shifted.

People relaxed.
They opened up.
They told the truth.

And that’s when the real conversations and real insights happen. In marketing, this is especially important as we are tasked with getting to know audiences and stakeholders in the blink of an eye.

Real conversations can change a messaging strategy or completely redefine a brand.

If you want to get past surface-level answers, you have. to. go. first.
Be imperfect.
Be human.
Be real.

That’s how you disarm people.
When your guard comes down, that’s where the gold is.

And truly, I’ve found that the people that don’t like me as my quirky self… I can live without them. Because we don’t want to be surrounded by people, in our personal lives or in business, who don’t like us for who we are.

I *know* that this is easier said than done.

Tell me, what’s holding you back?



PS: Check out one of the most recent episodes of The Art of Entrepreneurship to dig more into the marketing application of this topic—disarming stakeholders to get the truth. Link is in the comments.

PPS: I live in tennis shoes now and I love it.

Most marketers don’t have a lead gen problem. They have a website problem.

Here’s what I mean:
I talk to teams spending tens of thousands a month on ads—and when I ask if they're reaching their goals (their goal is usually to generate leads), the answer is a resounding NO.

Because ads don’t fix your broken website.

They amplify misaligned messaging, confusing navigation, poor UX, and vague calls to action.

If your website isn’t built to convert, every dollar you spend driving buyers there is a waste.

Most companies don’t need a new campaign. They need to fix the experience buyers already have. I wrote about what that means (and how to do it) in this article. 👇

Bad customers don’t just cost your business money; they drain your energy, damage your reputation, and erode trust. Here are the warning signs of a bad customer 👉


Most leaders learn not to sign bad customers the hard way. I definitely did.

When I started Accelity, I thought landing ANY client was a win. If they had a pulse and a budget? Let’s go.

…until I hired clients who made my team cry, blew past budgets, ghosted for weeks, or—my personal favorite—tried to sell our same services to our own clients while still working with us. (True story! 🤣)

Over the years, I’ve learned something I wish someone told me earlier:

There are two types of PITA (Pain In The Ass) clients:
➡️ Good PITAs push for results, stretch the limits of your knowledge, and make you better. (I admit that I am sometimes this kind of client for others)
➡️ Bad PITAs push the boundaries of your contract and make you want to jump off a cliff.

Here’s the trick: learning to spot which one you’re dealing with before you sign the contract.

Here are 6 red flags I look for now (that I used to ignore):

1. Champagne taste, beer budget.

If their expectations and budget don’t line up, it’s not an opportunity to “get scrappy.” It’s a disaster waiting to happen.

2. Ghosting during the sales process.

If they disappear for weeks at a time without responding now, imagine what it’s going to be like getting strategy approval.

3. Talking trash.

If they talk poorly about past vendors, their employees, coworkers… trust me, you’re next.

4. Constantly late or rescheduling.

Busy is normal. We all have a lot going on. But when it tips past the line of disrespect, don’t ignore.

5. Aggressive negotiation.

If they squeeze you hard before they ever even sign the contract, get ready… because it’s gonna get worse after.

6. Nice to power, rude to others.

If they will only speak to people they view as having power or are rude to junior employees, it’s a no for me.

And then there’s the one thing we often undervalue:

✨ Trusting your gut. ✨

If something feels off, it usually is.

If I could give one big piece of advice around this topic, it’s this:

Bad customers cost far more than they pay.

Protect your team. Protect your energy. Protect the business.

Horror stories? Lessons learned? I want to hear them all in the comments. 👇

Two often overlooked parts of leadership:
1. owning your mistakes
2. giving others the credit

So many leaders struggle with both.

Honored to work beside you, Jenny Weeden! 🫶

President & Partner at Accelity | Marketer who cares about the growth of scaling companies, Accelity, and my mindset 📈

Leadership isn’t a title, it’s a verb.

Early in my career, I thought leadership was something you earned.
A title.
A promotion.
A seat at the table.

>> Now I know better. <<

Leadership isn’t something you *get*.

It’s something you *do*. Every day.

It’s in the tiny, unglamorous actions that rarely get noticed:

 💬 Asking your team for feedback and actually listening.

 🧭 Owning your mistakes before anyone points them out.

 🪞 Checking your ego before you give direction.

 🙌 Giving credit where it’s due, not where it’s convenient.

Leadership is a VERB because it requires movement. It’s choosing to show up (especially when it’s hard 😅 ).

At Accelity, we’ve built our culture around that idea.
Leadership isn’t limited to people with “Manager” in their title.
Everyone here is encouraged to lead—with curiosity, accountability, and heart.

Because REAL leadership doesn’t come from authority. It comes from showing up and being an example.

❓ If you stripped away your title tomorrow, would people still follow you?

Breaking barriers sounds bold… until you’re the one doing it.

It doesn’t happen in the spotlight. It happens in the quiet moments with no map, no mentor and no one ahead of you showing the way.

At some point, every trailblazer faces the same crossroads: keep pushing alone, or reach out for support.

That’s when you realize—asking for help isn’t weakness. It’s strategy.

That’s what I took away from my conversation with Ilana Golan.

From the Israeli Air Force to Silicon Valley, Ilana kept leaping into rooms where she didn’t see anyone who looked like her. 

She kept moving forward anyway.

Today, she’s built Leap Academy to give others what she wished she’d had: guidance, clarity and a way to design a *portfolio career* that actually multiplies your opportunities.

Her story reminded me:

→ Independence is powerful, but connection gets you further.

→ Confidence grows faster when you stop trying to earn it alone.

→ The biggest expense in your career isn’t what you spend, it’s what you leave on the table.

If you’ve ever downplayed your potential because you didn’t know what was possible, this conversation will change how you see your own path.

🎧 Listen to my conversation on the Art of Entrepreneurship at the link in the comments.

Everyone says work–life balance is *impossible*. Erin basically said, “Watch me.”

She shows up fully at work, fully at home, and doesn’t take roles that demand she sacrifice one for the other.

Flexibility isn’t a perk. It’s the baseline. And it’s time more companies got that.

Remember: Your boundaries are not “nice to have.” They’re the whole point. 💛

Balancing work and life isn’t a myth, but it does take intention. ⚖️

In this conversation with CEO Jackie Hermes, Accelity’s Administrative Assistant Erin Gudeyon shares how she protects her time, sets boundaries that support her family and chooses roles that give her the flexibility she needs.

Erin’s approach is simple and powerful:

Show up fully for work during the hours that matter, stay present at home when her kids walk through the door and only take on jobs that respect both.

It’s a reminder that so many professionals, especially women juggling a dozen roles, need to hear. You can set your priorities. You can honor your boundaries. And you can build a career that fits your life, not the other way around.

Hear Erin talk through how she makes it work and why flexibility isn’t a perk,  it’s a priority. 💛

This post hits it on the head—good content is for people and AI... *however*...

Marketers still miss the fact that the secret to standing out has. not. changed.

Write for humans.

If your content sounds like it was produced in a factory, neither your audience nor AI will reward it. 

But when it feels real—when it answers *actual* questions, sounds like a person, and builds trust—it pulls double duty:
 
It connects with your audience
+
 It gets recognized and elevated by AI

AI is changing how content is created and discovered. The brands that win will be the ones that still speak like a human.

If you want a simple guide to making your content more human, helpful and memorable… we’ve got you. 👇

Website Strategies to Drive Traffic and Boost Conversions

Good content isn’t just for people anymore. It’s for AI, too. 🤖

But the secret to standing out hasn’t changed: write for humans.

When your content sounds natural, answers real questions and builds trust, it works twice as hard, connecting with your audience *and* getting recognized by AI.

We pulled together simple ways to make your content more human, helpful and memorable.

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