Marissa Gonzales
Marissa Gonzales (She/Her) is a dynamic force in the dental industry, blending her background as an award-winning journalist with a passion for digital strategy and human-centered marketing. As the Sparkle Success Manager at Our Thrive Tribe, she specializes in guiding dental industry partners and DSO teams through strategic messaging, brand alignment, and social media storytelling that actually works. With a BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies from the Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University, Marissa brings a deep understanding of audience connection — whether it’s through a headline or a hashtag.
Marissa’s journey began in broadcast journalism, where she told stories that mattered and developed a sharp eye for clarity, empathy, and engagement. Her newsroom roots now fuel her work in the marketing world, where she’s known for turning scattered ideas into sparkling strategies. At Our Thrive Tribe, she leads client onboarding, internal systems development, and strategic execution — all while championing creativity, connection, and confidence. She's also the creator of The Sparkle Playbook, a go-to guide helping dental marketers cut through the noise and find clarity in a crowded space.
Outside of work, Marissa is a digital audience strategy grad student and community builder who believes belief builds culture more than any KPI ever could. She’s a trusted voice in the DSO space, a LinkedIn presence coach, and a mentor to women entering marketing with heart. Whether she’s leading a client campaign, hosting a webinar, or sending out affirmations to her unicorn team, Marissa shows up with the same mission: to make strategy feel human and help others shine brighter.
• HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification
• Project Management with Monday.com
• Arizona State University
• San Diego City College
• Master's at ASU in Digital Audience Strategy
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to staying curious, speaking up when it matters, and building meaningful communities. Winning an investigative journalism award from the San Diego Press Club for exposing flaws in a PeopleSoft system that impacted students and faculty showed me the power of storytelling and accountability. Creating the San Diego Dental Peeps professional group and joining Women in DSO have also been pivotal moments — they’ve helped me grow not just as a marketer, but as a leader committed to connection, impact, and inclusion.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came through the example and guidance of my mentor, Sarah Ruberg. She’s shown me that success isn’t just about strategy — it’s about showing up with heart, especially during the hard seasons. Her support through both professional and personal challenges has reminded me that relationships and resilience are just as critical as results.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the dental marketing or DSO space is this: don’t be afraid to take up space and lead with your voice. This industry is evolving, and your perspective is needed. Stay curious, keep learning, and surround yourself with people who genuinely want to see you grow — and don’t forget, relationships will often take you further than resumes.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges — and opportunities — in the DSO and dental marketing space right now is figuring out how to grow sustainably and strategically. With so many new platforms, tools, and voices entering the industry, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or scattered. The key is finding the right alignment between your company’s values, your audience’s needs, and a growth strategy that actually supports long-term success — not just quick wins.