Highway One Consulting, LLC

digital strategy + services

Highway One is a Los Angeles-based digital consultancy led by Vance Hickin, a senior strategist and program manager with more than 20 years of experience in communications and digital media. The firm specializes in helping organizations develop intentional, integrated digital programs to advance their priorities, engage supporters, and create change. Founded in 2003, Highway One’s strategy work has ranged the digital spectrum, with client engagements involving standalone and concurrent programs for branding, content, community, database, social media, email and technology platforms. 

As both a consultant and in-house practitioner, Vance has led strategic communications and digital programs across a range of nonprofit advocacy, philanthropic, and political campaigns. He has served as digital lead for the Annenberg Foundation and the Annenberg Space for Photography. In 2017, he was digital director for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s successful re-election campaign. He served in the same capacity in 2016 for the campaign to pass Los Angeles County’s Measure M, massively expanding funding for public transportation and mobility services. He was Senior Vice President, Digital for Mercury Public Affairs, leading client programs for the California Endowment, and City Year, among others. In 2012, Vance was California Digital Director at Obama for America, spearheading the state campaign’s digital content and organizing programs en route to record-shattering volunteer engagement. In years prior, he served as account strategist for global communications firms Ketchum Public Relations and Ruder Finn, as well as in-house at the Walt Disney Internet Group.

With a focus on the public sphere and specialty in California policy and politics, the firm’s clients have also included AARP, Voices for National Service, City Year, Common Cause, Next Generation, California Forward, Community Partners, Hope Street Group, Sony Connect, First 5 LA, and the Campaign for Mental Health (CA Proposition 63, 2004).

Vance been a guest lecturer on digital communications to students at USC, Pepperdine University, UCLA, American Jewish University, San Francisco State University, Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and General Assembly, and is published in the definitive textbook on public relations, Effective Public Relations (8th Edition) by Cutlip, Center and Broom (1999). In 2004, his work was awarded the Golden Dot Award for Best Statewide Internet Campaign for the Campaign for Mental Health (CA Proposition 63). He holds a Master of Arts in Communication from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Journalism (Public Relations) from San Diego State University.

Programs & Client Engagements