Blaze Partners

The Running Industry Diversity Coalition made a powerful impact at The Running Event (TRE) and we are deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible. - We kicked off the week with our educational workshop, 'The Future of Run Specialty from the RIDC Lens. Thank you to our presenters: ASICS, We Run 313, Charm City Run, New Balance, Black Girls Run!, Brooks, Charlotte Running Company, Damon Brown, GU, Rising Hearts, HOKA, Especial, The Exchange Running Collective, On, and 6RUN5. When it comes to the RIDC mission, there’s no competition—collaboration and unity are essential. cc: Damon Brown Jay Ell Alexander Lance Woods Willie L. Alexander III, M. A. Jordan Marie Whetstone - RIDC’s ‘Welcome to TRE Mixer’ for our 24 BIPOC scholarship recipients was so much fun thanks to our venue RichesArt Gallery and amazing Trinidadian and Tobagonian food by Shirley’s Trini Cuisine. Thank you The Running Event and On for investing in this program. - Our 4th Annual CommUnity Run/Walk, powered by Saucony was one for the books. Austin’s running community showed up big, and TRE attendees brought the energy for another incredible run/walk. 250 friends, partners, and supporters joined us. cc: Fleet Feet Ari Perez. - THE COOKOUT was everything. Over 500 guests came to party with the RIDC during TRE to celebrate the culture, dance, eat, and enjoy time with one another. Thank you to our event sponsors for their generous support: Saucony, ASICS, Altra, Feetures, HOKA, New Balance, On, Brooks, Strava, Big Peach Running Co., PUMA, Footlocker, and Active Brands. cc: Lahoma Dade Events Unleashed - Our booth was the place to be. We featured interactive elements like Myths vs. Reality, new RIDC gear, and onsite partner sign-ups just to name a few. It was also a space of fellowship for BIPOC. Thanks Blaze Partners for making us look so good. - Finally, at the TRE Awards, we proudly introduced our RUN THE BLOCK winner to hundreds of retail owners, leaders, and employees during the announcements for Best Running Stores. Carol and Jesse Holland are set to open HARAKA in Prince George’s County, MD in the summer 2025. This moment powerfully showcased the tangible impact of our commitment to increasing BIPOC ownership and leadership in the running industry. If you made it this far, you’re an MVP. ???? I typed all of that to emphasize this: The RIDC mission is not just critical—it’s transformative for the running and outdoor industries. Progress we all can see and feel in real time.

Had a ton of fun on the Downeaster this week. Keep an eye out for some new creative!

Just wrapped up an incredible week at The Running Event (TRE) and Switchback Event in Austin, where we attended eye-opening presentations, saw old friends, made new ones, and (of course) ate some incredible BBQ. We were especially excited to support our pals at the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC). Their booth was a perfect reflection of their organization—vibrant, welcoming, and purpose-driven. Congrats to the whole team, and on Blaze client Diversified Communications HQ for an incredibly well-run show!

We just got back from the Maine Outdoor Economy Summit (MOES), and we're feeling deeply inspired (and just a little bit tired). During the chock-full three-day forum at Sunday River, we heard from industry experts, caught up with old friends, and made new connections. We were especially excited about the rollout of the 10-Year Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap, a project we helped bring to life. Maine's outdoor rec industry is a vibrant, supportive community, and crucial to the state's economy—which is why we come back every year to this annual conference as sponsors, participants, and fans. More to come!?

Introducing: Marshall, the aircraft marshal! Earlier this year, we began working on a new spokesperson campaign for New Hampshire’s Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. From extensive research and discovery to filming in the studio and on the runway, this has been a fun, fascinating project. Plus, we got the whole process on film. Here’s a pro-tip: Make presentations just a little bit weird by filming yourself in costume outside the office. Special thanks to the teams at Studio Lab, Sweven | Visual Engineering, and Dimension 5.

After last week's election, advertisers and agencies are faced with a lot of uncertainties—and a risk of undermining years of progress. Jim took the time to dig into what comes next, and it's worth the read. He recommends brands stay grounded in their core values and communicate with authenticity. We're taking his advice. https://lnkd.in/ghHHHtMs

Voting isn't the only way to engage with the future of our community and our country—but it definitely comes with the best sticker. We voted! Did you?

Jenna’s story is so powerful. Make a plan to vote tomorrow—don’t take the opportunity for granted!

Happy Halloween! We had a fun, spooky time making this spot for Maine Spirits with the help of Knack Factory. An extra candy bar if you can guess where we filmed ??

Looking for some terrifyingly fun cocktails to make this Halloween? With the help of Derek Bissonnette and Catrine Kelty, we took inspiration from our state’s wicked woods to conjure these concoctions for Maine Spirits. Get the scary-good recipes here: mainespirits.com/halloween