Ferrell selected marketing chief; Hart picked to lead patron awareness

FORT LEE, Va. – The Defense Commissary Agency’s marketing directorate is announcing leadership selections for its subordinate marketing and patron awareness divisions.

Jennifer Ferrell is the chief of the marketing division and Dr. Frank Hart is chief of patron awareness. Ferrell’s selection was effective June 6 and Hart’s on Sept. 12.

 “The commissary is a great benefit for our eligible service members and their families, and it’s vital that we ensure they are aware of their benefit and show them how they can maximize their quality of life,” said Norman Brown, director of marketing. “Both Jennifer and Frank have the knowledge and expertise needed to reach out and connect to our authorized shoppers, informing them of all the amazing value-added features that shopping the commissary entails.”

DeCA’s marketing directorate is responsible for all marketing program resources related to patron awareness, branding, consumer advocacy, social media, marketing and business analytics.

Ferrell assigned to marketing

As marketing chief, Ferrell is responsible for working with DeCA’s sales team to create marketing and advertising campaigns in conjunction with the agency’s industry and exchange partners to increase the effectiveness of sales campaigns and special events.

She previously served from January 2018 to June 2021 as the program manager for DeCA’s private label program at DeCA headquarters. In that position, Ferrell managed a category that generated $321 million from January 2018 to 2020, adding $30 million in cumulative sales.

Before joining the federal government, Ferrell was an account support manager at WestRock, formerly MeadWestvaco, in Richmond, Virginia, from June 2014 to January 2018. At WestRock, she managed customer support for major North American soft drink and beer folding carton promotional production on sales portfolios totaling upwards of 122 million cartons per year with primary focus on private label bands.

Before WestRock, Ferrell was a senior pricing and contract manager at MWV (formerly MeadWestvaco) in Richmond from April 2011 to June 2014. There she managed global quote and pricing activity for the North American Beverage division. She was also an enterprise account analyst at MeadWestvaco in Richmond from October 2006 to April 2011.

Ferrell received her bachelor’s degree in Economics with Distinction & High Honors from the University of Maine (1992). She is a certified professional category manager (August 2020).

Hart assigned to patron awareness

As patron awareness chief, Hart is responsible for communicating the commissary benefit’s value to customers through all digital communications across website and social media platforms, and responding to customer questions or issues through the Your Action Line Program. He also oversees the agency’s brand strategy to ensure a consistent image of the commissary through all customer, stakeholder and employee communication points.

Before going to patron awareness, Hart had served as the plant manager for the Central Meat Processing Plant (CMPP) at Ramstein Germany, from 2017 to March 2021. The CMPP supplies fresh beef and pork to all European and Middle Eastern commissaries, numerous embassies, and downrange locations in support of their customers in five time zones. The CMPP produces 304 combined chill and freeze meat selections with average distribution sales of $2.1 million monthly. 

Hart served in the Air Force from 1984 to 2009, holding many leadership positions with the Air Force Commissary Service, DeCA, and Force Support Squadron, retiring as a chief master sergeant.

 After retiring from the military, he entered civil service and held positions as store director at three stores, including DeCA’s flagship store at Fort Lee. He also held the position as a change management specialist at DeCA headquarters before assuming his position as the CMPP Manager in August 2017.

Hart earned his doctorate in education (leadership and management) from St. Thomas University (2018). He also has a master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology from Northcentral University (2007), and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix (2003).

-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.