Alumna Profile: Anna Gunderson

Anna Gunderson has followed her career as a sales representative with MillerCoors to Portland, OR. She’s bringing the insights from her Communication major and Information Design [now Digital Writing, Literature and Design]  minor into her work in “experience selling.”

Gunderson says that “This role has me traveling to ~95 accounts in the Portland area, selling the long list of delicious beer in our portfolio.”

Fraser Larock, marketing and branding expert, tells us that “Products are 25 percent of what you sell. The rest is an intangible feeling tied to the product.” That intangible feeling is shaped by the work professionals like Gunderson do in “experience selling.” Gunderson says that “Our beer can sell itself, but what can we do to give consumers a unique experience? Right now we are mostly focusing on college football programs and the Portland Trailblazers, like the Rip City Bus events, as their season is just starting. Away from sports, we also focus on national holidays with specific support for say, Halloween, like “Boo Moon” for Blue Moon, or ugly sweaters during December with Miller Lite.”

When asked about advice for future students, Gunderson says “Set yourself apart early and often! What makes you stand out? Define that and hone in on your craft. Spend time with the people that you work with, in every department. They 100 percent of the time want to get to know you!”