Brand. Marketing. Communications.

Welcome to this brief summary of my career. I’ve held leadership positions at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Central Florida and other organizations.

I’m an experienced executive who enjoys building and leading creative and inclusive teams. Urgency and change drive me — I believe if there’s a better way, we should do it.

“We like our story best when we tell it ourselves.”

My Organizations

  • Grant Heston and VCU

    VCU and VCU HEALTH

    Vice President
    2021 - present

  • Grant Heston and Florida Southern College

    FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE

    Vice President
    2020

  • Grant Heston and UCF

    UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

    Vice President & Chief of Staff
    2007 - 2019

  • Grant Heston and OUC

    ORLANDO UTILITIES COMMISSION

    Communications Manager
    2004 - 2007

  • Grant Heston and Orlando Sentinel

    ORLANDO SENTINEL

    Senior Producer & Reporter
    2000 - 2004

“Our brands should be authentic, aspirational and distinctive.”

Selected Professional and Personal Publications

  • CONFESSIONS of a HIGHER ED CMO

    Uncommon Insights: AI, Creativity and Brand
    National higher ed leader Jaime Hunt and I talk on her podcast about the state of the industry.

    Listen to My Story
  • Grant Heston and the Association of Governing Boards

    TRUSTEESHIP MAGAZINE

    Unafraid to Tell Our Story
    I share with the Association of Governing Boards how VCU built an award-winning brand platform.

    Read My Story
  • Grant Heston and Sports Illustrated

    SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

    Life Lessons from Steve Spurrier
    As the former Gators football coach once told me, sometimes life’s just about “showin’ up in the rain.”

    Read My Story
  • Grant Heston and the Chronicle of Higher Education

    CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

    Marketing, PR Can Save Universities
    Sharing the truth about institutions is the foundation of communications and marketing.

    Read My Story
  • Grant Heston and the Washington Post

    THE WASHINGTON POST

    Removing Richmond’s Lee Statue
    The removal of the Robert E. Lee statue from Richmond is historic … and personal.

    Read My Story
  • Grant Heston and the Orlando Sentinel and UCF

    THE ORLANDO SENTINEL

    Thanks for the Memories, Orlando
    Orlando, thank you for being my home for more than 20 years and shaping who I am.

    Read My Story
  • Grant Heston and the Chronicle

    CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

    When Coaching and the Boss Call
    The time I attended a senior university leadership meeting in Little League gear.

    Read My Story
  • Grant Heston and Inside Higher Ed

    INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION

    Listening to Parents and Students
    For two weeks, it seemed as though the mostly angry emails and calls would never stop.

    Read My Story

“I lead with a commitment to innovation, inclusion and transparency.”

Professional and Community Service

  • Grant Heston - CASE

    COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT & SUPPORT OF EDUCATION

    Communications and Marketing Commission
    2024 - present

  • Grant Heston and Richmond Aiport

    CAPITAL REGION AIRPORT COMMISSION

    Board of Commissioners
    2022 - present

  • Grant Heston and Richmond

    GREATER RICHMOND PARTNERSHIP


    Strategic Marketing Committee
    2021 - present

  • Grant Heston and Capacitech Energy and UCF

    CAPACITECH ENERGY


    Board of Directors
    2020 - present

  • Grant Heston and Lake Highland Prep

    LAKE HIGHLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL

    Board of Trustees
    2019 - 2022

  • Grant Heston and APLU

    ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC & LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES

    Council on Strategic Communications
    2013 - 2019

  • Grant Heston and Little League

    MAITLAND LITTLE LEAGUE


    Baseball and Softball Coach
    2011 - 2018

  • Grant Heston and Enzian Theatre

    ENZIAN THEATRE


    Advisory Board
    2017 - 2021

Drop me a line.