Las Vegas, NV (January 12, 2021)—Las Vegas Aces President Nikki Fargas announced today that the team has hired Deandra Duggans (dee-AN-druh DUG-ans) as vice president of brand marketing.
“Deandra has a proven track record for brand innovation and leadership,” said Fargas. “We believe her impact will resonate not only within our organization, but with our fanbase and our community.”
“I’m excited to join the Aces and the WNBA,” said Duggans. “The organization has done an amazing job establishing itself in a new market and cultivating a passionate fan base. I look forward to being a part of Nikki and Mark’s vision of growing the Aces brand in the Vegas community.”
Duggans comes to the Aces after working in advertising and branding for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens for six years, including the last two as the department’s director. With the Ravens, she was responsible for brand strategy and planning, graphics and brand management, media planning & placement and integrated marketing planning.
She also served as an adjunct professor in the Georgetown School of Continuing Studies Sports Industry Management program, and at Mount St. Mary’s over the past two years.
Prior to joining the Ravens, Duggans was a marketing manager with Events DC in Washington. Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia.
She got her professional start in athletics working as an electronic media specialist with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which includes the 3.9 million square foot convention center, the 71,250-seat former Georgia Dome and 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park.
Duggans later worked as a marketing director for SME—a leading strategic brand-building consultancy serving the sports entertainment, consumer products, education and non-profit and business categories—and as a marketing communications specialist for Billy Casper golf—owner and operators of more than 140 golf facilities in 28 states.
Duggans was born and raised in Washington, DC and graduated from NC State (B.S., 2006) and Georgia State (M.S., 2009) where she serves on the Sport Management Advisory Board and was named an honoree of GSU’s Alumni Association “40 Under 40” (Class of 2020).