Jackie Hermes has built a career—and a company—around helping organizations grow with clarity and purpose.
As the founder and CEO of Accelity, a Milwaukee-based marketing agency, she works closely with B2B companies to turn smart ideas into sustainable growth. But Jackie’s impact extends far beyond client work.
From mentoring founders and supporting women entrepreneurs to advocating for families and children, her approach to leadership is deeply people-centered.
In this Q&A, Jackie shares her career journey, her commitment to Milwaukee, and her vision for building systems that better support the people who live and work here.
What is your background (born here or a transplant – if so, from where)?
I was born in Greendale, Wisconsin and now live in Shorewood. Most of my family is still here, which has been incredibly helpful as I’ve raised my kids and grown a business in Milwaukee.
Are there any stories from your youth that define your path?
Both of my parents were huge inspirations. They served on local committees and helped run community events and my dad spent many years involved in the village government in Greendale as well as with NATCA, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
I also grew up watching my dad develop a lawn care product, with my mom literally modeling it in our front yard. That experience left a lasting impression and helped instill an early appreciation for entrepreneurship, hard work and the importance of giving back to the community you’re part of.
Where did you study (if you did higher education)?
I attended UW–La Crosse for part of my undergraduate studies before moving back to Milwaukee to take a job at GE Healthcare. I finished my undergraduate degree at UW–Milwaukee and then went straight into earning my MBA there as well.
What do you do for work now?
I’m the founder and CEO of Accelity, a Milwaukee-based marketing agency. I work closely with B2B companies to help them clarify their positioning, build go-to-market strategies and create marketing programs that actually drive growth. My role spans lots of areas of the business (as it does at our size!)—business strategy, team coaching and development, business development, and strategic input in client accounts.
Can you talk a little bit about your career journey? How’d you get to where you are now?
My career journey has been a mix of being intentional about moves, plus being a little lucky 😉 and learning a lot by doing.
I started with a job at GE Healthcare and loved working there. That culture really taught me about hard work, innovation, and really making a space for yourself even if there isn’t a clear path in front of you.
Then I went on to join Zywave and eventually ran the marketing department there. Those early roles gave me a lot of responsibility at a fairly young age and taught me how fast things move in business.
From there I saw a real need for thoughtful, strategic marketing that met the needs of early stage companies and launched what would become Accelity. It started as a solo consulting venture (I had a baby and wanted more free time – ha!). Over the years, Accelity grew into a full agency serving clients across the country and in the right situations, around the world!
Can you talk more about your community involvement or volunteer experience?
I’ve been really involved in Milwaukee over the years and care deeply about helping make the community better. I was part of the local startup scene for a long time, supporting Milwaukee startup events and helping launch and run Women’s Entrepreneurship Week for several years to create space for women founders to connect and learn from each other.
Outside of work, I was a foster parent, and two of our three kids are adopted. We stay in touch with past families and do what we can to support them, because family stability and giving back in meaningful ways has always been important to us.
What are some ways you have impacted the community in your line of work?
Through my work, I’ve focused on building things that create opportunity for others. At Accelity, that’s meant growing a Milwaukee-based business, creating jobs and helping other companies grow in ways that are sustainable and people-centered.
What do you like about living in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee feels like a good sized city but with the heart and soul of a small town. It’s easy to get involved, build real relationships and feel like you can actually make an impact here. I love the lake, the neighborhoods, and the way people genuinely show up for each other. It’s a great place to raise a family, build a business and feel connected to the community. And selfishly, I can get almost anywhere in Milwaukee in 15-20 minutes. That’s an insane and underrated perk.
What do you want to see for Milwaukee’s future?
I’d love to see Milwaukee continue investing in people, especially in underserved neighborhoods and in systems that support families and kids. Improving the foster care system, creating more resources for families and making it easier for people to access the systems that are meant to support them would have a huge impact on families that need it the most. My hope is that Milwaukee keeps finding ways to make life better for everyone who calls the city home.