Brie Ripley Sparks

I’m a Seattle-based communications director and creative producer working at the intersection of education access and public storytelling. Over the past several years, I’ve led executive communications, media strategy, and global narrative work for large mission-driven institutions. Recently, I returned to Seattle to work closer to the ground, supporting students, educators, and emerging professionals who are navigating education systems in real time.

I’m a first-generation college graduate myself, which shapes how I think about communication. Systems should make sense to the people inside them. Language should clarify rather than obscure. And public institutions carry a responsibility to meet people with both precision and respect for lived experience.

I’ve learned that empathy and precision travel farther than any press release ever could. Good communication isn’t loud. It’s attentive; when it works, it creates access.

Other things I like: film photography ✶ ✶ analogue collages ✶ drawing ✶ painting ✶ collecting global cookbooks ✶ crochet ✶ guitar ✶ music: alternative indie / punk / house / haunted folk ✶ restoring our 117-year-old craftsman ✶ thrifting✶ rock collecting ✶ a really nice pair of glasses ✶

Colleagues have said:

  • A true force. She's shown time and time again both the creative chops to build and run digital campaigns and the project management skills to keep a number of balls bouncing.

    — Ted Richane, Vulcan Productions, Head of Social Impact

  • Brie is one of those rare digital unicorns who is both an 'idea person' and a 'relentless execution person.' She has the ability to challenge you to ask yourself ‘what do I really want to achieve?’ and then hits the ground running to build elegant digital campaigns that exceed your goals...

    – Allison Tourville, Paul G. Allen, Director of Digital

  • Brie Ripley is this designer’s dream come true. A creative soul with a strategist’s mind and a truly exceptional collaborator, she raises the bar and makes everyone around her better, smarter versions of themselves. She embodies fearless, brilliant, strategic, kick-ass energy.

    – Laura Green, Vulcan Productions, Senior Designer

  • Brie puts her whole heart and mind into her work. She hustles. She has 100 ways to approach a problem. She takes things seriously, but she can also get a room laughing.

    — Jenna Montgomery, KUOW, Director of Digital

  • Endlessly creative with her senses: visual, audio, and writing. I have no doubt if she could figure out a way to make the internet scented, she would be on top of that, too.

    — Kara McDermott, KUOW Public Radio Web Producer

  • Brie Ripley is an audio-video-copy-editing and storytelling machine. She comes to the table with bold, creative ideas and specific plans to execute — and if you don’t like the first pitch, she’s got eight more. When she doesn't know how to do something, she figures it out fast — and then teaches others with grace.

    – Bond Huberman, KUOW, Senior Social Media Strategist

  • Brie has fire in her belly. She knows what she wants, and she's willing to do what it takes to get there.

    — Posey Gruener, KNKX Public Radio, Producer