Sales Manager

SONJA ATKINSON HOUSTON

***** ** **** ******

Davie, Florida 33331

954-***-**** ~ *************@*****.***

SUMMARY Innovative marketing professional with 10+ years of experience

at Fortune 500 companies. Expertise in strategic planning, sales

driving consumer promotions, multifaceted brand-building

programs, project development and management. Specialize in

strategic partnerships, Brand, Cause, Loyalty, Field,

Experiential, Multicultural, and Customer Marketing. A team

leader, who consistently delivers for brands, customers, and

partners to help grow share, volume, distribution, awareness and

trial.

PROFESSIONAL

EXPERIENCE

V. GEORGIO SPIRITS COMPANY

2008- present Marketing Director/Marketing Consultant

Sunrise, Fl

. Managed execution and helped create strategic marketing

plan resulting in explosive sales and distribution over the

first 9 month launch period for fast growing Ultra Premium

Vodka

. Effectively interfaced and lead cross functional teams to

develop marketing and retail promotional programs, sales

proposals, interactive tools, brochures, and other materials

to help secure + 2000 accounts

. Negotiated value added partnerships and helped build high

profile relationships to yield over 1billion consumer

impressions since 12/08 exceeding awareness objectives

. Developed and helped manage company foundation, consulted

on brand communications, media, public relations,

advertising, and key influencer programs to help build

brand's Ultra Premium positioning and drive increased

consumer trial in Florida (+22%)

. Managed external agencies, cross-functional partners and

provided strategic consulting to help create cost effective,

relevant partnerships and sponsorships such as; The "Big

Game", The Orange Bowl, The Florida Classic, The National

Championship, Latin Billboard Awards, an HBO Production,

celebrity birthday/foundation events, and a host of local &

national charities to target key markets, establish brand

positioning, create awareness and drive trial

. Leveraged resources and relationships to help

strategically secured product placement and endorsements in

four (4) artists' music videos while effectively monitoring

creative production processes to ensure brand positioning

consistency helping to influence over 12 million target

consumers

ZERO CHAOS/PAYWISE

2007-2008 Marketing Manager & Consultant- Purina

Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

NESTLE PURINA PETCARE COMPANY

2001-2007 Marketing Manager

Tampa, Fl/ St. Louis, Mo

. Developed and launched distinctive cause channel and tool

that consistently delivered incremental volume and net sales

(+ $15M) over 8 years through an integration of cause, multi-

cultural, brand, retail, and target marketing for Customer

Sales teams and Brand Marketing

. Developed market strategies to support corporate brand

objectives, managed the development and distribution of pet

adoption kits to generate + 1M impressions annually for

corporate brands and key customers

. Developed annual tool strategies for 4 distinctive

geographic markets with 10 strategic partners using a brand

portfolio that helped drive sales growth for over 15 key

customers

. Lead cross functional resources and team to support 5 US

sales regions, and manage the evolution of an integrated

website, database, and programs to help influence brand

purchases of over 5M new pet adopters

. Researched, identified and evaluated market needs and

emerging trends to identify new business opportunities and

gain support from key leadership to increase budget and staff

by 350% over 3 years to support growing customer demand and

brand relevancy

. Grew channel program from 10 to over 10,000 members in 2

years by developing and managing an integrated partner

relationship, developing and managing a customized retail

merchandising program, and effectively managing $2M annual

budget to allow efficient asset leveragability

. Developed extensive industry knowledge to become company's

cause channel expert through relevant market, industry,

consumer & competitor analysis, helping create effective

customer strategies in US markets and international regions,

testing and presenting outstanding results of 2 regional

brand programs that ultimately influenced senior management

to rollout nationally for a key strategic brand

OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY-a division of UNITED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

1995-2001 Account Manager

Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

. Manage entire maintenance service base of $2.4M for

Broward and Palm Beach resulting in 11% increase in revenue

over 4 years

. Exceeded office goals set in all responsibilities areas-

Modernization (+12%), Recapture (+8%), Conversion (+19%),

Open Order (+9%), Collections (+5%)

. Establish policies and streamlined procedures as

participant on Continuous Improvement team resulting in

advancement to "top 5" regional ranking

. Initiated plan resulting in business forecasted growth of

37% in 2001

AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.

Summer 1994 Marketing Intern

New York, NY

. Evaluated growing Small Business Corporate Card sales

channel, coordinated sales training program and developed

measuring /monitoring tools for regional sales centers

resulting in 4% increased sales conversion rate

. Coordinated cross functional team to develop script tests

driving 35% sales increase

. Conducted analysis to determine value added of sales

channel quantitative forecasting model resulting in capital

investment to drive future sales and group growth initiatives

. Created a Reward & Recognition program to fully integrate

internal & external goals

BELLSOUTH ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY

1989-1993 Directory Advertising Representative

Charlotte, NC

. Generated almost $1M in annual revenue through management

of 1,000+ accounts

. Exceeded sales goals by 10% annually through strategic

market analysis, prospecting and sales planning, target

marketing, and maximizing market penetration

. Generated 75% new product sales increase through

integrated market reintroduction plan

. Led regional teams to develop sales training materials,

recruitment programs and implement major Total Quality

Management initiatives to help drive record sales results

(+17%) for local team.

HONORS &

ACTIVITIES The Victor G. Harvey Family Foundation, Inc. - Board Vice-

Chairman

The Links, Incorporated - Chapter Committee Chairperson

Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated - Chapter Program

Director

Winterfest Boat Parade - Advisory Board Member

Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated - Member

Women in Communication- Member

American Marketing Association- Member

National Urban League's National Achievers Program- Association

Member

EDUCATION CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Master of Business Administration

Concentration: Marketing

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Bachelor of Science Degree

Major: Marketing Management Minor: Communications Studies

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