Whether it’s a professional or personal goal, Rhiannon Edwards makes it happen.
The director of marketing for Ashley Furniture HomeStore was chosen from 170 applicants and within a year was given increased responsibility, including becoming the first in-house media buyer for Covington Holdings Inc., which operates four Ashley stores in Springfield, Joplin, Rogers, Ark., and Springdale, Ark.
“I was proud of this accomplishment because I know I was hired over several very qualified applicants,” Edwards says.
She began her marketing career with a short stint at Journal Broadcasting Group before moving to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. During her eight years there, Edwards helped raise more than $4 million to assist children in the Ozarks. She initiated new events – such as Burgers & Brew, Radiothon and Dance Marathon – that raised more than $200,000 annually.
Edwards also was in charge of organizing Children’s Miracle Networks’ annual telethon, from planning and logistics to working with CoxHealth Foundation and KY3 on production, scheduling and volunteers.
“Being the lead on a large event required a lot of leadership, organization, coordination, expertise, marketing and patience,” Edwards says. “I was able to guide everyone through the six-month planning process raising more than $50,000 annually to help local children.”
At Ashley Furniture, Edwards is responsible for marketing and advertising for all four stores and has increased store traffic by working on effective commercials, optimizing media buying power and brainstorming ways to increase consumer awareness.
She also remains involved in community service.
One of her proudest fundraising efforts is coordinating with the four Ashley Furniture stores for Convoy of Hope’s One Day to Feed the World, where employees were asked to donate a day’s salary and customers were asked for donations that the company matched. Edwards promoted the event, coordinated with Convoy of Hope to showcase the jugs used to purify water and even prepared a rice mixture dubbed manna, for employees and customers to sample.
“This one-day event raised $17,960 for Convoy of Hope, and I was so proud to see my hard work pay off in such a large donation to an organization that helps so many people all over the world,” she says.
Edwards also has worked with Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and Ronald McDonald House, among others. And she operates Ashley’s Beds for Kids, a program that donates beds to single parents whose children do not have one.
Edwards applies determination to her personal life as well, having decided to pursue better health after the birth of her youngest daughter. She began running two years ago and lost 40 pounds – motivating her husband to lose 35 and inspiring several friends. She is currently training for a half marathon in April.
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