About the CEO..

Maria J. Gaston Marketing Consultant President & Chief Executive Officer.
SKILLS:
	• Advertising/Production • Ethnic Marketing • Publicity Coordination • Project Management • Innovative Thinking • Presentation Skills • Creative Management • Concept Development • Administration • Retail Buying/Training.

ACHIEVEMENTS:
Enhanced image of Acra Financial Services by created brand awareness campaign, and promotional programs. Developed local and national marketing programs. Contributed in the development of country fairs through international market tours. Participated in a Joint Marketing Conference at Grace Kennedy Remittance Services in Kingston, Jamaica. Improved brand awareness, appearance and increased volumes by 40% within the first quarter of employment.

Enhanced image of Acra Department Store by Developing buying methods and POS strategies for the Women’s Dept. at Acra Department Store. Created a variety of promotional programs and support material for the Store. Increased sales of Women’s Dept. by 60% and sold 80% of “old” inventory considered to be “unsaleable”.

Assured clients’ visibility in key community activities. Developed strategies for street marketers to be more efficient and effective.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• PRESIDENT & CEO
  Jarvelle’s Marketing, LLC. 2001-Present

• Assure clients’ visibility in key community activities. Identify key media (prints, radio, tv) in the community through surveys. Identify acceptable prices, preferred services and products (offered by money transfer companies in the community to see where Western Union fits) through surveys. Identify key programs that can promote Western Union’s services and products.
  
  Manage Street Marketing projects. Develop strategies for Street Marketers to be more effective and efficient Monitor the competitors’ actions – i.e., new price, new products, new locations, etc. Identify potential Haitian Agents. Recruit of Haitian Agents. Worked with District Manager in Montreal, Canada. Compared competitors’ service quality to Western Union’s through test of transactions from Montreal, Canada to Haiti (among other things).
  
  Identified key media (prints, radio, tv) in the community through survey (Montreal, Canada). Identified key Haitian community leader in Montreal, Canada. Identify potential Haitian Agents in Montreal, Canada. Recruit of Haitian Agents in Montreal, Canada

• MARKETING DIRECTOR
  Acra Financial Services [official agent for Western Union] – Port-au-Prince, Haiti. 1999 - 2000
  Built brand awareness. Built company awareness. Developed local and national marketing programs. Planned yearly marketing budget. Helped identify oversea Haitian agents. Contributed in the development of country fairs through international market tours.
  
  Increased monthly money transfer transactions by 40% within the 1st quarter of employment. Worked on joint promotions. Participated in a Joint Marketing Conference at Grace Kennedy Remittance Services in Kingston, Jamaica. Participated in Annual International Agent Conference of Western Union in San Jose, Costa Rica.

• ADMINISTRATOR
  F & S FOODS – Port-au-Prince, Haiti. 1998 – 1999
  Administered a small frozen products enterprise. Was responsible for 10 stores daily and monthly reports, etc. Monitored over 200 accounts payable. Assisted the owners in the performance of their duties.

• MARKETING DIRECTOR
  SONACOM Communications – Port-au-Prince, Haiti. 1997 – 1998
  Was in charge of promotion and advertisement of NORTEL (Northern Telecom). equipment and products. Trained at NORTEL in Dallas, Texas. Participated in NORTEL International Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Was in charge of Sales Department (temporary)

• MERCHANDISING/STOCK/WAREHOUSE MANAGER
  N. Acra Fils & Co. – Acra Department Store/OHTSU Service Center – Port-au-Prince, Haiti. 1988 - 1997
  
  Was in charge of warehouse staff and Kardex (31 permanent employees, PLUS over 70 part-timers and daily laborers) – guided, counseled and contributed to their developments. Worked w/department heads on the market/client needs for buying purposes. Purchased merchandise from Panama, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, New York City for the Store. Trained department heads as buyers. Developed buying methods and POS strategies for the women’s dept. that increased sales by 60%. Made sure that all merchandise received were properly priced and well exposed in the Store. Was responsible of unsaleable merchandise and planned with the Store department heads for liquidation.
  
  Was responsible for promotion and advertisement of merchandise for the Store. Gave monthly reports on 9 departments in the Store. Evaluated warehouse staff and Kardex once a year. Was responsible of unsaleable tires and car accessories and planned with OHTSU Service Center Manager for liquidation (sale). Was responsible for promotion and advertisement of merchandise for the Center.
  
  Assisted the Center Manager in tire and car accessories buying in Louisville, Kentucky and Miami, Florida.

• ASST. MERCHANDISING PUBLICITY/SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR
  Corporate Marketing Department, Women’s/Children’s Fashions JCPenney Company, Inc. – New York, New York. 1986 – 1988
  
  Developed national publicity for women’s fashions, fashion segments for electronic media placements, national print media on editorial placements. Worked with Store Managers on Miss USA market tours (11 markets). Worked with the Publicity/Special Events Manager on special marketing event for 1600 stores, and selected samples for editorial placements for children. Communicated with field staff of 30 via IBM CRT, telephone and correspondence.
  

EDUCATION:

Long Island University (LIU), Brooklyn, New York – International Marketing

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

• Alix Desulme & Associates
• Black Business Circle
• ENY Black Chamber of Commerce
• American Marketing Association (AMA)

Targeting Minorities In:

- Boston
- Connecticut
- Florida
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania