Gee McCord joined The CDI Group in 2003 as a Partner with special expertise in marketing and brand building in B2B, B2C, and B2G channels, on a National and International scope.

Gee started her career in 1973 as a Staff Writer for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, specializing in food and nutrition.

Gee supervised collection and analysis of research data to develop and execute strategic marketing programs. She produced televised youth sports series for ESPN and other televised media events, and launched the first national public relations campaign and Web site to augment advertising. In a more public role, Gee managed corporate events (including the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl) and trade-show participation.

Beginning in 1998, Gee was promoted to Manager, Foodservice – Fresh Fruit Marketing. In this position, Gee gained operational, training, and educational programs experience in combination with her already deep marketing and brand building experience. She designed and  implemented training programs to mainstream foodservice into 31 retail district sales offices in the US and Canada. Gee developed and implemented marketing strategies including creation of promotional programs, advertising and collateral materials promoting citrus sales to national restaurant chains, healthcare, school and college segments. She developed and executed distributor sales promotion programs and tracking systems, and led R&D in development of mass volume citrus processing equipment. Gee participated in developing corporate Internet objectives and strategies for business-to-business and business-to-consumer channels. In a more public role, she managed consumer and trade media relations, educating consumer and trade press on the benefits of citrus and citrus-processing equipment, and created nutrition education programs.

After 25 years with Sunkist, in 2000, Gee was recruited by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) , located in Alexandria, VA,  into a newly created position as Director, Marketing and Foodservice Communities. In this position, she was the staff professional responsible for representing the 3,700 member companies of the $283 billion convenience store and petroleum marketing industry. Gee was also accountable for two board committees and their functions. She developed and executed educational seminars, conferences and convention workshops (25K attendance).  Gee taught and/or hired trainers in several areas of expertise include marketing, merchandising, category management and foodservice. One of the most publicly visible successes was her designing and developing of the industry’s first marketing toolkit, bridging communications between corporate leadership and training store managers on how to plan and execute daily marketing functions.  This Toolkit remains the best selling new product in inventory. Ever conscious of food safety, Gee identified need for a food safety program.  She increased awareness of the necessity of food safety practices within the convenience store channel. In a more public role, Gee as a key editorial contributor for the industry’s top trade publications and daily on-line newsletter serving over 22,000 industry professionals.

In 2003, The CDI Group recruited Gee to join the firm as the Partner in charge of Marketing for our Clients and Brand Building for the firm. Gee uses her considerable marketing expertise to the benefit of CDI Clients and Strategic Alliance Partners. Under Gee’s leadership, The CDI Group has built a 11,000+ person database that she uses to support CDI Clients (Buyers and Sellers) in targeted direct mail, electronic, and telemarketing programs on a Regional, National, and/or International scope. Gee also uses her expertise as the publisher of the very popular Creating Success For Our Clients booklet for our Prospects and Clients.