Meet Rachel

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Rachel Crooks founded The Creative AF with one guiding belief: creativity belongs everywhere.
 

Over the course of her career, she's worked in higher education, technology, food service, real estate, marketing, events, and community engagement. On paper, it might look like an unusual path. In reality, every stop reinforced the same thing: organizations are full of opportunities hiding in plain sight.
 

Whether she's developing a conference experience, creating a hospitality concept, solving an operational challenge, building a partnership, or helping an organization attract and engage more people, Rachel's work begins with curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to ask, 'What if we tried something different?'
 

Based in Ohio but inspired by the world, Rachel has traveled to more than 20 countries. She's taught in China, trekked through Morocco, presented in South America, and eaten her weight in carbs across Europe. She attended Syracuse University, Tiffin University, and the University of Toledo, earning a master's degree in the humanities and nearly completing a Ph.D.
 

When she's not working, you'll likely find her walking her Irishdoodles, Carlow and Grover, gathering friends around a table, renovating historic homes, planning her next adventure, or stepping onto a stage. In 2025, she made her local theatre debut in Cabaret.
 

For Rachel, creativity isn't just a skill. It's how she sees the world—and how she helps others see new possibilities, too.