Stephanie Elsea

Vice President of Communications and Marketing, SouthWest Affiliate
American Heart Association
@heart_south

Stephanie H. Elsea, APR, is the vice president of communications and marketing for the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Austin-based, six-state SouthWest Affiliate. In this role, Stephanie oversees the Association’s communications strategy in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. She manages a team of market-based communications professionals spread across the affiliate who are goaled on traditional and social media.

Stephanie is a purpose-driven communications executive who has dedicated her career to making a difference. Her experience is almost exclusively nonprofit, focused on healthcare and higher education. She is a creative, collaborative and strategic thinker, an early-adopter of new technology and a curious life-long learner. She brings her unique sense of humor to every situation and has been known to ban PowerPoint in meetings—and to sing often (though, unfortunately, not very well).

Prior to joining the AHA, Stephanie served as the spokesperson and marketing & communications director for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (now LIVESTRONG). She also has served several other large nonprofit organizations, including St. Edward’s University, Seton Healthcare Network and Auburn University. Stephanie holds a masters in liberal arts from St. Edward’s University and a bachelor of arts in journalism from Auburn University.