Detroit native Joya Harris was promoted from account general manager to vice president, group account director at Carlson Marketing where she has been growing the business for 17 years.

In her new role, Harris will be actively involved in new business development and continue to focus on helping her Ford client with a variety of marketing programs. She joined Carlson Marketing in 1992 as an account executive working on the Ford account and has managed many key initiatives for the client including Training Certification, Business Preferred Network, Race for the Cure, Ford Division Product Training, Ford Customer Service Division Winter Dealer Meetings and launches of the 2002 Thunderbird, the 1994 Mustang and the 1993 Probe.

Before joining Carlson Marketing, Harris worked at Ross Roy Communication and J. Walter Thompson. Her client list included Kmart, FTD, Stroh Brewery, Gallo Winery, Bosch, Monroe and Ford Motor Company.

Harris is not only an exceptional member of Carlson Marketing's Detroit office, but also an exceptional member of the community. She has held board positions in several non-profit organizations such as Alternatives for Girls, the Arthritis Foundation, Merrill Palmer Institute, the Junior League of Detroit and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She also has volunteered with UNCF - the United Negro College Fund, the American Heart Association's "Go Red" campaign, and the Links Inc., Renaissance Chapter.

In 2004 and 2005, Harris led Carlson Marketing's Detroit office in raising over $95,000 to sponsor a home for Habitat for Humanity. She did this in response to a challenge from Marilyn Carlson Nelson, then president and CEO of Carlson, to employees in the Executive Leadership Program to develop initiatives which cultivate diversity within the company and to build a reputation for being a diversity-friendly organization in the community. For her efforts, Harris received the Order of the Golden Rose Award, one of Carlson's most prestigious career-achievement awards.

Harris has been honored with numerous Carlson Marketing and Carlson awards in sales leadership, profit leadership and as one of Carlson's Great Managers.

Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism and Business Administration from Howard University. She earned a Master of Science degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was published in the Journal of Advertising. Harris is also a graduate of Leadership Detroit XXII, the Carlson Executive Leadership Program at the University of Minnesota, Menttium, Leadership at the Maxx and other continuing education programs.

"Joya is a fantastic individual and a major contributor to the success of Carlson Marketing," said Rob Morgan, senior vice president, Client Services, Carlson Marketing. "I'm excited to see her star continue to rise."

Harris and her husband William Sherron live in Rochester Hills; she works in Troy.

Carlson Marketing helps global Fortune 1000 clients increase their ROI by designing and delivering sales and marketing programs that drive measurable results. Carlson provides its clients with cool new marketing concepts, coupled with rock solid delivery across its two global service offerings - Brand Loyalty and Engagement & Events - supported by six core capabilities: Strategy & Planning; Creative, Interactive & Media; Incentive & Event Management; Award Services; Technology Services; and Decision Sciences.

Carlson Marketing employs 2,500 marketing professionals in 44 cities across 15 countries.www.carlsonmarketing.com