What company do you work for, what is your role, and how long have you been there?
CenterSpoke PR, Owner/President, 2 years.
How did you get into marketing?
I'm one of those rare individuals who is actually doing what they studied in college. While I've always had a specialization in public relations/communication, I gained my greatest experience to the larger field of marketing while working in the marketing department of the General Electric sealants/caulking (consumer-facing) business unit for 7-plus years.
What big wins have you had in your marketing role?
One of my biggest wins was developing the idea for a limited-time new product for the local franchises of a national QSR chain. The product was part of a marketing campaign I designed to reach a targeted audience and break through all the clutter and competitive offers on one of the "made-up" national celebration days. Cut through the clutter it did - it was all the buzz for the "holiday" ... and longer. Not only did it garner local media and social media attention, but also national media attention in top-tier publications. The QSR chain subsequently commercialized the product and now sells it nationally. Most recently, CenterSpoke had the honor of leading the entire marketing campaign and event planning for Charlotte Mechanical’s ninth annual Charlotte Coat Drive. Charlotte Mechanical enlists the help of local businesses (“barrel partners”) to collect new or gently coats that are distributed through Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte’s various programs. They set a goal of 5,000 coats, which was DOUBLE their record of 2,500 over the past eight years.The result: we collected 5,174 coats in 2019! This cause was more than a client to us; it really became a part of our heart.
In what ways has membership in AMA Charlotte benefited you professionally?
I have met some truly amazing marketing minds in our chapter through volunteering on the membership committee and attending a variety of events. The board and members have exposed me to new connections, new ideas and new tools. With marketing being an ever-changing field, it's imperative to surround yourself with others who stay on top of the trends.
What excites you about the field of marketing today?
You have absolute assurance that you'll never get bored! There will ALWAYS be something new or evolving ... an opportunity to embrace or a challenge to solve.
What is your all-time favorite marketing campaign? Why?
The “Got Milk?” campaign: It was powerful, creative, effective and had such staying power. Plus it covered such a cross-section of people, both with the celebrities who participated and the audiences it reached; few (if any) other campaigns have been able to influence so many different types of people. I would call it fairly unmatched.
