Evan Blackwell
Marketing Automation Supervisor, Overland Park, Kansas
I work at Walsworth – Overland Park. My current title is Marketing Automation Supervisor. I’m responsible for creating, implementing and analyzing lead generation campaigns and other marketing automation processes using Marketing Cloud Account Engagement across Walsworth’s CRM system (Salesforce) for both Commercial and Yearbook.
When you’re shopping for a service on the web, and you fill out a contact form on a website, then someone from that company responds to you shockingly fast… that’s what I do. I work with the software that helps Walsworth do that, hopefully in a very targeted way. Previous titles I’ve held at Walsworth include Marketing Automation Specialist, Web Content Specialist and Marketing Copywriter.
I just passed 20 years with Walsworth, which is amazing to think about because it feels like I just started yesterday. I joined the company as a copywriter, primarily for the yearbook side. They wanted someone with a journalism background and I fit the bill. I have a degree in journalism and I was a newspaper/magazine reporter for almost five years.
Working on lead generation is extremely satisfying, whether it’s through campaigns we put together or simple gated content we post on our websites because it really feels like you are contributing directly to the financial well-being of the company. Handing off a marketing-qualified lead to sales and then tracking it as the sales folks do their thing and that lead eventually becomes a customer? It’s the best.
My personalized coffee mug would say: I wish this was a Dr. Pepper
I want to come to work every day because of the people I work with. The Marketing Department is fun! (Even Jamie Chambers). Plus, I’ve been here long enough that I’ve got a group of life-long Walsworth friends that I hang out with outside of work.
A fun fact about me is that I used to be in a fairly competitive beer pong league with friends. And I’m decent at it.
My wife Nicole and I have been married for 22 years and we’ve known each other since college. She is the smartest, most generous person I know and I don’t deserve her. We have a 17-year-old son, Drew, who will graduate from Olathe Northwest High School this spring. He’s an athlete – he plays football, wrestles and does track in high school, and is currently being recruited to play college football, which blows my mind. He’s still undecided as of December 2024, lots of NAIA and D3 schools in the mix. Stay tuned! And I’ll be in huge trouble if I don’t mention Doc, our lovable but extremely noisy, pug. He’s a mess!
Most of my spare time for the last few years, and probably the next few, has involved following my son around to whatever game he’s in next. Beyond that, I’ve always been a huge sports fan. I was a sports journalist in college and did that for a few years professionally. Chiefs football, Royals baseball and anything KU are the passions. Hanging out at a watch party with friends is where you will typically find me.
I’m a movie buff (action and sci-fi the best) and love the beach (think ocean more than lake). And I have dabbled a bit in BBQ – we currently have a smoker and two grills.
Walsworth took a chance and gave me a job in Marketing 20+ years ago when I really had no experience in the field. Over those 20 years, they’ve patiently allowed me to learn and grow, and invested in my education. They’ve allowed me to build a career and provide for my family. And beyond that, I’ve met amazing people and made friends that I basically consider like family now.
I have way too many favorite memories to list just one. Long days and nights working at JEA conventions, so many costume and holiday decorating contests I’ve lost count, hashing out work over so many lunches (and dinners) over the years… I’ll keep it light and go with the time Dave Massy accidentally broke my crockpot on Chili Cook-off Day. Still makes me laugh.
