Kara Epperson: Marketing and E-commerce MBA Professional

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Resume

Employment History

Employment History

Employment History for Kara Epperson

Freelance Marketing Consultant and Writer

July 2008 to present

Conducting extensive research to ensure quality and integrity of content; extracting information from trade publications, press releases, scholarly journals, government documents and others

Creating a wide range of content for clients in diverse industries; examples of past projects include:

- articles for trade publications
- business blog posts
- marketing copy
- persuasive and informative articles
- presentation scripts 
- e-commerce (product descriptions, online storefront maintenance and catalogs)
 

Applying style and skills to product content that preserves each client's brand identity, values and objectives

Utilizing best practices for SEO and SMO to drive traffic, engage readers, and facilitate sharing of content across a variety of social media platforms

Using a variety of online tools and resources to improve quality of content and social media presence; selected analytics include:

- Google Analytics
- Social Don
- Brand Tweet
- TwitSprout
 

 

CrowdSource

August 2011 - present 

Freelance Writer and Editor

- E-commerce writing and editing

- Research, editing and grading 
- Content moderation
- Article writing
- Blogs, teasers, highlights, product descriptions
- AP and Chicago style

Client industries include business, education, health and medicine, home and garden, reference, retail, science and technology, and travel and culture

 


 

Victoria's Secret - Southlake, Texas

June 2009 to May 2011

Category Manager, Sales Team Lead

Responsibilities as Beauty Category Manager:

  • Developing, monitoring, and coaching a team of 5 - 10 dedicated associates
  • Mapping and executing presentation of product and selling surfaces in accordance with Brand Guide
  • Communicating product launch and promotions to non-beauty associates and managers
  • Leading educational workshops (selling skills, product demos, merchandise standards)
  • Maintaining updated marketing materials and creative layering

As a member of the Sales Leadership Team, my primary duties included:

  • Generating, analyzing, and presenting performance reports
  • Making schedule adjustments as needed to remain within payroll guidelines
  • Collaborating with other categories to drive overall sales and credit performance
  • Identifying areas for improvement and communicating key issues to Store Manager
  • Assisting in recruiting, screening, and evaluation of seasonal applicants

Additional duties as a non-elevated member of the team included:

  • Personal and group-selling by offering measurements and product demonstrations
  • Using interpersonal skills and CRM tools to drive client relations and maximize sales
  • Soliciting credit card applications on sales floor and at point of purchase
  • Receiving, processing, and maintaining inventory

 


 

Tutor, SAT prep and PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) exam prep - Fort Worth area

2005 to 2008

One-on-one tutoring for SAT verbal and math prep

One-on-one tutoring for technician trainee candidates taking the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam; dosage calculations, drug interactions, medical terminology, best practices

 



Kroger Pharmacy - Fort Worth, Texas

June 2002 to August 2008

Pharmacy Administrator /  Lead Pharmacy Technician

This was a cross-functional role with diverse and critical responsibilities, including:

  • Third party insurance claim submission, problem resolution, and communication
  • Creating print marketing materials to promote pharmacy services
  • Contacting practitioner offices for prescription authorizations, clarifications, and verification
  • Managing special billing accounts
  • Inventory control, including controlled substances
  • Performing accuracy and quality audits
  • Scheduling clinic appointments and in-store wellness events
  • Training new hires
  • Legal compliance

 

Accomplishments

Professional Accomplishments

I take a great deal of pride in my past and present achievements. Whether I am called upon to lead or follow, I perform my duties with respect for my job role, my team, and my company.

 

As a freelance writer, I work diligently to build positive relationships with clients and establish a favorable reputation across multiple platforms. 

  • Top 100 earner on CrowdSource Scalable Workforce; 99.97% approval rate 
  • Four-star (out of five) ranking on Textbroker; five-star ranking pending completion of two additional assignments; 100% approval rate
  • 4.7/5 rating (Great/Excellent; Publish as-is) on Media Piston; 98% approval rate
  • Skills test results on eLance consistently in top  5/10/20th percentiles

 

At Victoria's Secret, I:

  • consistently met or surpassed goals for sales volume, units per transaction, and conversion rates
  • assisted with implementation and training of new software and cash register systems
  • led the team in credit card enrollments
  • successfully minimized losses in inventory by an estimated 15 percent per quarter through improved documentation of product transfers, damages, and regular audits of SOP compliance
  • created a comprehensive product guide for use in training; the "VS Beauty Binder" was later modified and adopted for use in other Victoria's Secret locations within the district

 

As a driving force behind operations at Kroger Pharmacy, I:

  • created and maintained an efficient filing system for improved compliance and organization related to iPledge (Accutane) program, Medicare Part D coverage, HCFA billing, and other special accounts
  • took the initiative to approach a then-newly established assisted living facility to solicit business for Kroger Pharmacy's prescription delivery service; this directly translated to approximately 20 to 30 new patients/customers
  • led implementation and training for new pharmacy ordering system, HIPAA training modules and procedural changes 

Education

Education

Educational Background

MBA, Management and Strategy

Western Governor's University, class of 2013

 

B.S. in Marketing Management

Western Governor's University, 2011

After working toward an associate's degree in Management  from Tarrant County College, I completed some course work at the University of Texas at Arlington. In April of 2010, I transferred to Western Governors University, where I earned my bachelor's degree in Marketing Management.

  • Advanced Marketing Concepts
  • Financial and Managerial Accounting
  • Quantitative Analysis, including inventory models and PERT/CPM
  • Business Research and Technical Writing
  • Management and Organizational Behavior
  • Information Systems

 


 

Tarrant County College - Fort Worth, TX

Associate's degree track - Management

Course Work completed in:

  • Management
  • Retailing
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Intermediate Financial Accounting

 


 

Burleson High School - Burleson, Texas

Graduated with Honors in 2001, National Merit Semi-Finalist

Health and Human Services Academy

Professional Memberships and Involvement

Memberships and Associations

Google AdWords Partner Certification completed

Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification

 

 

Member, Society for Human Resource Management

No. 01457091

 


Tarrant County Medical Reserve Corps

Fort Worth, Texas

2006 - 2008

As a non-medical volunteer, I assisted with clerical duties and general inquiries from the public. This also included participation in the set-up and support of a number of community health events and immunization clinics.

 


 

AARP

Dallas-Fort Worth area, late 2005 - 2006

Visited local assisted living facilities to provide information on Medicare Modernization Act and enrollment process for Medicare Part D prescription coverage plans; assisted with paperwork completion and distributed printed materials

Skills

  • Adobe Creative
  • Adult learning
  • Content strategy
  • Copywriting and editing
  • Customer relationship management
  • Data analysis
  • Decision analysis
  • E-commerce
  • Email marketing
  • Medical terminology
  • Merchandising
  • MS Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word
  • Sales and sales training
  • Search engine optimization
  • Social media marketing
  • Web analytics
  • Web content
Author: Kara Godsey
Last modified: 12/20/2013 1:57 AM (CST)