Kelli Gibson is the director of marketing at Professional Title & Escrow LLC in the Southside.
NEW JOB?
Gibson just started with Professional Title & Escrow a few weeks ago. She had been with Southern Title as a sales representative since last December.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
“I will be trying to get business in the door. Mostly I will be focusing on attending events and participating in committees. I’m really going to focus on getting our name out there with marketing material and establishing Professional Title in Jacksonville. I’m helping create some brochures and other marketing material.”
PROFESSIONAL TITLE?
Gibson said it is a national company based in Alabama that opened in Jacksonville a year ago. They are in five other states under the name Lender’s Title & Escrow. “The big dogs in the company have come here and really want to focus on Florida. They brought me on board to help with that.”
HOW DID SHE GET THE JOB?
Gibson said a vice president in the company had come to town and attended a Florida Mortgage Broker’s Association meeting to recruit for a marketing person. While at the meeting, some of her customers recommended her. They met and she interviewed, and got the job. “I’m really excited about it. It’s a great opportunity.”
COLLEGE
Gibson attended Jacksonville University on a golf scholarship and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in public relations and advertising with a minor in marketing.
GOLFING HELP?
“It helps to get customers because I take my customers out golfing a lot and it’s fun. It’s a real advantage to be a woman that plays golf. I have found it has gotten me jobs and customers.”
BEFORE TITLES?
After college, she headed to Chicago to do the big city thing. “I was there for six months, said ‘What am I thinking?’ and came back to Florida.”
When she returned, she worked at the Golf Club at South Hampton as the membership and events director. One of the members approached her and hired her at Washington Mutual. “I helped him during the refinance boom and that’s where I basically learned the business. I worked in all facets of the business. I learned that originating loans wasn’t for me and that I wanted to be out there doing more marketing so I joined Southern Title.”
ADVICE TO SOMEONE NEW TO THE BUSINESS?
“Treat your customers like you would want to be treated. Your customers are your referral lifeline. That is where you are going to get all of your business and if you want to be successful, you need to treat each customer
with professionalism and respect. Also, be quick about things because speed is important in this business.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council, Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers.
HARDEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
“Cold calling and making a name for yourself out there.”
HOMETOWN
Grand Rapids, Mich.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 1998 to go to school.
AGE
24.
MARITAL STATUS?
Single.
-by Michele Newbern Gillis