Jennifer Proffitt joins Star-Journal staff
With a hard-working state trooper for a husband, three very active children and an attention-loving dog, Jennifer Proffitt thought it might be impossible to find a career with more to thrive on.
Fortunately for us, she was wrong. Jennifer, a familiar face around Hillsboro and Tabor College, began a new chapter in her life this week, as the Director of Marketing and Advertising for The Hillsboro Star-Journal.
The job description for the new position was written with someone like Jennifer, a six-year Hillsboro resident and 2006 Tabor graduate, in mind.
"We were looking for a special person with the skills and talents necessary to make a positive impact in the Hillsboro area business community," said Star-Journal editor Grant Overstake.
"Our goal was to have people say 'Wow!' when they saw the quality of person we had hired," he added. "Jennifer is that type of person. She's the one who local business owners have been hoping would come through their doors, to help them grow their business."
When asked to be the new Star-Journal's first Director of Marketing and Advertising, Jennifer says she took time to learn as much as possible about the opportunity.
"After checking, I knew I would regret saying no, so I said yes," she said.
Jennifer began working Monday with local business owners, learning about their business and helping them to begin to plan marketing and advertising strategies to meet their specific needs.
"Having been a small business owner, I know how demanding it can be," she said. "My goal is to serve businesses in a manner that eases some of those burdens."
In addition to working with local businesses, Jennifer also will be active as an ambassador from The Star-Journal to the community.
"Our attitude is that we're responsible for supporting the communities we live in," she said. "I appreciate the fact that Grant wants me to take every opportunity to become actively involved."
Jennifer was very involved as a "non-traditional student" at Tabor; as a wife, mother, business management major, and member of the varsity tennis team.
Her ability to multi-task was a skill she learned before returning to college, when she worked with The Leading Edge, a top-flight sales and leadership training company.
"Working with The Leading Edge was a little like learning about real estate from Donald Trump," she said. "I plan to use what I learned there to benefit Star-Journal clients."
Jennifer is the second well-qualified staffer to join the Star Journal in recent months.
In May, former Miami (Fla.) Herald staff writer Grant Overstake became editor, assuming full responsibility for the paper.
"The main reason why I considered the job is because of the drastic improvements I'd seen in the Star-Journal since Grant began editing the paper," Jennifer said.
"I believe good things are happening, and I want to be a part of it. It's a great opportunity."
Former Hillsboro resident and work colleague, Melissa Parmley, advertising sales manager for Hoch Publishing Co., Inc., which owns the Star-Journal, the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, and the Marion County Record, will mentor Jennifer.
"Melissa has been great," Jennifer said. "I've had lots of questions and she has gone out of her way to make sure that I get off on the right track."
Jennifer looks forward to helping business owners with a marketing concept she calls "pinpoint marketing."
"Everyone knows that there are three very different larger communities in Marion County: Peabody, Marion, and Hillsboro," Jennifer said.
"Because we publish a different newspaper in each of these cities, we make it possible for businesses to reach customers with as many as three "pinpointed" ads in a single week.
"This is a powerful tool that mass-distribution papers just can't match, and we're going to show business owners how they can profit from it."
It's clear that Hillsboro business owners can profit by inviting Jennifer Proffitt to consult with them.
For an appointment to meet with Jennifer, call 947-3975.
