Kelly Blake
Industry Expert
Industry Areas of Expertise: Brand Communications & PR • Outdoor & Active Lifestyle Brands • CPG & Beverage • Media Relations • Integrated Marketing Campaigns • Brand Storytelling • Thought Leadership • Executive Visibility • Agency & In-House Leadership • Team Mentorship
Kelly’s Outdoor Industry Brand Experience: Adidas • Balega • Clif Bar • Deer Valley • DPS Skis • GoLite • GU • Interbike • JanSport • KEEN Footwear • Marmot • Merrell Footwear • Mount Gay Rum • Moosejaw • Outdoor Retailer • Partake Brewing • Pearl Izumi • Sierra Designs • Speedland • TransRockies Run • Rad Power Bikes • Royal Robbins • Rudy Project • Sierra Nevada • Sufferfest Beer • Wolverine World Wide • Wyoming Whiskey
Services Offered
Things Kelly Can Advise On
Clarifying your professional narrative, personal brand, and executive voice
Media relations strategy and earned media storytelling
Thought leadership and public-facing positioning for leaders and founders
Navigating career transitions within communications, marketing, PR, and brand roles
Moving between agency, in-house, freelance, or consulting career paths
Leading and scaling communications or marketing teams
Designing integrated brand campaigns across PR, content, events, and partnerships
Communicating with confidence in high-visibility or high-stakes roles
Building credibility and influence inside organizations and industries
Balancing ambition, leadership, and sustainability over the long term
& more
Kelly’s Outdoor Industry Experience
Brand & Communications Leadership
Senior communications leader across outdoor, active lifestyle, CPG, and beverage industries
Led PR, media relations, and integrated campaigns for brands including Clif Bar, KEEN Footwear, Marmot, adidas, JanSport, Merrell, GU, Pearl Izumi, Ultimate Direction, and Outdoor Retailer
Deep experience translating brand purpose into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with consumers and media
Trusted advisor to brand leaders navigating growth, visibility, and market shifts
Known for aligning storytelling, strategy, and execution across earned media, content, events, and partnerships
Agency, In-House & Consulting Experience
Held senior leadership roles at Golin, CGPR, Catapult Creative Labs, Verde Brand Communications, and Outside PR
Served in-house marketing and communications roles at Marmot and JanSport, bringing operator-level perspective to brand challenges
Experience spanning global brands, emerging companies, and startups, across both B2B and B2C audiences
Currently works as an independent consultant supporting brands and teams through launches, transitions, and strategic inflection points
Brings a pragmatic, systems-level view shaped by working on both sides of the table
Thought Leadership, Visibility & Industry Impact
Led executive thought leadership and media strategies for founders and senior leaders across outdoor and active lifestyle sectors
Built long-term media relationships with national, regional, and trade outlets covering outdoor, sports, sustainability, and consumer culture
Supported brands in shaping public-facing narratives during moments of change, growth, or repositioning
Experienced in event strategy and industry-facing activations, including trade shows, launches, and media moments tied to Outdoor Retailer and major brand campaigns
Known for helping leaders show up with clarity, confidence, and credibility in high-visibility roles
More about Kelly
Kelly Blake is a seasoned communications leader with extensive experience in the CPG, beverage, and outdoor sports industries. She has partnered with renowned brands including Clif Bar, adidas, Partake Beer, KEEN Footwear, and Marmot, working on both client and agency sides.
Kelly specializes in creating and executing traditional media strategies, thought leadership programs, and integrated marketing campaigns for both B2B and B2C audiences through authentic storytelling and a deep understanding of consumer audiences.
Her impressive career includes leadership roles at CGPR, Catapult Creative Labs, and Golin, where she served as Executive Director leading the consumer practice work. She also held director positions at Verde Brand Communications and Outside PR, plus in-house marketing roles at Marmot and JanSport.
A University of Oregon graduate in Tele-Communications and Film, Kelly lives in the Bay Area with her family, her two one eyed cats, and loves hiking and pickleball.
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