Jill Klinger

Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Provide invaluable support to the marketing and sales team to drive company success resulting in increased sales and a loyal customer base. Collaborate with operations, engineering, outside sales representative agencies, vendors and customers to develop seamless communication.

EVENT PLANNING
• Maintain calendar for HVAC/R, automotive and international tradeshows (50 shows annually): Coordinate product/booth shipments, registration, hotel/meeting space accommodations, business dinners, customer/buying group reports.
• Organize corporate events: in person and virtual annual sales meetings, corporate celebrations including catering, facility, signage, invitations, transportation, entertainment.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
• Analyze information integrity on a monthly basis to ensure customers are assigned the correct price code, orders are affiliated with the appropriate region and sales representative agency.
• Maintain Product Information Management System (PIMS) to ensure wholesales/distributors have accurate and current product information.
• Design and distribute monthly reports providing vital information in by various views (by customer, sales rep, region, product, business division, etc.). Detailed commission reports are provided monthly to each sales representative agency.

MARKETING MATERIALS AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS
• Provide copy editing and graphic design/support: product spec sheets, banner ads, advertisements, price lists
and flyers.
• Research, source, purchase, inventory and distribute promotional items to sales teams, sales representative agencies and customers.
• Provide marketing assets: photos, logos, videos, presentations upon request.

COMMUNICATIONS
• Coordinate and execute webinars: Microsoft Teams / GoToMeeting
• Respond to leads and maintain outreach contact lists
• Distribute MailChimp eBlast campaigns to various audience segments
• Research and respond to customer pricing discrepancies

Role/Deliverables
This fast-paced, customer service-oriented position offers the opportunity to communicate directly with colleagues, management and customers. The schedule flexibility offered at Herberger’s has allowed me to continue my search for the ideal career opportunity.

General services provided include…
- makeovers, skin care recommendations, etc
- excellent customer care
- creative problem solving
- multi-tasking and organization
- concise communication

Individuals
I had the privilege of working with 20+ individuals interested in parting with their personal property. The client-base grew steadily over the 16 month venture through word-or-mouth from satisfied clients. On average, 150 items shipped monthly.

General services provided include…
- formulated comprehensive inventory
- performed market research (price points, effective market channels, etc.)
- developed client proposals/agreements
- positioned product (advertising copy, quality photos, online sales tools, i.e., eBay and Craigslist)
- provided customer care to buyers
- distributed profit shares and sales reports to clients

Companies
Working directly with the cabinetry business owners/operators, I designed individual marketing plans to successfully increase their customer base. The Referral & Retention Incentive Program was a strategy implemented for both businesses. By offering significant discounts to existing customers, both companies lowered their costs associated with recruiting new clients and realized an increase of both new customers and return clientele. The companies achieved their goals to increase new clients served in 2013. In fact, one company exceeded their goal by 40%. The increase in workflow resulted in the creation of one full-time position and 10-12 additional seasonal employees.

General marketing services provided include…
- designed print and online promotional materials
- crafted media releases and public relations strategies
- performed customer follow-ups and acquired testimonials
- created Craigslist advertisements
- reviewed website optimization opportunities
- identified strategic partnerships

General Deliverables
- provided 1-on-1 and virtual counseling - connecting over 500 businesses to resources
- delivered and promoted initiatives designed to create entrepreneurial energy
- created and distributed comprehensive monthly reports (success measures, progression, program benchmarks, etc.)
- created a seamless access system of business development service providers
- collaborated to start LegalClinic – legal advice for early stage businesses (100 companies annually)

E-Communication
- Greater Mankato Growth (GMG) eNews articles → weekly distribution 1,700
- website conceptualization, layout, editing (SEO, flow, etc.) and content
- social media content updates and announcements → weekly
- e-correspondence - emails, surveys, invites, etc.
- concept, layout and oversight of online tool Business Accelerator Client Referral System

Business Correspondence
- business letters written to public figures, community members, businesses and clients → 300

Published/Broadcast
- MN Valley Business Magazine → approx. 20 articles published, regional distribution 20,000
- media releases distributed regionally and statewide → over 100 written
- print advertisements - copy and design → over 50 created
- Connect Magazine → approx. 6 articles published
- scripts → (25) and live appearances → (12) broadcast in Southern Minnesota

Public Speaking
- speeches delivered to diverse audiences → 150 presentations

Event Planning
- BioFuels Event Planning Committee → 40 exhibitors and 350 attendees
- 1st Annual Greater Mankato Lemonade Day Organizer → 500 elementary school children, $15,000 sponsorship dollars, 250 volunteers, 12 organizations
- Minnesota for Entrepreneurs Planning Committee → attracted 80 exhibitors and 450 attendees
- Brian Fazio Business Creation Project → $30,000 in seed money awarded

Grant Writing
- Pohlad Foundation
- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
- Get Broadband Foundation

Reporting directly to the Technology Plus Board of Directors Chair and the City of Mankato, I implemented the following marketing plan deliverables…

- created and implemented a cost-conscious marketing plan (re-branding, community outreach, program development, strategic collaborative opportunities)
- leveraged resources and partnerships to effectively deliver marketing initiatives - staying below the limited budget allocated
- created media releases, advertisements, public relations, printed materials and website content
- promoted and taught Microsoft Office classes to the community
- collaborated with the South Central Service Cooperative to offer ADA-friendly technology solutions

In addition to the marketing responsibilities, I recruited and managed a minimum of four interns per year to maintain the server, computers and audio/visual equipment, and took on the multi-tenant building management responsibilities (security, leasing, contract services, etc.).