Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JULY 2015 56 B randSource CEO, Jim Ristow, has promoted Jennifer Baldwin to director of marketing and member communications. Baldwin, who previously served as national sales manager for the company's Expert Warehouse division, will man- age the group's advertising and marketing initiatives, organize special events and lead the company's inter- nal communications and social media efforts. "Jennifer is a dedicated, con- summate professional with a lot of energy and a real passion for helping BrandSource members succeed," said Jim Ristow, CEO of BrandSource. "Over the years, she's demonstrated tremendous skill in terms of organizational leadership and I'm confident that she's the perfect person to help our members increase both sales and profitability." In addition to coordinating and scheduling all BrandSource advertising and marketing programs, Baldwin will grow the company's social media presence by actively publishing content on multiple platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and the company's websites. She will also manage conventions and flagship events including regional sales meetings, Women In Business gatherings and Young Professionals mixers and fundraisers. "I'm thrilled about this new position and look forward to helping our members grow and thrive," said Baldwin. "It's critical to keep pace with the constantly-evolving digital landscape but we can't underestimate the importance of connecting face-to- face. We plan to host more regional events in order to support our members and make them feel truly connected to the BrandSource family. I'm very excited to see the enthusiasm in our group and believe that the best is yet to come." Baldwin has a B.S. in advertising and marketing from State University of NY School of Business and Technology. She resides in Tinton Falls, NJ. BRANDSOURCE CONVENTION & EXPO PREVIEW The annual BrandSource Convention & Expo will be held August 23-26 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Convention highlights include an opening speech by CEO Jim Ristow and a keynote address by motivational speaker and comedian Steve Rizzo. Rizzo, author Get Your SHIFT Together, engages audiences with laughter as he challenges attendees to shift their way of thinking to discover greater enthusiasm, increased productivity and new levels of success. BrandSource will also offer a unique assortment of seminars and workshops designed to help members succeed, including product training sessions with leading appliance manufacturers as well as workshops on digital marketing, changes in the advertising landscape and the latest trends in home furnishings and mattresses. The popular 90-minute "Stampede" session will be held on August 24 and the second annual Women In Breakfast meeting will be held on August 25. For more information: www.brandsourceconvention.com. B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S BRANDSOURCE PROMOTES JENNIFER BALDWIN TO DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS J E N N I F E R B A L D W I N RO

• Cover