With more than 20 years experience in the marketing communications industry, Stephanie K. Blackwood has spent the last half of her career focused exclusively on the gay and lesbian consumer market. During that time, she founded gay and lesbian specialty shops in New York City - Blackwood Public Relations - Spare Parts, Inc. - and most recently, she was the co-founder of the LGBT marketing agency Double Platinum.

In 1996, Blackwood formed Spare Parts, Inc., a marketing consulting firm. Under her leadership, Spare Parts achieved prominence as the catalyst behind strategic gay and lesbian marketing initiatives for such clients as Absolut Vodka, American Airlines, Benson & Hedges, IBM, Pepsi Cola, Seagram Americas and Williams-Sonoma.

Prior to Spare Parts, she started Blackwood (& friends) Public Relations in 1991, the first U.S. agency to focus its efforts on the gay and lesbian community. In 1993, she joined The Advocate, one of the nation's leading gay and lesbian newsmagazines, where she oversaw national advertising sales and promotion, as well as public relations. As associate publisher and vice president, she directed marketing plans to successfully rebuild its brand position as the news authority for the gay and lesbian market.

Blackwood started her career in higher education, holding several key positions in marketing communications at the University of Kansas and Ohio State University. She worked in athletics, art and administration, directing strategic communications and event marketing campaigns.

Throughout her career, Blackwood's pro bono and not-for-profit activities have benefited the Women's Economic Development Corporation, Ms. Foundation for Women, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Miracle House, Lesbian and Gay Community Services Centers of New York and Los Angeles, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and YWCA of Columbus, OH, among others.