Last Updated on April 20, 2021
ORLANDO (March 26, 2021) – Ashley Heafy, creative director of Growing Bolder, was named one of “Orlando Business Journal’s” 40 Under 40, an honor that recognizes Central Florida leaders who are 39 and younger. The professionals chosen are among the most talented and accomplished in the area and have demonstrated playing a key role in their industry and community.
“It’s an honor to be included in this year’s 40 Under 40,” Heafy said. “I wake up every day excited to learn, lead, create, strategize and grow with other big dreamers and thinkers at Growing Bolder.”
Heafy, 36, has successfully led an extraordinary number of innovative, diverse projects at Growing Bolder, a rapidly growing lifestyle brand and multi-platform media company.
During her two years with the company, Heafy completed the rebrand of “Growing Bolder” magazine, led the creative on a major redesign of the company’s website (GrowingBolder.com) and collaborated on a full rebrand of the company’s flagship TV program. She also led the creative on a series of other significant projects, including an award-winning TV special and the world’s first intergenerational gaming initiative, while hiring and supervising a team of designers.
“During a time when many businesses shut down, Ashley was instrumental in dramatically increasing Growing Bolder’s national audience and acquiring new, strategic partners,” said Growing Bolder CEO and founder Marc Middleton, noting the company’s 900% increase in revenue and a target audience of over 300 million. “I believe she is not only one of the top creatives and branding experts in the country, she is an astute businesswoman and strategic thinker whose influence is felt in everything our company does.”
A 2007 graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Heafy previously worked as a designer for the Orlando Art Museum and Prismatic before launching Ashley Heafy Creative in 2015. She quickly developed a reputation as one of the top designers in Central Florida, working on local and national brands in real estate, finance and music, among other industries, before joining Growing Bolder in 2019.
Heafy also has been active in several charities, co-founding the Metal and Honey Foundation, a music therapy program at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital; designing and selling custom T-shirts and donating the proceeds to the One Pulse Foundation and designing a limited-edition T-shirt honoring former WESH-TV anchor Wendy Chioji, with funds benefiting cancer research.
