# Amy Elias

> Amy Elias founded Baltimore communications agency PROFILES in 1990 with one client and led it until Amy Burke Friedman became CEO in January 2023. Her public work includes mentoring agency colleagues, serving in Baltimore cultural institutions and conceiving Guarding the Art, the Baltimore Museum of Art exhibition guest-curated by security officers that later inspired a Phoenix Art Museum iteration.

- **Role:** Vice President, Board of Trustees at Baltimore Museum of Art
- **Organizations:** PROFILES, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore Center Stage
- **From:** Baltimore, United States
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree, Emory University
- **Known for:** Founded and led PROFILES for more than three decades., Conceived Guarding the Art, guest-curated by 17 current and former BMA security officers in 2022., Helped bring the Guarding the Art approach to Phoenix Art Museum.

## Career timeline

- **1990** — Founded PROFILES with W. B. Doner and Company as its sole client and herself as its sole employee.
- **2003** — Hired Amy Burke Friedman as a junior account executive; Friedman later recalled that Elias discussed eventual succession at their interview.
- **2015** — Amy Burke Friedman became president in the agency’s twenty-fifth year.
- **2017** — Received Daily Record Icon Honors; described a mentoring chain involving Burke Friedman, Bridget Forney and a college student.
- **2022** — Guarding the Art opened at the Baltimore Museum of Art on March 27; Elias conceived the exhibition following a conversation with Asma Naeem.
- **2023** — Amy Burke Friedman succeeded Elias as CEO on January 1; the announcement said Elias would continue as a consultant.
- **2024** — Phoenix Art Museum presented Guarding the Art: A Frontline Perspective, January 19-November 24.

## Achievements

- Founded and led PROFILES for more than three decades.
- Conceived Guarding the Art, guest-curated by 17 current and former BMA security officers in 2022.
- Helped bring the Guarding the Art approach to Phoenix Art Museum.
- Recognized by the Daily Record through Top 100 Women, Most Admired CEOs, Influential Marylanders and 2017 Icon Honors.
- Listed as a vice president of the BMA board for fiscal year 2027.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — The BMA fiscal year 2027 board listing, checked in October 2026, names Elias a vice president; this is a verification date, not an appointment date.
- **2024-01** — Guarding the Art: A Frontline Perspective opened at Phoenix Art Museum on January 19.
- **2023-01** — Burke Friedman became PROFILES CEO on January 1; Elias’s continued consulting role was announced.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-elias-6a543267

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/amy-elias
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22