Experience

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  What's cooking?

  Jan 1988 - Jan 2003

  Chef, author, educator

  Founded the first all-natural demo company on the West Coast. Taught children's cooking classes at well-known culinary schools and rec centers in northern CA. Spoke at health and fitness expos, national TV, Expo West, Taste of Colorado. Private chef and caterer. Self-published two cookbooks. Member of Chef's Collaborative; taught teachers to teach kids how to plant school gardens and reap and enjoy their bounty!

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  Kettle foods

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2006

  Sales manager

  Consistently exceeded sales forecasts and increased sales 64% in one year. Managed and increased exposure for Kettle-brand products in a four-state territory. Key account calls included King Soopers, Smiths, Harmon’s Grocery, Wild Oats, UNFI Rainbow, DPI and Italco. Pursued new business development within natural and conventional channels, including foodservice, caterers, restaurants, ski resorts, etc., through use of creativity and marketing development fund. Developed budgets for promotions, incentives and advertising. Monitored competitive activity. Show less

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  Whole foods market

  Jan 2005 - Aug 2005

  Category analyst

  • Utilized information from syndicated data sources, including SPINS, ACNielsen, and IRI to identify areas of improvement, sales opportunities, market conditions, industry trends, and key account growth while maximizing category growth.• Developed and maintained 12 category schematics based on compilation of data streams with Business Objects. • Communicated all planogram changes to regional Grocery Management team to insure execution of resets, blitzes, new store openings, remodels, and refreshes at store level. Show less

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  Millbrook distribution services

  Aug 2005 - Jun 2007

  Account manager, retail service manager, business development

  • Responsible for $6.5 million revenues for Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, $2 million Albertsons LLC Denver, and $1 million (500 sku’s) for Amazon.com• Assisted Wild Oats category management team in developing new Ethnic (Hispanic, Kosher, Indian, Asian), household, baby, and mercantile programs to increase sales• Presented data driven facts to Wild Oats to compel selection of new items• Developed annual distributor promotions• Managed 16 sales reps and merchandisers in a 77-store Albertsons territory. Maintained 17 general merchandise sets. Managed remodels and refreshes, executing planograms, and providing in-store staff training to maintain overall customer satisfaction within sets• Resolved issues relating to deductions, transportation, recalls. Updated schematics• Conducted business reviews• Worked with new business development team to identify and develop new classes of trade Show less

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  Emerald forest sugar, inc.

  Jun 2007 - Jun 2009

  Director of sales and marketing

  • Drive national sales and marketing growth• Company enjoying 52% growth (SPINS®) in the ‘other granulated sweetener’ category• Grew EFS to #1 position (in $ sales) for other granulated sweeteners category in conventional channel• Took EFS to #4 position (in $ sales) for other granulated sweeteners category in the natural channel• Customize new product prototypes for specialty customers• Manage new business development• Hire, educate, and motivate national broker team• Develop annual promotional schedule and advertising budget• Pursue new distribution to enhance brand footprint• Write press releases to garner national media attention• Update package design and copy, create new product packaging, create advertising, brochures, sell sheets, and POS• Implement eco-friendly programs within corporate office• Ensure compliance with GPA, HAACP and non-GMO programs• Monitor competitive activity. Attend trade shows and conferences Show less

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  Jen's zen llc

  Jan 2012 - Jun 2014

  Sales and marketing manager

  • Managed all aspects of sales and marketing for Jen’s Zen; a dairy-free, gluten-free manufacturer of award-winning dessert toppings. • Developed new business opportunities with Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, and other key retailers to increase sales and placement. • Presented new products to specialty and natural/organic distributors. • Hired and trained broker sales force. • Wrote press releases to garner media coverage. • Coordinated demos, monitored competitive activity, and attended regional and national trade shows. Show less

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  33 words

  Jan 2015 - now

  33 Words | Westcliffe, COSocial Media & Digital Marketing Specialist2015 – currentI established 33Words in 2015 to provide social media and digital marketing for clients. Initially, all I really knew how to do was post to Facebook! Nowadays, clients hire me for many reasons.• To ensure consistent brand identity and messaging on their online platforms• For collaboration on a marketing strategy, scheduling calendar, posts, graphics and ad campaigns focused on increasing customer awareness, brand identification, engagement, reach• Implement organic and paid digital strategies for social platforms to increase positive reputation and visibility• Provide monthly, quarterly and yearly social media content plans and editorial calendars• To create content pillars to post about on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, YouTube• Respond to online comments and messages on all social platforms• Review Google Analytics info to create compelling content• Post and optimize videos to YouTube to boost Google rankings• Send review links to clients and manage online reputation• Monitor and analyze insights, analytics, keywords, tags and performance data.• Source copyright-free images for customized graphics• Manage social media scheduling tools for content • Optimize website content by including keyword-rich content and SEO to all pages and posts.• Create compelling, optimized blogs with SEO• Create informative newsletters and send them consistently• Collaborate with their PR and marketing teams on garnering media attention witih press releases Show less

  • Social Media Marketing Specialist | Content Creator | Blogger | SEO

    Nov 2015 - now

  • Content Creator

    Jan 2015 - now
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  Others trade for hope

  Apr 2022 - now

  Responsible for creating and promoting the brand identity and mission of Others Trade for Hope to customers, the public, and employees by creating and distributing brochures, news releases, and other documents.• Produces, from concept to completion, a broad array of digital or print promotional and communication materials that present a clear, unified, and positive image for the brand.• Plans, prepares, and distributes original promotional content such as articles, news and press releases, email, blog, and other updates which includes:Weekly email newsletter to customersMonthly Divisional Leaders Resource MaterialsQuarterly Press Releases and follow-upCreating an online BlogContent for Giving Tuesday and other campaign messagingQuarterly communication with DonorsExplore Fundraising and Grant Writing Opportunities which advance Social Justice Show less My overarching role with the Others Trade for Hope mission is to bring awareness to the products we offer that are being made by skilled artisans in Kenya and Bangladesh. Many of these people experienced vulnerability and poor living conditions and through the work of Others have learned to make fairly traded products for a fair wage. A fair wage allows them to provide for their families, send their children to school, and help others in their community. • Collaborated with marketing teams to create a marketing strategy for the Others products produced in Kenya and Bangladesh. • Outlined yearly marketing and planning calendars with specific content pillars• Optimized use of Later's scheduling tool features to share content to various platforms.• Designed compelling organic content and customized graphics for products and artisans• Posted monthly Facebook and Instagram ads and giveaways.• Offered a brand ambassador and "gifted partnership" program with Chefs.• Designed custom graphics for November’s Giving Tuesday celebration and 25th Anniversary and other important events.• Built Pinterest boards with shoppable pins• Added products to Google Merchant Center• Collaborated with Global Team, Marketing, Fundraising and PR Committees• Remained up-to-date on social media developments, technologies and trends Show less

  • Public Relations Communications Specialist

    Jun 2023 - now

  • Social Media Marketing Specialist

    Apr 2022 - Jun 2023