Ashley Hicks

Event Marketing Manager | Leads North American Event Marketing Strategy

Professional Overview

Ashley Hicks is an accomplished Event Marketing Manager with extensive experience in developing and executing successful national event marketing strategies. She currently leads the North American event marketing initiatives for Brooks Running, a leading athletic footwear and apparel brand. Hicks specializes in leveraging events, partnerships, and brand activations to drive customer engagement, increase brand awareness, and achieve measurable business objectives.

Experience Summary

Current Role

As the Event Marketing Manager at Brooks Running, Hicks is responsible for spearheading the brand's North American event marketing strategy. In this role, she oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of high-impact events, sponsorships, and experiential marketing campaigns. Hicks works closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of event activities with broader marketing initiatives, driving increased customer reach, brand engagement, and sales.

Career Progression

Prior to joining Brooks Running, Hicks held various event marketing and brand activation roles with prominent companies such as Rivian, REI, and KIND. As the Event Manager at Rivian, she led the development and implementation of national retail marketing strategies, including the successful launch of the brand's first physical retail locations. At REI, Hicks served as the Regional Manager for Local Brand Engagement and Impact, where she managed impactful brand activation campaigns that strengthened REI's presence in key markets. Her experience also includes a role as the Field Marketing Manager at KIND, where she oversaw retail, partnership, sponsorship, and influencer marketing initiatives.

Hicks' career journey also includes her entrepreneurial venture as the Co-Founder and Event Manager of Black Girls RUN!, a renowned community-driven organization that promotes running and active lifestyles among Black women. In this role, she spearheaded the planning and execution of large-scale running events and community initiatives, demonstrating her exceptional event management and community engagement skills.

Academic Background

Hicks holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Georgia, where she developed a strong foundation in media production, marketing, and event planning.

Areas of Expertise

• Event Marketing and Activation

• Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships

• Experiential Marketing and Consumer Engagement

• Retail Marketing Strategy and Execution

• Community-Driven Marketing Initiatives

• Project Management and Cross-Functional Collaboration

Professional Impact

Throughout her career, Hicks has consistently delivered exceptional results, driving increased brand awareness, customer engagement, and measurable business impact. At Rivian, she played a pivotal role in the successful launch of the brand's first physical retail locations, contributing to significant growth in customer touchpoints and sales. At REI, Hicks' impactful brand activation campaigns strengthened the brand's presence in key markets and fostered deeper connections with the local community.

As the Co-Founder of Black Girls RUN!, Hicks leveraged her event management expertise to build a thriving community of Black women runners, inspiring thousands to adopt active lifestyles and promoting diversity and inclusion in the running industry.

Conclusion

With her extensive experience in event marketing, brand activation, and community engagement, Ashley Hicks is a strategic and innovative marketing professional poised to drive exceptional results for Brooks Running. Her ability to create and execute engaging event experiences, forge meaningful partnerships, and foster community connections positions her as a valuable asset in the evolving world of event marketing.