Ashlee Davis | 20 Under 40
Ashlee Davis
Vice President of Resource Development
Greater Topeka Partnership
Ashlee Davis serves as vice president of resource development for the Greater Topeka Partnership, leading sponsorship development, membership growth, investor relations and strategic partnerships across Topeka and Shawnee County. She has spent nearly a decade in community development, events and marketing, including a stint at Evergy Plaza helping open the downtown gathering space and launch traditions like Envista Eats & Beats and Live @ Lunch before returning to the Partnership in 2021.
A University of Kansas graduate in business marketing and a former small business owner, Ashlee serves on the boards of Topeka Civic Theatre and the Friends of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. Outside of work, she and her husband, Kennedy, are building their forever home with their dogs, Luna and Willow.
What’s a lesson you’ve carried with you throughout your life? How has it shaped you?
My mom has always told me, “Everything always works out,” and it’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my life. To me, it doesn’t mean everything will go exactly as planned. It means trusting that however something plays out is ultimately the way it was supposed to, whether it was my intended outcome or not. That mindset has given me the confidence to take chances, embrace change, and keep moving forward when things don’t go as expected. It’s probably where a lot of my optimism comes from, too. I try to focus less on what I can’t control and more on what comes next. Some of my best opportunities have come from plans that turned out completely differently than I imagined. Somehow, my mom is usually right. Everything always works out.
What’s something you hope people remember about you? Why?
I hope people remember that I showed up. For my family, my friends, my coworkers, and my community. I want to be someone people knew they could count on, whether they needed help, an introduction, encouragement, or simply someone in their corner. More than anything, I hope I made people feel like they mattered, whether that was by celebrating with them, making them feel included, or taking the time to really get to know them. I hope I'm remembered as someone who brought positive energy into a room and genuinely wanted to see others succeed. Titles and accomplishments will come and go, but the relationships we build and the way we make people feel last much longer. If people remember me as someone who cared deeply, brought people together, and made whatever I was part of a little better and a lot more fun, I would be pretty happy with that legacy.
What led you to your career?
Some of my favorite childhood memories are tied to community events in Topeka, from Huff ’n Puff and Cider Days to downtown concerts and car shows with my family. My dad was a local musician and small business owner, so I saw early on how local businesses and shared experiences bring people together. I did not know then that it would become my career, but looking back, it makes perfect sense. I began my career creating community events, and while my roles have evolved into business and community development, what motivates me has stayed the same: bringing people together and helping create a community where people and businesses want to grow and invest.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? How has it influenced you?
Early in my career, a boss told me that if I was invited into the room, I should make every effort to show up. His point was simple: if decisions are being made and you have the opportunity to contribute your perspective, don't miss it. He was speaking specifically about the importance of women being represented in those conversations, but the advice has shaped the way I approach my entire career. I have learned to say yes to opportunities, even when they may be inconvenient or outside my comfort zone. Some of the most meaningful relationships and experiences in my career have come from simply showing up, getting involved, and being open to where an opportunity might lead.
What’s one thing you’ll always say yes to? Why?
A themed party! I will almost always say yes to an opportunity to dress up, commit to a theme, and make an occasion a little more fun. I love celebrating the big milestones, but I am just as happy finding a reason to celebrate the ordinary moments. Life gives us plenty of serious days, so I think we should take every opportunity we can to have fun, be silly, and make memories with the people we love.
If you had an extra hour every day, how would you spend it?
I would spend it outside with my family, cooking a good meal, enjoying a good cocktail, watching the dogs run around the yard, and having nowhere else we needed to be. Life gets busy quickly, so I really value the simple moments when everyone can slow down and just enjoy being together. Give me good food, a good cocktail, my family, our dogs, some sunshine, and an extra hour with no agenda, and I’d be pretty happy.
