Social Media & Marketing Management

Katie Schmidt

My name is Jacqueline, but I prefer to go by Katie. Born in the charming town of Hastings, Minnesota, I have always had a zest for adventure and a passion for creating memorable experiences. This innate love for exploration led me to pursue higher education in North Carolina, where I embarked on an exciting journey at Excel College immediately after completing high school in 2016. Little did I know that this decision would completely transform my perspective on education, learning and community.

Attending Excel College was a life-altering experience for me. It opened my eyes to the power of education and instilled in me a deep appreciation for the transformative impact it can have on myself and those around me. Armed with this newfound enthusiasm, I eagerly absorbed knowledge and skills, excited to bring them into the workplace and every other facet of my life. This drive to apply my learning has enabled me to make significant contributions in various environments, embodying the belief that education is not confined to the classroom but extends to every interaction and endeavor.

Armed with the valuable lessons and insights I have gained throughout my educational journey, I am eager to channel my knowledge and passion into a career in social media marketing. Understanding the dynamic nature of digital platforms and their immense potential to connect individuals and brands, I am committed to leveraging my expertise to create impactful and engaging social media campaigns.

Drawing on my experience as a social media manager, I am well-equipped to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of social media. I possess a keen eye for trends and a knack for storytelling, enabling me to craft compelling content that resonates with diverse audiences. My perspective shifted from simply selling a product to serving my customer. Additionally, my education has fostered a deep understanding of the importance of community-building and the power of authentic engagement.

The following pages document my experiences and achievements.

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EDUCATION

Excel College, Black Mountain, NC

BA in Religious Studies, Integrated Economy, & Critical Thinking

Emphasis: Social Media and Marketing Management

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WORK EXPERIENCE & APPRENTICESHIPS

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER — : Provisions Mercantile- May 2021- Present

Content creation, planning, and strategy
Marketing campaign creation
Converting social media interaction into sales
Creating and understanding brand pillars
Understand and implement trends

Creative directing
Social media strategy
Honing a niche for a brand
Creating a unified voice across diverse marketing platforms

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER — : Radius Chiropractic- February 2022- November 2022

Content creation
Content planning

Networking
Conveying marketing strategy

EVENT COORDINATOR — : Provisions Mercantile- August 2022- Present

Event creation, promotion, and execution
Budget creation
Creating a comfortable atmosphere

Networking and vendor communication
Task delegation & communication skills

EVENT COORDINATOR— : CreatEd Institute- March 2017- September 2019

Hospitality: Supply shopping, hosting and coordinating lodging arrangements

Event schedule creation
Event marketing and promotion

SALES AND RETAIL— : Provisions Mercantile — November 2019- Present

Product display and education
Customer relations
POS system management

Inventory management
Product evaluation
Vendor relations

ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR — : CreatEd Institute — January 2019- September 2019

Understanding and utilizing team dynamics
Vision casting
Time management
Cold calling and recruiting

Maintaining relationships with prospective students and parents
Developing a professional presence
Applicant interviews

COLLEGE RECRUITER — : CreatEd Institute — January 2019- September 2019

Program promotion
Creating and utilizing marketing materials

Relatability, social skills, and relationship building
Speech writing and public speaking

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INDEPENDENT STUDIES

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT ONLINE COURSES — July 2022

Received education through Asheville Chamber of Commerce

Learned from social media experts
Networked with experts and novices in the marketing field

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Excel College

Bachelor Degree in Religious Studies, Integrated Economy, and Critical Thinking

— Description of Excel College’s Degree Program —

By Economy (not Economics), we’re using one of the oldest and original meanings of the term derived from the Greek term oikonomia: stewardship, management of household affairs. Specifically, we are drawing from the theological concept of stewardship, leading to what the Greeks referred to as the Good Life — a virtuous life that fulfills our divinely created human nature. Using this definition of economy, our Bachelor degree has opened a pathway for students to integrate their faith into a customized emphasis.

Not confined to the classroom alone, our students are challenged and encouraged in 5 holistic pursuits (intellectual, spiritual, missional, practical, and professional) to become men and women who excel everywhere — in the classroom, home, church, work, community, and in their lives individually.

During the Practicum phase of Excel College, students continue to develop holistically, while concentrating on an emphasis that interests them personally. With the support and accountability of mentors and coaches, students design a customized learning experience that develops not only one-dimensional skills and experience according to set and relevant outcomes, but virtuous habits that lead them to become honest workers, family members, and citizens. In our model, we let the experts train our students on a basic skills level, while we equip them for a life of holistic flourishing.

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College Recruiting/ Admissions Counselor

I served as an admissions counselor and recruiter for the CreatEd institute, which is now known as The Excel College. My time in these roles stretched me in many ways, some a bit unexpected. I learned the dynamic of maintaining a professional presence while also remaining approachable and relatable to prospective students and parents. A dynamic which serves me well today as I implement it daily into my sales and marketing career. I experienced what it means to work as a part of a team. I did not expect that understanding the value of teamwork would transform my mindset of independence and self focus into a more holistic view of what it means to be a collaborator with my teammates. Creativity was a necessary aspect of my role, and vision casting became a welcome part of meetings I attended. I have actively contributed to vision casting sessions, where we envision the future and strategize on ways to attract the best students. Successfully taking an idea from concept to reality, whether it be marketing material or recruiting strategies, helped me to expand my lens and taught me the significance of creating a clear goal and uniting everyone for a common purpose.

I faced many challenges during my time. One of which, ironically enough, was an abundance of freedom. I had never experienced a job or program that had total freedom in how and when you completed tasks, only that they get finished in a timely manner. This was a shock to me, and time management quickly became a tool I learned how to wield. I understood the consequences of not completing my work, and how that directly impacted my team. An incredibly important lesson I learned was the value of communication. Learning how to communicate my needs, ideas, and desires enabled me to better complete tasks, focus on the problem at hand, and feel encouraged to excel in my workload. Through regular communication and personalized interactions, I have successfully guided students and their families through the admissions process, addressing their concerns and providing them with the necessary information to make informed decisions.

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Event Coordinator

I have had the opportunity to hold an Event Coordinator role with multiple employers, the first was with the CreatEd Institute and the second with Provisions Mercantile. My hosting roots run deep, and I always make it a priority to make guests feel warmly welcomed and comfortable.

At CreatEd, I completed a wide range of tasks from the seemingly mundane act of supply shopping for events, to the daunting task of creating an event schedule and delegating jobs. I have successfully coordinated student visit weekends, preparing accommodations and lodging for students and their families. I learned how and when to communicate information regarding the flow of scheduled events throughout the weekend, and the importance of being able to pivot if plans need to change. For example, going on a hike with everyone attending the weekend was a major point of bonding for the students and staff and posed an opportunity for natural conversations and questions to form. If it rained, we always had an indoor activity planned and ready to go that could achieve the same goal as the hike, such as playing bucketball in the gym or hosting a game and snack evening in the classroom.

I excel at bringing events to life by creating an environment of comfort and excitement where people can relax and enjoy their time. I execute this in my role at Provisions Mercantile by maintaining strong relationships with vendors, making sure to communicate expectations and coordinate logistics to all parties involved in any event. I have collaborated with local businesses to host wine tasting events, jewelry experiences, sampling events, and market-style pop-ups in store. I am in constant communication with each event vendor from the initial conversation all the way through the post-event follow up. Internal communication is just as valuable, and I am always making sure my team has the details they need to complete their tasks and checking in as the event approaches. This brings a sense of teamwork and unity that is felt by all involved in the event, from the host to the attendees.

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Social Media/ Marketing Manager

In my role as a Social Media Manager at Provisions Mercantile and Radius Chiropractic, I have gained immense knowledge on content creation, marketing strategies, and marketing execution. I had briefly dabbled in creating marketing material while working as a college recruiter, but dived in head first when I stepped into the official role of Social Media Manager at Provisions Mercantile.

During my employment at Provisions Mercantile under the guidance of Heather, my supervisor, a unique opportunity arose two years ago: assuming responsibility for the company's social media account. Despite my initial lack of experience in social media marketing, I wholeheartedly embraced the challenge. Through self-motivated learning and a willingness to learn from my mistakes, I acquired an extensive understanding of this field. My journey has been characterized by a continuous process of self-teaching and invaluable trial and error experiences, which have served as the foundation of my growth. Each step along the way has been a cherished gift, allowing me to acquire knowledge and skills while actively engaging in real-world application.

One of the key strengths I have developed is creating effective content strategies that align with the brand's objectives and target audience. I have honed my skill of discovering trends early on and customizing them to fit the company's brand. This helps the business reach their niche audience and stay relevant in the ever-changing realm of social media marketing. In a world where everyone is connected and information is always at your fingertips, I have learned how to take a brand, set them apart and make them stand out. My ability to balance the "serving vs. selling" marketing mindset has allowed me to build authentic connections with my audience while producing measurable results.