Chris Jones
Pace,FL
Summary
Seasoned Sales Director with over 25 years of experience in admissions and educational sales/recruitment. Skilled at exceeding enrollment/sales targets through strategic training methods and effective team leadership. Experienced in managing and coaching recruitment teams to implement best practices in educational settings. Proficient in navigating dynamic environments, including transitioning teams to remote operations during the pandemic. Excited to apply extensive experience in sales, CRM management, and team leadership to drive success within your organization.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
National/Regional Director of Admissions
Education Affiliates (Fortis Colleges and Institutes)
10.2013 - 01.2024
- Streamlined operations for improved efficiency by evaluating existing processes and introducing innovative solutions.
- Motivated employees through effective communication, recognition programs, and tailored incentive structures that aligned with corporate objectives.
- Directed all admissions and recruitment activities , achieving significant improvement in goal attainment through in-depth metric analysis and ongoing effectiveness training via campus visits and daily/weekly phone and Teams conference calls with Directors and staff.
- Synchronized goals and strategies campus by campus through one-on-ones and weekly Regional calls, involving Campus Presidents and Regional Operations leaders to ensure a unified understanding of each campus’s initiatives.
- Managed the transition of all admissions staff to a 100% remote/virtual operating environment during the pandemic, maintaining high engagement and productivity through phone, Zoom, and Teams interactions with prospective students.
Director of Admissions
Fortis Institute Pensacola FL (Owned by Education Affiliates)
03.2012 - 10.2013
- Directed all admissions activities and processes
- Increased sales revenue by over 20% during tenure at the Pensacola campus by developing and implementing strategic plans and setting performance goals for the sales team
- Surpassed enrollment goals consistently, contributing to organizational growth by implementing effective recruitment and engagement initiatives through training.
- Exceeded sales quotas and increased profitability through effective sales strategy and business planning.
- Delivered accurate sales forecasts based on thorough analysis of historical data and current trends in order to facilitate informed decision-making at the executive level.
Director of Admissions and VP
Virginia College Baton Rouge, LA
03.2010 - 02.2012
- Opened new “Greenfield” campus, setting up processes, hiring, training, and supervising all admissions representatives (18)
- Increased enrollment rates by developing and implementing strategic recruitment initiatives.
- Directed all comprehensive admissions activities and skills training, as well as coordinating effective marketing strategies and outreach efforts, achieving top 5 campus status in exceeding enrollment targets over 2 years.
- Assisted in operational functions of the campus and oversaw all campus operations in the absence of the Campus President, maintaining high engagement and productivity.
Director of Admissions
Virginia College Jackson MS and Jacksonville FL
07.2006 - 03.2010
- Directed comprehensive admissions activities, achieving and exceeding enrollment targets, resulting in a complete turnaround in performance through increased revenue and strategic sales, hiring, marketing, and outreach efforts.
- Conducted all admissions training, including phone and in-person presentations, often by conducting these myself for the rep to observe, then conducted mandatory, scored, and documented phone and interview observations each week.
- Cultivated product-customer fit by understanding student needs and aligning admissions strategies to meet those needs.
Director of Recruitment
Education America/Remington College Mobile AL campus
09.2002 - 07.2006
- Transformed campus recruitment from one of the lowest ranking to top 3 in achieving goals across 26 campuses, demonstrating exceptional turnaround skills and strategic sales initiatives.
- Earned multiple trips and awards for top Director of Recruitment, showcasing outstanding performance and leadership in recruitment activities.
- Implemented effective recruitment strategies, resulting in significant improvements in goal attainment and overall productivity.
Recruiter then Asst. Director of Recruitment
Education America/Remington College New Orleans LA campus
10.1999 - 09.2002
- Earned multiple 'Recruiter of the Month' and 'Recruiter of the Quarter' awards, demonstrating superior recruitment capabilities and consistent performance.
- Ranked #1 or #2 in the region for the calendar years of 2001 and 2002 and top 3 to 5 in Company (27 campuses, over 300 recruiters), showcasing exceptional recruitment skills and strategic sales initiatives.
- Promoted to Assistant Director of Recruitment in New Orleans, one of only two individuals promoted from within the company in a ‘pilot’ program. Mentored under the Director of Recruitment and was primarily in charge of training new reps.
Director of Admissions
Sylvan Learning Center New Orleans LA
10.1997 - 10.1999
- Directed all sales activities, making 100-200+ calls daily, setting appointments for families to assess their children's educational needs.
- Sold educational programs/packages taught by certified teachers to remediate skill gaps and subsequently raise diagnostic test scores.
- Increased appointment setting show rates by 25% through strategic outreach and effective phone sales techniques and trained others to do the same.
Market Research Editor
Waggoner Engineering
05.1995 - 07.1995
- Edited market research documents on the Sardis Lake project, improving document clarity by making them less technical and more 'user friendly'.
- Collaborated with the marketing professor to ensure the documents met the project's objectives and audience needs.
- Utilized strong analytical skills to identify and implement necessary changes, enhancing the overall presentation and accessibility of the research findings.
Law Clerk
Stevens and Ward
05.1994 - 07.1994
- Conducted comprehensive legal research on a variety of civil cases, contributing significantly to case preparation and strategy development.
- Enhanced case outcomes by providing detailed analysis and critical insights.
- Developed strong analytical and critical thinking skills, as evidenced by the ability to synthesize complex legal information and present clear, actionable recommendations.
Education
Marketing
Millsaps College
05.1996
Law
Mississippi College School of Law
05.1995
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
University of Southern Mississippi
05.1992
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Sales proficiency
- CRM software proficiency
- Customer relationship management
- Client engagement strategies
- Compliance performance and oversight
- Proven turnaround expertise
- Staff training and development
- Meetings and presentations
- Staff management
Awards
Circle of Excellence - Directors of Admissions, FORTIS Colleges and Institutes, Top Performing Admissions Team, Virginia College, Recruiter of the Month and Quarter
Timeline
National/Regional Director of Admissions
Education Affiliates (Fortis Colleges and Institutes)
10.2013 - 01.2024
Director of Admissions
Fortis Institute Pensacola FL (Owned by Education Affiliates)
03.2012 - 10.2013
Director of Admissions and VP
Virginia College Baton Rouge, LA
03.2010 - 02.2012
Director of Admissions
Virginia College Jackson MS and Jacksonville FL
07.2006 - 03.2010
Director of Recruitment
Education America/Remington College Mobile AL campus
09.2002 - 07.2006
Recruiter then Asst. Director of Recruitment
Education America/Remington College New Orleans LA campus
10.1999 - 09.2002
Director of Admissions
Sylvan Learning Center New Orleans LA
10.1997 - 10.1999
Market Research Editor
Waggoner Engineering
05.1995 - 07.1995
Law Clerk
Stevens and Ward
05.1994 - 07.1994
Law
Mississippi College School of Law
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
University of Southern Mississippi
Marketing
Millsaps College
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