Crystal Millar

Co-Founder / Brand & Marketing Lead

About

I’m a brand and lifecycle marketing leader with 7+ years of hands-on experience building and growing community-driven food and wellness brands. I didn’t come up through a traditional corporate ladder. I built my career by starting and scaling a business — owning everything from brand strategy and content creation to email, SMS, partnerships, and go-to-market execution. That experience taught me how to think both creatively and operationally, especially in fast-moving environments where brand, trust, and revenue are closely connected. Over the years, I’ve led brand storytelling, product launches, lifecycle marketing, and community-based growth initiatives — always with a focus on clarity, consistency, and meeting customers where they are. I’m especially drawn to work that lives at the intersection of brand, content, and retention, and I care deeply about building things that feel human, useful, and sustainable. Right now, I’m exploring my next chapter — looking to bring my experience into a collaborative team environment where I can continue to grow, learn from others, and contribute at a higher strategic level. I’m open to full-time roles, as well as advisory or fractional opportunities with founder-led, mission-driven brands. If you’re building something thoughtful in food, wellness, lifestyle, or consumer goods — or you’re looking for a marketing partner who understands both strategy and execution — I’d love to connect.

Country

United States

City

Long Beach

Industry

Marketing & Advertising

Skill

Creative Problem Solving, Retention Programs, Loyalty Programs, Data-driven Marketing, Customer Segmentation Strategy, Brand Positioning, Creative Content Creation, Email Marketing, Market Research, Event Marketing, SEO Copywriting, Customer Acquisition, Budgeting & ROI, Decision-Making, Brand Development, Public Relations, People Management, Community Engagement, Customer Engagement, Handle Multiple Projects

Experience

Co-Founder / Brand & Marketing Lead

Lemongrass Khmer Grill

2023-3 - Present · 3 yrs 7 mos

Long Beach, California, United States

Launched a Cambodian-inspired smash burger brand with strong community engagement Led brand storytelling, menu positioning, and pop-up marketing strategy Built demand through experiential marketing and grassroots partnerships Oversaw creative assets, messaging, and social content direction

Founder & Head of Brand Marketing

MealsDotKom (MDK)

2017-6 - Present · 9 yrs 4 mos

Long Beach, California, United States

- Built and scaled a food & wellness brand from the ground up, leading brand strategy, content, lifecycle marketing, and community partnerships - Owned end-to-end marketing execution across email, SMS, social, web, and in-person activations - Developed brand voice, visual identity, and campaign strategy across multiple channels - Planned and executed product launches, limited-time menus, and promotions tied directly to revenue and retention - Led customer lifecycle strategy from acquisition to repeat purchase and loyalty - Managed creative direction, copywriting, and content strategy for organic social and email marketing - Built and nurtured local partnerships (gyms, pop-ups, events) to drive community-based growth - Analyzed customer behavior and feedback to refine offerings, pricing, and messaging - Balanced brand integrity with performance marketing needs in a high-pressure, fast-moving environment

Learning & Development Intern

TCW

2016-6 - 2016-10 · 5 mos

Greater Los Angeles Area

- Assisted in creating TCW University's 1st Learning & Development department with CornerStone program - Acted as assistant to vice president to improve corporate, group, and individual levels by planning short and long term solutions for a more efficient and productive environement. - Co-taught Corporate University courses to develop and encourage better workflow. - Partnered with Sales, Compliance, Legal teams to develop and manage comprehensive and legally compliant training programs for crucial roles (creation of in-house content, targeted distribution, and metrics)

Farmers Market Sales Associate

Tropical Seafoods | Pacific Palisades Farmer's Market

2013-6 - 2016-6 · 3 yrs 1 mo

- Built lasting customer relationships through personalized service. - Provided seafood recipes and cooking tips to enhance customer experience. - Educated shoppers on product quality and sourcing. - Created a welcoming, community-driven booth environment.