About Ahead by 11

Founded by CEO Jill Alban in 2021, Ahead by 11 is a strategic marketing company that helps businesses, organizations, and individuals execute their marketing objectives. We specialize in strategy, paid search, and paid social campaigns.

Our sweet spot:

  • Post-revenue startups with capital to invest in go-to-market strategy

  • Family businesses with long histories and mixed skillsets who need a strategic lead for paid marketing campaigns

  • Direct to consumer outdoor and wellness products brands with consistent 6-figure MRR

About Jill

Jill Alban is a strategic communications and marketing professional living in Missoula, Montana. Originally from Virginia, Jill received her B.A. in English from The University of Virginia in 2000. She moved to Missoula in 2004 where she earned her M.A. in Literature and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The University of Montana in 2006. A natural creative, Jill's strong background in literature, the liberal arts, and writing provided her with a grounded and humanistic springboard into her career in marketing, communications, and outreach.

Jill cut her teeth professionally in a six-year stint with the Clark Fork Coalition, a regional conservation nonprofit dedicated to restoration and protection of the Clark Fork watershed, the largest drainage by volume in the state of Montana. In her work, Jill focused on communications, marketing, and climate-change outreach and program development. In particular, Jill represented CFC on Missoula's climate adaptation working group for over three years, served on the City of Missoula's Climate Action Task Force, and was a co-organizer and lead speaker at Missoula's 'Community Climate Summit' series for two years. In 2014, Jill took a position as Director of Education and Outreach for a private foundation based in Missoula, The Namchak Foundation, dedicated to creating a global movement for meditation and mindfulness based out of Montana. There, Jill led a team to launch the new foundation's brand and messaging campaigns, launch new online programming, and oversee the global book launch for the company founder. After three years at Namchak, Jill was offered a remote position as Marketing Director for Handel Group (HG), an international executive leadership coaching and consulting firm based in New York City. She spent five years at HG and during that time moved into the role of Chief Marketing Officer, where she supervised a team of seven. Jill also completed an executive coaching certification which continues to permeate her approach today.

In January of 2021, Jill left her full-time CMO position to pursue her dream: to become a small business owner in Montana. Today, she is Founder and CEO of Ahead by 11, a strategic consulting company specializing in paid search and paid social marketing. Jill focuses on supporting Montanans in the majority of her work. Jill's goal in this new phase of her professional life is simple -- to make a positive difference by leveraging her deep skillset. In 2022 she graduated from the Leadership Montana Flagship program, a nine-month leadership training opportunity. She also serves on the board of local nonprofit Home Resource.

What does Ahead by 11 mean?

{Groovy alert}

No, it’s not a Stranger Things reference (tho that’s cool too). Let’s just say the number 11 is meaningful to Jill.

  • Her birthday is on 11.11

  • Her numerology Life Path number is 11

  • If you happen to run into Jill at the 11th hour, she may still be awake … but we guarantee she’s ready for the next day.

Get in touch.