As the CEO of multiple successful ventures, real estate investor, multifamily owner, expert, coach, & best-selling author Ashley Wilson has carved out a remarkable path in traditionally male-dominated fields.. Through her businesses – Conference Connect, Bar Down Investments, and Apartment Addicts – Ashley serves as an outstanding example of entrepreneurial spirit and women’s empowerment 

Celebrating exceptional local women making significant impacts in our community.

Our 2024 Women of Influence Award Winners were nominated by peers and selected by the Family Focus Media team based on their achievements and dedication to creating positive change, as revealed through comprehensive questionnaires. Their profiles showcase their inspiring journeys and accomplishments.

Beyond the awards, our Women of Influence Luncheons and Speed Networking Night attendees form our growing “Women of Influence Network,” a community fostering connections, collaboration, and mutual support. We invite you to explore our Award Winners’ stories and leverage our Network Directory in the Women of Influence Guide. Reach out to fellow members to harness the power of our network through shared growth and support. For further engagement, we welcome business and nonprofit leaders to join our Family Focus Media Community Builders Group on Facebook and our NEW Women of Influence LinkedIn Group.

Nominated by Kyle Wilson, Husband

“Ashley has started 7 companies. She is the best-selling author of ‘The Only Woman in the Room: Knowledge and Inspiration from 20 Women Real Estate Investors,’ a project born from attending a real estate conference in Philadelphia where she was one of 16 women in attendance out of 450. Most recently, she has taken that one step further and launched Conference Connect. With so many conferences lacking diversity, she believes that Conference Connect can be the platform that not only helps people find the perfect conferences to attend, but help event organizers discover new diverse speakers for their events.

One of the best things about Ashley and her work is that she continues to incorporate the greater community into everything she does. Specifically, all of the apartments owned by Bar Down Investments partner with local charities on a monthly basis to provide awareness and support.”

A Journey Driven by Family and Freedom

Ashley’s journey into entrepreneurship was inspired by a desire for freedom and flexibility. “Growing up, my parents were always there for me and my brother,” she reflects. “It was so important to me that when I started pursuing a career, I sought opportunities that allowed me the freedom to be there for my family whenever they needed me.”

She found that the fields that were most conducive to the freedom and flexibility she so desired were male-dominated, and Ashley quickly realized her journey could have a broader impact. “I could not only carve a path for other women looking to pursue financial freedom, but I could serve as a role model to them and to my two daughters,” she explains.

Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges

Ashley’s career spans multiple industries, from commercial construction to real estate investment and tech startups. Ashley has successfully founded:

• Conference Connect: A platform for conference and speaker discovery
• Bar Down Investments: An investment firm managing large apartment buildings and providing passive real estate ownership opportunities
• Apartment Addicts: A mentorship program for aspiring apartment owners

Through these endeavors, Ashley has not only achieved personal success but has also created opportunities for others, particularly women and minorities, in pursuit of financial freedom.

Overcoming Challenges with Grace

Like many trailblazers, Ashley has faced her share of obstacles. “From people (still to this day) directing questions and comments to my husband, to unsuccessful start-ups, to challenges with the economic market cycles that impact our businesses, I face challenges almost everywhere I turn,” she admits.

Still, Ashley maintains a positive perspective in the face of these challenges. “I decided very early on in my career that these challenges also provide experience,” she says. “I now welcome these challenges. In fact, I sometimes believe that I am living the real-life ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ life, where every challenge has come full circle and provided more value than headache.”

Giving Back and Lifting Others

Ashley’s commitment to community involvement is evident in her business practices and personal experiences. Her properties partner with local and national organizations, including women’s and children’s charities. She regularly speaks at women’s real estate events, educating on the importance of financial freedom.

“One thing I do is I set a goal every year of how I will give back for the year. I always make sure whatever I decide for the year is more than the previous year. If we all took this approach, imagine how impactful we could be. We literally could change the world,” Ashley says.

Looking to the Future

As Ashley continues to grow her businesses, she remains focused on her core mission: being a positive influence on women through her leadership roles and board positions. Personally, she aspires “to continue to be an incredible mother for her daughters, an amazing wife to her husband, a supportive person to her friends and family, an inspirational team leader to everyone who works for her, and a welcoming person to strangers.”

Ashley Wilson is determined, innovative, and unwaveringly committed to empowering others as she paves the way for a more inclusive and equitable business world.