Andrea Aker is an expert communicator and business strategist with a reputation for tenacity, perseverance and honesty. She’s willing to take on complex situations and thrives on new challenges – all traits that helped transform Aker Ink® into one of Arizona’s leading boutique PR and marketing firms. As CEO and President, Andrea’s creativity and keen business sense have helped companies nationwide break barriers, engage with new audiences and exceed lead generation goals. Under her leadership, Aker Ink is continually ranked as a top agency statewide, and strategies and tactics are honored for their creativity and impact. Andrea has earned numerous accolades for her expertise and drive to innovate. Most recently, AzBusiness Leaders recognized her as one of the top five PR professionals in Arizona for the third straight year. Previously, The Arizona Republic declared her among the Top 35 Entrepreneurs Under 35, and AzBusiness recognized her as one of the state’s top business leaders under 40. Prior to founding Aker Ink in 2007, Andrea served as the Public Relations Director for a PR and marketing agency in Phoenix. Before that, she was a writer and producer for KPHO-TV, Phoenix’s CBS affiliate, where she produced top-rated newscasts for the morning and noon shows. Andrea has 10 additional years of freelance reporting experience for publications nationwide, providing her clients an invaluable edge when working with the press. Andrea is highly active in the local community, supporting numerous professional, leadership and charitable organizations. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Innovation Marketing Association (AZIMA), and she is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Phoenix chapter. She previously served on the Board of Directors for PRSA and has volunteered on numerous committees to help advance the association and profession. Additionally, Andrea is a past member of the Board of Directors for Scottsdale Leadership, a nationally recognized leadership and community stewardship program. She graduated from the Scottsdale Leadership core program in 2014. With a passion for outdoor recreation and the environment, Andrea serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in North Scottsdale, the largest urban preserve in the U.S. Additionally, Andrea was a long-time partner and former board member with Social Venture Partners Arizona, a network of philanthropists who take a venture capital approach to funding nonprofits. Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arizona and a Master of Mass Communication from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism with a specialization in online media. She graduated from ASU at the top of her class and was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honor society of journalism and mass communication, an honor reserved for the top 10% of graduates nationally. In 2018, Andrea launched the annual Aker Ink Scholarship at ASU to support an undergraduate journalism or PR student. Living by the work-hard-play-hard mantra, Andrea is an Ironman triathlete and trail runner. She loves traveling and experiencing new cultures.