About
Why We Do It
Girls are still underrepresented in leadership roles, business schools, and startup communities. From the classroom to the boardroom, gender gaps in pay, opportunity, and representation persist. We want to close those gaps early.
By introducing high school girls to marketing, entrepreneurship, and real-world business skills, we’re helping them build confidence, explore career paths, and see themselves as future leaders.
Advisory Board
Yvonne (Yvie) Daniels
Education Coordinator
Yvr Community
Sarah Motti
Director of Development
Wakeman Boys & Girls Club
Kareemah Muhammad
Founder/Creative Producer
RareMaven Media & Productions
Scott Palmer
Retired Healthcare IT Entrepreneur & Strategic Advisor
Lauren Simonelli
Director of Product Management
Hydrow, Inc.
John J. Visconti, MS, CPA
Principal
Visconti & Associates
Our History
It all started with a conversation on a lacrosse field…
In 2017, while coaching middle school girls in Branford, CT, Erica Palmer overheard her players debating the best time to post on Instagram. It struck her that this wasn’t just small talk; it was the same kind of conversation happening in high-level marketing meetings.
In 2018, Erica launched Camp Erio Marketing, a free three-day summer program that introduced middle school girls to the world of marketing and business. With donated space, volunteer instructors, and a mission to build confidence and spark curiosity, the program filled up within a week and grew fast. Over the next few years, it reached hundreds of girls across New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport.
Camp Erio Marketing, Inc. officially became a certified 501(c)(3) organization in March 2022. Our EIN is 88-1376415.
In 2025, Next Girl Up is the next evolution. Designed as a 10-week, free, nationwide program, it builds on the same mission with an expanded curriculum, hands-on projects, and a supportive community, empowering high school girls everywhere to think big.
Recognition
Person of the Week: Erica Palmer
10th Annual Women of Excellence Awards Luncheon
We Tell Girls to Break Barriers, But We Rarely Show Them How
Nyberg: Camp Erio teaches young girls about marketing
Nyberg: Free summer camp teaches marketing skills
Marketing Competition for Teenage Girls A Success