Sarah Townes

Sarah Townes is currently the Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, where she is responsible for all aspects of marketing, digital, public relations, and partnerships. Sarah also provides strategic direction for the organization in collaboration with sales, services, tourism sales, and membership, while acting as a community steward in furthering the role and perception of the organization in Great Columbus. She has more than 20 years of marketing leadership experience working with a range of brands including Aveda, Caribou Coffee, Kellogg’s Cereals, Gander Mountain, Marshall Field’s, Mall of America, Sears Holdings Corporation, Tresemmé Hair Care, Walt Disney Parks, and Resorts, and many more.

Throughout her career, Sarah spearheaded brand and re-brand strategies, agency relationship management, creative development, production, omni-channel media strategy, CRM, digital innovation, social media, public relations, and strategic partnerships to exceed business growth trajectories. As a graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Advertising, Sarah’s prior campaign work has earned numerous industry awards, including being named to the Columbus CEO’s Future 50 Class of 2022, two MarComm Platinum Awards, SGB 40 Under 40 Class of 2016, two Effie Awards, a Webby Award from The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and three Silver Anvils from the Public Relations Society of America.