Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Blackwood. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Ashley Blackwood, Founder and Chief Strategist for The Sports Publicist is a highly skilled communications strategist, branding, and crisis management expert with over a decade of experience in Sports and Entertainment.
Prior to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, Ashley worked alongside Judy Smith, the real-life Olivia Pope, at her firm known for its crisis management and the inspiration for the ABC TV series Scandal. During her tenure, Ashley constructed and implemented the growth strategy for the Sports division while working with an exclusive list of clients in sport, entertainment, politics, and business.
Ashley has publicly represented athletes and brands like the National Football League, Nickelodeon Sports, the National Basketball Players Association, Kyrie Irving (NBA), Sha’Carri Richardson (Track), Carmelo Anthony (NBA), Allan Houston Foundation, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, New York Liberty, and more.
She was the Global Sport and Entertainment PR Lead at GMR Marketing overseeing SAP’s marcomms strategy for its partnerships with the NFL, NBA, NHL, Live Nation, Yankees, WTA, golf, soccer, racing, and sailing. Additionally, Ashley was in PR and Marketing for six seasons at the New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden worked in Community Relations for Phoenix Suns and was a consultant for the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks.
Ashley holds a bachelors from the Florida State University, an MBA, and a master’s of Sports Business Management from the Devos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida, and participated in the Sports Business Graduate program at NYU.
Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Ashley moved back to Tampa Bay in late 2019. She loves to conduct social media and media training for youth, college athletes, and professionals in sport – reinforcing her passion to use sport as a vehicle for positive change and connection.
Ashley resides in South Tampa with her husband Jeremane Blackwood.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being an entrepreneur requires you to overcome obstacles and solve problems daily.
As the world shut down in 2020, there were many challenges in working in sports and relocating a business from New York to Florida. During this period of time, fewer clients sought publicity, and more clients needed reputation and crisis management services.
There was also a dramatic increase in the need for media training. This completely shifted the business model and gave us the opportunity to solve problems, build deeper connections, and develop digital media training solutions.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Sports Publicist. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Sports Publicist is a multidisciplinary marketing communication agency whose mission is to provide premium public relations and branding services to influencers, executives, and brands in the sports and entertainment industry.
Services included:
- Strategic Communications and Consulting
- Reputation and Crisis Management
- Publicity and Branding
- Media Training and Development
- Experiential Public Relations
We work hard and love what we do. As a minority-owned and led firm, we value diversity, inclusion, and representation.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up family, food, and sports were at the center of my life.
I played basketball at Lakewood High School and PAL ran track and played flag football. As a church girl, I served the community and wanted to be a sports agent after watching Jerry Maguire.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesportspublicist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sportspublicist/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sportspublicist
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_8PkNHOfVahnJWV-vy1_Vg
