Ellen brings nearly 30 years of brand, marketing, communications, and entrepreneurial experience to Ascender. Her career began as a Brand Manager at Colgate Palmolive, where she launched products for Tom’s of Maine that remain on shelves today. Since then, she has run an international trade association for small tech companies through its acquisition, founded her own startup, and partnered with visionary CEOs in aviation, public media and healthcare. Ellen has been at the forefront of innovation across diverse industries including consumer packaged goods, controlled substances, semiconductors, SaaS, and aviation.
Ellen is passionate about helping teams find their spark and working with entrepreneurs to achieve perfect product-market fit which is why she’s thrilled to join Ascender. A graduate of Bates College with an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business, Ellen is fluent in German, plays mediocre guitar and lives north of the city with her two children and a cartoonishly adorable dog.
