"The dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately" - Gary Vaynerchuk
Allen Bredeson is one of the most incredible marketers and people I know. An MBA and Manager, Marketing & Relationship Management at SERVICE 800, Allen completed his MBA at the University of St. Thomas with a concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. During the two-year program, he worked as an E-Commerce Intern at Polaris and as a Marketing Intern at The Toro Company. He is a certified inbound marketing with experience in SEO, lead generation, and website development.
Prior to the MBA program, Allen worked as a marketing manager at Service 800. Allen's bachelor degree was in Sports Management and Marketing at the University of Minnesota. He started his career as Premium Seating Intern, then as a Premium Seating Coordinator with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
What does a typical day in your role look like?
Honestly, there isn't a "typical day" in the world I live in. My role here at SERVICE 800 is a unique one in that I wear my marketing hat part of the time and then manage some key accounts and our team of Relationship Managers. On any given day I'll bounce between servicing accounts, building collateral, updating our website, negotiating contracts and updating our corporate website. The only constant is coffee in the morning and a never zeroed inbox.
What are you passionate about?
There's something about seeing a new logo "walk" into our door and start a new program that keeps me getting up every day. All that work building content on the website and developing collateral that talks to a prospect in the right way that ultimately helps to close the deal pays off at that moment a new agreement is signed, and a new program starts up. I've also really enjoyed managing my team here at SERVICE 800 and pushing them to step a bit beyond their comfort zone.
What do you find most challenging about your job/career?
I have to juggle the multiple hats I wear here at SERVICE 800 in meetings, and it can be pretty challenging. There are times where a business decision is a no-brainer for the marketing side of the company but doesn't make sense for our Relationship Management. Finding a way to step back and look at the situation from two different points of view is still something I'm working on.
What do you find most enriching about your job/career?
SERVICE 800 has undergone a lot of change over the last year and a half. We've brought in a new CEO and some new faces, but it has been such a joy to see how our entire company has responded and thrived. We are seeing some substantial revenue growth, and morale is on the rise. To be a part of the management team that helped to develop our strategy and nurture the change has been very rewarding.
How did you find yourself in your current career?
After my time working for the Minnesota Timberwolves, I found myself looking to make a career move into the marketing realm. I'd always found the new methods of marketing so intriguing so when I was presented with an opportunity to teach myself the ways of the web marketer I jumped at it. Six years and an MBA diploma later I find myself overseeing our marketing and Relationship Management. Putting the time in to earn the stripes and making a leap of faith throwing my name in the hat for a bigger role has paid off.
Words of advice for anyone who wants to pursue this career?
Working in a smallish business requires you to wear multiple hats and do things that might not really fit in your job description. Sometimes the stuff that needs to get done isn't that much fun, but someone has to step up and get it done. Find a way to push through these projects with a smile on your face and people will take notice.
If you would like to learn about Allen, his career journey, and his philosophy, please click here.
Thanks for reading!