Julie Kelly
Julie grew up in Connecticut and earned a BA at UConn. Her career began at Clarion, a boutique marketing agency owned by advertising powerhouse DMB&B, where she worked in Account Service for clients British Airways, Revlon, Cadbury Beverages, and Chase Bank. She learned about big budget media buys, print jobs, direct mail, and trade marketing.
Next, she walked on the client side as Marketing Manager for a Bruegger’s Bagels franchise, where she learned about small budget media buys, event sponsorship, promotions, and guerrilla marketing. She may or may not have made appearances in the company’s inflatable “Bagel Dude” costume. Before relocating to California, Julie also gained experience in the humanitarian and creative services sectors, working as a grant writer and recruiter.
A former Cat 2 bicycle racer who met her husband on a training ride, Julie considers breaking into the bike industry as one of her best career accomplishments. She joined Canari Cyclewear as an inside sales rep in 2010, servicing 50% of their U.S. dealers and supporting a dozen outside sales reps.
Next, she founded Marvelous Creative Solutions, a freelance copywriting and project management firm, combining her insight into bike shops, passion for cycling, and marcomm savvy to benefit clients including the Campagnolo Gran Fondo, Reynolds Cycling, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Interbike, PressCamp, and PeopleForBikes.
Julie’s ability to “speak bike” and manage detailed projects also matched her with public relations clients including Salt Lake City-based SOAR Communications, where she worked on PR and media relations for Focus Bicycles, Haibike, Kinetic Trainers, SealSkinz, RockyMounts, Fantic Electric Bicycles, and the Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic Bike Tour. She’s in her happy place when she’s making clients look good and helping share their stories at home and on the road.
There’re road, track, and mountain bikes in Julie’s garage, though she admits that her road bike logs the most miles. When she’s not working, riding, or spending time with her family, she serves as Trustee of her local school board and volunteers for the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), and the service dog organization Canine Companions for Independence.
