CARLEIGH CONNELLY
A proud third-generation Chicagoan who prefers a chardog with neon relish over a steamed hot dog any day, Carleigh is a passionate hospitality leader with over 15 years of brand marketing, strategic partnerships, CPG product development, and omni-channel content production / distribution experience.
She was part of the founding team of Here Here Market — an online marketplace for culinary creators — spearheading HHM’s merchandising and business development strategy, bringing on over 800 small-batched products and on-boarding over 200 chefs + culinary creators to the site, in addition to launching exclusive e-comm and experiential partnerships with the James Beard Foundation, Choose Chicago, World Business Chicago, and TED talks.
Before returning to the Midwest in 2018, she spent 5 years running all national digital lifestyle media properties for CBS Broadcasting in New York City as the Brand Director and Executive Producer at Chowhound — one of the OG online food communities and cooking sites.
Between working for Chicago Magazine’s Dining Department and Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine’s test kitchen and editorial teams in NYC, it was clear that she was hooked on all things hospitality.
After her time in the Mid-Atlantic, Carleigh spent 7 years in the Bay Area — first as a restaurant consultant for a marketing agency, followed by roles as a food buyer for Williams-Sonoma, inc and a Cheesemonger for Cowgirl Creamery at SF’s iconic Ferry Building.
Even though she loved spending her days talking about, tasting, and selling some of the world’s best dairy (how could you not?) she transitioned back into food publishing as the Executive Editor of an industry culinary magazine that focused on restaurant trends.
She eventually transitioned from print to digital, when she joined Chef Michael Mina’s media company as their Director of Content — managing their test kitchen, culinary production, editorial, and marketing teams, producing daily cooking videos that inspired viewers to make Michelin-starred meals at home.
Outside of work, she's involved in a number of organizations, including Together Hospitality, The Trotter Project and Relish Works’ accelerator program: The Food Foundry.
Currently, Carleigh lives in West Town, Chicago with her husband, 2-year-old son, and 150-pound rescue Saint Bernard who can often be found at their favorite neighborhood bakery: Publican Bread — buying sesame sourdough loaves, danskes, and chocolate orange morning buns.