Heather Hunter is a marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in strategic marketing, communications, branding, and business development. She has held leadership roles in starting and growing food businesses, farmers markets, and cultural institutions. She is skilled in strategic planning, public relations, social media, and project management. Currently she is the Chief Granola Officer of Cowgirl Enterprises, a small-batch granola company she launched in 2009.

1. Heather Hunter hwhunter@gmail.com / San Antonio, Texas / 210.865.5900 cell
Marketing Professional
Astute and accomplished marketing and communications professional in diverse industries with in-depth experience creating,
managing and integrating comprehensive marketing, communication and business development plans to achieve growth objectives
and enhance brand awareness.
Core Competencies
Strategic Marketing and Communications • Market Research • Team Leadership • Branding • Advertising
Copy Writing and Editing • Media and Public Relations • Speechwriting • Event Production
Product Development • Project and Budget Management • Process Improvements • Charitable Initiatives
Chief Granola Officer, Cowgirl Enterprises May 2009 – Present
Based in San Antonio, Texas, Cowgirl Granola launched in 2009 to rave reviews and quickly acquired a cult following. Single-
handedly researched, developed and managed all aspects of the start-up small-batch, online food manufacturing company.
 Spearheaded and executed all aspects of business development including branding, recipe development, packaging, pricing,
procurement, production, marketing, social media, publicity, sales and distribution.
 Created and implemented all public relations and marketing initiatives to expand branding efforts and build name recognition
which generated significant regional and local press coverage as well as national buzz on social media. Resulted in spiking online
sales by 35% the first quarter.
 Doubled sales in second year and then began to research, plan and negotiate the establishment of a high-quality, curated farmers
market geared toward feeding the local foodie community and others interested in supporting the nascent local food movement.
Co-Founder and Director, Quarry/Yard Farmers & Ranchers Market May 2011 – April 2015
Established and directed San Antonio’s premier Sunday producers-only farmers market. Held year-round, rain or shine, this
highly-curated, incubator market featured 30+ farmers, ranchers and artisanal food makers from the surrounding area. Weekly
event generated an average of $50,000 in total revenues in just four hours which resulted in more than $2.5 million annually.
 In three years, strategically grew from 10 vendors to more than 35 weekly participants which attracted an average of 3,000-4,000
shoppers each week. Served as the city’s distinguished food incubator propelling seven vendors into brick and mortar.
 Single-handedly developed and executed all aspects of marketing and communications including: communication with vendors,
website content/management, advertising, public relations, branding, community relations and social media. Website generated
10,000 unique visitors monthly and constant public relations initiatives generated equal amounts of goodwill, sales and exposure.
 Vetted all vendor applications and worked with a Vendor Selection Committee to determine whether applicants were accepted.
Worked closely with potential vendors to enhance, improve and/or tweak their business concept to ensure both their individual
success and maintain market’s high standards.
 Led the development and implementation of weekly marketing initiatives which resulted in consistent sales increases for market
vendors in a flat and even decreasing market growth industry and consistently outperformed the competition.
 Designed impactful seasonal, special events (Everything’s Peachy, Holiday Showcase, cookbook signings) which required strong
marketing and public relations strategies. These events immediately increased sales by 30-40% with residual sales spikes lasting
three to four weeks.
 Produced dynamic weekly enewsletter with a subscriber list of nearly 3,000, which resulted in an open rate of more than 30%.
 Conceptualized, coordinated, wrote and produced a Community Cookbook featuring 76 seasonal recipes from market vendors,
local chefs, celebrities and market shoppers which was promoted as a holiday gift item. Sold out in three weeks and quadrupled
investment.
 Launched a unique community program of giving in which vendors donated surplus produce and other edibles each week to a
west side food pantry, Time Dollar. In three years, more than 16,000 pounds of fresh food and over $2,000 dollars was
contributed.
Principal, Heather Hunter Marketing December 2002 – May 2011
Consulting firm provided expertise in business development, sales and marketing, public relations, special event management
and corporate sponsorship. Clients included: Witte Museum, City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), Blue Star
Contemporary Art Center’s Arts & Eats Gala, Institute of Texan Cultures’ Texas Folklife Festival, The McNay Art Museum,
Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Grupo Anderson’s (Mexico), Armamex (Mexico) and others. Projects included, but are
not limited to the following:
 Researched, designed and developed nationally targeted cultural tourism promotional materials to further San Antonio’s cultural
tourism initiatives which attracted travel groups and individuals to choose San Antonio as their chosen destination.
 Event development, management and execution in coordination with strategic marketing and public relations initiatives.
 Formed and executed corporate and individual fundraising programs and created cooperative collateral materials.
 Researched and generated content for major international website and produced creative and compelling PowerPoint
presentations for award-winning international project.

2. Director of Marketing, Witte Museum November 2001 – December 2002
New position to spearhead marketing efforts after museum’s attendance had experienced continuous declines. Charged with
establishing integrated marketing plan, brand development, new website development and securing corporate sponsorships.
 Created comprehensive marketing plan to reach new market segments and maintain current visitors through brand
development, online and offline marketing campaigns, media placement, collaterals, promotions, corporate sponsorships, direct
mail, membership events as well as cooperative marketing programs.
 Developed non-traditional marketing strategies which increased museum attendance by 34% during summer 2002.
 Forged unique relationship with San Antonio’s two other museums (The McNay Art Museum and San Antonio Museum of
Art) which produced exceptional collaborative marketing efforts and decreased each museum’s advertising costs and increased
overall brand recognition and awareness.
 Cultivated on-going relationship with H-E-B, which produced a $100,000 sponsorship for the American Originals exhibit and a
$250,000 commitment to update the exhibits in the H-E-B Science Treehouse.
 Worked closely with San Antonio’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Office of Cultural Affairs to initiate a much
needed marketing strategy which focused on the city’s arts and cultural attractions for leisure travelers, group tours and
convention groups.
Co-Owner/Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Puerto Mío Resort December 1997 – February 2005
Assumed lead sales and marketing position at a 30-acre resort property in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, with 30 rooms and two
restaurants, to remodel and rebrand hotel as five-star resort destination. Developed comprehensive marketing plan, worked
with public relations agency to generate publicity in specific markets, hired and managed hotel staff of 100 and revitalized
guest relations program. After selling the hotel in 2001, the ownership group continued to operate the restaurant and hold
special events.
 Increased occupancy by 50% in two years through unique online and offline marketing, sales, public relations and viral
advertising initiatives.
 Created a bilingual website which, along with other online links and marketing initiatives, grew to represent 30% of sales.
 Coordinated, managed and executed all special events, including weddings, conventions, corporate conferences and other
special groups which resulted in 25% of all revenues.
 Developed, designed and promoted seasonal/special event menus for two restaurants, as well as worked the front of the house.
Brought in guest chefs every quarter to work in tandem with culinary team and devise new plates and update menus.
 Partnered with the Secretary of Tourism, governor’s office and mayor’s office to promote local tourism.
 Assisted in the complete remodeling of the property and spearheaded the rebranding efforts, which ultimately led to the sale of
the hotel.
Education
Master of Arts, Communication Arts, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas: Distinguished Graduate, 4.0 GPA
Bachelor of Science, Communications, Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri: Dean’s List; Received second place national Gold
Circle Award from Columbia Scholastic Press Association for feature article in Stephens Life, weekly college newspaper.
Affiliations, Community Service and Honors
Affiliations: Community Education Leadership Program (CELP), Class of 1993
Community Service: Board member: Food Policy Council of San Antonio, 2015 – Present • Co-Chair: Farm to School Work
Group, San Antonio Food Policy Council, 2014 – Present • Chair, Menu and Silent Auction: San Antonio Polo Club, Mother’s Day
Polo in the Park, 2014 • Co-Chair, Food Committee, San Antonio River Foundation Annual Gala, 2010 • Chair, Menu Committee,
Mission Road Ministries’ Shindig 2009; Chair, Silent Auction Committee, 2008; Chair, Table Sponsorships and Underwriting, 2006 •
Board of Trustees, Friends of the McNay, McNay Art Museum, 2005 – 2006 • Trustee and Newsletter Editor, Southwest
Foundation Forum, 2003 – 2005; Gala Advisor, 2006; Communications Chair, 2005 Gala; Co-Chair, Corporate Sponsors
Committee, 2003 Gala • Board Member and Communications Chair, Founder’s Council, 2003 – 2005 • Co-Chair, San Antonio’s
Kindness Celebration, 1996 and 1997 • Marketing Chair and Board Member, Davis-Scott YMCA, 1993 – 1997; Association
Marketing and Communications Committee Member, YMCA of San Antonio and the Hill Country, 1993 – 1997
Honors: Entrepreneurial Spirit Award finalist in the Innovator category, National Association of Women Business Owners
(NAWBO), 2014 • Outstanding Young Women of America, 1997 • “Volunteer of the Year,” Davis-Scott YMCA, 1994
Special Skills
Fluent in Spanish
Food blogger since 2009 (www.thecowgirlgourmet.blogspot.com)
Proficient in the use of WordPress, Constant Contact, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, YouTube) and general graphic design and desktop publishing