At IZEA, we bend over backwards to cater to our clients and make sure that they’re happy with their results. That’s why we strive to build the best sales team possible – a team that’s chock-full of persistent people who are all inherently good listeners and researchers. One such trusted advisor that eagerly spreads the IZEA gospel on a daily basis is our Senior Account Director Christian Shalay.
A Track Record for Success
Christian has been with us for a year and a half now, having previously held account director positions with Belo Group, a media company based in Dallas, and Careerbuilder.com, an employment branding company. However, he actually earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Detroit, so don’t try to get anything past him!
“Christian brings a multifaceted background to the company, not only in sales and marketing, but having led teams along the way as well,” explained Ryan Schram, COO. “As a result, his understanding for how to make a positive impact and create incredible experiences for his clients are unparalleled. It must be his ‘roll-up-the-sleeves Detroiter mentality,’ but there isn’t a day that goes by where Christian doesn’t tell me how much he loves IZEA or making sure his clients have tremendously successful campaigns with us.”
Preach, Brother!
Christian’s favorite part about his job is that the industry is constantly changing on a daily basis. He absolutely loves applying new principles and solutions to a moving target. He also enjoys being part of the IZEA family. “The creativity of the people within IZEA, plus the brands and agencies we work with, makes it fun to wake up every morning,” said Christian. “There’s never a dull moment.”
He cites that his favorite tasks are spreading the IZEA gospel and bringing value to clients. He has found it very rewarding to be surrounded by a team of such dedicated people, all working for the same cause and equally passionate about the work and clients. “Upon meeting Christian it is very obvious that he is extremely professional and super friendly, but the more you get to know him he’s also REALLY funny,” explained Crystal Duncan, Director of Client Strategy and Operations. “He’s one of those people on the team that you can tell eats, sleeps and breathes IZEA – he genuinely loves being a part of the family.”
Fun Facts
- Many don’t know that Christian was a scholarship soccer athlete in college and played professionally overseas.
- In the late ‘80s, he was the proud owner of the baddest mullet on the planet, which was completely permed and highlighted. Did you expect anything less?
- He regularly wakes up at 6:00 AM on the weekends to cheer on his favorite English Premier League Soccer Team: Chelsea.
- He is obsessed with anything having to do with his hometown Detroit, including the city’s sports teams.
- Crystal also wanted to add: “Christian is pretty much the main reason the United States Postal System is still in business. His affinity for mailing things is matched by no other IZEAn!”
The Client Comes First
For fellow industry professionals looking to succeed in today’s marketplace, Christian insists that the client comes first. Professionals need to do their due diligence to uncover a client’s needs, then deliver a solution to fulfill those needs.
Well said, mate! Christian adds both personality and unparallelled insight to every campaign he touches, pleasing his clients time and time again. We’re proud to have you on-board, Christian!
