Speakers
A marketing executive with over twenty years industry experience, Kimberly A. Blackwell is the principaland CEO of PMM. Founded in 1999, the national award winning brand strategies firm provides comprehensive creative services, marketing, reputation management, production, communications and agent representation services toits clientele.
From Fortune 100+global corporations, to government/public sector, world-class athletes and influencersthat currently include Nationwide, Macy’sInc., Toyota, The Huntington National Bank, Jackson-Hewitt, Food Lion LLC, State of Ohio–Tourism, Education and Healthagencies, City of Columbus among others, PMM hasearned a reputation nationally as a trusted brand manager. With an enterprise focus targeted toward “...all things brand”, companies include PMM Agency, PMM Productions, PMM Promotions, PMM Eliteand PMM Media. In 2015, PMM was recognized by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, Ohio River Valley Region,as “2015 Supplier of the Year”. In 2014, PMM was recognized by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) asClass II (up to $10MM) “2014 Supplier of the Year”. In 2013, PMM was awarded “Minority Business Enterprise of the Year” by the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC).
Grateful for the journey, having founded PMM in her twenties from a one bedroom apartment, Blackwell now assumes the lead andpointforthe agency’s clientmanagementteams. Through a strategic lens, Blackwell works closely with C-Suiteofficers, inbusiness units ofbrand management, marcom and administration, with supporting the planning across organizational objectives, benchmarking and performance measures.
Regarded for her industry expertise and business trajectoryof the multi-million dollar female business enterprise, in 2011 Blackwell was appointed and is currently serving, as one of eight of the country’s female CEOs,a second termonthe National Women’s Business Council (NWBC). NWBC is a non-partisan federal advisory council serving as a source of independent counsel to the President of the United States, Congress, and the SBA on economic issues of importance to women business owners.
A “2015 Women You Should Know” honoree of Women for Economic andLeadership Development (WELD), a “2015 NAWBO Visionary Award Finalist”,in 2014 Blackwell was also presented with a prestigious award among “2014 Enterprising Women of the Year”. This global recognition honors a select group of successful female business owners from across the world. Recognized as a thought leader, in 2014 Black Enterprise magazine featured Blackwell as one of the country’s “Women of Power”. In 2013, Blackwell was also highlighted by Black Enterprise among the nation’s “Top Marketing & Advertising Executives” and awarded nationally with The Network Journal’s “25 Influential Black Women in Business”. In 2012, Blackwell was highlighted in SAVOY along with the Power Issue of Black Enterprise among “Rising Business All-Stars 40 Under 40”. In 2010, Blackwell was recognized, locally and nationally, by Business First and The Network Journal as “Forty Under 40”.
Often consulted for inclusion strategies, Blackwell is a certified diversity professional of Cornell University. She has also completed professional executive programs at Dartmouth’s Tuck College of Business, NorthwesternUniversity’s Kellogg School of Management and Harvard University.
Blackwell is a dedicated public servant. She currently serves as a board member for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, trustee for the YWCA Columbus, Columbus Urban League, King Arts Complex and The Center for Healthy Families. Blackwell is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC),a network of the nation’s most influential African-American executives. She also is a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), and a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association®. Blackwell is also a member of the Tocqueville Societyforthe United Way of Central Ohio. Blackwell was named by the National Diversity Council in 2012 andagain in 2014as one of the “Most Powerful & Influential Women of Ohio.”
Blackwell holds a bachelor’sdegree from Syracuse U., a master’s degree from Xavier U. (OH) and has served over ten years as an adjunct professor in the graduate studies program at Xavier U. (OH).