Hi there, this is going to be very long, please don't be angry with
me! First off, I'm glad to of found this group. I'm 26, female, and
am determined to make it in this world! I have an issue at hand,
that I am hoping someone on here will be able to give me some good
advice. Again, this is superlong. I would especially like the
opinions of Business owners, presidents, and VPs. This especially
deals with Sales and Marketing for a manufacturing company. We have
about 150-200 workers total. About 30 of us (including me) make up
the business end from the company owner, to the VP of sales, to the
office managers.

Please see below. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I look
forward to being active on this list!

First, I need to set up the situation:

I began working for a Wire & Cable manufacturing company about 1.5
years ago. Originally, I was doing freelance graphic design, and
acquired it through a friend who worked there. One day, I met my
friend's boss (WHO is now MY boss: He is the VP of Sales and
Marketing), and said to him, half-seriously, "you should consider
hiring me to develop a marketing department so you have more
resources. It would really advance sales" A few weeks later, I got
an offer, turned it down, saying I was insulted. So, they came back
with a better offer worth taking, and so here I am today!

I basically developed their marketing department. I not only take
care of the Graphic Design, but I also deal a lot with Marketing-Biz
issues that many designers do not handle. My self-initiated
responsibilities include the following:

Advertising: Maintain relationships with Trade Magazine Reps,
Negotiate Rates, Design ALL ADs. I also write press releases, and
get our New Products listed in these magazines. I work with my reps,
and have also gotten articles about the company written.

Create Cross-Marketing Campaigns/promos with our Clients-Distributors

Maintain our Sales Contacts: I have developed a Sales Leads database
that I've gotten over 1200 contacts. I have created a nice business
practice with this, to go along with a marketing packet full of
product info thatI developed.

E-mail: I maintain the E-mail system at our company, and make sure
that everything is in order.

Print Design: Collateral, Catalogs, Sell Sheets, Cut Sheets, New
Product Flyers, Brochures...list goes on.

Digital: Maintain 2 company websites, Run a monthly newsletter which
I not only layout, and design, but I also do research and write
about 4 articles per month.
Interactive Flash CD-ROMs, Flash Presentations for the Sales Team,
PDF catalogs...list goes on!

I am constantly implementing, and proposing marketing ideas to my
Boss, currently the VP of Sales and Marketing.

Lastly, I Coordinate about 3 trade shows per year, and developed a
small booth design and did graphics for our booth. I also Attend the
shows, and work with the sales team to discuss new prospects who
visit, our products.

SO, I am not bragging, I am proud that I've accomplished so much in
a year and a half. I'm a dedicated, hard worker, who really wants to
see this company move ahead!

HERE IS THE SITUATION AT HAND: We have a sister company who is owned
by the same owner, and under the same upper management-with
different sales teams of course. They are a distributor of our
products. They are mostly for the commercial industry. My company
sells to both commercial, industrial, and residential markets. My
favorite to market is our home theater wire and cable products.

Our sister company-the distributors-who are literally right next
door-i can walk over through the plant/warehouse in back. THEY
brought in a consultant because the structure of the company was a
little off, and also, they have been struggling. Sales for them are
way down, which I attribute to the lack of motivation of their sales
team, and the unorganized practice of their marketing.

Well, I just received the new Organizational Structure Chart. My
boss, has been brought over to the other side, to run both my
company, and the other company's Sales Teams: Being the VP of Sales.
So, there is an available office on my side. I am currently placed
under the Marketing Manger on the Chart, but still work under my
boss, untill further notice, which is supposed to be Jan. 1, 2004.

On the OTHER side, they had let their VP of marketing go, because he
wasn't doing a very good job, and in his place, they have
temporarily put this other guy there, who has been working their for
some time now. This other guy is about 30 years old. He had been w/
the company for 9 years. He does all sorts of stuff, He's a Product
Manager, he deals with their PR firm, working with an external
designer, hiring a product photographer, and dealing with their
advertising. He also works in the Fiber Optic lab, and does some
engineering stuff. Also deals with customers, and audio type
stuff...He works with their other designer, who doesn't bring up her
own ideas, she basically does what she is told. She has a journalism
background, and is great at copywriting, laying out graphs, and
tables: she'd be a great production/graphic designer assistant. I
really like her, I think we could work well together.

What the owners of the company's want to do, is to pool our talents
together. The problem, is that they want to hire on this 30 year old
guy-who has probably never worked anywhere else, as the Marketing
Manager. Now, I don't want to be a marketing manager, I would like
to continue under the title of Art Director. (I have no job
description btw). They are considering having me Report to him.
Well, at first, it didn't seem like such a bad idea..but then, last
week, we had to work on a Trade Show booth design together-we are
sharing. They will be using it way more than us, but Here is my
issue with this person at hand:

Well if I was in your situation I would 1st see what kind of support you have from other high ups for the VP spot. If you find you have some I would then work with them to approach the owner about considering you for the postion. If for some reason you don;t have the support of other upper lvl mgmt or the owner turns you down, you can stick it out for a bit and see how your new boss works out or you can quit.

It sounds to me like any company would be lucky to have you so I'm sure a good paying job won;t be hard to come by. Hope that helps a little

Good Luck