NEED ADVICE: MY company is changing it's Org. Structure!!!

[DesignVHL]

Hi there, this is going to be very long, please don't be angry with
me! First off, I'm glad to of found this group. I'm 26, female, and
am determined to make it in this world! I have an issue at hand,
that I am hoping someone on here will be able to give me some good
advice. Again, this is superlong. I would especially like the
opinions of Business owners, presidents, and VPs. This especially
deals with Sales and Marketing for a manufacturing company. We have
about 150-200 workers total. About 30 of us (including me) make up
the business end from the company owner, to the VP of sales, to the
office managers.

Please see below. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I look
forward to being active on this list!

-------------------------------------------------

First, I need to set up the situation:

I began working for a Wire & Cable manufacturing company about 1.5
years ago. Originally, I was doing freelance graphic design, and
acquired it through a friend who worked there. One day, I met my
friend's boss (WHO is now MY boss: He is the VP of Sales and
Marketing), and said to him, half-seriously, "you should consider
hiring me to develop a marketing department so you have more
resources. It would really advance sales" A few weeks later, I got
an offer, turned it down, saying I was insulted. So, they came back
with a better offer worth taking, and so here I am today!

I basically developed their marketing department. I not only take
care of the Graphic Design, but I also deal a lot with Marketing-Biz
issues that many designers do not handle. My self-initiated
responsibilities include the following:

Advertising: Maintain relationships with Trade Magazine Reps,
Negotiate Rates, Design ALL ADs. I also write press releases, and
get our New Products listed in these magazines. I work with my reps,
and have also gotten articles about the company written.

Create Cross-Marketing Campaigns/promos with our Clients-Distributors

Maintain our Sales Contacts: I have developed a Sales Leads database
that I've gotten over 1200 contacts. I have created a nice business
practice with this, to go along with a marketing packet full of
product info thatI developed.

E-mail: I maintain the E-mail system at our company, and make sure
that everything is in order.

Print Design: Collateral, Catalogs, Sell Sheets, Cut Sheets, New
Product Flyers, Brochures...list goes on.

Digital: Maintain 2 company websites, Run a monthly newsletter which
I not only layout, and design, but I also do research and write
about 4 articles per month.
Interactive Flash CD-ROMs, Flash Presentations for the Sales Team,
PDF catalogs...list goes on!

I am constantly implementing, and proposing marketing ideas to my
Boss, currently the VP of Sales and Marketing.

Lastly, I Coordinate about 3 trade shows per year, and developed a
small booth design and did graphics for our booth. I also Attend the
shows, and work with the sales team to discuss new prospects who
visit, our products.

SO, I am not bragging, I am proud that I've accomplished so much in
a year and a half. I'm a dedicated, hard worker, who really wants to
see this company move ahead!

HERE IS THE SITUATION AT HAND: We have a sister company who is owned
by the same owner, and under the same upper management-with
different sales teams of course. They are a distributor of our
products. They are mostly for the commercial industry. My company
sells to both commercial, industrial, and residential markets. My
favorite to market is our home theater wire and cable products.

Our sister company-the distributors-who are literally right next
door-i can walk over through the plant/warehouse in back. THEY
brought in a consultant because the structure of the company was a
little off, and also, they have been struggling. Sales for them are
way down, which I attribute to the lack of motivation of their sales
team, and the unorganized practice of their marketing.

Well, I just received the new Organizational Structure Chart. My
boss, has been brought over to the other side, to run both my
company, and the other company's Sales Teams: Being the VP of Sales.
So, there is an available office on my side. I am currently placed
under the Marketing Manger on the Chart, but still work under my
boss, untill further notice, which is supposed to be Jan. 1, 2004.

On the OTHER side, they had let their VP of marketing go, because he
wasn't doing a very good job, and in his place, they have
temporarily put this other guy there, who has been working their for
some time now. This other guy is about 30 years old. He had been w/
the company for 9 years. He does all sorts of stuff, He's a Product
Manager, he deals with their PR firm, working with an external
designer, hiring a product photographer, and dealing with their
advertising. He also works in the Fiber Optic lab, and does some
engineering stuff. Also deals with customers, and audio type
stuff...He works with their other designer, who doesn't bring up her
own ideas, she basically does what she is told. She has a journalism
background, and is great at copywriting, laying out graphs, and
tables: she'd be a great production/graphic designer assistant. I
really like her, I think we could work well together.

What the owners of the company's want to do, is to pool our talents
together. The problem, is that they want to hire on this 30 year old
guy-who has probably never worked anywhere else, as the Marketing
Manager. Now, I don't want to be a marketing manager, I would like
to continue under the title of Art Director. (I have no job
description btw). They are considering having me Report to him.
Well, at first, it didn't seem like such a bad idea..but then, last
week, we had to work on a Trade Show booth design together-we are
sharing. They will be using it way more than us, but Here is my
issue with this person at hand:

First off, he is not my boss yet, and a decision has not been made
yet...but he is definitally being considered for the job, and is
starting to act like my boss. He thinks the jobs in the bag, so
maybe this is going to happen. We went to two Trade Show booth
design companies last week to meet and discuss our needs. First off,
he barely let me talk, talks down to me, Makes me feel like my ideas
are not important, and is very unprofessional looking. He was
wearing Jeans and a flannel shirt, whereas I was wearing a nice pair
of black slacks and nice button down. My GOD! How am I supposed to
be able to work with this person? I can already tell it is going ot
be hard. He totally made me feel bad at the second company we
visited. He had a one track mind, didn't even want to consider the
company I chose: of which, I had already done this research with my
company, but he had to basically start over for his own personal
reasons, I don't think I will understand. Well, right in front of
the rep i have developed a relationship with over a few months, told
him that I report to him now, and that he's the marketing manager
and just basically degraded me in front of the Rep. I had to stick
up for myself and say that that has not happend yet, and is not
necessarily going to happen. I'm a sensitive person, but I'm also
very tough, and I thought I could be tough in that situation, but he
made me feel so bad, and I was on the verge of tears. That has been
my very worst day at my company yet!!

So, I am so lost as to what to do or say to my boss. I think he is
on my side. He said that their will be very positive changes going
on for the company. We can't afford to hire a real marketing manager
with experience, and a degree, so they might just throw the position
to this guy, that I am not liking too much right now. I don't know
what to do!

If anything, I feel I deserver to be in charge, if their does need
to be someone. I've been working full time in graphic design since
1998. I've worked hard to get to the place I am right now in my
career. I have had about 4-5 different job's each giving me a
different experience, and allowing me to bring what I've learned to
the next company. I have creative marketing ideas, I am willing to
listen to ideas, and I'm self-motivated, and I am organized. Project
Managment would be my downfall-I just need improvement. I don't
think this guy has ever done half the things I implement at my
company.

Is it approriate for this person to run as the Marketing Manger, and
run the show? I feel that it isn't. I may not have been w/ this
company for 9 years, but I've done more here in the past year, than
they've done in 5 years! On our side, sales are up! I have been
initiating projects! I have SO MUCH creative Freedom, and I feel
like it is going to get squished!

I'd like this organizational change to be more like this:

I act as Art Director, running the creative end of things: designing
ads, print design, web design, multimedia design...I would still
like to initiate ideas for promos and such. I think I am more fit to
be the main marketing person, I come up w/ great ideas, and they are
working! The other side-where that other guy works- well it just
isn't working! I'd like to WORK WITH-not under him to develop great
marketing concepts and ideas. And have us all pool our talents
together as a Marketing TEAM! I'd like to continue to report to my
boss, mostly because he's been a great mentor to me. He is smart, he
is career oriented, I've been told my others that he "has plans for
me" which i don't know what that means, but I am hoping it is good!
He told me that I'm valued. I know he likes working with me, he
looked so sad the day he told us he had to move next door!

I've asked to speak with him about my ideas, but he's been busy, and
has not gotten back to me regarding this. I am not sure if I should
talk to him about this guy that I don't htink I'll work well with.
But I am not sure if that is a good idea.

I could really use some advice on this situation, I am so sorry this
is so long, but it is important for me to get the details out as
best as I can, so the situation can be properly understood. I really
hope this makes sense!

Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding this matter, for I'm
in dire need of some professional advice. Especially from someone
who runs or is in the upper management of a small company with an
internal marketing/design team.

I appreciate your time very much.

Thank You,

VHL
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[Shaun]

Well if I was in your situation I would 1st see what kind of support you have from other high ups for the VP spot. If you find you have some I would then work with them to approach the owner about considering you for the postion. If for some reason you don;t have the support of other upper lvl mgmt or the owner turns you down, you can stick it out for a bit and see how your new boss works out or you can quit.

It sounds to me like any company would be lucky to have you so I'm sure a good paying job won;t be hard to come by. Hope that helps a little

Good Luck

Shaun

[Surreal]

I know little about alot, but this i have no experience.

Give a formal request/application typed to the people hiring "that guy." State everything that has happend to the company for the last 6-7 years. Compare and contrast those 5 years and your 1.5 years. Tell them you will advance thier company 3 times further than the current competion (that guy). Of course dont use his name. Demand a trial period. DEMAND. You stated you have achieved much for the company. That is your greatest leverage. Fabricate a 3/6 month 1/3 year plan as if you already have the job, then present it as part of your application. Of course you will need to reach deep down and find ideals you never had. Find ideals that your VP never even contemplated.

Does that guy have a written plan? Or does he play golf well? Most times the higher ups will rather have larger bank accounts than have a golfing partner. Somtimes it is easier to find a golf mate than it is to make money. I hope I made a decent point.

Thats my 2 cents.

[philipwhite]

Being demanding doesn't always go over well. Sometimes it makes you expendable.

I think it would probably be a good idea to let your position be known (or hint to the fact) but don't offend anyone in doing so. It doesn't sound like you have enough bagaining power to go out and say I want things done my way.

Perhaps the new guy isn't so bad. On the other hand if he is it might give you the opportunity to look that much better when everyone is reviewed.

Bottom line is that it's their company and they can take it where they see fit. Even if it is a trip to the crapper.

[Ron Martin]

Get your resume updated and start looking for the right job.
When you get an offer, let the guy that hired you know what happened.
Until then keep your head down and outwork the newbie...
Ron Martin