DBT40 Honoree: Courtney Thornton

Title: Marketing & Communications Manager

Courtney Thornton | DBT PHOTO BY LUIGI CIUFFETELLI

Workplace: Christina Cultural Arts Center

Age: 31

Courtney Thornton has seven years of experience as a marketing strategist and her work has delivered results, be it for event planning or securing sponsorships. Throughout her career, she has dedicated a strong commitment to arts education, leveraging her skills in brand management to reignite interest in long-existing programs at the Christina Cultural Arts Center. Since she started working there, Thornton has helped land five-figure donations and raised attendance for landmark events by 30%. She could also be seen out and about in the Wilmington community, participating in local events to raise awareness for the arts center.

At the same time, Thornton has also served as the marketing director for Harp & Hare, a pop-up luxury picnic and event company. In that role, she has helped raise brand awareness for the company and secured media attention for several local outlets like 6ABC and Delaware Today as well as other partnerships with Hotel DuPont. Thornton supported the company’s efforts to provide luxury picnic experiences for children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, offering children a moment of joy in the face of challenging circumstances.

Thornton visited Zambia in 2021, giving her the unforgettable experience of living on a farm and visiting Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, along with a wild tale of a time when she walked a Cheetah on a leash – and then it escaped. That visit to Zambia lifted up her volunteerism as she helped secure donations for menstruation products for 50 Zambian girls through the Cycle of Change project. The trip not only broadened her horizons but also reinforced her appreciation for wildlife conservation and the resilience of the communities she encountered.