Our annual picks of the industry’s rising stars – a brave, bold group that’s trailblazing a unique path to success.

Heather Comerford

1338Tryon (asi/287946)

Colorful, witty and as cheerful as they come, Heather Comerford is a rare soul. “I never sleep,” she jokes. “It’s not one of my skills.”

It’s clear, though, Comerford has plenty of marketing talent. After spending three years at WorkflowOne wrapped around two separate stints at an ad agency, Comerford started her own business – 1338Tryon (asi/287946) – about two years ago. Her philosophy is straightforward: do whatever the client needs and do it well.

“We just did a custom fire pit for a CEO that was retiring – and we added in things like nice chocolates and marshmallows,” Comerford says. “We did it in 36 hours. Even I didn’t think it could be done that fast.”

Comerford’s small but nimble firm does corporate stores and manages event assets like signage and tents for customers, too. She’s also progressive in how she leads her team. For instance, she gives her employees time to volunteer for causes that are important to them. In another example, one of her staffers was recently on maternity leave and now wants to be home earlier in the afternoon, something Comerford supports.

“I work from 5 a.m. until 3:30, and then I finally take a break and maybe teach a Junior Achievement class,” she says. “So I believe in flexible hours. It’s all about being available to clients – that’s what matters.”

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