DeNembo to Spearhead Strategic Marketing Initiatives, Leveraging Over Three Decades of Experience
Mountain Mike’s Pizza has promoted Carol DeNembo to chief marketing officer. She has served as the pizza franchise’s vice president of marketing since 2018 and now will oversee the creation and implementation of Mountain Mike’s marketing initiatives. The marketing pro brings more than three decades of experience to the position.
“I’m honored to operate as this brand’s CMO, and it’s deeply rewarding to be part of the Mountain Mike’s Pizza team, especially as we experience ongoing national expansion, growing guest loyalty, significant interest from new franchisees and a mounting list of impressive industry accolades,” DeNembo said.
CEO Jim Metevier praised DeNembo’s leadership and creativity in a statement. “Since her arrival, Carol has been an invaluable asset and an absolute marketing powerhouse for Mountain Mike’s Pizza, always uncovering creative, innovative and effective ways to interact with our guests and propel the brand as we enter new markets across the country,” he said. “Carol’s exemplary leadership of our marketing initiatives has been paramount to the significant sales and franchise growth we’ve experienced in the last half-decade, and her custodianship of our brand has truly been best in class.”
During her tenure with the pizza franchise, DeNembo secured partnerships with the San Francisco 49ers in 2018, Los Angeles Angels in 2022 and Sacramento Kings in 2023. “Sports partnerships are a natural way for our brand to connect with people. We bring them into our restaurants to watch the games, or they can order ahead and have their pizza delivered while they watch at home. But what we’re really after is those families,” DeNembo said.
She said it’s important for entrepreneurs to understand their own brand identities before seeking partnerships and brand advocates. “When you know who YOU are and learn what your guests love about your brand, you can then target those types of people, with those types of behaviors, needs and wants within a radius of your restaurant.”
A Happy Surprise
Prior to joining Mountain Mike’s, DeNembo held various marketing positions with Juice It Up! and filled many roles in operations, training and events at New Horizons Computer Learning Centers.
She described her career in marketing as a surprise because she wasn’t looking for it, but embraced the opportunity to express creativity and make an impact. “Being open to new things, flexible to change and taking on more responsibilities, and passionate about your brand are key attributes to hold in this industry if you want longevity and to be valued.”
As a veteran member of the franchising community, DeNembo said she takes pride in helping franchisees achieve success by giving them the tools to create their own family legacies. She also appreciates the sheer number of roles available in franchising. “It’s so fun and rewarding as I look back at all I’ve had the opportunity to experience in my 30 years in franchising,” she said.
The Ideal Marketing Campaign
As a franchising and marketing veteran, DeNembo advises franchisors to design their own campaigns by starting with an objective or a goal. “What are we solving for, what are we trying to achieve?” she explained. “Then wrap the ‘how’s’ around that. Great campaigns target a specific audience, connect meaningfully, and build enough trust to try whatever it is you’re offering.”
A consummate creative type, DeNembo performs in a classic rock cover band in her spare time. “I love meeting new people and sharing music that is nostalgic and brings so much joy and good memories back. Music, like marketing, is all about connecting with an audience.,” she said.
About Mountain Mike’s Pizza
Founded in 1978, the California-based Mountain Mike’s Pizza franchise is a family-style pizza chain known for its crispy, curly pepperonis, mountain-sized pizzas and freshly made dough. The brand has expanded to almost 300 locations across the country, many of them featuring kids’ activity areas with arcade games, dedicated party rooms and big screen TVs.
