DailyDOOH

Jill Krogman is an account manager for Daktronics in the Billboard Division, responsible for business development and relationship management with digital outdoor companies.

1. Describe your personal work space.

   Daktronics is ever evolving and, to keep nimble, we all sit in easily changeable cubicles. This allows for key work groups to be together to share ideas.

   I keep lots of pictures of my children at various ages at my desk. I still like to think of them as they were in their preschool pictures: cute, innocent and yet to learn the art of talking back. I also have a little lamp on my desk; I just don’t look good in fluorescent lighting. Let’s be real – who does?

2. How do you get to work?

   We are lucky to get to live in Brookings, SD, a small town with big ideas. My commute is pretty easy. I get in my truck – a necessary evil for hauling hockey equipment and kids all over the upper Midwest in the dead of winter – and drive five minutes (seven if I hit a stoplight) across town to the Daktronics campus.

3. What is an average day like?

   To start the morning, I get breakfast and everyone off to school, which is not too bad since my husband is in charge of the school drop off.

   I am lucky: I get to focus on my customers all day every day. Daktronics is not big on titles but I am an account manager. This entitles me the right to help my customers with anything they need. This could be anything from the purchase of a new digital billboard display, guiding them in the selection of the ideal technology for their locations, to working with them on ideas on how to incorporate dynamic data into their content offering, all while making sure all the bills are paid. No day is ever the same and that is why I really enjoy what I do.

   Then it’s home for homework, dinner and, depending on the season, we will generally havea practice of some sort: hockey, baseball, football and, occasionally in the few short summer months here in South Dakota, I do get to golf!

4. What is essential to you being able to work happily?

   Teamwork. We are all so much more than the work we do, and being able to have people around you that you can count on is essential in making sure we take the best care of our customers while maintaining a good life balance.

5. How flexible are your working conditions?

   I am fortunate to work at a place where ideas and innovation are a part of what we do every day. That, coupled with our diligent Midwest work ethic, makes for a very busy and active work environment. We are the leader in our industry; it’s hard work to stay on top and our best effort is expected every day.

   However, Daktronics is also a very family-oriented company and recognizes that you need to take care of yourself and your family in order to perform your best, and it gives you the flexibility to do that.

6. What do you think your employer looks for in its staff?

   Hard working, innovative, self-starters that work well on teams and are willing to go above and beyond for our customers every day.

7. What suggestions do you have for your company?

   Honestly, I really think we need our own Barista on staff. Just think of all the great ideas that would come out of properly caffeinated employees!!!

8. Do you have any frustrations you would like to share with us?

   Ah, can you say Barista…..

9. What do you like best about your job?

   Working with such intelligent people and getting to be myself. How everyone’s strengths are valued and used to create the best team possible, then putting all of that to work for the world’s greatest customers.

10. How open is your company to new ideas and suggestions?
    
    Innovation and new ideas are a cornerstone of what we do; it is a requirement to think of new ideas and creative solutions. When you are the leader, you have a target on your back, so new ideas are essential for us to keep us setting the standard in this industry.
11. How much responsibility have you been given?

    I think responsibility is something you earn and cannot really be given. I hope I can continue to earn the responsibility of taking care of our customers and the responsibility of helping those around me be their best.

12. How green are you and your company?

    Well, my kids may say that I am as green as the ‘wicked witch of the west’, but they have seen me wash the dishes, so they know I don’t melt.

    Daktronics continues to strive towards greener and leaner operations. We continue to work to be a lean organization and to eliminate as much waste as we can in all our processes. As much as 90% of our products are recyclable and we work with vendors who are a green conscience.

    Plus, we are constantly innovating ways for our products to run on less power.