Jana Ritter

About Jana Ritter

At the young, impressionable age of seven years old, I negotiated (learned early) with my father to invest in a golf-course concession stand business I dreamt up while playing with neighbors in the backyard and noticing how many golfers came by our house to socialize, grab a refreshment, and share in pleasantries with other golfers and neighbors. After making the pitch from my sketch book, my father soon stocked our red Coleman cooler with the beverages in my business plan and gave me a cash box with change and the business suggestion, ‘you could probably just leave the cooler out and let them self-serve on the honor system.’ I didn’t realize it at the time, but this advice changed the course of my career and personal life forever. You see, I did leave the cooler for a few days, but I soon realized that sales increased when I was personally there, interacting with guests. Young and inquisitive, I spent countless hours getting to know my customers, their preferences, and creating ideas to bundle their favorite snacks in my new beverage enterprise. I kept a binder to make notes and recap each day’s successes (or failures— the Ginger Ale launch by example). I was a customer-obsessed seven-year-old building my own startup from consumer insights, relationships, and relationship-centered customer marketing. I kept this stand for several years, saving up for my college days. It was this business that laid the foundation for my almost two decades of executive experience as a CPG Marketer, grounded in the professional principles I hold dear—curiosity, learning on the fly, drive for results, and an intimate understanding of the customers and behaviors. KEY STRENGTHS Brand Planning and Program Execution Leading Cross Functional Teams Selling, Negotiating, and Closing Marketing, Merchandising, and Promotional Strategies Driving Innovation and Launching New Products Driving Commercial Planning for Emerging BrandsI am a passionate leader with a desire to partner with brands and drive brand building with the entire team- sales, marketing, and operations. Reach out and let’s talk about your brand—j••••••••@me.com

Experience

1. Head of Strategic Marketing

   Axletree

   Jan 2024 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

Education

• Wake Forest University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Leadership & Strategy

  2022

• Louisiana State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Mass Communications-Public Relations

  2003 — 2007

• Starr's Mill High School

  HS Diploma, College/University Preparatory and Advanced High School/Secondary Diploma Program

  1999 — 2003

Skills

• Wine
• Beverage Industry
• Pricing
• Trade Marketing
• Consumer Products
• Marketing
• Market Planning
• Brand Management
• Brand Development
• Marketing Strategy
• Marketing Management
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Iri
• Key Account Development
• Customer Insight
• Marketing Communications