Denny’s Chief Marketing Officer John Dillon to present at Endeavor’s November Collaborators & Cocktails networking event
October 27, 2016
Ad Age Media Maven to share how “America’s Diner” leveraged digital strategies to engage millennials without losing focus of its core identity
Endeavor, a membership-based co-working community for independent companies and freelancers in the creative services fields, is hosting its next Collaborators & Cocktails, a monthly networking series for members and pre-registered guests, on Monday, November 21, 2016. The speaker will be John Dillon, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Denny’s Corporation.
Dillon will share how the 65-year-old brand moved from dwindling customer engagement to experiencing the highest same-store sales and traffic growth in over a decade. Through a research-based strategy, Denny’s utilized a mix of in-store, online and traditional media campaigns to help foster and sustain future growth—making Denny’s a favorite both with customers and at awards shows.
“John helped rejuvenate an iconic American brand, while overcoming challenges that come with marketing to an incredibly broad target audience, without losing focus of Denny’s identity as ‘America’s Diner’,” said Joe Erwin, president of Erwin Creates and founder of Endeavor. “The results have been nothing less than transformative for Denny’s, from both a sales and customer loyalty standpoint, as well as establishing them as a respected digital media leader.”
Dillon, who has a wealth of experience in consumer branding and marketing strategy, is responsible for directing all marketing efforts for Denny’s, including the development and execution of marketing strategies and initiatives, brand positioning, advertising campaigns and menu development. Dillon was named an Ad Age Media Maven in 2013 for making Denny’s more relevant to millennials. Prior to joining Denny’s in 2007, Dillon held multiple marketing leadership positions with various organizations, including 10 years with YUM! Brands/Pizza Hut, and was vice president of marketing for the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets. Dillon holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Analysis from Baylor University.
Collaborators & Cocktails is a series of monthly networking events that Endeavor hosts for members. The event will start with networking at 5:00 pm, with John Dillon giving a presentation and Q&A session at 5:45 pm. The event is free to Endeavor members, with a limited number of guest tickets available for $25. Registration is required, no walks-in accepted. Contact [email protected] for ticket information.
About Endeavor
Endeavor is a membership-based co-working community for independent companies and freelancers in the creative services fields. Endeavor’s premium location in the ONE Development in Greenville, SC provides members with state-of-the-art work and meeting space, and uniquely, surrounds them with a diverse array of creative peers who offer a broad range of marketing services and experience. Training opportunities, networking events and business consulting are available for the creatives who call Endeavor home every day, as well as corporate creative professionals and resource-seekers across the region. For more information, visit www.endeavorgreenville.com.
About Erwin Creates
Erwin Creates was established in 2016 by Joe Erwin, co-founder and former president of national marketing agency Erwin Penland. It serves as the platform to support Erwin’s continued entrepreneurial involvement in business consulting, education, training and civic activities, including his commitment to growing The Erwin Center for Brand Communications at Clemson University. In spring 2016, Erwin Creates opened Endeavor (www.endeavorgreenville.com), a creative, collaborative community which offers co-working space and business-building opportunities for creative services professionals—and serves as a destination for companies and individuals looking to connect with and help cultivate the Upstate’s vibrant creative class.
