Meet Susie Timm of Knife & Fork Media Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Timm.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After graduation from ASU in 2000, I became a branch manager at Chase Bank — throughout the 9 years, I worked in the banking industry I was a top salesperson, high performing manager and I ended my banking career as Community Bank President for UMB Bank (HQ in KC, MO). It was a wild ride that taught me a ton about business and the sales process. In 2009, I branched out and started a business that was focused on food events and highlighting local chefs — we hosted over 50 events at the beginning of a recession and that was the catapult I needed to create my PR and marketing agency. In 2010, we launched Girl Meets Fork (now Knife & Fork Media Group) with an emphasis on social media and event marketing. We quickly realized our services were needed to promote local chefs, restaurants, events and on a national scale, food products. We evolved into a PR firm in 2012. For the past eight years, we have thrived in the food and beverage space as a PR firm with very loyal customers and strong results of media coverage and marketing plans that drive business. It feels good to have proven to myself that skill sets are transferable. All those years I spent in sales training have paid off because PR is really just sales–to media.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Obstacles abound in the life of any successful person — and because as humans, we often deal with differing personalities and miscommunication. In my career, I have looked at obstacles as chances to improve myself. Not everything is going to go my way, and not everyone is going to like or respect me. Those are just simple facts. I try to learn what I can from negative experiences and move on with grace. I do not dwell on these struggles — I just chin up and move on.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Knife & Fork Media Group is a boutique marketing and PR firm specializing in food and beverage PR and marketing. We also work with a variety of non-profits, and other companies that have nothing to do with food. We are known for our work in event promotion, and we promote and do PR for upwards of 50 events per year — most of which are food and beverage or tourism related. I am most proud of our very loyal client base, many who have been with us for over 5 years — and our ability to consistently secure media coverage month after month in a super competitive environment. That fact also sets us apart from other “food” PR firms who perhaps specialize in grand openings or one-off projects, but who struggle with ongoing media coverage. The other thing that really sets us apart is my extensive background in business banking and financing. I look at businesses with a very unique perspective as I am constantly trying to make or save a client money — and I am not as quick to recommend unproven tactics that are very expensive for clients. Our business model is also different — I don’t charge extremely high retainer prices and seek out a small portfolio–instead, our retainers are moderately priced and we have a high volume of clients.

What were you like growing up?
I was an active kid who enjoyed playing tennis and lots of outdoor activities. In the summer in Wisconsin, we would spend a lot of our time riding bikes, building forts and exploring. I was a moderate tomboy. I have also always been a very avid reader, so I spent a lot of time reading the entire series of books (which I still do). I have been called an “old soul” since I was about 10-years old, and was always considered very mature for my age. I was a happy kid — I have very positive memories of my childhood.

Contact Info:

• Address: 11811 N. Tatum Blvd. Ste 1065
  Phoenix, AZ 85028
• Website: knifeandforkmediagroup.com
• Phone: 480-200-2766
• Email: susie@knifeandforkmedia.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/knifeandforkmediagroup

Image Credit:
Karianne Munstedt

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