Anna Tartak is the Founder and CEO of Ashland Advertising, an agency she established in 2008. Under her leadership, Ashland has been consistently recognized as Charlotte’s Best Ad Agency and ranked among the Top 20 Ad Agencies by the Charlotte Business Journal.

Anna’s passion for marketing was ignited during her time at Clemson University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is also an ICF-certified life and executive coach, bringing a unique blend of professional expertise and personal insight to her work. Having trained under Brené Brown, Anna is one of fewer than 400 Certified Dare to Lead™ facilitators worldwide.

A survivor of 9/11 Ground Zero, Anna’s resilience is a testament to her ability to overcome adversity. This experience drives her dedication to helping clients break through barriers and achieve their full potential. Whether guiding C-suite executives or mentoring young women, Anna combines her expertise with humor, compassion, and authenticity to deliver impactful results.

Deeply committed to her community, Anna has held positions on the boards of charitable organizations including Give Hope Global, HeartBright Foundation, Charlotte Rescue Mission, and Clemson College of Business Advocacy.

Her most cherished role is being a devoted wife to her husband, Jochen, and mother to their two boys, Lucas and Jackson. When not at the soccer fields, they enjoy traveling, playing games, and spending time with friends and family. They are active members of Myers Park Methodist Church.

After witnessing many women in her family, including her mother, battle breast cancer, Anna made the courageous decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy. She is also passionate about mental health advocacy, working to break the stigma surrounding these challenges. Anna is honored to support the vital work of The Agnes Binder Weisiger Breast Health Center at Novant, The Go Jen Go Foundation, and The Katie Blessing Foundation through her fundraising efforts.