Employee Profiles—Helen Jo Zitzman
Formal Title:
Marketing Fulfillment Manager
Informal Title:
Marketing Queen
Job Duties:
Manage online retail store (Organic Valley General Store) and internal online fulfillment center; Provide information and materials for the Regional Sales Managers and broker network; Coordinate proposals for coupon campaigns; Sing snippets of songs; Remind people to laugh
Describe your Job in 5 words or less:
People-oriented information exchange
Education:
2-year Associates Degree in Marketing, lifetime of experience including 26 years of dairy farming
When did you start working for CROPP?
May 1993
Why did you decide to work for CROPP?
The position, Cheese Coordinator, offered a challenging workday close to home (5 miles from my farmhouse front door!). The job interview was the most fun interview I've ever had, and I believed in the mission of keeping the family farmer on the farm.
Describe CROPP in 5 words or less:
Dynamic growth and diversified staff
Describe a typical day at CROPP from you job perspective?
Typically I check my emails and voice messages, laugh at some joke, continue working on on-going projects (new products, coupons, inventory updates), sing, resolve problems as they arise, check in with co-workers and staff, share the excitement of working for a great group of farmers that believe in the mission of CROPP.
Describe your favorite CROPP story or work related story:
I hosted the 1993 Christmas party at my house, and it was a talent show. Jack Laurent juggled raw eggs (on a cement floor, thank goodness, because he dropped all of them); Jim Kojola, Mickey Keeley, Dan Hazlett and David Bruce played awesome music while dressed in drag; Dan Meyer painted a picture of a sunset over the ocean WITH HIS FOOT while he played a tune on a flute!! I have the picture hanging in my home.
Words to live by:
People don't care how much you know, they just want to know that you care.
Personal or favorite quote:
Whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
How do you get to work? (what do you drive to work, etc):
I drive a 2000 Buick LeSabre to work, seven miles from home to office. It's a beautiful drive through the wide Kickapoo Valley.
Favorites:
My favorite vacation is snorkeling in Cozumel, or snuggling my grandsons in South Dakota - both warm my heart and soul. My favorite holiday is any time my family can gather round the table in my dining room, the more the merrier!
Music:
I listen to all kinds of music, and my CD collection includes everything from Tanya Tucker to Beethoven. I prefer country music, especially anything by Toby Keith (he is such a hunk!)
Food:
I love Norwegian soul food (potato soup, lefse) and Mexican food (anything with guacamole), and Italian food (pasta, pasta). One of the neatest things about working at CROPP is being exposed to new foods and new ways of cooking.
Hobbies:
Learning to play the piano (my daughter is my teacher), playing guitar (I've finally learned three songs after 24 years!), sewing, cooking, spending time with my friends.
Books:
The Holy Bible, Tony Hillerman novels, biographies, and mysteries. If you could trade places with anyone who would it be?
If you could trade places with anyone who would it be?
I don't want to trade places with anyone - I'm having too good a time as my own life's adventures unfold.
Name two things you are good at:
Dancing and spelling
What two words describe you?
Sincere and optimistic
Family information:
I am blessed to be married to a wonderful man, Grant, and between us we have six children (Carson & his wife Malinda, Kim & her husband Elgin, Jocelen, Craig, Chelsea, and Holden) and almost four grandchildren (Owen, Connor, Bryce, and new little Baby Girl Gudgeon who is due to arrive in this world on Feb 22, 2006) and three cats.
