CARBONDALE, Colo. (BRAIN) — Brian Holcombe, the Web editor for Competitor Group Inc.'s VeloNews.com site, has joined PR agency Backbone Media.
Holcombe worked at Velo magazine for over five years and served as the editor of VeloNews.com for the past two years.
“Brian embodies everything we’re looking for in an account manager,” stated Ian Anderson, PR director at Backbone. “He’s trained in traditional public relations but he’s also been on the cutting edge of digital content creation, one of the fastest-growing services our agency offers.”
Holcombe holds a master’s degree in public relations and marketing communications from the University of Denver. In addition to cycling expertise, he has extensive experience in outdoor specialty retail, has worked as a ski patroller and avalanche controller, and has directed a whitewater paddle school.
“I am thrilled to join Backbone Media, which enjoys an unrivaled reputation as a results-oriented, authentic storyteller for marquee active lifestyle brands,” said Holcombe. “Coming from the endemic cycling media, I have long been impressed by the Backbone team’s ability to tell the stories that matter, and the agency’s progressive approach to public relations and social media strategy.”
In addition to Holcombe, Backbone has added Maria Hidalgo to its account management team. Hidalgo most recently served as the international marketing manager and race series manager for the Aspen Skiing Company. A graduate of MIT, Maria spent five years with Goldman Sachs in both New York and London prior to moving to Colorado.
Rounding out the trio of new hires, Mackenzie Carroll comes to Backbone from the MSLGroup, one of the world’s leading PR conglomerates, where she worked as an account associate in the Boston offices. A former competitive skier, Carroll is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder and completed internships at both SKI Magazine and Delicious Living.
