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PRWeek, a leading platform for the global PR, marketing and branding industry, selected National Marine Manufacturers Association SVP of Marketing and Communications and Chief Brand Officer, Ellen Bradley, for its 2024 class of Women of Distinction. The program honors communications pros who according to PRWeek, “set the bar higher” and “as a member of this prestigious group have proven they are up for every challenge and ready to go above and beyond to ensure results exceed business goals and achieve creative excellence”.

Bradley is one of 25 women selected among hundreds of nominees and is featured in the March/April issue of PRWeek alongside women from organizations spanning ESPN and Disney to UPS and the U.S. Department of State. She is the first to receive the award in the recreational boating industry and at NMMA. In her Q&A with PRWeek, Bradley notes the support she’s received from her mentor, Ann Baldree, SVP at Chaparral and Robalo Boats, sharing, “Ann has gone out of her way to give me a voice and seat at the table, while illuminating a path for women in our industry. She’s inspired me to give back through mentoring programs, using my voice to advocate for policies and practices that promote an equitable workplace, amplifying diverse voices to ensure they’re heard and valued and sharing the access I’m privileged to experience.”

In its ninth year, PRWeek’s Women of Distinction program selects women who have achieved success within their own organization, inspired colleagues and, through innovative and transformative work, elevated the practice of public relations to new heights.

“Every single Women of Distinction honoree is a role model. They have proven themselves to be tireless, fearless, compassionate and effective business leaders— especially in recent times of crisis; but even more important, they are, quite simply, good people. Many spend their spare time raising up other women in the industry by educating, empowering and advocating for them,” says Diana Bradley, associate news editor at PRWeek.

For PRWeek’s Q&A with Ellen Bradley, click here or view below.

The 25 women honored as 2024 Women of Distinction include:

• Elizabeth Allen, U.S. under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Katina Arnold, VP, corporate communications, ESPN Deisha Barnett, president, global communications, UPS
• Ellen Bradley, SVP, marketing and communications and chief brand officer, National Marine Manufacturers Association
• Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul, EVP, publicity and head of communications, Disney Entertainment Television, Disney
• Leslie Cafferty, chief communications officer, Booking Holdings
• Kristen Campos, VP, corporate affairs, Mars Global Food & Nutrition North America
• Rachel Catanach, SVP and senior partner, New York GM, FleishmanHillard
• Whitney Dailey, EVP, purpose,
• Allison Cristal Downing, EVP and chief communications and public affairs officer, Merck
• Jennifer Dunn, EVP, U.S. corporate affairs and advisory, Hill & Knowlton
• Sara Garibaldi, president, Boden Agency
• Mary Elizabeth Germaine, chief data and strategy officer, Ketchum
• Rita Glaze-Rowe, president, transformative healthcare markets, Real Chemistry
• Kirsty Graham, U.S. CEO, Edelman
• Kimberly Hanson, deputy director, public and congressional affairs, headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command
• Binna Kim, group CEO, Vested
• Joy Farber Kolo, chief brand officer, The Weber Shandwick Collective
• Dawn Langeland, co-president, North America, Golin
• Lauren Odell, partner and COO, Gladstone Place Partners
• Kimberly Olson, chief communications officer, Land O'Lakes
• Janet Rivera-Hernandez, SVP of communications, Mastercard Latin America & Caribbean, Mastercard
• Alexis Davis Smith, CEO and president, PRecise Communications
• Amy Terpeluk, managing partner, corporate citizenship and social impact, Finn Partners
• Carreen Winters, chief strategy officer, MikeWorldWide

Who was your mentor and what are you now doing to send the elevator back down? Ann Baldree, SVP of Chaparral and Robalo Boats, is my mentor, champion and friend. She’s gone out of her way to give me a voice and seat at the table, while illuminating a path for women in our industry. She’s inspired me to give back through mentoring programs, using my voice to advocate for policies and practices that promote an equitable workplace, amplifying diverse voices to ensure they’re heard and valued and sharing the access I’m privileged to experience.

How are you engaging with the next generation? How does Gen Z impact your work? The future of boating is fundamentally reliant on clean water, and the next generation is our North Star in protecting that future. An important part of my role is helping our industry advance cutting-edge innovations that keep us at the forefront of reducing our environmental footprint — something we know younger generations and Gen Z, specifically, care deeply about. We recently launched Propelling Our Future, a multi-year, global education campaign on technology solutions that further reduce carbon emissions in recreational boating, helping keep us on a path to a sustainable future.

How has the industry changed for women since you started out? Recreational boating is historically male dominated, especially at the leadership level, and that’s changing. There are several influential C-suite women who’ve used their voices over the past decade, helping inspire a growing group of female leaders building top brands, business units and nonprofits — women poised to be the next generation of boating industry CEOs. Similarly, my boss and NMMA’s CEO and president, Frank Hugelmeyer, has helped elevate my voice and the voices of other women in our industry. These leaders are lifting that next generation of female leaders and igniting positive change.

What was the most important "A-ha!" moment in your career and how did it impact your future work choices? Early on in my career I learned the word no isn’t a rejection but a redirection. This has given me confidence to advocate for myself and what I believe is right throughout my career.

What is the most common misconception about your job? The most common misconception is that I spend all my time boating. While being on the water is a great perk of my role, in reality I am consuming endless amounts of research, news and data, brainstorming solutions to better support boaters and traveling to meetings and events that bring leading minds together to do whatever it takes to ensure our members and the millions of boaters we support have a transformational experience as a result of the work we do on their behalf.

What is a cause you’re proud to support and how are you advocating for it in your work? Inclusivity is a personal cause and important part of my work. I lead Discover Boating, our industry’s effort to welcome the next generation of boaters and support current boaters, and sit on the board of directors for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, which has a similar mission called Take Me Fishing — both of which help expand the market. Spending time on the water has immense physical and mental health benefits, which makes our job of welcoming future boaters and anglers who haven’t necessarily seen themselves represented, especially important.

What is a failure you’ve experienced in your career and how did you grow from it? A failure was not taking the time to thank enough people early in my career for the help they gave me along the way. When gratitude isn’t given or when it’s given but not genuine, it can leave feelings of disappointment and disrespect. Even a little gratitude goes a long way. It’s part of the cycle of giving back and is a leadership trait I value deeply today.

What do you wish you had extra time for in a day? I would love more time to dawdle! Casually reading the news while drinking endless oat milk lattes, going for a meandering walk and just letting the day unfold with no plans.

What is your favorite hobby? With the love of the outdoors in my DNA, I spend as much time as possible outside with my family, running 5-6 days a week along Chicago’s lakefront or boating on Lake Michigan.