Megan Ridenour
Canal Fulton,OH
Summary
Professional brand manager with experience in driving brand strategy, market positioning, and consumer engagement. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration, and adapting to shifting market demands. Strong skills in strategic planning, creative campaign development, and data-driven decision making. Known for reliability, innovation, and achieving impactful results.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Brand Manager, Milk-Bone
The JM Smucker Co
11.2023 - Current
- Responsible and Accountable for the $800M Milk-Bone business
- Drive business growth by creating short and long-term brand strategies to keep Milk-Bone relevant with consumers and retail customers
- Own a $60M Marketing budget and responsible for driving 360-degree marketing execution, including overall brand equity and segment specific activations
- Lead the partnership between Milk-Bone and outside organizations (Cleveland Browns, Dunkin', Jif, Peeps, Canine Assistants, etc.)
- Manage 3 direct reports through annual brand planning, development and commercialization of new products, sku rationalization, and long range financial planning
- Improve the bottom line by leading revenue generating and value creation initiatives
- Deliver key messages to Company and Executive Leadership (C Suite) to influence decision making
- Increased market share through the execution of targeted product launches and promotional campaigns.
Senior Brand Manager, Seasonal Pet Treats
The JM Smucker Co
07.2022 - 11.2023
- Transformed activation of go to market strategy on the entire Dog Treats Portfolio, including the #1 Milk Bone brand, with customers and consumers
- Increased market share through the execution of targeted product launches and promotional campaigns.
- Delivered incremental sales by commercializing seasonal assortment of national and customer specific items, including product development and marketing activation
- Grew the seasonal dog treat portfolio by 35% YOY
- Lead & Managed Seasonal Activation Team
- Implemented data-driven decision making by analyzing various metrics such as sales data, advertising performance reports, and customer feedback surveys.
- Developed strategic partnerships with complementary brands, expanding market reach and driving collaborative promotions.
Lead, Customer Commercialization
The JM Smucker Co
04.2021 - 07.2022
- Translated National Brand Strategies into customer specific activation for Target, Meijer and West Regional Grocery
- Led key customer planning activities internally, including line reviews, innovation meetings, joint business planning and top-to-tops
- Assist customer teams with Strategic Customer plan build, roll-up, and review
- Execute against plan and monitor results against objectives
- Tailor business drivers to meet customer key initiatives and growth drivers
Senior Brand Manager, Commercialization
The JM Smucker Co
04.2019 - 04.2021
- Led & Managed a team of individuals to deliver Go to Market strategies and annual volume plans for snacking businesses, including Uncrustables, which continued to achieve unprecedented growth while on allocation
- Managed the Peanut Butter (Jif) and Fruit Spreads (Smucker's) businesses, both of which delivered YOY dollar sales and dollar share growth two years in a row
- Developed customer and channel specific strategies to drive volume growth
- Worked closely with Innovation, Brand Strategy & Customer teams to successfully launch innovation
- Drove continuous improvement by identifying areas for process optimization within the department''s operations.
- Streamlined internal communication processes, fostering collaboration between departments in support of brand objectives.
- Collaborated with sales teams to create tailored presentations for key customers, resulting in strengthened relationships and increased business opportunities.
Brand Manager, Commercialization
The JM Smucker Co
03.2017 - 04.2019
- Delivered annual volume plans for snacking businesses by identifying profitable, strategic volume closure opportunities; Achieved double digit growth on all brands under the snacking portfolio in two years
- Implemented and communicated effective Go to Market execution across JM Smucker Snacking brands (Uncrustables, Sahale, Jif PowerUps)
- Worked closely with Marketing and Innovation teams to develop and execute successful customer meeting presentations and launch materials for new items including the Tier 1 launch of Jif PowerUps
- Delivered 16% YOY dollar growth on Frozen Handhelds while the business was capacity constrained
Assistant Brand Manager, Foodservice
The JM Smucker Co
11.2013 - 03.2017
- Led planning, development, and execution of new product launches as well as discontinuations
- Assisted in the development, delivery, execution and analysis of annual Marketing plans and executed consumer marketing activities with outside agencies and suppliers
- Analyzed consumer & competitor trends to recommend actions to achieve annual sales and profit objectives
- Managed and executed all aspects of segment specific marketing and sales needs for the K12 segment including advertising, trade shows and promotions
Marketing Specialist
Country Pure Foods
04.2008 - 11.2013
- Acted as a product manager communicating between multiple disciplines to take a product from concept to market
- Planned and coordinated trade shows and other events
- Worked with agencies and vendors to manage art development of new & revised packaging, marketing, and sales materials
- Drafted and reviewed internal and external communication pieces for distribution
Account Manager
Communication Exhibits
10.2007 - 04.2008
- Increased client satisfaction by building strong relationships and addressing their needs promptly.
- Managed a diverse portfolio of accounts, ensuring timely communication and effective problem resolution.
- Managed successful trade shows by coordinating with vendors, sales teams, and event staff.
Education
Master's of Business Administration -
Kent State University
05-2012
Bachelor of Arts -
The Ohio State University
06-2007
Skills
- Leadership & People Management
- Brand Management
- Product management
- Performance monitoring
- Sales tracking
- Brand strategy
- Brand-building strategies
- Brand positioning
- Product positioning
- Supply chain management
- Category growth
- Public speaking
Leadership Experience
Founder & Chair of Women's Employee Resource Group at the JM Smucker Co, Responsible for creating and leading the employee resource group in an organization that it is 50% women
Timeline
Senior Brand Manager, Milk-Bone
The JM Smucker Co
11.2023 - Current
Senior Brand Manager, Seasonal Pet Treats
The JM Smucker Co
07.2022 - 11.2023
Lead, Customer Commercialization
The JM Smucker Co
04.2021 - 07.2022
Senior Brand Manager, Commercialization
The JM Smucker Co
04.2019 - 04.2021
Brand Manager, Commercialization
The JM Smucker Co
03.2017 - 04.2019
Assistant Brand Manager, Foodservice
The JM Smucker Co
11.2013 - 03.2017
Marketing Specialist
Country Pure Foods
04.2008 - 11.2013
Account Manager
Communication Exhibits
10.2007 - 04.2008
Master's of Business Administration -
Kent State University
Bachelor of Arts -
The Ohio State University
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