As Co-Founder and CEO of Beacon Media + Marketing, Adrienne Wilkerson is driven by a passion for developing people and fostering a culture where innovation thrives. In her early 20s, she realized she would make a much better boss than an employee, which led her to found her own company in 2001. With a great deal of hard work and a fair degree of scrappiness, she transformed it into an award-winning digital marketing agency. Today, she is a visionary leader who guides her team to find opportunity in every challenge, pushing creative boundaries to deliver impactful results. This approach has established Beacon as a respected national agency, renowned for its work in the mental and behavioral health sectors, and has earned it a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies for three consecutive years.
A respected voice in the business community, Adrienne’s influence extends through her roles as a sought-after speaker, author, and mentor. Her love for a challenge has earned her numerous awards, including Woman of the Year from the National Association of Professional Women, Marketing Visionary of the Year from the American Marketing Association of Alaska, and a place in the Top 40 Under 40 by the Alaska Journal of Commerce. She is also a passionate coach, not just for her own team, but for emerging leaders across multiple industries. Her leadership experience includes serving as a founding board member for non-profits like the Alaska Business Women’s Summit, the Alaska Chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) and later the Women in Digital Cleveland Chapter.
Beyond her professional achievements, Adrienne finds balance and inspiration with her family on their 40-acre ranch north of Reno, Nevada. When she’s not traveling around talking about marketing, she’s busy working the land with her husband, son, dogs, goats, a horse, and donkeys. This life fuels her belief in hard work and resilience—principles she applies to both her business and her commitment to building a legacy of positive impact for the next generation.
