Heather Ripley

For nearly two decades, Heather Ripley has developed and led public relations campaigns for the skilled trades and construction industries, including plumbing, HVAC, roofing, electrical, architecture and engineering, as well as the B2B technology, manufacturing and franchise sectors. As CEO and founder of Ripley PR, Orange Orchard and Adventure PR in Maryville, Tenn., she is passionate about helping business owners grow and succeed.

Before founding Ripley PR in 2013, Ripley held marketing and public relations leadership roles with companies including Clockwork Home Services and CAP Brand Marketing, where she refined her expertise in strategic communications. Growing up in a blue-collar family, she developed a deep appreciation for the skilled trades and the people who keep communities running. Drawing on both her professional experience and her upbringing, Ripley built Ripley PR into the nation’s leading PR agency for the home service industry. She expanded the agency in 2018 with the launch of Orange Orchard, a division dedicated to animal welfare nonprofits and foundations, and in 2025 with Adventure PR, which specializes in PR for businesses in the travel and outdoor industries.

In 2021, Ripley published “NEXT LEVEL NOW: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for Your Home Service Business.” The book offers practical strategies to help home service contractors integrate public relations into their marketing efforts to drive growth and strengthen their businesses. She is also a contributing author for Plumbing & Mechanical, RV Business and Contracting Business magazines.

A 2026 Women We Admire Top Women Leaders honoree and recipient of the 2024 PRNEWS Top Women Award, Ripley is a nationally recognized PR strategist who helps organizations build visibility, strengthen industry leadership and drive business growth through earned media, strategic communications, media relations, social media and content creation. Under her leadership, Ripley PR has earned numerous industry honors, including PR Agency of the Year (2025-2026) from the Corporate LiveWire Prestige Awards and Best Communications/PR Agency (2025) from the Merit Awards. The agency is also a member of Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s leading partnership of independently owned PR agencies, with more than 110 offices and approximately 2,000 communications professionals across 45 countries on six continents.

Outside of her work in PR, Ripley is co-owner of Foothills Martial Arts & Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Maryville. She holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a brown belt in Isshinryu Karate.