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14TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2009NEWSTRENDSMARCHAPRIL2009LeaEdmondsonBornandraisedinNorthCarolinaTMGInternationalx19sLeaEdmondsonisagraduateoEastCarolinaUniversitywherethesel-describedx1cdie-hardEastCarolinaPirateanx1dmajoredinbusinessandmarketing.Edmondsongravitatedtowardmarketingbecauseothecreativeelementothefeld.AtergraduatingsheworkedinsalesadministrationatDiagnosticHealthServicesasurgicalimagingdivisionoGEMedicalSystems.Readyorachangeateran11-yeartenuretherex14duringwhichrevenuesjumpedrom9millionto45millionx14shejoinedtheinormationtechnologyfrmGlobalKnowledgeasaprojectmanager.Shewassoonluredawaytoherfrstpublishing-relatedjobassalessupportprocessanalystorR.H.DonnelleytheleadingYellowPagesandonlinecommercialsearchcompany.ThenshemetEdOx19ConnorTMGInternationalx19spresidentandwasintriguedbyhisgrowthplanorTobaccoPlusExpoandTobaccoOutletBusinessjoiningthecompanysoonthereater.x1cIlovetotakebusinessestothenextlevelx1dsaysEdmondson.x1cOurgoalorthiscompanyistobuildthemagazineandthetradeshowintobeingintegralpartsothetobaccoretailindustry.Itx19sanexcitingprospect.x1dDuringhercareerEdmondsonhasgarneredconsiderablesalesexperiencebutheramiliaritywiththetobaccoindustryismoreonthepersonalside.x1cIwenttoschoolineasternNorthCarolinawhichistobaccocountryx1dshesays.x1cAndmyhusbandMarkhailsromPinetopswherehespentmanyasummerinatobaccofeld.x1dInherpresentroleEdmondsonmanagestheday-to-dayoperationsoTobaccoOutletBusinessandtheTobaccoPlusExpoandsheworkscloselywiththerestotheteamtoprovidesupporttothecompanyx19sclients.Duringherdowntimex14whichisminimalasthecouplehavea5-year-oldsonSamx14sheenjoysrunningtravelandreadingonthebeach.MeetthePressEdwardR.Ox19ConnorEdwardR.EdOx19ConnorjoinedTMGInternationalaspresidentothenewlyormedcompanywhichoperatesTobaccoOutletBusinessandTobaccoPlusExpoinSeptember2008.AspresidentOx19Connorischargedwithormulatingplanningandimplementingoverallstrategyandwiththemanagementbusinessdevelopmentandfnancialperormanceothecompany.x1cWhiletheindustryisgoingthroughtestingchangesIbelievewehavegottenthroughtoughtimesbeoreandwillgetthroughthisx1dsaysOx19Connor.x1cIbelievewewillemergeasaleanerstrongerindustryandIx19mthrilledtobeapartothistransition.x1dOx19Connorbringsawealthoexperienceinbothsalesandthetobaccoindustrytothepost.PriortohiscurrentpositionheservedasdirectorosalesandmarketingatSpecializedCommunicationsor14yearswithspecifcresponsibilityorTobacconistandPipesandTobaccosmagazines.HealsohasabroadbackgroundinmediahavingservedasvicepresidentandgeneralmanageroWGNAAMandFMinAlbanyN.Y.andasvicepresidentmajormarketsalesorTransStaraormatsatellitedeliverycompanyprovidingprogrammingtoradiostationsnationally.Ox19ConnorgraduatedtheUniversityoMassachusettsatAmherstwithabachelorosciencedegreeinsociology.HeisalsoagraduateotheAdvancedMarketingProgramatColumbiaUniversityandtheSeniorManagementProgramatNotreDame.Ox19ConnorservedasacaptainintheU.S.ArmyInantry.MarriedwiththreechildrenheandhiswieCynthiamaketheirhomeinRaleighN.C.TheTobaccoOutletBusinesseditorialteamcomprisesadynamicfoursomex14JenniferGelfandReneeCovinoLisaWhittingtonandKarenSmith.Beyondofferingtheirimpressivecredentialsinjournalismtheseveteransoftheretailpublishingindustryalsobringgreatenthusiasmtotheirrespectiveroles.