Marilee Fasching

About Marilee Fasching

Greetings! I’m Marilee Fasching, a results-driven global executive specializing in brand optimization, best-in-class marketing lifecycles, and creative problem-solving. From retail marketing, full-service advertising, strategic planning, new business development, and product development, I have launched new companies and products, propelled existing brands, and ignited long-term relationships with such market leaders as Zebra, Walmart, Target, Martha Stewart, Disney, Nickelodeon, Universal, Ingenico, Best Buy, Black & Decker, Lee Jeans, Porsche, Northwest Airlines, and Minneapolis Heart Institute. My background includes establishing shared vision and strategic alignment with various partners and stakeholders to realize vision and goals, bringing organization and subject matter expertise to executive leadership. I proudly manage risk through transparency and open communication and apply end-to-end product, management, and sales pipeline expertise to provide seasoned input and guidance on best practicesto deliver products to market. I thrive when spearheading strategic direction through analysis of insights to drive key strategic choices for product and customer experience, strategic product pipeline, sourcing, pricing and margins, and sales expertise. Furthermore, I create and execute overall business strategies to transform and optimize end-to-end customer journeys and leverage data and insights to build agile framework for communicating the right message, to the right audience, at the right time, and in the right format.

Experience

1. Chief Brand Experience Officer

   Verist, Inc

   Jan 2023 — Present

   As Chief Brand Experience Officer at Verist, I lead the strategic vision and execution of all brand touchpoints—uniting sales, marketing, partnerships, and experiential activations to drive growth and deepen consumer connection.Verist is a premium CBD and THC brand cultivated on our fifth-generation family farm in Minnesota’s River Valley, rooted in sustainability, transparency, and craft cannabis values.Key Responsibilities:Sales Leadership: Oversee direct and wholesale sales strategy for hemp-derived THC and CBD product lines, optimizing performance across retail, events, and partner channels.Brand Activations: Concept, plan, and manage immersive experiences—from community events to high-impact sponsorships—that bring the Verist brand to life and build loyal audiences.Partnership Development: Build and nurture relationships with retail buyers, hospitality partners, dispensaries, wellness leaders, and distribution networks across regional and national markets.Strategic Messaging: Guide brand storytelling, ensuring consistency across digital, print, and in-person touchpoints that reflect our agricultural legacy and plant-powered mission.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product development, farm operations, and compliance teams to align brand growth with operational integrity and evolving market regulations.Market Insight: Stay ahead of trends in the cannabis and wellness sectors to inform innovation, audience targeting, and business expansion.At Verist, I have the privilege of shaping a brand that’s not only deeply personal, but also part of a growing movement toward mindful, sustainable, and inclusive cannabis.

Education

• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

  BA

Skills

• Marketing Communications
• Management
• Social Media
• Marketing
• Leadership
• Strategic Partnerships
• Strategic Planning
• Product Development
• Brand Management
• Marketing Strategy
• Consumer Products
• Sales
• Business Development
• Strategy
• Advertising
• Product Launch