Forty Under 40: Charleen Greer-Jones

When Charlene Greer-Jones was recruited out of college for the Toys-R-Us management training program, she left New Orleans on a whim and moved to Fayetteville, having no idea that she’d discover Northwest Arkansas is the “retail capital of the world.”

For four years, Greer-Jones helped manage the local store, but because she had a young son — and her hours were so demanding — people suggested she consider work in retail merchandising.

Thirteen years later, she has tackled not only management, merchandising and store operations, but in diverse categories involving large retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores, Sam’s Club, Target and Best Buy. She earned a master’s degree in business administration and continues to raise her son as a single parent.

Greer-Jones is now a regional sales manager for InComm, handling partner acquisitions for a six-state region. She seeks restaurants to sell gift cards in Sam’s Club, and has helped secure more than 150 partnerships in the southeastern U.S.

Greer-Jones attributes her success to a focus on building relationships and flexibility.

“It’s not our product, and I’m selling it twice [to the restaurant management and Sam’s Club],” she said. “At the same time, I’m a salesperson, forecaster, and analyst.”

Retail work offers change and challenges, both of which she loves. “Every day is different, and a lot of the things I’ve done are the things no one wanted to be doing: unloading trucks, working overnight and holidays, cleaning things, getting people to give me space for products.”

Greer-Jones has been a Den Leader and will serve as Cub Master this year for the Boy Scouts of Northwest Arkansas. She is a dark-haired player in the Blondes vs. Brunettes Charity Flag Football games supporting the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter.