Cindy Campbell, Founder of Taste the Spotlight LLC, is leading a new wave of community-driven restaurant promotion that sets itself apart from typical influencer culture. With her extensive background in marketing and a deep connection to the local community, Campbell’s Taste the Spotlight series is not about creating temporary viral moments. It’s about building long-term loyalty for the locally owned businesses that form the backbone of Stark County’s culinary scene.
Taste the Spotlight began as a humble project within Taste of Stark, a Facebook group that Campbell created in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a simple way to help local restaurants connect with customers in a time of crisis quickly grew into a trusted space for locals to share honest feedback about restaurants. The group helped small businesses thrive even as they struggled to stay afloat during uncertain times. Within the first 24 hours of launching, the group welcomed over 3,000 members—and now has grown to a vibrant local community of more than 33,000 strong.
As Taste of Stark flourished, Campbell saw an opportunity to elevate the impact of her work even further. In 2024, she launched Taste the Spotlight, a monthly feature that shines a light on one local restaurant at a time. What began as a behind-the-scenes passion project soon caught the attention of a professional film crew, leading to an even more ambitious production featuring high-quality video, photography, and comprehensive marketing support. These polished features highlight each restaurant’s signature dishes and tell the story of the people behind the food.
“I wasn’t comfortable on camera at first, but sometimes you have to step into uncomfortable spaces to align with your purpose,” said Campbell. “Taste the Spotlight has become more than just a series; it’s a way to amplify the voices of local restaurants and build authentic relationships within the community.”
One of the key differentiators of Taste the Spotlight is its collaborative approach. Unlike typical influencer marketing that often focuses on quick, pay-for-post content, Taste the Spotlight offers a full-service media partnership. Restaurants are involved in the planning and production, which includes interviews, high-quality filming, and detailed storytelling. It’s not just a promotional post; it’s an entire media campaign designed to tell a restaurant’s unique story, with content that can be used for menus, social media, websites and marketing.
Taste the Spotlight’s mission is rooted in community, and it prioritizes organic, long-term relationships over transactional marketing tactics. As Campbell explains, “I didn’t build Taste the Spotlight to be an influencer—I built it to be an amplifier. Local restaurants are the soul of a community, and they deserve more than a quick, one-time promotion. I want to tell their stories with heart, integrity, and impact.”
The platform’s success has extended beyond Taste the Spotlight, with the introduction of the Spotlight Snippet Series. This shorter, more accessible format allows even more local businesses to be featured, further enhancing community engagement. The Taste the Spotlight team also collaborates with local tourism organizations to further amplify their reach and shine a light on Stark County’s vibrant culinary scene.
Taste the Spotlight’s impact isn’t only seen in the success of individual restaurants. Its model challenges the often short-sighted influencer culture that tends to bring a quick surge in traffic but lacks the consistency needed to turn first-time visitors into loyal, repeat customers. Influencers can drive a crowd, but that one-time wave of traffic can quickly overwhelm kitchen staff, cause long wait times, and leave a bad taste in the mouths of customers. Taste the Spotlight, on the other hand, focuses on sustainable exposure that leads to lasting relationships, ensuring that each restaurant has the time and resources to deliver the exceptional experience that keeps people coming back.
“The goal is to create stories that resonate with the community and keep diners coming back, not just a one-time flash-in-the-pan moment,” Campbell said.
Taste the Spotlight’s community-driven mission is also reflected in its transparent and affordable pricing. Unlike many influencers who charge high fees for minimal content or a one-time mention, Taste the Spotlight offers consistent, meaningful exposure for local restaurants. I offer two packages: the monthly Spotlight Series—fully booked for 2025—and the new Snippet Series, which launched in May 2025 to feature two additional restaurants each month through short-form video. To keep pricing accessible, I’ve partnered with professional videographers who provide their services at a significantly reduced rate as subcontractors. If hired directly, their rates would be much higher than what’s included in our collaborative packages.
Alongside her work with Taste the Spotlight, Campbell has a long history of giving back to the community. In addition to her professional work as a freelance graphic designer and marketer, she has volunteered with the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) for Cleveland Growth Association and served on the Canton Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee. She is also launching a new initiative in 2026, Taste of Hope, which will spotlight local nonprofits, food pantries, and mission-driven organizations making a difference in Stark County and beyond.
Taste the Spotlight is not just about food; it’s about fostering community and supporting the businesses that make a region unique. While the platform has grown and adapted over the years, Campbell remains steadfast in her commitment to keep Taste of Stark authentic, local, and supportive.
“The truth is, this has never been about a paycheck or chasing trends. It’s about heart, purpose, and people,” said Campbell. “When something is built on kindness, connection, and good food, it can change lives.”
For more information about Taste the Spotlight, visit www.tasteofstark.com and social media account via Instagram at @taste_of_stark, and TikTok at @taste.of.stark.
