Quite frequently Erica Strama hears “What’s hot this season?” her answer, “Self-confidence, it’s always in style.” During the week, you will find Erica on Michigan Avenue working with retailers as the marketing manager at The Shops at North Bridge.
With some of the country’s top stores on speed dial ready to dish the latest trends, Erica frequently shares how to make runway looks a reality on morning television shows and in Chicago’s favorite glossies.
“Style is not found on a shopping trip or achieved with a designer label,” Erica shares, “Personal style is introducing an unexpected twist to a classic piece creating an effortless look of your own.”
No stranger to the world of fashion, Erica has been in the retail industry for more than a decade. Prior to joining The Shops at North Bridge, Erica was the marketing director at Yorktown Center and the marketing specialist at Woodfield Mall. As senior marketing manager for Ticketmaster, she provided strategic leadership on promotional programs with more than 100 clients, including the Chicago White Sox, House of Blues and Broadway in Chicago.
Juggling time between work and her personal life, Erica, like most busy women, is continually searching for ways to find balance. This craving to give back to the community and connect with other women is what inspired her to volunteer with Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago, a local non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening community resources for women and girls. You will also find her speaking on behalf of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, the principal business development and community advocacy organization for Michigan Avenue and the surrounding area.
A homegrown, Erica is from Illinois and graduated magna cum laude from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing, and can’t see herself ever living apart from Chicago’s eclectic mix of culture, cuisine and, of course, fashion. She currently resides in Chicago with her husband, Michael.