Jess Lightner

Marketing Strategist + Team Leader

Account Manager – Swanson Russell

June 2014–May 2017

Swanson Russell Account Manager Ad Agency Experience

Managed a diverse portfolio of B2B and B2C clients, including high-profile agriculture, outdoor recreation, and nonprofit accounts, while delivering strategic marketing solutions and measurable results

Key Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Balancing the needs of multiple clients with varying budgets, goals, and industries, while ensuring seamless communication between clients and internal teams.

Solution: Delivered strategic plans tailored to each client, presented complex marketing strategies to executives and non-marketers, and collaborated cross-functionally to drive successful campaigns.

Do Space Branding

What I Learned:
I gained a deep appreciation for the scale and complexity of client industries, especially agriculture. This role taught me how to tailor strategies to budgets, navigate the challenges of agency fit, and ensure every project aligns with broader business objectives.

Skills Mastered

  • Account management and relationship building
  • Strategic planning and execution for diverse industries
  • Budget and profitability management

Tools & Technologies Used
Microsoft Office Suite, CRM platforms, Google Analytics

Client List

Agriculture/Industry:
FMC (herbicide, pesticide, and fungicide brands)
Reinke Irrigation
AGP
AgriClear
EvoSci Biotech
Merck Animal Health
Charah

Outdoor Recreation:
Woolrich
Humminbird
JCB

Non-Agriculture/Local/Nonprofit:
Do Space
Urban Libraries Council
Northeast Community College
Buffett Early Childhood Institute

Most Memorable Project:
Toward the end of my time at Swanson Russell, after focusing primarily on agriculture and outdoor recreation accounts, I had the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic local RFP process. This effort culminated in the naming and branding of Do Space, a groundbreaking community information and technology resource library. Watching Do Space grow into a nationally recognized model for urban libraries has been incredibly rewarding, showcasing the lasting impact of strategic branding on community initiatives.

Work with me

If you’d like to learn more about working together or say hello, email me at hello@jesslightner.com.