What’s Up? Media Chief Operating Officer Ashley Raymond received a national award from Folio, a New York-based magazine and digital publishing association.
Folio named the Crownsville resident one of its 2019 Top Women in Media in the Up and Comers category, a designation given to women who are making a mark at early stages of their career. Each year, a group of women are selected to represent the best and brightest up and comers, entrepreneurs, change-makers, corporate champions, and trailblazers in the media industry.
The 2019 class of honorees includes Harvard Business Review’s Alison Beard, Facebook’s Shauna Sweeney, Meredith’s Melissa Inman, TechTarget’s Jillian Coffin, ESPN’s Maria Taylor, and POPSUGAR’s Lindsay Miller.
The 33-year-old, along with the entire 2019 class of Top Women in Media, will be honored at the Grand Hyatt in New York City on June 7th.
Seventeen years ago, Raymond started at What’s Up? Media as an office administration intern during her senior year at South River High School.
After graduating in 2003, Raymond took a full-time position as a production assistant. A few years later, she became the circulation, events, and production manager. She launched the events department—planning and hosting several annual events, including Most Eligible Singles, Best Of Party, Annapolis Supper Club, and Annapolis Restaurant Week.
Her growing interest in marketing and sales enabled her to sign and manage several clients, who she continues to serve today. In 2012, the company promoted Raymond to operations publisher. This role demanded her insight regarding overall company operations and the development of marketing concepts to enhance the company’s branding, outreach, and portfolio of advertising opportunities.
Since assuming the position, Raymond has helped roll out new advertising initiatives and special monthly advertorial sections, manage sales benchmarks and goals, lead the office’s move to a new location in 2013, develop company partnerships and sponsorships with local charity organizations, launch What’s Up? Media’s event ticketing platform What’s Up? Tix, and direct day-to-day corporate operations.
Outside of work, Raymond is a fierce community advocate and volunteer. As vice president of the Herald Harbor Citizens Association, she has organized several fundraisers to support the construction of a new park and pavilion. She is also the founder of Friends of Herald Harbor, a community organization that educates and empowers youth. On top of that, she coaches Arden Recreation tee-ball; volunteers at her daughter’s school, South Shore Elementary; and, later this year, will become a Master Watershed Steward and leader of Girl Scout Troop 10246.
As a result of her commitment to her company, co-workers, and community, Raymond received What’s Up? Media’s annual MVP Award in 2009 and 2017. She was named to her current role, chief operating officer, in mid-2016.
