Marketing Manager
Corporate Office
Written by Randy Wells
Our 2023 December STAR employee is our Marketing Manager, Ashley Guest.
If you’ve worked for Harbin for several years, then you’ve probably noticed that we’ve become a much cooler place to work! A lot of that magic comes from Ashley; her enthusiasm and passion for her work is nearly unmatched.
Throughout the past 2 years, she has greatly increased our social media presence across multiple platforms, utilizing her talents in photography, design, and videography (including drone work), highlighting not only internal things within Harbin, but for our customers as well. She has coordinated multiple outings and trips for customers, organized an online store for Company apparel, coordinated multiple employee events and recognition programs for employees, distributes an Employee Newsletter, hiring packets & gifts for new employees, assists in development of various training plans, supported the Home Builders Association and their events in multiple states, participated in target customer meetings to highlight how she can benefit their businesses, assisted in laying out our store showrooms and has been responsible for all branding for the Company. Ashley has also re-developed our website, gotten us involved in geo fencing technologies, has us represented in various magazines, radio advertisements, newspapers, and in some cases, television.
In addition, she has organized community events such as career day programs, involvement in the elementary schools, multiple blood drives, a holiday coat drive for disadvantaged youth, chamber of commerce events, car shows, and coordinated our participation with Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer which was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America and broadcasted live and nationally on television.
Recently Ashley was recognized by the Athens Area Home Builder’s association by receiving their Marketing Professional of the Year award and she has also been asked to serve as a panelist at the 2024 Building Material Supplier’s Association expo.
Ashley graduated from Hart County HS, where she then pursued her Marketing degree from Clemson University. While at Clemson, she was a Tiger Twirler from 2015-2019, participating in 4 ACC Championships, 3 National Championship appearances, and 2 National Championship rings. She also spent one summer studying in Europe. After graduation in 2019, Ashley spent a brief time working in insurance before beginning her career at Harbin.
In her spare time, Ashley loves spending time with her husband (Lucas), son (Westin) and their dog (Woody). She comes from a big musical family, and has been singing and playing the bass guitar at her church since she was in the 6th grade. Ashley also serves as the Majorette coach for Franklin County HS, on the board for the Franklin County Habitat for Humanity and the civic committee for the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.
Ashley’s mother, Stephanie Swaney (1974-2019), once told her that if “you love what you do, you will never work a day of your life”. Fortunately for Harbin, that has worked out well, as Ashley said “I love my job and am so thankful that God opened the door for me to be a part of this HLC family!”.
Ashley represents the magic of everything Harbin has done from a marketing and community outreach service. Everything she has touched seems to turn to gold, and I can say without any hesitation that she has made Harbin Lumber Co. a “cool” place to work. We are a significantly better company, inside and out, because of her, so it is with great pride that I get the opportunity to highlight her well earned achievements and talents as this month’s STAR Employee.
Thank you Ashley for all that you do!
