CountryMax adds two to company’s in-house marketing group

CountryMax Stores, a family-owned farm supply and feed store with locations in Central New York, has hired new employees from Cazenovia and the Rochester area to join its in-house marketing group. 

The new hires are Brian Rapp, a creative director from Cazenovia, and Jenny LaMar, a junior designer from Pittsford, the company said in an April 22 news release.

The company describes Rapp as a veteran of several upstate New York advertising agencies. He most recently worked as part of the in-house advertising team for Oneida Nation Enterprises and Turning Stone Resort Casino. He brings decades of consumer marketing and branding experience to CountryMax Stores, the company said.

LaMar graduated from University of Delaware with her degree in food and agribusiness marketing. Her responsibilities at CountryMax include graphic design and management for the company’s Facebook and Instagram channels, as well as store signage and decorating.

Rapp and LaMar will work with Mandi Lenhard, the firm’s marketing director, and Brad Payne, director of sales at CountryMax Stores, and other in-house designers and programmers. They will focus on increasing awareness of the CountryMax name as its “regional footprint grows.” 

Additional priorities include creating branded educational content for customers and employees, expanding social-media engagement and honing the company’s email campaigns. CountryMax contends that “building this internal team reflects a national trend toward in-house marketing agencies.”

CountryMax also says it will soon be hiring an events coordinator to manage pet birthday parties, school visits, live education seminars, and other events at stores across the state. 

CountryMax stores in Central New York include locations in Oswego, Lysander, Cicero, DeWitt, Norwich, Cortland, and Seneca Falls.