Christy Hiler is the CEO and owner of Cornett, an independent, full-service advertisingagency located in Lexington, KY. Recognized as one of the best in the nation, Cornett is a 3X Ad Age Small Agency of the Year Awards winner. Christy’s journey from Strategist to CEO and owner reflects her commitment and passion to Cornett. Her efforts have helped the agency achieve remarkable milestones, including earning two Shorty Awards, a Clio Award, a gold National Addy Award, consecutive "Best Places to Work'' recognitions, and a client roster featuring brands such as Busch Light, A&W Restaurants, LEGOLAND, Keeneland, University of Kentucky and VisitLEX. Beyond driving business, Christy has worked tirelessly to diversify the advertising industry by co-founding Own It, a community empowering women and non-binary individuals to become ad agency owners. Through the Own It podcast; Christy elevates female agency owner voices and inspires the next generation of women trailblazers. She is also one of the founding members of BLAC, an internship program nurturing young Black ad professionals. Christy was named one of Ad Age's 2023 Leading Women and a 2022 AdweekWoman's Trailblazer, underscoring her enduring impact on the advertising landscape through her leadership and initiatives. Outside of Cornett, Christy is a devoted mother to four wild and wonderful children and an active member of the Lexington community—volunteering time with organizations such as Common Good, Step by Step, and other local initiatives dedicated to nurturing the growth and success of young people in the area.