Angie Hicks '95
December 14, 2011
Knowing that the frustrations she and her friends had finding good contractors were not unique, in 1995, Angie Hicks literally set out door-to-door in Columbus, OH, recruiting members and collecting reports from friends and neighbors. Taking the “ask-your-neighbor” approach to a higher level, Angie used the detailed feedback from members as the basis for providing up-to-date, reliable, unbiased ratings and reviews on local services.
After the first year, with more than 1,000 members throughout Columbus, Angie had laid the foundation for what would become one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. Over these last 14 years, she has led the list’s expansion from a 100 square foot office to an operation that now covers more than 124 major cities across the U.S., serves more than 1 million consumers and was placed for three years in a row – 2002, 2003 and 2004 – among the Inc. 500 by Inc. magazine, a list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the nation. All the while, Angie’s keen sense of business and common sense have helped Angie’s List remain a locally-focused service that members say they wouldn’t live without. Over the years, consumers have come to trust Angie to help make the hiring process easier, as well as raise the level of service they can expect from local companies and contractors.
A working mother herself, Angie has ensured Angie’s List continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing, dynamic needs of today’s families and homeowners. She knows that Angie’s List members are challenged each day to fit work, family and at-home time into already busy schedules. With this in mind, Angie’s List puts reliable information and resources at the fingertips of its members, so they can access it anytime they need help finding a good contractor or service company – whether it’s for a major home renovation, an emergency car repair, or even find a clown for their kid’s birthday party.
With more consumers across the U.S. turning to Angie’s List each day, Angie regularly contributes to national and local consumer news stories across the country, including for CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Redbook, Real Simple, USA Weekend, Parade magazine, Good Housekeeping, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Home Magazine and the Wall Street Journal.
Angie’s official title at Angie’s List is Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from DePauw University, in Greencastle, IN, which named her a 2007 Distinguished Alumni for Management and Entrepreneurship. She was named a Torchbearer Award winner in March 2009 by the Indiana Commission for Women, in recognition of her entrepreneurial accomplishments and for providing a positive example of the influence women have on their community and the state of Indiana.
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