Name: Kelly Powers
Age: 27
Job Title: Marketing Account Manager
Company: Petra Industries
Years in the Industry: 5
Education: University of Oklahoma (Boomer!)
Dealerscope’s 40 Under 40 Honoree 2021
Describe your current role.
I am a Marketing Account Manager with Petra Industries. My role at Petra has morphed through the years — I come from an editorial and advertising background, so when I first started at Petra, I was responsible for the publications we produced. This included some collateral, sales fliers and most significantly a 1,400-plus-page catalog. However, I soon realized that our resources could be better allocated to drive more sales for our customers and for Petra. After helping switch the company to a digital-first mindset, I moved into the Marketing Account Manager role. Now my primary function is to grease the wheels between our vendor partners and our e-Commerce customers. I help communicate the market expectations and e-Commerce solutions with the brand story and product information of the manufacturers to create an appealing listing for consumers.
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
In 2020, I took part in the rollout of a new sales channel with Petra. We launched a program with a major home improvement retailer, and my team was able to bring in a new revenue stream during one of the craziest years in recent history. Although it was pretty outside my wheelhouse when I started, I was thrilled to be able to learn so much about e-Commerce and the distribution industry as a whole in such a short amount of time.
In 2015, while working in advertising, I helped roll out a massive video network which housed 16 web series and a daily live show. From creative concept to final implementation, I was involved in every step.
What do you like best about your job?
I’ve always found collaboration to be one of the most satisfying elements in a job. As a marketer, I love diving into the unknown, finding solutions to problems and being able to tell a story. Working in the supply chain lets me do all of that. I get to collaborate with people who have been in the industry for many years, which affords me a unique learning opportunity in the relatively new field of e- Commerce.
What technology are you most excited about at the moment?
The connected health & fitness market is experiencing exciting shakeups with the application of technology. In the information age, people want access to all the information they can get their hands on. Using technology, we can easily track all kinds of aspects of our health. This allows us to identify patterns, gamify our health journeys and, overall, lead healthier lives.
What career advice would you give to people just getting started in the CE or technology industry?
Be adaptable and be a sponge. Everything changes quickly, so you must always keep your mind and your ears open to soak up all the information around you.
What, in your opinion, is necessary for the CE/technology industry to thrive in the next five years?
As technology and shopping platforms change, so, too, does the consumer buying process. We need to continually map the customer journey, invest in content at all levels of the sales funnel and ensure our product information supports the consumer expectation to research their products online.
