Jan. 23, 2018

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Jessemine King, marketing administrator for The Empire Mall.

Name: Jessemine King

Age: 25

Title: Marketing administrator

Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

My fiance is attending the University of South Dakota for a doctorate program in occupational therapy. In addition to supporting him here, I also have family that lives in Sioux Falls. I moved to the area beginning of July of 2017.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

My fiance’s schooling as well as my position at The Empire Mall.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite part about my job is that every day is different. I never know what will happen whether it is a corporate gift card order, updating our marketing signs in the mall or updating social media with new promotions for our retailers. I also get to meet many new faces and make connections with local retailers as well as guests shopping in the mall. I enjoy talking with people and getting to know everyone in the mall.

How did you get connected to your industry?

My work history lies heavily in retail and management. I have worked in retail for the past nine years, starting as a sales associate, and I worked my way up to store manager. I have worked in a variety of different retail companies ranging from luxury to fast fashion. My prior experience was with Francesca’s, Louis Vuitton, Swarovski, as well as Guess. Working in many different retail environments, I was able to connect and work closely with the centers’ marketing department to promote our store and our events. I studied fashion merchandising at California State University, Long Beach, for my undergraduate and graduated in 2016. As I was looking for another job opportunity, I came across the marketing administrator position here at The Empire Mall. With my educational background and work history, I believed that the marketing position would be a great fit.

Describe The Empire Mall in three words.

Exciting, innovative, fashion-forward.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

Coming from California, I often would shop at H&M and would love to see an H&M at The Empire Mall.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In the next five years, I want to challenge myself to never stop my education and always learn new business ideas and brainstorm ways to make The Empire Mall even more successful. I see myself growing in the marketing department and possibly moving up and taking on more responsibilities.