Heather Thornton

Heather Thornton brings nearly 20 years of award-winning, dynamic professional experience in branding, internal and external communications, and integrated marketing to Center for the Future of Arizona. Her experience spans in-house and consulting agency capacities; global, national, and regional markets; and corporate and social sectors, and includes many well-known companies and brands such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Bayer, Best Buy, Philips, Girl Scouts, Arizona Public Service (APS), and WebPT. Through it all, she balances creative and data-driven critical thinking to help brands harness the power of strategic communications, PR, and marketing and achieve organizational goals.

After completing her undergraduate studies and working for global firms and brands in New York City, Heather relocated to her hometown of Phoenix in 2012. Since then, she has focused on purposeful work aligned with her values as she became engaged and passionate about the continued advancement and development of Arizona. She believes the state’s geography and resources, paired with its independent and innovative characteristics (among many other attributes), offer infinite potential for leading key issues at all levels.

Heather holds a bachelor's degree in Arts Administration, with minors in Marketing and French Studies from Wagner College. She subsequently obtained certifications in Demand Creation and Marketing Foundations. Heather is an avid reader, leads with curiosity, and strives to embrace lifelong learning. She is an active member of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), American Marketing Association (AMA), and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).