Ashley Judge

Hi! Thank you for stopping by.

A little about me ...

I’ve built and led businesses at the intersection of storytelling, user experience, and revenue growth. I know how to make people care, convert, come back, and tell others. 

As Executive Director of Destination Salem, I lead the turnaround and modernization of one of the most internationally recognized small-city tourism organizations in the U.S. My work has focused on restoring financial stability, driving record revenue growth, rebuilding digital infrastructure, and reframing how tourism is understood as an economic driver for the city. I’m especially energized by helping local businesses turn visitor demand into real revenue and ensuring tourism dollars create visible benefits for taxpayers. 

Before that, I founded Always Fits, a bootstrapped e-commerce brand I built from scratch into a $10M/year business ranked in the top 1% of Shopify stores worldwide. The company became known for its humor, nostalgia, distinctive voice, and loyal customer base. 

Earlier in my career, I worked in politics and public affairs, including roles with Ambassador Swanee Hunt and the John Kerry presidential campaign. 

I also serve as Vice Chair of The Salem Pantry Board of Directors, supporting expanded access to fresh food across the North Shore. 

I was recently reappointed to a second 12-year term on the City of Salem’s Trust Fund Commission and also serve on the Mayor’s Economic Coordination Task Force. 

I'm a guest lecturer at Salem State University.

Talk Soon!

Ashley