Gibson | IcebreakerMembers
Brand Partnerships & Integrated Marketing Expert | Where Entertainment + Culture Meet Marketing Innovation
Widely known as a long time leader and innovator in the consumer marketing and brand partnerships space and with a brain designed to cool-hunt and problem solve, I craft collaborations that reshape how brands connect with culture.
Over two decades, I've architected both revenue generating and in kind brand partnerships for corporations and properties including MusiCares, OUTLOUD Music Festival, Vans Warped Tour, Summer School Tour, Gibson Guitar, 20th Century Fox Films, Disney, Danny Wimmer Presents, Bumbershoot, and Hard Rock Cafe, transforming traditional sponsorships into dynamic brand integrations.
My approach combines creative thought process and deep industry insight with marketing innovation – a methodology that's created, secured and executed major national and global partnership programs with blue chip brands including Starbucks, McDonalds, Pringles, Energizer, Coca-Cola, Vans, Pontiac, Bose, P&G, Ubisoft, PlayStation, Brown-Forman, Diageo, Target, Budweiser, Pepsi, and Microsoft.
What sets me apart is an ability to see beyond conventional partnership models. By combining strategic thinking with years of experience and knowledge I create opportunities that drive sustainable growth while maintaining cultural relevance. My focus remains on developing partnerships that don't just meet objectives – they set new industry benchmarks.
Core Focus:
Strategic Marketing • Brand Partnerships • Entertainment Innovation • Creative Marketing - Team Leadership and Growth - Digital Integration • Revenue Growth • Cultural Strategy 
Katharine Richardson, Partner
With over 20 years of experience in management, marketing, and public relations, Kate Richardson has been a driving force behind the marketing of over 40 international brands, including Martin Guitar, LR Baggs, Gibson Guitars, Epiphone Guitars, Sonor Drums, Mapex Drums, Wurlitzer Jukeboxes, Peavey Electronics, and Baldwin Pianos.
As a publicist, she has represented clients such as John Oates, The Doobie Brothers, Robert Earl Keen, Sam Bush, Sharon M. Draper, Loretta Lynn, Alison Krauss, Tanya Tucker, Bela Fleck, Yo-Yo Ma, Capitol Records, Rounder Records, Sugar Hill Records, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), and the U.S. Postal Service.
Kate’s interactive projects include sites for the Aspen Songwriters Festival, Country Music Association, TNN (The Nashville Network), CMT (Country Music Television), WSM radio, the Grand Ole Opry, and HealthStream.
Specialties: strategic marketing, activations, music business, public relations, social media, artist development, influencer relations, and writing. 
Motivated, high-energy business professional with advanced degree and broad background in marketing and marketing research. Skilled consultant who can help translate customer needs to design, then execute, analyze, and deliver actionable information.
SKILLS SUMMARY:
• Data Visualization
• Engaging Presentations
• Market Research
• Model Building
• P&L Management
• Project Management
• Proposal Creation
• Revenue-Generating Analysis
• Sales
• Statistical Knowledge
• Storytelling
• Team Leadership
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
• Ad Testing
• Brand Equity
• Choice Modeling
• Concept Testing
• Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty
• Demand Estimation
• Idea Screening
• Market Segmentation
• Net Promoter Score
• New Product Development
• Pricing
• Product Optimization
• Qualitative Research
• Shopper Insights
• Social Media Tracking
• Web Analytics
SOFTWARE:
• Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Power BI, PowerPoint, Word
• Photo editing packages
• Survey authoring platforms
• Sawtooth
• Q
• SPSS
• Syndicated Sales Data (Nielsen, NPD, MI SalesTrak)
• VBA 
