Carole Gieseke is our director of marketing and communications. She spends her days creating new and innovative ways to promote the city of Ames and its tremendous services, facilities, and community spirit.
When she joined Discover Ames in July 2021, Carole brought decades of communications and marketing experience from her career in higher education: She was the editor of VISIONS, the Iowa State University alumni magazine, and managed other communications projects for the ISU Alumni Association. Although she’s a Missouri native, she’s a bit of an Ames and state of Iowa connoisseur, having written a blog about Iowa travel (and beyond) for 10 years. She says she loves the uniqueness of Ames, with its independent shops and restaurants, historic neighborhoods, coffee shops, and breweries. She takes great pride in her own neighborhood and community and looks forward to the weeks when Ames overflows with enthusiastic people on Cyclone football game days, at farmers markets and downtown festivals, and when students return to Iowa State each fall.
Carole loves to travel – she’s been to all 50 states and around 15 countries – and to explore Iowa’s hiking trails, vibrant small towns, unique restaurants, and state parks. She says that Ames has been a wonderful place for her and her husband, Dave, to raise their two daughters.
Favorite thing about Ames: “I love the mix of arts and culture in Ames, from the art on the Iowa State University campus to live music in downtown Ames to Broadway touring shows. There’s nothing better than strolling down Main Street during an art festival and then capping off the day with a show at Stephens Auditorium.”
