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#142 Driving Growth and Connection in B2B Marketing with Tagg Hurtubise and Camela Thompson

Tagg Hurtubise is the Director of Marketing at Benchmarkit, where he specializes in B2B SaaS growth strategy, product marketing, and user experience. He has a strong track record of driving innovation through strategic initiatives, including leading SaaS Metrics Palooza and organizing executive events that bring together top industry leaders. With expertise in UX/UI design, digital transformation, and data-driven marketing, Tagg focuses on building strong relationships and elevating brand visibility. A graduate of San Diego State University with additional studies in Luxury Brand Management from the Paris School of Business, he is passionate about scaling high-impact marketing strategies in the SaaS space. Camela Thompson is a fractional marketing advisor known for blending data-driven strategy with empathetic, collaborative leadership. Based in Seattle, she brings over 15 years of experience in Revenue Operations, having worked at successful tech startups including Qumulo, Extrahop, and CDK Global. Camela transitioned into marketing leadership as VP of Marketing at CaliberMind, where she positioned the brand as a trusted authority for data-driven marketers. Her customer-first approach and deep understanding of growth marketing make her a sought-after advisor in the B2B tech space. In this episode, we explore B2B SaaS marketing strategies and AI impact and dive into event highlights and AI marketing tools with experts Tagg and Camela.
“We’re seeing a real drift back to in-person. The event industry’s returning to what made it so influential—face-to-face interaction.” -Tagg Hurtubise
“I’m passionate about bringing operational rigor and analytics into every marketing decision.” -Camela Thompson

About the Episode

Welcome to our in-depth breakdown of the latest NTM Growth Marketing Podcast! In this episode, two influential marketing leaders—Tagg Hurtubise, Director of Marketing at BenchmarkIt, and Camela Thompson, Fractional Executive and seasoned B2B SaaS strategist—share their innovative approaches to marketing, how AI is shaping the landscape, and why real human connections still matter. Dive in as we explore both their journeys, strategies, and insights.

Meet the Experts: Tagg Hurtubise & Camela Thompson

Tagg Hurtubise serves as Director of Marketing at BenchmarkIt, a nimble B2B SaaS company specializing in data-driven content and detailed benchmark reports that drive lead generation and community-building events.

Camela Thompson is a fractional marketing executive with a strong background in operations and analytics, helping early-stage startups and growing companies find their marketing footing. She’s also the host of several notable industry podcasts, including the Revenue Marketing Report.

Tagg Hurtubise at BenchmarkIt: Building Community Through Content & Events

Wearing Multiple Hats

Tagg manages all aspects of BenchmarkIt’s marketing—from outbound campaigns and report distribution to user experience (UX) design across their platform. Despite operating as a team of one, he relies on vendors and freelancers to maintain a balance between creativity and analytics.

“I almost have themed days. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday are analytical days, and Tuesday, Thursday are creative brain days.” — Tagg Hurtubise

Free Value: The No-Form Content Strategy

A game-changing approach Tagg has adopted is distributing free, lead-generating content—no forms or registration required. By sharing 70-80% of their valuable research openly, BenchmarkIt fosters genuine brand champions who repeatedly return and become eager participants in their broader events ecosystem.

Events Designed for Engagement

Upcoming May Events at BenchmarkIt:

  • May 12: Executive Dinner in Austin (post-SaaS Talk USA)
  • May 14: Executive Dinner in the SF Bay Area (after a major industry conference)
  • May 19: New York Dinner Cruise for industry leaders
  • May 20: SaaS Metrics Executive Summit with hands-on workshops and roundtables

Later in the year, BenchmarkIt will host additional summits and their flagship SaaS Metricsalooza.

These in-person events help create authentic, lasting professional relationships—something Tagg believes is irreplaceable even in a digital age.

Camela Thompson: Fractional CMO, Data Strategist, & Podcast Host

Versatile Leadership for Dynamic Teams

Camela thrives as a ‘utility player’—working with early-stage startups and scrappy teams who need a broad set of skills. Her client roster includes organizations like Airfleett (based in Tel Aviv) and the Rebos Co-Op, where she assists with large-scale conferences and cross-functional strategy.

“I’m passionate about bringing operational rigor and analytics into every marketing decision.”

Impressions on the Return to In-Person

Having witnessed the evolution from all-virtual to hybrid and, increasingly, back to in-person events post-pandemic, Camela notes the unique energy and value face-to-face gatherings can offer for marketers and business leaders alike.

“Even for introverts, the energy and connection of live events can’t be replicated online.”

Data-Driven Campaigns & Platform Agility

According to Camela, the key to successful campaigns is rigorous analysis and adaptability. She advocates for experimenting with formats (video, LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, etc.) and channels, then monitoring results closely to double down where the numbers prove effective.

  • Advice for Creative-First Marketers: “Know your weaknesses. You don’t need to do it all yourself—partner with those whose strengths complement yours.”

AI: Shaping the Modern Marketer’s Toolkit

Tagg’s Approach to AI in Marketing

Tagg has moved from being a copywriter to a copy editor, using AI to multiply output and personalize outreach at scale. His workflow relies heavily on:

  • Claude & ChatGPT: Content creation and analytics
  • Deliver AI: Intelligent audience targeting
  • Clay & Copy AI: Building lists, scraping profiles, and crafting hyper-personalized campaigns

He also leverages frameworks like Nicholas Boucher’s CSI FBI to assign AI personas, elevating campaign relevance.

Camela’s AI Experience & Tools

Camela emphasizes the productivity boost AI offers but also cautions against losing customer empathy or falling into lazy, impersonal outreach. She uses:

  • ChatGPT (with advanced image capabilities): For both writing and design
  • Descript, Opus Pro, and Video Tap: For video and podcast editing, helping her clients expand into multimedia content effortlessly

She warns, “AI is a tremendous time-saver but must be used thoughtfully to avoid eroding customer trust or burning equity with indiscriminate outreach.”

Why In-Person Still Matters

Both guests agree: while AI is revolutionizing efficiency and personalization, the irreplaceable value of real human connection—a handshake, a shared dinner, a spontaneous conversation at an event—remains critical for long-term relationships and business growth.

Tagg shares, “We’re seeing a real drift back to in-person. The event industry’s returning to what made it so influential—face-to-face interaction.”

Camela echoes, “Even the most introverted among us benefit deeply from reconnecting in person. It’s a fresh change from endless Zoom calls.”

Conclusion

This episode of the NTM Growth Marketing Podcast highlighted how Tagg Hurtubise and Camela Thompson are making waves in the marketing world—blending creative output, operational precision, AI-powered scale, and the human touch needed for authentic connections.

Stay tuned for more insightful episodes where marketing leaders share evolving strategies and hands-on tactics you can apply to your own career or business.

Looking to connect with a network of like-minded marketers? Check out the exclusive No Typical Marketers, a mastermind community for roundtable discussions and advanced marketing conversations—apply via the link in the podcast description!

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