KATIE BARCHAS WILSON, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MARKETECT
Following a decade-long career in financial services, Katie Barchas Wilson founded The Market Group Inc. in 2012 to focus on her true passions: branding, events, promotions and philanthropy. Over the past seven years, she has worked with clients in the media, non-profit, housing, hospitality and retail industries to maximize their reach, increase their brand awareness, and grow their market presence.
Prior to The Market Group Inc., Katie served as Operations Manager for Global Financial Review, a mortgage due-diligence firm, where she honed her skills in marketing, business development, and project management. Katie began her transition from the financial sector to marketing and media in the Fall of 2012, when she joined the team of Northern Virginia Media Services as their Marketing and Events Manager. At NVMS, Katie built/expanded a number of large contests, promotions and events, including the Best of Loudoun, Best of Fairfax, and Best of Prince William polls, along with Loudoun’s “40 Under 40” awards.
In January 2013, Katie launched the High-Heeled Happy Hour, a shoe-themed monthly women’s networking event series. Each High-Heeled Happy Hour honors a female business professional and/or community leader who selects a charity beneficiary for a portion of the event proceeds that evening. To date, High-Heeled Happy Hours and their offshoots-- Stiletto Cinemas, Sole Sister Soirees, and the annual High-Heeled Holiday Parties-- have raised nearly $75,000 for local charities.
In September 2015, Katie was recognized as one of Loudoun's rising stars in Leesburg Today's “40 Under 40” awards. Katie was also named to the “Women 100 List” in Loudoun Business Journal's 2016, 2017, and 2018 “Women Who Mean Business” issues, as well as featured in their “16 to Watch in 16.” Katie was featured in Alimond Studio’s Loudoun 100 in 2017. Katie currently serves as Chair of Loudoun “40 Under 40,” on the advisory board for Bank of Charles Town, and on the Public Policy and Young Professionals committees for the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. Katie has served on the board of the DC Chapter of Dress for Success, the House Committee of Loudoun Golf and Country Club, and as the PR and Events Coordinator of the Historic Leesburg Business Alliance.
Katie has a BA in Psychology, a minor in Philosophy, and a certificate in Applied Business from the University of Colorado at Boulder.