A look at the people behind the numbers in area business:
JEAN HILL MACCABEE
Title: Senior vice president
Age: 52
Jean Hill, newly promoted senior vice president at Maccabee, is working to add to the "client service mind-set" at the strategic public relations and online marketing agency in Minneapolis.
That will include asking clients what is important to them in terms of service, Hill said, and doing professional development with staffers to make sure Maccabee meets their goals.
"Our agency is very strong in the area of client service," Hill said. "I definitely want to continue to build and strengthen the client service mind-set."
Hill joined Maccabee four years ago as vice president, a move that resulted from a networking meeting with agency founder Paul Maccabee. With her promotion, Hill will continue to offer strategic communications counsel to clients while taking on more agency leadership tasks.
"I really value working in an environment that's collaborative, where I'm surrounded with savvy people who are smart and fun, and to be recognized for being part of building that environment is really rewarding to me," Hill said.
Hill co-leads work for the firm's biggest client, St. Cloud-based GNP Company, whose brands include Gold'n Plump, and directs Maccabee's public relations work for clients including PeopleNet and Cushman & Wakefield/NorthMarq.
Hill's 25 years of public relations and marketing experience include 15 years at the Karwoski & Courage agency, where she worked as vice president of client service.
Maccabee offers services including brand strategy, business-to-business public relations, cause marketing, content marketing and corporate communications.
Q: How does Maccabbee help clients balance traditional communications and social media and other new platforms?
A: Each client's situation is different, so we take a holistic approach in our counsel. More often than not it's a comprehensive program that combines traditional public relations and social media or online marketing that is most beneficial. It's that holistic approach that's important.
Q: What prompted your move to Maccabee?
A: I knew immediately when I was interviewing that it was a group of people that I wanted to be part of, terrifically collaborative, warm and welcoming. I also knew they were smart, strategic and creative and then as I joined the agency, I realized the clients were the same.
Q: What's your message to prospective clients?
A: Our organization is very strategic, we're very creative, but we're also very nimble. We can change as the situation for our clients changes. They'll receive counsel and ultimately communications strategies that make a difference.
Todd Nelson
