Jessica Smith is Senior Director of Marketing for Atlanta-based Ted’s Montana Grill, the 45-unit restaurant company owned by media entrepreneur, philanthropist and environmentalist Ted Turner and restauranteur George McKerrow Jr. In this leadership role, Smith spearheads all marketing programs and branding initiatives for the company. Her responsibilities include managing brand advertising (including traditional, digital and social), product development and menu merchandising, local restaurant marketing and sales and data analysis. She also serves as an active member of the food and beverage development team, the sustainability committee and is the main liaison to the training and operations departments.
Smith joined Ted’s in 2008 and built an internal marketing department, managing all of the outside vendor relationships including media, public relations, social media, digital and the creative team.
With over 15 years of marketing experience, Smith is results-driven and dedicated to exceeding sales objectives while ensuring a consistent marketing message and brand position. She has been recognized at the DMA South Star Awards and the Atlanta Marketer of the Year Awards for her strategic marketing expertise. Smith is also an advocate for Share Our Strength, leading Ted’s Montana Grill in a fundraising campaign that provided over 1.5 million meals to hungry children in America.
Prior to joining Ted’s, Smith was an account executive for two independent Atlanta advertising agencies. It was in those positions that she not only built an expertise but also a passion for food service. Smith holds a B.A. in journalism with a major in advertising from the University of Georgia and currently lives in Smyrna, Ga, with her husband, their two children and one lazy dog. In her free time, Jessica enjoys great food and wine with family and friends.