Jennings Social Media and MarTech - Entrepreneur of the Year

Company: Jennings Social Media and MarTech, Overland Park, KS
Company Description: Founded in 2003 by Valerie Jennings at the age of 24, the agency's purpose has been to educate, lead and inspire others by providing cutting-edge digital marketing and advertising resources to large and small companies around the world. Through its service, the team has created a unique blend of transparent data and creativity to reveal real results for clients.
Nomination Category: Entrepreneur Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Entrepreneur of the Year - Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations

Nomination Title: Valerie Jennings, CEO

Valerie Jennings founded Jennings Social Media & Martech in 2003 at the age of 24. Since its beginnings, Jennings has transformed her company from a small social media consulting business to a highly competitive strategic firm, with performance-based AI, SEO, innovative content marketing. Valerie transitioned JSMM into the new era of MarTech over the past two years, hitting major milestones, growing new accounts and expanding the agency’s leadership and areas of specialization.

Throughout 2020 she led her team into uncharted waters with positivity and strength. JSMM exceeded industry growth benchmarks in Q2 - Q3, pacing at 16% versus national benchmarks at 7.2% in 2019. Jennings renewed contracts with decade-long clients and garnered new business in new verticals.

Recently, Jennings directed a company rebrand and formal name change from Jennings Social Media Marketing to Jennings Social Media & MarTech, to focus on technology and support its growth in artificial intelligence advertising and automation. Jennings obtained a certification in artificial intelligence, taught by leading minds — including Andrew Ng, Stanford University adjunct professor of computer science, who founded and led the Google Brain project.

She has also created a company culture that spans multiple time zones, languages, customs and beliefs. She has transitioned her agency from being predominantly centered in the Midwest to the coasts and then to the Philippines. Additionally, the agency has created Hispanic outreach for clients by promoting diversity and inclusion in content and images. Because of these changes, new and diverse clients have flocked to the agency, representing global, publicly traded companies to black-owned startups. Jennings’s leadership and vision is global. It’s about changing the mindset of others through positive examples and driving valuable, thought-provoking discussions among the C-suite.

Valerie has kept her agency competitive during the recession and pandemic. No employees were laid off, and instead, she and her financial advisors put an aggressive plan in place to keep the agency thriving during this time. Not only did the agency maintain a modest profit, it also added many clients. With innovative approaches to changing client models, offering more options and working with new clients, the team at JSMM was very busy and continues to be in 2021. Furthermore, the agency supported essential clients, keeping their businesses successful — some of which had better years than the previous year. The team even beat record sales goals, driving new innovative digital advertising programs, which led to significant financial success for clients.

Valerie’s vision for her agency is driven by growth and culture. She recently completed a custom buildout of the agency’s main office in Overland Park to include an open floor plan similar to the East and West coasts. The new design and trendy space are conducive to a collaborative work environment in which creative, content and technical teams all work hand-in-hand.

Jennings has expanded the leadership team and is increasing training and specialization in targeted areas including the addition of two new technical teams, web, SEO, creative, PR/influencer programs, reporting, automation, MarTech and more. She regularly participates in speaking engagements to reach young professionals and female youth through Underground Social, and in area schools and chambers. She gives back through the charities she is passionate about, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Pet Partners, SafeHome, City Union Mission and more.

Awards and Appearances:
-Silver Stevie Award Winner 2021 –Marketing Executive of the Year.
-Silver Stevie Award Winner 2020 –Female Entrepreneur of the Year.
-Top Women in Media 2020 Honoree –Folio: Magazine.
-National Marketer of the Year 2020 by DMN – The Awards, which were first presented in 2014, have honored some of the biggest names in the agency and marketing technology worlds. The finalists and ultimate winners are determined based on rankings given by a panel of independent judges.
-40 under 40 byDMN.
-Top 50 Kansas City Influencer by BloggerLocal.Excellence in Data-Driven Marketing (SEO), KCDMA AMBIT Awards 2021.
-Excellence in Data-Driven Marketing (PPC/SEM),KCDMA AMBIT Awards 2021.
-Speaker at the 2021 Midwest Digital Marketing Conference, “What’s Your Company’s Purpose?”
-Moderator at the 2020 Midwest Digital Marketing Conference in St. Louis - Jennings was selected to lead a panel to share her expertise on running a marketing agency.