Jill Finnell

Regional Category Growth Supervisor,
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands Inc.,
Mooresville, NC

Jill earned her Master's Degree in Integrated Marketing and Management Communication from Florida State in December 2003. Jill is currently the Regional Category Growth Supervisor for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands Inc. in Mooresville, NC. Jill is responsible for all promotional activity for the company in the Carolinas. She works, trains, and develop new programming. Jill is in charge of 35 part-time staff - 40% travel - coordinates all facets of bar promotions, college events, festivals, bike rallies, and music concerts etc. She works with senior management on development of new innovative programs and premiums, has a role on the Company Innovation Team responsible for reviewing ideas and new initiatives, conducts Field Coordinator training meetings and events.

"The IMMC program gave me a broad knowledge of all the facets of communication such as Public Relations, Marketing, and Advertising. My job requires the integration of all of these components on a daily basis. I was very fortunate to receive the training that I did because it gave me the competitive edge I needed to land a job in the career field I wanted. I don't ever do the same thing every day and I'm not in an office 40 hours a week. I get to apply all that I learned out in the field as well."

"I was the first female supervisor hired in the company's history. I thought that was kind of cool. It's not your typical female job since we have to drive a huge truck and know how to pull a trailer...really glamourous, but I thought it was kind of an honor. It just goes to show that sometimes taking a risk is worth it, even if you think you don't have a chance of getting it."