Kevin Ball Email & Phone Number

Amarillo, Tx, Us

Amarillo, Tx, Us

Leads the Communications and Marketing team of the college, leading the process of creating a comprehensive plan for student-centric marketing effectively telling the story of Amarillo College students and the institution's commitment to 70% completion. Oversees all marketing plans for student acquisition and retention. In 2017 – 2022, the department received over 80 national awards for traditional and social media components of the “Success is Amarillo College” marketing campaign. In 2023, Amarillo College was winner of the top Aspen Prize for community college excellence.

Supervise the community content and development teams to produce innovative on-air and social media content. Manage programs that increase local fundraising efforts by developing and implementing an on air, social media and web marketing strategy for the station.

Reported to the CEO, responsibilities included the restructuring and re-branding of store advertising, in-store visual merchandising and experience and eCommerce programs enhancing pop culture merchandise categories.

Amarillo, Tx, Us

Managed and directed the activities, fundraising and community programs for a 4 acre regional non-profit botanical gardens and event rental facility. Spearheaded sponsorship development, recruitment, and membership increase to finance a total annual budget of $700,000. Returned organization to financial sustainability in the first year, eliminating all credit liabilities. Rejuvenated annual attendance of 35,000 in 2012 to a record of 65,000 visitors in 2013 by increasing events, facilities rentals, educational programs and civic programs. Assured revenue generation from events and donor programs including the establishment of the Oasis Society which produced $60,000 in funding in 2013-14. Membership Drive and Annual Appeal resulted in 20% revenue increase targeted to operations. Wrote targeted grants in 2013-14 totaling $250,000 for special capital projects. Expanded the reach of social media 400%. - 2015 Outstanding Individual in Development award from Association of Fundraising Professionals, Texas Plains Chapter - nominated by AFP Selection Committee. - ABG's Christmas Garden of Lights won Amarillo Magazine's Readers Choice First Place Award for Best Holiday Family Event in 2014 and 2015.

Annual budget $10,000,000. Reported to the President/Chairman of the Board, responsibilities included the marketing, merchandising and advertising programs for 143 Hastings entertainment stores in 21 states, TradeSmart retail concept store and www.goHastings.com. Highlights of performance:- Restructured a weekly in-house produced circular and in-store merchandise program (adding digital circular in 2010) in all markets. First year 2004 of implementation saw a store +5% comp increase and a +41.5% increase in pre-tax earnings.- Completed a successful re-branding program in 2006 including the roll-out of a complete new concept of the Hastings corporate logo, brand elements and store design resulting in +32% comp increase in the re-branded flagship store in Q4. 2007 pre-tax earnings rose to $15.1M vs. $8.2M in 2006. - Conceptualized M3 – Much More Music 2006, a promotional campaign which won first place honors from the National Association of Recording Merchandisers. Sales during this promotion rose +5.2%. - Redeveloped the Hardback coffee café brand and promotions leading to double digit comp increases for 6 years. - Created and implemented a “Pass It On” used merchandise buyback and sell-through program generating a 2008 comp sales increases of +25% used book, +13.5% used video games, +11% used movies and +7.5% used music. - Created and monetized a facebook page in 2009 with over 260,000 current fans. Single day promotions on facebook resulted in revenues equaling one week store sales. - Completed the 2009 re-design of www.goHastings.com with the introduction of email marketing and social media promotions tripling internet sales that year. - 9 former marketing department staff members have been promoted to Director level, Category Manager or Buyer positions over the past 5 years. - Member of the Benefits Advisory Committee 2009-2013.

Reporting to the President, responsibilities included the development of branding, marketing, merchandising and advertising programs for a 25 store start-up retailer of home and office organization products. Programs lead to over 40% sales growth in three years. Named 2002 Corporate Employee of the Year.

Reporting to the President/Chairman of the Board, responsibilities included developing amarketing/re-branding program allowing the company to emerge from bankruptcy in 2000.

Annual Budget: $30,000,000. Reporting to the President/Chairman of the Board, responsibilities included the development and management of all marketing programs for music, movies, books and related entertainment merchandise for over 1,000 stores in 45 states. Stores operated as Camelot, Coconuts, F.Y.E (For Your Entertainment), Record Town, Saturday Matinee, Strawberries, Spec’s, The Wall and Planet Music. Highlights of performance included:•Member of management team responsible for successful reorganization of company in 1995-1996 culminating in record profits in 1997, 1998 & 1999. Process included the first application of an advertising program for free-standing stores resulting in record double digit comp sales increases for 4 consecutive years. - Development and execution of all marketing programs for all divisions plus integration with Trans World’s e-commerce site www.fye.com. - Management of vendor co-op programs. - Negotiating for sponsorships of US concerts including related marketing programs. - Development of 4,000,000 member Repeat Performer direct mail/data base program. - Management of multi-agency creative and production of print, radio, and cable advertising. - Direction of advertising for celebrity events, grand openings and related public relations. - Creator of package concepts, designs and programs for private label merchandise.

Responsibilities included the complete development and implementation of all advertising and promotional efforts for 124 stores in 11 states. Highlights of performance included: - Creation of marketing plans and budgets utilized by merchandising staff. - Authoring and implementing an automated data entry system that incorporated planning, analytical, store communication and operations supporting promotions automatically recording and billing co-op contracts. - Analysis and negotiation on rates for individual market’s distribution systems for over 150,000,000 circulars annually in 20 markets. - Management of W.B. Doner as broadcast creative agency for radio and television. - Planning and execution of themed events which included celebrity appearances, special merchandising events, contests and sweepstakes. - Newspaper, circular, radio and direct mail creative production and placement. - Development of 2,000,000 customer data base used for promotional mailings. - Monthly press release development and management of PR agencies.