Darrah Gist: in Atlanta, GA

Directed marketing strategy and communications, branding, team management, agency management, digital & social media and media relations for 42 stores, 8,000 team members and 20+ media markets • Created comprehensive vendor product marketing programs, increasing category and single item sales by over 150% • Directed all aspects of new store openings and re-brands, exceeding sales projections by more than 30% • Led ten direct reports and 28 indirect reports • Presented quarterly and annual marketing and communications plans to senior leadership • Holiday, seasonal and food-focused event strategy decks • Created marketing and event toolkits to increase store sales • Developed new catering menu and comprehensive marketing plan for program launch • Increased regional catering sales by 200% • Derived seasonal and market plans from customer insights and data, collaborating with product teams from concept creation to program execution and assessment • Increased e-commerce holiday orders and overall basket size by 23% YoY • Grew in-store holiday orders by 20% • Guided creative team on all customer-facing marketing programs and internal communications • Implemented creative brief process and project management tools • Developed project calendar for all regional and national materials

Hired, trained and supervised all store marketing teams in 25 markets • Mentored teams on store marketing plans, experiential marketing events, seasonal campaigns, local partnerships • Managed three direct reports, 35 indirect reports • Identified community partnerships and negotiated high-level sponsorships • Handled all logistics, branding, vendors, event teams and budgets • Led the opening of 15 stores across the South region • Created road map and processes for opening multiple stores in a calendar year • Shaved budget by 50% while maintaining stellar market execution and record-breaking opening sales

Managed media relations and directed communications for three brands in 18 media markets and a growing roster of 30+ stores • Implemented seasonal product pitching plan increasing product mentions and impressions by 120% • Recognized as Global Whole Foods Market All Star: Best Execution of a Companywide PR Strategy or Program for Value • Conducted media trainings for over 200 employees from store level to Executive leadership • Developed Executive level Crisis Communication training, basic interview preparedness training and protest checklists for store operations teams • Launched the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Animal Welfare Rating program • Developed national key messaging and talking points, prepped interviewees for national and local media interviews • Wrote and distributed bi-weekly social media plan and distributed email marketing • Directed PR agency on key projects

• Managed two graphic artists and product demo sales team, increasing store sales and excitement • Implemented all themed and seasonal promotions • Developed monthly calendar of events to draw customers to the store • Chalkboard messaging, merchandising and price/item signage • Cultivated local partnerships and sponsorships, increasing brand awareness

Full-service marketing and advertising agency focusing on consumer and agricultural products • Secured editorial placements for consumer product clients, including tents, backpacks, compasses, canoes, kayaks, wool carpet and lighting • Wrote and distributed press materials, catalog and website copy, conducted new product launches, handled trade shows and pitched products to national publications