What’s your job?

Owner/Principal of The Gordon Group, LLC
I am a marketing, branding, and communications consultant with deep experience in many industries and sectors though my top priority now is finding the right corporate job on “the inside” again. I’ve missed being part of an ongoing team though hope to be able to continue doing some noncompeting consulting work once I get settled.

My capabilities include everything from the macro to the micro level, including creative and differentiating strategic marketing, copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, PR, social media, and branding work. I have special expertise in the food, leisure/resort, and professional services arenas as well as healthcare, HR, and residential and commercial real estate—all augmented by the knowledge gained by obtaining my Executive MBA from Pepperdine University in a truly collaborative program.

What do you do for fun?

I am an avid tennis player (wish that meant the same as being a “great tennis player”—but alas, that’s not the case), and as I used to be a food writer for a number of publications and much of my professional career has been in the food industry, dining out or sharing happy hour with friends or colleagues is way up near the top of the list, too.

What was your first “real” job?
I worked through high school and college mostly in grocery stores though sprinkled in some retail work and a job as a Medicare records clerk, but my first real job after graduating from Ohio State was going to work for Lawry’s Foods in Los Angeles, which ended up being an almost 15-year-long career with an amazing company that was acquired by Lipton/Unilever while I was there. My work encompassed HR, operations analysis, and ultimately foodservice marketing. Simplot recruited me away from Lawry’s, which is what brought me to Idaho!

Awards and accolades?

• Selected for three-year term on the College of Western Idaho’s Marketing Management Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), beginning 2010.
• Cited in 2010 as one of just 12 business-writing experts across the U.S. selected to review and provide feedback on McGraw-Hill’s Eleventh (Tribute) Edition The Gregg Reference Manual (GRM)— the leading business-grammar and style-reference resource book.
• Chosen to participate in 2004 Las Vegas McGraw-Hill Symposium for GRM Tenth Edition and was subject of a feature article in the Idaho Statesman for this.
• Selected in 2010 to serve as board member of Sales and Marketing Executives of Boise (SME) with significant contributions to organization growth through selective recruitment and speaker procurement. If there are any CCC members who either own their own businesses or have responsibility for the sales or marketing functions at their firms who may be interested in joining this group, please let me know!
• Served as judge for the internationally televised 1999 Gilroy (California) Garlic Festival Cook-Off.

Why CCC?

There are so many things that make CCC uniquely appealing. I have met some incredible people who have become friends and others who have become subcontractors, clients, and/or colleagues. The proactive, pay-it-forward spirit that exists in this group even though a number of members are actually competitors is most impressive.

I have referred other CCC members to projects or jobs and they have done the same for me. That sympatico understanding of the sensibilities it takes to make a good referral is something that we all seem to share! I belong to quite a number of professional organizations and serve on the board for one, and I would say that CCC’s cooperative spirit and genuine interest in evolving its offerings makes it truly special.