Ashley Combs

Ashley Combs is a versatile sports marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in professional sports, as well as expertise in launching and building a wine brand. Currently, Ashley manages the off-court careers of several professional basketball players, helping to establish their brands through strategic partnerships, community platforms, and public relations efforts — while also guiding their personal development off the court. Ashley has been working with McCollum Heritage 91 since its inception in 2019, helping NBA player CJ McCollum develop, launch and operate his signature wine brand.

In her role at McCollum Heritage 91, Ashley oversees and executes many facets of the business, including developing and implementing sales and marketing strategies, managing relationships with various teams and partners, and leading strategic thinking around impact and diversity. Ashley has skillfully combined her sports marketing expertise and problem-solving abilities on a daily basis to help build McCollum Heritage 91 into a notable and thriving wine business.

Ashley plays a key role in managing the partnership between McCollum Heritage 91 and Adelsheim Vineyard, a highly respected legacy brand in the Oregon wine community. This collaboration has not only resulted in the production of exceptional wines but has also provided valuable insights into the intricacies of the wine business. United by their shared vision for approachable, enjoyable wines, Ashley and Adelsheim’s winemaker, Gina Hennen, have worked closely together to bring McCollum Heritage 91 offerings to market.

Even with the distinct differences between the professional sports industry and the wine business, Ashley enjoys the challenge of making a positive impact in the wine industry, and fostering diversity, equity and inclusion along the way. She is deeply committed to creating space for women, Black and Brown people in both the professional sports and wine industries. In her role at McCollum Heritage 91, she initiated a relationship with The Roots Fund, and is looking forward to strengthening this relationship while supporting a mutual goal of creating opportunities for BIPOC professionals in the wine industry. Her dedication to putting her principles into action showcases her enthusiasm for generating additional opportunities and fostering transformation in both the wine and sports industries.

A two-time graduate of the University of Connecticut, Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications in 2009 and a master’s degree in Sports Management in 2014. At Connecticut, Ashley worked for the Men’s Basketball Program, led by Hall of Fame Head Coach Jim Calhoun, where she was a member of two Final Four teams and one National Championship team in 2011. She began her career with Spurs Sports & Entertainment, where she helped to lead community efforts for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA, and the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL.