Heather Rad

Marketing Consultant & Brand Strategist

Heather Rad, originally from Gilroy, California, and a former Princess in the Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Pageant, is a creative force in marketing with a passion for consumer activation, influencer collaborations, and PR-driven brand experiences. Currently serving as the Director of Sales and Marketing at a hotel across the street from Disneyland, she has spearheaded the opening of hotels and earned state-level recognition for her innovative social media and marketing campaigns, including a highly successful influencer program.

With a long history in travel marketing, Heather thrives on bringing people together, sparking synergy between brands, and delivering innovative campaigns that drive engagement and brand loyalty. She has built influencer programs from the ground up, developed award-nominated campaigns, and fostered relationships that amplify brand storytelling. Whether it’s conceptualizing buzzworthy PR boxes, engineering viral marketing stunts, or aligning brand strategies for maximum impact, Heather is known for turning ideas into unforgettable consumer experiences.

In addition to her corporate marketing leadership, Heather co-founded It Is Rad, LLC with her husband Michael—a creative consulting agency that helps new ventures launch social media and marketing strategies and connect social media content creators with brands, tourism, entertainment, and beyond. With a sharp eye for trends and an intuitive approach to brand synergy, she helps businesses elevate their presence, engage audiences, and drive meaningful results.

When she's not strategizing the next big campaign, you can find Heather brainstorming over coffee, exploring creative brand collaborations, or dreaming up the next game-changing activation.

Let’s make marketing RAD together!

Licenses and Certifications

• CA Real Estate License

• Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA)

• Hospitality and Tourism Management Certification, Florida Atlantic University

• Disneyland Resort Ambassador Program, Disneyland Resort

• Excellence in Delivery of the Guest Experience - EDGE, Marriott International

• A Crash Course for the First-Time Manager, Fred Pryor Seminars

• Finalist – Best Influencer Campaign – Visit California Poppy Awards 2024

• Finalist – Best Content Marketing - Visit California Poppy Awards 2024

• Finalist - Best Influencer Campaign – Visit California Poppy Awards 2022

• Finalist - Best Cooperative Marketing – Visit California Poppy Awards 2022

• CA Civil Rights Team Award Recipient

• Charter Member Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance

• Speaker for Visit Anaheim Workforce Development Program

Accomplishments