Q&A with Jamie Heater

GGInsights: Q&A with Director of Marketing – Jamie Heater

Jamie Heater joined the GGI team in July of 2023, as Gillis Gilkerson’s first full-time Director of Marketing.  Having previously served as Executive Director for Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District and as an advertising Account Executive with 47-ABC, Jamie joined the team with more than 15 years of experience in advertising, marketing, communications, event planning, and content creation.  A graduate of Salisbury University with a degree in accounting and an M.B.A., Jamie’s broad range of skills and knack for adaptability have made her an excellent fit for the growing construction and development firm.  Jamie joined the company at a pivotal time – just a month before Gillis Gilkerson’s 40th anniversary party- and about a year into Tyler Barnes tenure as President.  Jamie hit the ground running, learning a new industry and applying her skills to help usher GGI into its next decades of success.

We wanted to highlight Jamie, and her time with Gillis Gilkerson so far.  Jamie was a good sport and participated in a light-hearted Q&A.

Q&A Questions:

In a nutshell, how would you describe your role as Director of Marketing?  

My role as Director of Marketing is to develop and oversee the company’s marketing strategy, which includes brand management, campaign execution, analysis of key performance indicators, development of proposal materials, and maintaining a marketing budget.  It also includes building relationships, both internal and external, in order to stay current with industry trends, connected to the community and to ensure our marketing objectives align with business realities. 

Were you familiar with Gillis Gilkerson or the construction industry prior to joining the team?

Gillis Gilkerson as a company, absolutely yes!  Prior to my role here, I had spent over a decade volunteering and managing various events and revitalization efforts in Downtown Salisbury, which is very near and dear to hearts of both the founding generation of Gillis Gilkerson and their children.  I first got to know Joey Gilkerson as a volunteer with Downtown Salisbury’s first annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop – I’m pretty sure it was his idea, it definitely wasn’t mine!  Over the years I continued to get to know the family through the many investments they have made transforming the Downtown streetscape, and through their enthusiastic support of downtown arts, culture and events.

As far as the construction industry goes, I did have some prior experience creating advertising campaigns for residential construction companies, and some trades.  I did not have any prior experience working in the commercial construction field, certainly not at the level that Gillis Gilkerson performs.  Fortunately, I have great co-workers and resources that have helped me learn the industry very quickly.

How has it been being the first Director of Marketing for the company?

Well, I may be the first full-time Director of Marketing, but I certainly wasn’t starting from scratch.  Gillis Gilkerson has worked with several outstanding marketing consultants over the years, so I came into the role with a beautifully developed roadmap and a well-established brand.  It was just time for someone to devote their full attention to the task, in-house.  I’m grateful for the circumstances that allowed that person to be me!

How are your skills useful to the team? 

When I first started here, I would look around and think – this group is full of extremely smart, talented people – what could they possibly need me for?  I think I am here to tell their stories.  This company can build hospitals and hotels and everything in between, but it still takes a storyteller to capture the moments that matter, and present that information back to the community and potential clients.  Honestly, I am just scratching the surface cataloging the incredible work this team produces.  My skills with event planning and community involvement have also come into play as well, coordinating team building events and getting involved with construction industry networks.

Are there any projects you have worked on that stand-out as most memorable, or that you really enjoyed?

Having the opportunity to learn Adobe Creative Suite has been one of the most fun and rewarding parts of my role here, and something that I had always aspired to do. I am not an artist or a graphic designer, but I have always been interested in design tools and software.  I have absolutely loved learning InDesign.  Using InDesign to create client presentations has become one of my favorite parts of the job.  I also really appreciate the way this role allows me to work closely with photographers and videographers.  I love taking creative assets and putting them to good use.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? 

Well, I get to brag about my team!  They are all way too humble to make a big deal about their accomplishments.  Luckily, I am more than happy to do it for them!  They build cool stuff and then I get to tell everyone all about it.  Match made in heaven!

What are some challenges you face in your role as Director of Marketing?

I think the biggest challenge stems from the fact that “Marketing” means a lot of different things.  It encompasses everything from what most people think of – like advertising, websites, social media, logos etc. – to much more comprehensive exchanges like value creation, product positioning, facilitating the purchase process from initial awareness to final sale, customer retention and relationship building.  The goal is to consistently deliver value while attracting and retaining customers, subcontractors, employees, and community goodwill.

There is a lot more to it than meets the eye. I think the role requires someone with the ability to juggle a variety of tasks while keeping an open mind and an eye on the big picture.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in Marketing?

The best advice I can give someone thinking about a career in Marketing is to have a positive attitude and be adaptable to change.  You cannot be an effective brand-champion if the glass is always half-full.  If you don’t believe in the brands you are working for, move on.  It’s a fast-moving field, and being quick to adapt to change is the key to staying ahead.

Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies or interests? How do you unwind and recharge? 

Top three would be reading, watching films and spending time at the beach.  I love living and working on the Eastern Shore, with all the access to nature and bopping around to all the cool spots.  If you do it right, this place really is paradise.