Ashley Barry
Office Administrator & Application Support
Ashley Barry is a communications professional with experience specializing in cannabis, writing communications, and community engagement in Illinois’ political and government fields. In 2019, Ashley began working for Green Rose Advisors. She is part of the writing and administrative staff that works on the incredibly competitive applications for cannabis dispensary, craft grows, infuser, and transportation licenses. In addition to writing staff, Ashley spends time locating properties suitable for a dispensary location and researching municipal ordinances across the state to identify cities and towns that allow cannabis businesses.
Before entering the cannabis industry full-time, Ashley spent more than 8 years working in Illinois’ political and government fields. Having received her political start as a member of the Illinois House Republican Organization’s (HRO) political field staff, Ashley was assigned as a field director to Republican house district races in the Chicago west suburban areas. She was responsible for increasing voter turnout, field strategy, and community engagement to recruit interested staff and volunteers.
Soon after working her first election cycle with HRO, Ashley joined the Illinois House Republican Caucus on Communications Staff. As a Communications Analyst, Ashley was tasked with developing and implementing media and community engagement strategies for assigned Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives. She was responsible for pitching story ideas to promote Representatives through targeted media opportunities, identifying district policy issues, and planning local outreach events that engaged residents with the Representative. Additionally, while working in the district office, Ashley would often work with local governments and organizations to discuss policy needs and development to maintain a comprehensive legislative agenda to provide the Representative with additional policy support unique to their districts.
After two years working with the Illinois House Republican Caucus, Ashley was called back to HRO to promote Director of Operations. Ashley was charged with directing all phases of the creative and technical elements of communications and marketing initiatives across the state. As such, Ashley managed vendor budgets, timelines, and content delivery and spearheaded communications – directing all mail and digital output, design approval, messaging, and content editing. Additionally, Ashley developed and designed presentations for organizational fundraising opportunities and developed a training guide for field staff use, providing useful tools and steps to take when building a campaign strategy.
Before entering the cannabis industry full-time, Ashley spent more than 8 years working in Illinois’ political and government fields. Having received her political start as a member of the Illinois House Republican Organization’s (HRO) political field staff, Ashley was assigned as a field director to Republican house district races in the Chicago west suburban areas. She was responsible for increasing voter turnout, field strategy, and community engagement to recruit interested staff and volunteers.
Soon after working her first election cycle with HRO, Ashley joined the Illinois House Republican Caucus on Communications Staff. As a Communications Analyst, Ashley was tasked with developing and implementing media and community engagement strategies for assigned Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives. She was responsible for pitching story ideas to promote Representatives through targeted media opportunities, identifying district policy issues, and planning local outreach events that engaged residents with the Representative. Additionally, while working in the district office, Ashley would often work with local governments and organizations to discuss policy needs and development to maintain a comprehensive legislative agenda to provide the Representative with additional policy support unique to their districts.
After two years working with the Illinois House Republican Caucus, Ashley was called back to HRO to promote Director of Operations. Ashley was charged with directing all phases of the creative and technical elements of communications and marketing initiatives across the state. As such, Ashley managed vendor budgets, timelines, and content delivery and spearheaded communications – directing all mail and digital output, design approval, messaging, and content editing. Additionally, Ashley developed and designed presentations for organizational fundraising opportunities and developed a training guide for field staff use, providing useful tools and steps to take when building a campaign strategy.
