Marketing Director Kansas City Market

IKEA | Kansas City

Driving omnichannel growth and brand positioning in the Kansas City market to increase customer value, revenue, and visitation through marketing campaigns, public relations, community involvement, and public affairs.

• Local IKEA spokesperson in the Kansas City market for community affairs with chamber of commerce, municipalities, on-air television, and radio including live segments on the KC Live morning show.
• Establish strong brand presence in the community building B2B and municipal relationships.
• Accountable for the IKEA Family Loyalty Club Program; increasing enrollments by 33% and store sales to over $150M by driving visitation and building B2B partnerships and collaborations with community and national partners.
• Executed corporate social responsibility and cause marketing programs for non-profits including:
  • The Eric Berry Foundation | The Frank White Foundation | Boys & Girls Club | Harvesters Community Food Network | Family Promise | Charlie’s House | local schools.
• Orchestrated local community partnerships for IKEA loyalty program in the KC Metro area including:
  • Sea Life Aquarium | LEGOLAND Discovery Center | Wonderscope Children’s Museum | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium | Merriam Community Center | Lotus Hospitality | Pogo Pass
• Develop yearly market data analysis to aid and guide all store functions in business plan development.
• Led internal communication forums to ensure consistent communications across the store as well as hosted internal co-worker related events, and co-worker recognition programs.

Store Retail Design Manager

IKEA | Kansas City

Driving omnichannel growth and brand positioning in the Kansas City market to increase customer value, revenue, and visitation through marketing campaigns, public relations, community involvement, and public affairs.

• Provided creative direction by strengthening and improving communication towards the brand and visual identity. Catalyst for vitality, inspiration, and commercial ideas while consistently developing the store as a medium.
• Successfully led design teams in high-volume ($125M) and low-volume ($80M) stores to support long-term profitability, brand development and foster local relevance in each market.
• Trained and developed Communication & Interior Design leaders and managers building succession and growth.
• Worked pro-actively to ensure relevant knowledge of local market conditions / trends into the overall media strategy and plans.

Visual Merchandising Manager

IKEA | Chicago / Kansas City

Responsible for visual impression of visual merchandising and commerciality throughout store from entrance to exit.

• Optimized use of retail store layout and store media by developing and implementing range presentation solutions that strengthen connection between the offer and the everyday lives of people.
• Led creative team of individuals to provide vitality and local relevance trends working with multiple functions of the store to ensure a prominent level of customer satisfaction.

Previous Professional Experience

• Local Marketing Specialist, IKEA (Canton, MI) 2009-2011
• Graphic Communications Manager, IKEA (Bloomington, MN, Canton, MI) 2004-2012
• Sales Coordinator, IKEA (Schaumburg, IL) 2000-2004

• Collaborated with On a Mission KC & Hill’s Pet Nutrition driving awareness of shelter pet rescue needs by creating a product drive to produce sales of relevant IKEA pet products of six figures.
• Facilitated a children’s safety campaign with the collaboration of Charlie’s House of KC and Children’s Mercy Hospital extending safety communication across all IKEA stores in the US. Expanded children’s tip-over safety measures into law with the passing of the STURDY Act on September 1, 2023, with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
• Participated with chamber of commerce and city council members to support “Welcoming KC,” a coalition of local businesses supporting the resettlement of refugees in Kansas City.
• Directed partnership with Family Promise of Lawrence to oversee a donation with a retail value over $50,000. Led campaign in increasing awareness of Family Promise, and the project of rebuilding four transition units which gained national recognition of earned media, and global recognition internally.
• Collaborated with ESPN, and HGTV star Tamara Day for sweepstakes offer of baby’s nursery gaining global attention through KU Medical and Kansas City Royals.
• Facilitated partnership of IKEA Kansas City with Climate Action KC to work towards a sustainable goal of being Net 0 by 2050. Hosted panel conversations and tabling events at the annual Climate Action Kansas City summits.
• Member of the IKEA Foundation Ambassadors Pilot program driving a campaign of sharing sustainable efforts and knowledge of the global IKEA Foundation to co-workers across all North American locations.
• Supported mentorship and hiring process for retail communications leaders in the U.S.
• Graphic Communication Project Manager of new market build-up processes.
• Built an extensive relationship with local and national vendors and suppliers, negotiating reduced costs in materials and supplies.

Illinois Institute of Art

2022

B.F.A. with honors

Multimedia Communications & Web Design

William Rainey Harper College

2000

A.F.A.

Graphic Design, Fine Arts