Kevin Sexton
Benton,United States
Summary
Dynamic Sales and Civic Affairs Manager at Hot Springs Village POA with a proven track record in sponsorship management and community engagement. Expert in building strategic partnerships and enhancing economic development initiatives. Adept at public relations and customer relationship management, driving significant growth in property sales and community visibility.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales and Civic Affairs Manager
Hot Springs Village POA
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
01.2021 - Current
- Point person for selling Hot Springs Village to outside visitors and potential sponsors.
- Leads efforts of securing sponsorship funding to offset costs associated with events and manages the 5000 plus owned parcels of land in Hot Springs Village.
- Oversees the Real Estate Partner Program collaborative efforts between the Hot Springs Village POA and the 10 real estate firms.
- Responsible for selling POA land to developers and new property owners.
- Represents Hot Springs Village at all political functions and governmental entities including relationships with local legislators, mayors, county judges, chamber executives and other regional partners.
- Sits on economic development boards in both Garland and Saline County representing Hot Springs Village.
- Facilitated training programs designed to enhance staff skills and service delivery effectiveness.
- Engaged in public speaking at community events to represent organizational goals and achievements.
- Produced thorough, accurate and timely reports of project activities.
Director of Tourism and Community Affairs
Hot Springs Village POA
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Provides senior leadership to strengthen partnerships and services that facilitate exceptional 'first place', 'second place', and 'third place' experiences for visitors and residents, ensuring the highest level of customer service to all internal and external stakeholders, and maximizing the financial and service implications of areas of oversight.
- Leads community Discovery Packages, procedures, and staffing designed to showcase the best of Hot Springs Village and surrounding regions; leading concierge-type services and encouraging property ownership and/or commercial investment.
- Evaluates and coordinates involvement with area chambers of commerce and other economic development groups.
- Supports business and service retention, expansions, and attraction efforts.
- Represent the community at tradeshows, tourism and economic development events.
- Home to 9 golf courses and 11 recreational lakes, Hot Springs Village is the largest gated community in the United States.
Senior Regional Manager
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Little Rock, Arkansas
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Supervised three (3) Regional Managers as well as covered fourteen (14) counties in the central region of Arkansas.
- In addition to working with communities on an everyday basis, the Community Development Division has joined the Business Development Division.
- Worked small company projects and offered statutory state incentives.
- Performed managerial duties and guidance to the Community Development team.
Community Developer
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Little Rock, Arkansas
01.2008 - 01.2015
- AEDC Regional Manager consisted of having the responsibility for guiding counties, communities and regions through both a community and business development process in addition to developing regional strategies for economic development.
- Provided guidance to empower regions to excel at all facets of economic development which will include development and administration of workshops and training programs.
- Was heavily involved with working collaboratively with other agency divisions as well as Planning and Development Districts to ensure counties and regions have current and accurate information available for promotion of available sites, building and property of economic development.
- Worked constantly on building collaboration among statewide partners for economic growth that will improve the quality of life for Arkansans.
- Researched the assigned region served to understand the issues and opportunities.
- Networked in the region to build partnerships was also critical to the role.
- Participated in educational opportunities and conferences held in the region.
- Regular and consistent contact with elected officials, economic developers, Chamber of Commerce Executives, community leaders, Economic Development committees, the general public, agency personnel, and other state agency personnel.
Project/Regional Manager
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Little Rock, Arkansas
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Business Development Division was responsible for developing customer relationships in all types of business and industry as well as communicating Arkansas tax laws and incentive programs to new and existing businesses and industry.
- Responsibility also involved communicating with multiple internal and external customer groups to promote economic development and be responsive to external requests.
- Represented AEDC at different trade shows both inside and outside the state including making appointments with potential customers prior to a show or trip.
- A very critical role in this position was being a salesperson for the State of Arkansas.
- Prepared and maintained records including prospect sheet reports and activity reports and updating files based upon continued contact.
Group Travel Consultant
Arkansas Department of Park and Tourism
Little Rock, Arkansas
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Major role in this position was to promote the state of Arkansas on both a regional and national level in terms of recruiting bus tours, reunions, international visitors and journalists to our State.
- Multiple hours hosting familiarization tours and hosting guests coming into the State.
- These familiarization tours resulted in increased tourism in the state and also created tourism dollars.
- Utilized creative writing abilities to showcase itineraries for potential visitors that were planning vacations in Arkansas.
- Many of the itineraries created while an employee at Parks and Tourism are still used to this day.
- Attended multiple trade shows with the intention of selling Arkansas as a bus destination to Tour Operators.
- Created a positive impression of Arkansas.
Territory Sales Representative
Frito Lay of Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Responsible for delivering all of Frito Lay products to a designated territory for multiple food based clients.
- Fast paced environment that required excellent organization and sales skills.
- Position was 100% commission with no hourly wage.
- Critical role was informing clients of new products that Frito Lay released as well as gaining better presence in locations.
- Position involved being at accounts extremely early in the morning and staying until the day’s work was complete.
Store Manager
Golf Headquarters of North Little Rock
North Little Rock, Arkansas
01.1996 - 01.2001
- In charge of all aspects of the day to day operations of the retail store.
- Handled the general public with sales and used product knowledge to increase profit.
- Position not only involved in meeting stringent sales expectations but also managing a small staff.
- Responsible for training the staff on sales techniques for golf equipment and used mock sales presentations as a measuring gauge for the team.
- Built relationships with golf club manufacturers and gave technical assistance to my new and existing customers.
- Stressed importance of working as a team in this fast-paced environment.
- Delegated tasks for building displays, cleaning and other duties as needed.
Education
Delta Regional Authority -
Graduate Delta Leadership Institute
01.2015
Graduate Community Development Institute
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas01.2010
Graduate Certificate - Economic Development Institute
University of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK01.2008
BBA - Business Administration
University of Arkansas
Little, Little Rock, Arkansas01.2002
Skills
- Sponsorship management
- Community engagement
- Economic development
- Public relations
- Partnership building
- Customer relationship management
- Effective networking
- Sales management
- Customer service
- Business development
Affiliations
Director of Community Development Institute, UCA
Board Member, Hot Springs Village Chamber of Commerce
Board Member, American Association of Retired Communities
Timeline
Sales and Civic Affairs Manager
Hot Springs Village POA
01.2021 - Current
Director of Tourism and Community Affairs
Hot Springs Village POA
01.2018 - 01.2021
Senior Regional Manager
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
01.2016 - 01.2018
Community Developer
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
01.2008 - 01.2015
Project/Regional Manager
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
01.2006 - 01.2007
Group Travel Consultant
Arkansas Department of Park and Tourism
01.2004 - 01.2006
Territory Sales Representative
Frito Lay of Arkansas
01.2002 - 01.2004
Store Manager
Golf Headquarters of North Little Rock
01.1996 - 01.2001
Delta Regional Authority -
Graduate Delta Leadership Institute
Graduate Community Development Institute
University of Central Arkansas
Graduate Certificate - Economic Development Institute
University of Oklahoma City
BBA - Business Administration
University of Arkansas