Stacie Jacob, Chief Strategist

Solterra Strategies Founder and Chief Strategist Stacie Jacob lives for “aha” moments—the milestones that prove unwavering tenacity and hard work can lead to tangible success. A believer in honesty, creativity, and building strong relationships, Jacob combines real-world knowledge, resolute leadership, and execution needed to transform client dreams into concrete success stories.

From her early days growing up in a small, Nebraska farming community to her celebrated work elevating Paso Robles’ and Washington State’s world class wine industries, Jacob strives to exceed expectations. In 2011 the brand strategist, communications expert and marketing professional launched Solterra Strategies LLC. Solterra, a lifestyle marketing firm based in Paso Robles, works with clients representing a unique sense of place: food, wine, agriculture and tourism to promote their bounty and brilliance.

Jacob launched her career in Kansas City at a global public relations agency, Fleishman-Hillard, where she was instrumental in exponentially expanding client reach and retention during her four-year stint. Moving to Seattle placed her as the first-ever public relations director for the Washington Wine Commission, a statewide organization where she touted the accolades of Washington wine for four years during a time of critical growth for the wine community. During her time in Washington State, Jacob made a lasting impression that is still felt throughout the communities of Yakima, Tri-Cities and Walla Walla today. Hard-earned time serving as an enthusiastic industry spokesperson led Jacob to build lifelong, fruitful relationships with important writers from the food and wine world.

Jacob has harbored a lifelong passion for agriculture and an innate understanding of regional branding. The University of Nebraska Lincoln Agricultural Journalism graduate will tell you: “It is not simply the brand that makes the product, but also the people and place at its heart.”

During her successful seven-year tenure as Executive Director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, Jacob aided in bolstering the region’s incredible rise to regional, national, and global brand recognition, grew the organization’s budget by 80 percent, and created powerful, lasting demand for Paso Robles wines.

Always pushing further, Jacob continued to position San Luis Obispo County as an unmatched wine, cuisine, and leisure destination in her role as Chief Executive Officer of Visit San Luis Obispo County, the county’s destination marketing organization (DMO). Jacob’s intuitive marketing skills were on display in this role, which included the creation and promotion of the nationally acclaimed four-day food and wine event, Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast. Consensus building and strategic planning put Jacob at the helm of the DMO creating its first countywide Tourism Marketing District (TMD), a public-private partnership representing the lodging community. The TMD expanded the organization’s budget by 240% creating a sustainable five-year budget for the destination.

Jacob resides in Paso Robles, where she finds rich parallels to her hard-working Midwest upbringing. Although Jacob has received numerous awards throughout her career, she is always looking ahead to the next goal. “I am a driver; always looking for ways to do better and strive for the next goal,” Jacob said. “I believe life is about ongoing learning, and I am energized by listening to my clients’ challenges. Together, we’ll determine how to create positive results.”

Jacob has received several accolades for her work, including: 2008 the San Luis Obispo Tribune Top 20 Under 40, 2011 SLO Wine Industry Person of the Year and 2013 Pacific Coast Business Times Top 40 under 40. Jacob is also a member of the Board of Directors for the San Luis Obispo County Economic Vitality Corporation and a former Board Member for The Rhone Rangers.