American Saddlebred Horse Association Hires Jessica Cushing as new Marketing and Communications Manager
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) announces the hiring of sports marketing professional and American Saddlebred enthusiast Jessica Cushing as its Marketing and Communications Manager effective today.
Cushing joins the ASHA team from ten years of experience with three elite NCAA Division I college athletic programs. Most recently she has served as the Assistant Director of Marketing and Promotions for the esteemed United States Naval Academy Athletic Association, and prior to that spent four years as an integral part of the University of Louisville Cardinal Football program. In addition, Cushing has been an avid American Saddlebred exhibitor and industry participant for 21 years.
Cushing comes to ASHA with a history of generating tremendous success in supporting brand campaign initiatives and community relations development. She was turned to for managing major stakeholder relationships and premium membership services at Navy and to be a leader of ingenuity in community engagement, talent management, team operations and prospective athlete recruitment for some of the most successful years of the University of Louisville’s Cardinal Football program. Cushing led marketing projects for the 2017 Army-Navy Game, 2018 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Cardinal Football program to three years as one of the top performing teams in community service for all of NCAA Division I athletics and managed the 2016 and 2017 media preparations and appearances for 2016 Heisman Trophy Winner Lamar Jackson.
A native of Michigan, she was born into the horse industry. She comes from four generations of professional Standardbred Harness Horse trainers and two generations of American Saddlebred enthusiasts. Her equine industry knowledge spans across multiple disciplines, breeds and levels. She was a High Point Champion in 4-H, a NCAA Division I Varsity Equestrian recruit in Western Reining, and worked with top Eventing horses in New York, New Jersey and Maryland. Cushing has been dedicated to the American Saddlebred at every level of the industry since childhood; a youth academy exhibitor, a juvenile exhibitor on the Michigan and Ohio circuits, lesson program volunteer, an Amateur Owner Trainer of both Saddlebreds and Hackney Ponies, summer intern and show hand for multiple top American Saddlebred trainers and an independent member of the UK Saddle Seat Team. Additionally, Cushing boasts a Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University in Advertising with a specialization in Public Relations from the awarded school of Arts & Communications, as well as a Master’s in Sport Administration from the University of Louisville.
“I am thrilled to have this unique opportunity to apply my professional skills and insight that I used in marketing college and professional athletics at ASHA to grow and promote the American Saddlebred breed, my life’s passion since the age of five” said Cushing.
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