Willetta Willis-McGhee

Willetta Willis-McGhee Hallmark Cards

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Willetta Willis-McGhee

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Willetta Willis-McGheeDirector at Large, National Alliance of Market Developers

For nearly 20 years, Willetta Willis-McGhee has made significant contributions in the fields of consumer communication and marketing.As Category Manager, Hallmark Cards Business Development, Willetta is currently participating in analysis, planning and implementation of activities to enhance Hallmark's business position in specialty gifts.

Prior to this assignment, Willetta became part of the fabric of the marketing staff in Hallmark's core business, greeting cards.She began her product development career in 1994 in Seasons, serving as the marketing strategist for cards and gifts for Father's Day, Graduation and 11 smaller seasons.In 1996, she was promoted to Marketing Manager for Everyday Alternative Cards, leading a five-person marketing staff through analysis, concepting, planning, implementation, and even exit of more than 50 different greeting card lines.In 1997, Willetta was promoted again to Category Strategy Manager, Everyday Cards.Her role was to assure that key corporate activities were implemented in a manner supportive of the long-term health of the greeting card.Willetta's team supplied strategic direction regarding pricing, consumer research planning, data analysis, and product portfolio management to key decision makers throughout the company.

Willetta spent the majority of her early career in mass communications.After graduating from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO, with dual majors in public relations and advertising, Willetta worked as a public relations agent for Howard, Needles, Tammen and Bergendoff.Her role at this architectural and engineering firm included writing and editing everything from promotional brochures and press releases to text books and technical journals.In 1985, she joined Hallmark Public Affairs and Communications.Over the next 10 years, she held positions of increasing responsibility including editor, video writer/producer, editorial manager, and sales communications manager.Published works cover the gamut from employee newsletters, national magazine articles and video scripts, to advertising, promotional brochures and store signing.

Willetta has been a member of the National Alliance of Market Developers since 1989, when she served as editor for the year's Emphasis, NAMD's annual trade publication.Willetta is also former vice president and president of NAMD's Kansas City chapter, as well as past vice president of communications for the national board of directors.She was installed as national president in May, 1999.

Willetta participates in several other community activities including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; Board of Directors of First Friday of Kansas City; Digital Equipment Corporation's Youth Motivational Speakers Bureau; and Kansas City Friends in Alvin Ailey.She is a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Kansas City.

Willetta's professional and community accomplishments have been acknowledged by two citations from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the United Minority Media Association (UMMA).

Willetta is married to KC Fire Department Captain Gary L. McGhee, and is mom to three teens, André, Kasani and Kiauni.

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Debra A. Janssen Doug Worley John Pendergast Paula Tatum Lisa Soboslai Brad Beyer Donna Valponi Willetta Willis-McGhee Barry Baranowski Scott Harold Gwen DeGiacomo
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Willetta Willis-McGhee , Vice President , Marketing Services

Willetta Willis-McGhee brings 15 years of experience in public relations , corporate communications and category marketing to MIX , Inc..As vice president of marketing services , Willetta's team is responsible for delivering compelling ebizmix brand messages to retailers , suppliers and alliance partners.The Marketing Services team is supported by some of the top professional service agencies in the country.

Willis-McGhee has been part of the team since April 1999 , serving as Category Manager for MIX , ebizmix.com's predecessor site.In this role , Willis-McGhee was responsible for identifying the industry's top suppliers in defined categories , then negotiating contracts for their participation as preferred vendors.Prior to 1999 , Willetta honed her target marketing skills at Hallmark in roles such as Category Strategy Manager , Marketing Manager , and Marketing Strategist , as well as Marketing Communications Manager , editor , and AV writer/producer.

An active participant in her community , Willetta serves as President of the National Alliance of Market Developers , a 50-year-old trade organization that provides professional development for marketers who target people of color.Willetta holds dual bachelor's degrees in public relations and advertising from Central Missouri State University , Warrensburg , Mo..

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Debra A. Janssen Doug Worley John Pendergast Paula Tatum Lisa Soboslai Brad Beyer Donna Valponi Willetta Willis-McGhee Barry Baranowski Scott Harold Gwen DeGiacomo
...
Willetta Willis-McGhee , Vice President , Marketing Services

Willetta Willis-McGhee brings 15 years of experience in public relations , corporate communications and category marketing to MIX , Inc..As vice president of marketing services , Willetta's team is responsible for delivering compelling ebizmix brand messages to retailers , suppliers and alliance partners.The Marketing Services team is supported by some of the top professional service agencies in the country.

Willis-McGhee has been part of the team since April 1999 , serving as Category Manager for MIX , ebizmix.com's predecessor site.In this role , Willis-McGhee was responsible for identifying the industry's top suppliers in defined categories , then negotiating contracts for their participation as preferred vendors.Prior to 1999 , Willetta honed her target marketing skills at Hallmark in roles such as Category Strategy Manager , Marketing Manager , and Marketing Strategist , as well as Marketing Communications Manager , editor , and AV writer/producer.

An active participant in her community , Willetta serves as President of the National Alliance of Market Developers , a 50-year-old trade organization that provides professional development for marketers who target people of color.Willetta holds dual bachelor's degrees in public relations and advertising from Central Missouri State University , Warrensburg , Mo..

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