Susan Smith, MBA, Chief Marketing Strategist

Smith is a brand communications expert with more than 20 years' managerial experience in sales planning, marketing research and integrated marketing communications. Her expertise includes marketing strategy, corporate communications, brand building, new concept development, consumer behavior and interactive/Internet marketing. She has worked in a variety of industries including professional services, consumer products, retail and health care. Her marketing communications strategies and creative strategic plans have garnered awards from the American Association of Port Authorities; California Travel Industry Association, American Marketing Association and the Airports Council International - North America's highly coveted Peggy G. Hereford Award for Excellence.

Smith oversees all research and strategic planning for the agency and her integrated marketing/communications plans demonstrate measurable ROI for a long list of clients. Her expertise is wide-ranging and speaks to many of the core disciplines of marketing and communications - brand identity creation, product development, sales training, crisis communication, online marketing, and direct marketing. Smith also has been a key driver in developing long-term organizational plans for clients desiring to meet world class status for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Prior to joining MJE Marketing in 1999, Smith was a long-time director of marketing and communications in the health care industry including Sharp HealthCare in San Diego.

Smith earned her Master of Business Administration degree with a marketing emphasis from the University of Montana, and has taught courses on consumer behavior at the University of Montana and the University of California, San Diego. Her research on Consumer Rumors and Corporate Communications has been published in the Journal of Marketing Management.