Posted June 4, 2018
Jennifer Pearce Hammond, SJMC ’85, is a management supervisor for David&Goliath, a Los Angeles-based advertising agency. She’s been with the company for 14 years.
What do you do in your current job?
I work alongside my client, Kia Motors America — Southern Region in Atlanta, to develop
regional advertising for Kia Dealer Marketing Groups. I work to bridge the gap between
the national marketing and regional dealer marketing business.
What’s the most interesting or significant thing you’ve done since graduating?
Immediately following graduation, I moved to Los Angeles and was hired by Chiat/Day
to work on the Nissan business. Chiat/Day is a creative ad agency most know for the
Super Bowl TV spot "1984" that helped launch the Apple brand. As an account executive,
I worked alongside some of the most creative talent in the advertising business. Although
I have enjoyed all of my previous employers, I will always remember the energy and
excitement (and exhaustion) from being part of such a great team.
What are you passionate about in your work?
David&Goliath has been working on the Kia business for 18 of the 26 years Kia has
been a brand in the U.S. The agency has contributed in moving the market share of
the brand with Kia recently winning the J.D. Power Award for Quality two straight
years in a row. Kia is seen as one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S.
My clients' success makes me passionate to continue the work the agency set out to
do for the brand with the hope it will be the No. 1 car company in the U.S. one day.
What did you learn while in school at the CIC that still resonates today?
From the advertising campaigns class to the media math class, I can honestly say I
utilize what I learned every day in my job. Obviously, the internet has changed the
way agencies purchase media, but overall the basics of the business have stayed the
same.
Do you have a favorite professor or a favorite memory from your time at the CIC?
This is a tough one — from Jerome Jeweler to Mary Caldwell to Ralph Morgan, they were all invaluable.
You’ve stayed connected to the CIC by engaging with students through programs like
Mentor Match, the Atlanta Maymester and CreateAthon@USC. Tell us a little about those
experiences and why being involved makes a difference.
I tell the USC students that I meet that I love what I do and I want them to love
it as much as I do. Like most businesses, the ad business is about who you know. Entry-level
jobs can be very hard to find. I am involved with these programs to give the students
support, whether it be advice or contacts, to help them get noticed and ultimately
be successful in business.
You support the CIC as a member of the Dean’s Circle Society. Why do you give?
Some alumni like to donate money and some like to donate their time — I enjoy both because that way I get to experience the value of my donation. I have
been back to the CIC and have seen the changes being made and the tools they are providing
students. As an alumna, giving back also brings value to our degrees and helps those
students coming after us to be better prepared for their future.
What would you say to someone who is considering joining the Dean’s Circle Society?
My college journey was very special to me. Giving to the Dean's Circle is a great way to make it special for future CIC students.