Candace Montgomery
Executive Director,
Live Events & Experiential
Essence

As Executive Director, Live Events & Experiential Essence Communications. Candace is a leading innovator in the area of strategic experiential marketing programs.

An expert with over 20 years experience, Montgomery develops integrated event strategies that deliver on the Essence brand promise and partner objectives and goals. She is also responsible for the production, promotional, operational, experiential and budgetary management of the Essence and Essence Festival events portfolio.

Her hands on approach has lead her to executive produce the Essence Festival -the largest cultural gathering in the U.S., award shows, TV productions, street festivals and more. As a brand leader and experiential strategist she works collaboratively across, print, digital, social and the live experience to create cross-platform messaging to brings ideas to life. In addition, her impressive body of work has resulted in WWD, FAME Best of the Best Magazine Event Awards, often being quoted and her events being featured in industry trades like BizBash and min.

She has always been a team player believing the people are at the heart of the product, however, her ability to lead and motivate cross-functional department heads across the platform has been pivotal to the success of Essence brand. Many who have worked with and for her would agree that great and memorable experiences have been built out of their collaboration.