Marketing & HR Consulting Divisions, Ahola
Sonya leads Ahola's Marketing & HR Consulting Divisions and is responsible for communications, brand strategy, and the ProActive HR Consulting Division for the Ahola Corporation. She manages all internal and external communications, public relations, social media, trade shows, advertising, content creation, and traditional marketing campaigns. She leads a team of marketing and human resources professionals and partners closely with senior management and executive teams, vendor partners, and associations.
Sonya joined Ahola as a third-generation family member in 2017, after working in corporate retail – specifically in e-commerce. She has shifted the company's focus to support social media, content, and mobile-enabled assets. She led a comprehensive brand refresh for the company in 2019, complete with a new company mission and vision, visual branding, and messaging. In the last 5 years, the company has been selected and endorsed by multiple Associations and Franchise Organizations and has been recognized as a Top Family-Owned Business by Crain’s Cleveland Business, a Top Workplace by The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com, and a Family Business Achievement Award Winner by Smart Business Magazine.
Sonya graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Ohio State University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Marketing. In 2019, Sonya was recognized by Family Business Magazine as a NextGen to Watch. In 2020, Sonya completed both the Civic Leadership Institute at the Cleveland Leadership Center and Greater Cleveland Partnership's GCP Lead Cohort. In 2021, she was honored as a Notable Executive in Marketing by Crain's Cleveland Business.