Candace FitzGerald brings to High Horses nearly 30 years of experience in strategic business development and marketing communications. At High Horses, Candace’s focus will be strategic marketing, community and corporate partnerships and development. In addition, she will support the Executive Director in overall operations and the implementation of the five-year strategic plan.

Early in her career she held senior positions at industry-leading agencies including ModemMedia, FitzGerald Communications and Version 2.0 Communications where she cultivated an expertise in Internet technology and consumer marketing and PR.  In addition to working with countless emerging companies, Candace gained extensive experience in helping established brands such as ABSOLUT, iQVC and the New York Times to launch strategic digital initiatives and develop and implement successful integrated communications programs.

She founded the Dobbin Group in 2009 as part of her long-held wish to combine her marketing expertise with her passion for horses. Dobbin Group provided strategic communications services to global equestrian brands including the College Prep Invitational, Dover Saddlery, EquiFit Inc., Horseware Ireland, Tredstep
Ireland and the World Equestrian Center.

In 2015, Candace led the team that rebranded Roberts Arena in Wilmington, Ohio to World Equestrian Center (WEC). She drove the re-launch of the new brand and was instrumental in elevating WEC to national and international recognition among equestrians of all disciplines.

In her leadership position as Sr. Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy at World Equestrian Center, Candace drove all advertising, marketing, communications and social media initiatives. In addition, she built the organization’s sponsorship infrastructure, launched the World Equestrian Center App and was editorial and advertising director of the glossy quarterly World Equestrian Center Magazine. The World Equestrian Center now hosts a full calendar of top equestrian competition and events in Ohio and at a second, larger world-class equestrian competition venue and resort in Ocala, Florida.