Jo Ann is a purpose-driven executive and brings more than 25 years of marketing experience. She has a long track-record of delivering financial results and award-winning marketing programs that build sales and profitability for iconic brands in the B2B and B2C space. Jo Ann is currently serving as the CMO of The Honey Baked Ham Company. Formerly, she was the Chief Marketing Officer for Interface, Inc., where she globalized the marketing team and brought forth a highly effective, integrated marketing approach resulting in five consecutive quarters of record financial performance. Prior to Interface, she was Vice President of Brand Marketing and Public Relations at Arby’s Restaurant Group resulting in a brand turnaround and 13 quarters of same sale growth. Prior to Arby’s, she spent 16 years at HoneyBaked Ham, where she served as Vice President of Marketing and then Chief Marketing Officer. She also has owned her own marketing firm where she worked with Tropical Smoothie Café, Intercontinental Hotels Group and others.
Jo Ann has an MBA in International Business from Mercer University in Atlanta, and an undergraduate degree in Communication from Mississippi State University. She is an Adjunct Professor at Georgia State University and Mercer University. She’s a passionate community volunteer and served as Vice Chair of the Arby’s Foundation, whose mission is to end childhood hunger.
Jo Ann’s work has been lauded by industry and community groups including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Marketing Association, the National Diversity Council’s Most Powerful and Influential women, two AMY Awards from the American Marketing Association, a Mercury Award for radio advertising, a Phoenix Award from Shirley Franklin for community volunteerism, and a Silver Effie for advertising effectiveness. She was recognized in 2018 for the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Marketing Association in Atlanta.
Jo Ann is the Past President of the 1,000-member AMA Atlanta chapter and has raised over $100,000 for student scholarships. She is a graduate of the 2012 Leadership Atlanta class and has served on the marketing board for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank and Crime Stoppers.
Jo Ann and her husband Mark live in the Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta with their daughter, Lily. They love to walk on the Belt-line with their French Bulldog, Gatsby.