Published: Thursday, July 8, 2010

Staff Report, Busienss Desk
Madison Weekly
Madison, Alabama’s Hometown Newspaper

Cheryl Knighten moved to Madison in 1999 and over the years watched the city grow from sleepy country town to the fastest growing city in the state.

She watched new residents move in and new businesses spring up. And along the way she helped many of those businesses grow their customer base and increase their revenue as an advertising consultant.

Knighten worked for 11 years as a Yellow Page consultant for Southern Directory Company, the original competition for Ma Bell, and four years with Alabama Directory Company, Madison's targeted yellow pages.

An additional six years working with other advertising companies that included Cinema Billboard Network; Coupons, Mailings and More; Auto Trader; and Theatrical Lighting Systems helped round out her skills as an advertising strategist and business growth expert.

Knighten now brings her vast experience and talent for increasing business revenue to Madison Weekly as the Director of Sales and Marketing.

Knighten graduated Cum Laude from Wallace State Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Computer Programming and spent several years working as a buyer in the aerospace industry until she found her true calling when she answered a newspaper ad for an advertising sales rep.

“I knew immediately what I was meant to do,” Knighten says. “And that was helping businesses design advertising programs that were cost effective and helped drive customers through the door.”

“I love people and enjoy helping others,” Knighten said. “My gift is the ability to listen to business owners and managers and, in turn, create advertising programs that help them achieve their goals. There is nothing more rewarding than having a client say, ‘Wow! I am so impressed with the response I get from your ads!’"

One of the keys to Knighten’s success has been her ability to build long term relationships with her clients. “Over the years that I worked in Yellow Pages I maintained a 97.8% retention of my clients. I credit that to working closely with them to achieve their goals -- not just selling them an ad and forgetting them like many advertising reps do.”

It hasn’t all been business. Along the way Knighten has raised three sons. “My oldest is a graduate of UNA and is now working for the City of Huntsville in their GIS Department. My middle son is working in IT with the Army, currently based in Fairbanks, AK, and has served our country in Iraq for two terms.”

Knighten is excited to be working with the North Alabama business community as Madison Weekly’s sales and marketing expert. “I’m truly looking forward to working with Madison Weekly and helping both current and new clients achieve greater levels of success by reaching the affluent Madison demographic. Advertising should be a wise investment for a business, not a cost without results.”

Cheryl will be calling on businesses in Madison and Huntsville in the coming weeks to get better acquainted and discuss how a relationship with Madison Weekly can be a wise investment. She is also available to speak with civic groups and welcomes any occasion to network and meet new people.

To contact Cheryl email Cheryl@madisonalweekly.com or call 256-325-3393. To reach her directly, call 256-337-2160.